Inaugural WEF Circular Water Economy Summit Brings Industry and Utility Leaders Together

The Water Environment Federation’s first Circular Water Economy Summit will convene July 18-20 in Nashville, TN. The Summit is designed to bridge the gap between industrial and municipal water leaders – and the communities they both serve – as they pursue sustainable solutions to water challenges.

“A transition to a circular water economy requires breaking down silos and fostering collaboration among all stakeholders. Although effective water stewardship is so important for thriving industries and communities, and industries may be major customers or users of the products from water and wastewater utilities, industrial water stakeholders have not traditionally had a prominent platform to discuss solutions to their water challenges or been included in conversations with municipal utilities about sustainable water solutions,” says Ifetayo Venner, WEF’s board president. “WEF is providing a place for these parties to discuss current needs, exchange ideas, and develop plans for future collaboration.”

The 2023 conference highlights industrial water solutions—including circular water solutions from specifically targeted sectors: automotive; manufacturing; food and beverage processing; pulp, paper, and packaging; and oil, gas, and energy. “This inaugural event will bring together more than 300 C-level sustainability executives, decision-makers, and thought leaders from companies and municipalities that are successfully turning waste streams into value streams,” according to Ray Bianchi, WEF’s managing director of business development. “The goal of the conference is to create a space within WEF to share knowledge and allow both sectors to benefit from that exchange.”

The Summit features keynotes, principal speakers, facilitated panel discussions, and “World Café” roundtables to provide collaboration and networking opportunities for attendees. Featured speakers include

• Kevin Butt, Toyota Motor North America 
• Arthine Cossey van Duyne, WaterFunder, LLC 
• Brian Cullen, VICO Infrastructure Company, LLC
• Andy Kingman, Cambrian Innovation
• Caleb Powers, Ember Infrastructure
• Emilio Tenuta, Ecolab 

These speakers will share solutions developed as their companies have implemented circular water solutions. “One of WEF’s strategic goals is to lead the transformation to the circular water economy,” says Aimeé Killeen, president-elect of WEF’s board. “This conference is an important step in that direction.”

To learn more, visit the Circular Water Economy Summit page.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Heidi Bragg, hbragg@wef.org

 

About WEF 
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of more than 30,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. Established in 1928, WEF’s mission is to inspire the water community in pursuit of human and environmental well-being. WEF’s goals are to attract and develop a passionate workforce, cultivate a purpose-driven community to sustainably solve water challenges for all, and lead the transformation to the circular water economy.