WEF/AWWA Utility Management Conference
March 24-27, 2026 | Charlotte Convention Center | Charlotte, North Carolina
Registration
Attendee Registration is now Open!
Register to attend the Utility Management Conference.
Housing
Book your stay at an official conference hotel.
Access discounted rates at the 2026 conference co-host hotels, all located at or near the Charlotte Convention Center.
Education
Explore the 2026 technical program.
Learn more about conference sessions, workshops, and educational offerings designed for utility professionals
The Latest on UMC 2026
This conference is jointly hosted by the Water Environment Federation and American Water Works Association.
Attendee Registration is now Open!
2026 Utility Management Conference Fees
| Registration | Early Bird Registration Fee Jan 6 – Feb 20 |
Standard Registration Fee Feb 21 – Mar 27 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEMBER* | NONMEMBER | MEMBER* | NOMEMBER | |
| Full Conference | $739 | $1049 | $939 | $1349 |
| Full Conference Student | $0 | $225** | $0 | $290** |
| One Day Conference | $439 | $649 | $539 | $689 |
UMC Workshop Fees
| Item | Description | Date & Time | Member | Non-Member | Student Member | Student Non-Member |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workshop A | Funding the Flow; A Roadmap to Funding Water and Sewer Infrastructure in an Era of Revitalization | Tue, Mar 24 8:30 am – 5:00 pm |
$195.00 | $225.00 | $0.00 | $175.00 |
| Workshop B | Getting the Most Out of Your CIP: Portfolio Prioritization for Utilities | Tue, Mar 24 8:30 am – 12:00 pm |
$100.00 | $125.00 | $0.00 | $100.00 |
| Workshop C | Wateropolis - Communicating the Value of Water | Tue, Mar 24 8:30 am – 12:00 pm |
$100.00 | $125.00 | $0.00 | $100.00 |
| Workshop D | Leading by Example - Championing Digital & AI Transformation in Water Utilities by C-Suite and Leadership (WRF Projects) | Tue, Mar 24 8:30 am – 12:00 pm |
$100.00 | $125.00 | $0.00 | $100.00 |
| Workshop E | Collaborative Delivery Best Practices for Water Infrastructure Projects | Tue, Mar 24 8:30 am – 12:00 pm |
$100.00 | $125.00 | $0.00 | $100.00 |
| Workshop F | From Siloes to Strategy: Advancing Holistic Enterprise Risk Management for Water Utilities | Tue, Mar 24 8:30 am – 12:00 pm |
$100.00 | $125.00 | $0.00 | $100.00 |
| Workshop G | Leading from the Frontline: Empowering Operators for Leadership Success | Tue, Mar 24 8:30 am – 12:00 pm |
$100.00 | $125.00 | $0.00 | $100.00 |
*You must be an active WEF Member to qualify for these rates. Join or renew today.
**Student Nonmember: To qualify for the Student Non-Member rate, you must provide proof of enrollment in a minimum of six (6) credit hours at an accredited college or university and provide written documentation on school letterhead, verifying your student status.
How to Register
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Search for your WEF account by entering your last name and email address.
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Don’t have an account? Select “Continue as Nonmember” to proceed with registration.
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AWWA Members: Please continue as Nonmembers. You will be prompted to verify your AWWA membership during the registration process, and member rates will be applied at checkout.
Need help registering?
Registration Fee Includes
- Access to Technical Sessions
- Networking events
- Digital conference proceedings
Workshops are not included with conference registration.
Member Rate Qualifications
To qualify for member registration rates, you must hold a current individual membership with WEF or AWWA that is valid through the dates of the event. Registrants must use their own individual member ID number. Please note that organizational or institutional memberships do not qualify for individual member pricing.
AWWA Members:
Please begin your registration by selecting the Nonmember rate. You will be prompted during the registration process to verify your AWWA membership, and the member rate will be applied automatically at checkout.
Nonmember
If you are not a WEF member or your membership lapses and is not renewed by the time of the event, you will either have to join/renew your membership or pay the non-member rate for the event.
Students who are not members of WEF or AWWA must pay the student nonmember rate and provide proof of student status during the registration process.
Payment
Online registration payments are by credit card only (Visa, Mastercard, or American Express).
Cancellation and Substitution
A written request for cancellation/refund must be submitted by Friday, March 13, 2026. WEF will charge a 25% cancellation fee and refund 75%. No refunds will be issued for cancellations requested after Friday, March 13, 2026. Rather than cancelling, consider sending a substitute. An organization may submit a request to substitute one person for another in writing by Friday, March 26.
Important Note
All attendees must have a unique email address registered. If you are registering for someone else, please enter the email address of the person you are registering.
Allergens and Food Safety
Food and beverages may be served or sampled during the Event. As allergens may be present in any food and beverage, Event Participants are responsible for managing their food allergies by notifying Registration@wef.org of meal restrictions before the Event and, during the Event, monitoring with onsite catering staff.
Housing Information
2026 Conference Co-Host Hotels:
Three hotels have been designated as official co-host hotels for the 2026 YP Summit and Utility Management Conference:
- The Westin Charlotte: Connected to the Charlotte Convention Center, where all conference sessions will be held
- Two additional co-host hotels: Located within one block of the convention center
Reservation Deadline:
The housing reservation deadline for all three hotels is Monday, March 9, 2026.
Government Rate Information
A limited number of rooms are available at all three co-host hotels at the federal government per diem rate.
Please note:
- This rate is restricted to federal government employees only
- Guests booking the government rate must present a valid federal government-issued employee ID at check-in
- If a valid federal ID is not provided, the hotel will adjust the reservation to the prevailing room rate
Westin Charlotte
601 South College Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Room Rate: $269 / night + tax (15.25%)
Hilton Charlotte Uptown
222 East Third Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Room Rate: $265 / night + tax (15.25%)
Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Uptown
401 East Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28202
Room Rate: $249 / night + tax (15.25%)
Authorized Partners:
WEF or AWWA is not partnering with a third-party travel agency or hotel management company to make reservations on behalf of participants. Be suspicious of any third-party agency that contacts you regarding hotel reservations for these events.
Getting to and around Charlotte, NC (AKA: The Queen City)
- Charlotte-Douglas Airport: Charlotte Douglas International Airport is only 7 miles (approximately a 15-minute drive) from the convention center and hotels.
- Get to know the Queen City
- Things To Do
- Places to Eat
Local Transportation
To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint by Using LYNX Blue Line Light Rail
o Shuttles, taxis, and most ride-sharing services will utilize the main entrance of the Convention Center at 501 S. College St.
Policies, Terms, and Conditions
- WEF Member Code of Conduct
- Event Terms and Conditions
- Assumption of the Risk and Waiver of Liability
Questions?
Please contact registration@wef.org for assistance
Program & Continuing Education
Now announcing the 2026 WEF/AWWA Utility Management Conference Program! This year, the conference is offering 34 innovative, interactive technical sessions and 7 pre-conference workshops.
Questions? Contact:
WEF Education and Training
UtilityMgtConf@wef.org
703-684-2400 x7450
Speaking at the conference? Visit our Speaker Resources page for helpful tips and information.
Save the Date for UMC 2026!
Join us in Charlotte, North Carolina, March 24-27,2026!
We are pleased to announce that the WEF/AWWA Utility Management Conference 2026 will take place at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C.
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