WEFTEC 2024 is set to be a landmark event in the water sector with networking and educational opportunities at every turn.
The 2024 WEFTEC Exhibition is outpacing last year’s square footage by 13%. And is 21% ahead of the last time WEFTEC was hosted in New Orleans, with 800+ exhibitors signed up.
Dive Into the Future of Water Technology
When you attend WEFTEC 2024, you will find yourself in a world of cutting-edge innovations. The event, especially the exhibition, lets operators, engineers, project managers, and everyone else connect with the people who develop and build equipment and services. Hear technology leaders and pioneers provide their take on the latest advancements and trends in the sector.
Engage with interactive displays and hands-on demonstrations that bring the functionalities of new technologies to life. This is your chance to learn from the experts – ask questions, participate in live demos, and gain a deeper understanding of the tools and technologies driving the water sector forward.
Educational Content – Whether you’re looking to drill down into specific topics in wastewater treatment, find solutions around zero liquid discharge, or stay updated on collection system trends, WEFTEC offers valuable learning opportunities for anyone working in the water sector.
Innovations and Experiential Learning – With over 800 exhibitors on site, WEFTEC showcases the latest innovations, technologies, and solutions in water quality management. In the nearly sold-out exhibit hall, you’ll get hands-on experience with the latest technologies and engage in a directory with the supplier teams to solve your most challenging issues.
Networking – With over 21,000 water professionals converging in New Orleans, you’ll find your professional home at WEFTEC. Connect with sector leaders, experts, and peers from around the globe and exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and expand your professional network.
Experience Unique Events – From the exhilarating Operations Challenge Competition to the prestigious WEF Awards Ceremony, WEFTEC offers a diverse range of unique events that entertain, inspire, and educate.
Career Development – From Continuing Education Credits to our Affinity groups, you’ll immerse yourself in a dynamic environment where creativity thrives, and collaboration flourishes. Attendees also earn continuing education credits, gain insights into career advancement opportunities, and stay informed about the latest job trends in the water sector.
Facility Tours
Facility tours provide a unique opportunity to gain firsthand insights into the construction, special projects, and daily operations taking place within the local host community. By participating, attendees not only enrich their understanding of industry practices but also earn valuable contact hours. New Orleans, Louisiana offers some great opportunities to see diverse filtration experiences in action.
With six diverse technical tours available, attendees can tailor their WEFTEC 2024 experience to suit their interests and professional development goals, ensuring a comprehensive and enriching conference experience. Pre-registration is required, with limited space available. Select your preferred tour when you register for the conference. They include:
Lake Borgne Surge Barrier
On this mostly outside walking tour, you will see a small portion of the New Orleans side of the Lake Borgne Surge Barrier. This 2.9-km (1.8-mile) structure is a small part of the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System built by the Army Corps of Engineers after Hurricane Katrina.
A system of flood walls, levees, floodgates, sector gates, and a barrier work together to reduce the risk of flooding from storm surges from Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Borgne, and the Gulf of Mexico for more than one million residents in the greater metropolitan New Orleans area.
The Flood Protection Authority East is a state agency that operates and maintains the system in Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Bernard Parishes.
Infrastructure Resilience and Reliability: Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans Power Complex
A tour of the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans’s new Power Complex substation is slated for completion in 2025, which will provide reliable power for pumping and drinking water needs to allow the retirement of historic turbines still in use.
Abita Brewing Company
The Abita Brewing Company is committed to environmental conservation. The brewery operates its industrial wastewater treatment facility and makes use of an anaerobic bio-energy recovery system (BERS). The BERS also provides water treatment, which results in a 95% reduction of load on the local Abita Springs sewerage system. For those who are beer connoisseurs, a real treat is that this tour includes a tasting experience.
More Than 100 Years of Draining New Orleans: Drainage Pumping Station 6 Tour
An in-depth tour of the oldest pumping station in the Orleans stormwater infrastructure, distinguished by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
Living with Water in the Pontchartrain Basin – a Tour by Pontchartrain Conservancy
Site 1: Enjoy a stroll on the new Bucktown Marsh Boardwalk, a part of the new Bucktown Harbor on Lake Pontchartrain, while learning about the Pontchartrain Basin and local watershed issues. Along its 305 m (1000 ft), you will find bird blinds and informational signs about plants, wildlife, fisheries, and the coast.
Site 2: Tour one of the city’s largest pumping stations responsible for draining stormwater. Learn the history of the city’s drainage systems and stormwater management practices.
Site 3: On the shore of Lake Pontchartrain, the New Canal Lighthouse serves as a science and history museum and a public outreach and education center. Visitors can engage with fun, interactive STEM exhibits to learn about Southeast Louisiana’s environment and the work to help preserve it. The site will feature the Pontchartrain Conservancy’s work around water quality and coastal restoration. Tour includes admission to the lighthouse and a donation to the Pontchartrain Conservancy.
Using Green to Aid the Gray: Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans Green Infrastructure Tour
An immersive tour of two green infrastructure demonstration projects funded by the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans. The Bayou St John project at 3500 Toulouse Street was completed in 2023 and exhibits detention and retention through earthwork and increased tree canopy, as well as buried monitoring infrastructure. The Green Roof atop 625 St. Joseph Street displays an ever-changing palette of plants since 2017.
Technical Sessions
As always, WEFTEC 2024 Technical Session will offer the latest innovations and insights. Engage with cutting-edge content through both traditional classroom sessions and interactive presentations. Tailor your conference experience by choosing from a diverse range of topics.
The full line-up and schedule of Technical Sessions are still under development, but can be found at https://www.weftec.org/program/education/schedule-at-a-glance/. The sessions are broken into five segments, that include:
Wastewater Treatment & Biosolids Resource Recovery
Step into a world where water isn’t just treated – it’s transformed to fuel the circular water economy. Uncover biosolids management, energy generation, and cutting-edge treatment processes. From nutrient removal to resource recovery, discover how integrated technologies close the loop on water management.
Operations, Industrial & Workforce Development
In this area, skilled operators reign supreme. From municipal to industrial settings, this field showcases the adaptability of operational practices. Equip yourself to handle any challenge, whether it is maintaining aging equipment or implementing cutting-edge technologies like zero-liquid discharge or PFAS destruction. Find a comprehensive understanding of sustainable water resource management.
Stormwater, Watershed & Collections Systems
Perfect for tackling urban and environmental challenges, this area focuses on managing collection systems and managing stormwater to enhance water quality and reduce flood risks. Learn to balance urban development with nature, ensuring safety and sustainability for local and downstream communities.
Public Health, Government, & Utility Management
These sessions are essential for anyone managing water utilities or overseeing public health. They focus on regulatory compliance, innovative strategies, and technology integration in such key areas as disinfection, future trends, global insights, and utility leadership. Equip yourself to deliver safe, efficient, and sustainable water services.
