WEFTEC 2023

Join us in Chicago, Sept. 30 - Oct. 4, to meet water professionals from around the world and experience first-hand the best in water quality education, leading experts, the latest technology and trends, and proven solutions.

Register Now and Save: Standard Discount Rates End Sept. 1

What's Happening at WEF

Announcing the 2023 WEF Award Winners

WEF Awards Icon.pngWEF is proud to recognize the recipients of the 2023 WEF Awards. This year's awards showcase outstanding contributions to the water environment profession and the Federation, recognizing individuals, organizations, and utilities for their exemplary service, innovation, educational excellence, and forward-thinking initiatives within the water sector.

Meet the Award Winners

New Standards for Design of Water Resource Recovery Facilities

Standards Cover logo.jpgBased on the expertise of hundreds of water quality experts, Standards for Design of Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WEF 8) puts critical design information at your fingertips with concise tables and bulleted lists. WEF 8 consolidates key design parameters from a number of references into one easy-to-use set of standards.

View the Publication

Park Wins Stockholm Junior Water Prize

Naomi Park, the U.S. representative at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) competition in Sweden, has been named the winner of this international student competition. Park, a native of Greenwich, Connecticut, won the U.S. competition earlier this year in Golden, Colorado. Her project explored collecting Styrofoam debris in the ocean and then using that collected material as a filter to reduce ocean carbon levels.

Park received a $15,000 prize, a crystal trophy, and a private audience with HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, a long-time patron of the prize.

Learn More about Her Research

Join Us at WEFTEC 2023

W23-tagline.pngSept 30. - Oct. 4

At WEFTEC 2023, you can participate in informative sessions, connect with other water quality professionals, and discover cutting-edge advancements in water technology.

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Selected Upcoming Events

WEF offers an assortment of conferences, webcasts, and other meetings and events. View the list of All Events.

  • 14 Sep

    Integrated Planning in Action

    Gain insight from case studies about the benefits and lessons learned of utilizing Integrated Planning as a tool to achieve a One Water approach for compliance with the Clean Water Act, utility management, and watershed management. Presenters provide first-hand knowledge of implementation of integrated planning for large-scale utilities to small-scale utilities covering regions from the East Coast, Midwest, to the West Coast.

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  • 19 Sep

    Research & Innovation RISE Forum: Algae

    Fundamental and applied research is an essential component of developing and adopting innovative technologies and practices. Speakers during this webcast will discuss issues pertaining to algae. The Research and Innovation Forum exists to provide WEF members with a central location for the dissemination and discussion of all research-related matters across WEF.

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  • 21 Sep

    Cooling Tower Water Management and Best Practices

    This webinar will focus on water management in cooling towers. This will include perspectives from cooling tower operators (facilities), tower construction, chemical maintenance, and engineering. Goal is to educate the WEF community on issues, opportunities, and best practices of water management in this very common and growing operation.

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  • 01 Oct

    Wastewater Disease Surveillance Summit

    The Wastewater Disease Surveillance Summit is a one-day, one-track event taking place in Chicago. Join water and public health professionals, practitioners, and policymakers to share ideas and lessons learned related to the implementation of wastewater surveillance programs.

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WEF WATER STORIES

Developing a diverse and passionate workforce that encourages more diversity in the water workforce is part of WEF's Strategic Plan. Charlotte Water Operator, Stacia Wilkes, tells us why she chose a career in water and why more women should too! 

 

WEF Water Stories

Look behind the scenes at the 2023 U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize in Golden, Colo., and meet Naomi Park, the 2023 U.S. winner!

WEF Water Stories

Melanie Vines says the Flint Michigan Water Crisis motivated her to choose a career in water. Watch to hear more about her journey and the formation of the University of Alabama's WEF Student Chapter, which won WEF's first annual Student Chapter of the Year Award!

Share Your Water Story

WEF Water Stories

Hear Crysele Evans, a 2022 InFLOW Scholar share what makes her passionate and motivated to work in water.

Share Your Water Story

WEF Water Stories

Listen to Regina Berry, Diversity Director for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, talk about why activities like the WEF Community Service Projects are crucial for ensuring everyone is included and protected.

Share Your Water Story

WEF Water Stories

There are many opportunities for young professionals to work in water and help solve today's water challenges. #WEFWaterStories

Viraj deSilva 

Share Your Water Story

WEF Water Stories

Shannon Harty, Commissioner of Water Environment Protection for Onondaga County, New York, explains how she got her start in water and fell in love with wastewater.

Share Your Water Story

See the Latest Water Sector News

WEFTEC Now
ChartWater™ Clean Water Solutions

Sponsored content posts enable equipment and service providers to deliver useful and detailed information directly to the WEFTEC audience.

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Asset Management
Altitude Adjustment

Drones take flight in the WEFTEC Exhibition.

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Awards
Attend the 2023 Opening General Session

This year’s Opening General Session (OGS) will combine culture, music, and storytelling to celebrate water, people, and community, and will inspire us to think ...

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LifeFreeofWaterChallenges_Logo_72dpiX1000px.png

Imagine life free of water challenges. What does that look like to you? Check out WEF’s new Strategic Plan to see how we’ll get there and then share your water story.

Details About the Strategic Plan

EXPLORE ALL PRACTICE AREAS

WEF is a source of high-quality technical resources featuring the latest research, news, and education. WEF's members and other credible resources have created and compiled this information into the Practice Area groupings listed in the dropdown menu.

Operations

From hands-on-training and leadership opportunities, such as Operations Challenge, to online training, such as the Wastewater Treatment Fundamentals series, WEF provides operators with many opportunities to advance on-the-job knowledge and develop their careers.

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Water & Wastewater Treatment

More than 16,000 publicly owned water resource recovery facilities operate in the United States. Skilled engineers and operators work together to ensure new and updated facilities continue to protect public health and the environment.

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Biosolids Resource Recovery

Through biosolids management, solid residue from wastewater treatment is processed to reduce or eliminate pathogens and minimize odors, forming a safe, beneficial agricultural product. Biosolids are carefully monitored and must be used in accordance with regulatory requirements.

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Industrial Water Resources

Industries treat and reuse wastewater and process water as well as provide environmentally sustainable wastewater treatment while reducing costs and maintaining value for their businesses.

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Utility Management

To respond to myriad daily challenges faced by water and wastewater utility leaders, WEF continuously works with its members and partners to develop a variety of management initiatives; resources; and educational, training, and networking opportunities.

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Government & Regulatory Affairs

WEF advocacy activities aim to educate WEF members and the water sector on public policy issues related to water quality and resources and equip them to play a greater role in water policy discussions.

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Collection Systems and Conveyance

The system of underground pipes and maintenance structures that convey wastewater has brought dramatic improvements to public health. Most sewers carry wastes from households and commercial establishments and are referred to as sanitary sewers.

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Stormwater & Watershed Management

Take a comprehensive look at how all water resources, including uplands, drainage basins, wetlands, stormwater, surface water, and groundwater interact.

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Public Health

The water sector and its systems protect public and ecological health. Using the data that can be collected through smart water technologies provides additional insights to address complex public health issues.

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Join or Renew Your WEF Membership Today

Connect with our community of water professionals who ensure that our local communities have access to clean water that protects public health. Explore our member benefits and find the membership type that’s right for you.

Join or Renew Online

The logo for WEF Skills BuilderTest your knowledge of wastewater and laboratory with a 10-question, multiple-choice quiz. Quizzes incorporate math, safety, and a variety of other topics to help you test, maintain, and advance your wastewater knowledge.

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