CONFERENCE REPORT
The importance of attending regional water and wastewater association events By Denis Orendt
W
hen some people think of the water and wastewater industry, the big cities seem to come to mind. Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, London and Windsor. The southern cities are always the focus. However, Thunder Bay was this year’s host city for the 2023 Northwestern Ontario Water and Wastewater Conference (NWOWWC), which took place October 12 and 13 at the Delta Marriott Hotel, overlooking the harbour. TBay as it is called, is home to approximately 113,000 residents. It is Ontario’s major shipping port in the north and home to the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. Compared to the big city shows, the NWOWWC event may seem small, but more than 150 enthusiastic water and wastewater professionals attended the two-day event to join their peers and learn about new policies, trends and technologies related to their industry. The conference started in 1962. It was initially just a club of water operators and engineers talking about their work experiences around some refreshments. As time went on it developed into a professional event that has spanned 61 years. A constitution and conference committee were formed in 2005. It outlines the membership, associate members, voting, meetings, officers, elections, term of office, board of directors, and fees. The last conference was held in 2019 when COVID-19 hit and everything stopped. It was through a persistent group of dedicated volunteers that the conference was resurrected to attract attendees from all municipalities within the districts of Kenora, Rainy River and Thunder Bay. This year’s keynote speaker was Bruce Taylor, president of Enviro-Stewards Inc. His presentation covered water’s contributions to resiliency, decarbonization and sustainable development goals. Taylor is very well known in the water and wastewater industry. He has three decades www.esemag.com @ESEMAG
More than 150 water and wastewater professionals and 25 exhibitors attended the two-day event.
of experience in the fields of water and energy conservation, pollution prevention, sustainable development, and treatment process design. He has won awards in the pollution prevention field in both Canada and the United States. Enviro-Stewards staff have completed resource conservation studies for aerospace, automotive, beverage, commercial product, food, mining, nuclear, petrochemical, pulp & paper, pharmaceutical, specialty chemical, and textile industries. Also, their assessments for 60 industrial facilities under York Region’s water conservation program won an Ontario Water Works Association award, as they found an average of 36% water savings per facility with paybacks under 1.5 years. A representative from the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks’ Water and Wastewater Division provided updates as to the provincial government’s current policies. Additional conference sessions included: • Surveillance from below: A COVID19 story. • Proactive approach to transmission main condition assessment. • Understanding cybersecurity requirements for critical infrastructure.
• Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). • Clow Canada’s smart hydrant technology. • Bioretention stormwater treatment performance in Thunder Bay. More than 25 exhibitors displayed their products and services, which is a good indication that many businesses recognize the efforts of the conference committee and the success they have had in developing an event that is growing. The importance of presenting and attending regional events should not be overlooked. It is important to have the opportunity to meet with your peers to discuss and experience the industry together on a more informal basis. If you work in the north, be sure to add next year’s event to your calendar and attend the 2024 Northwestern Ontario Water and Wastewater Conference. Denis Orendt is with Aquatic Aeration Solutions. Email: aquatic.aeration.solutions@gmail.com
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