Agenda: Agile Adaptation for a Changing Planet

The City of Los Angeles sets the tone with themes of ensuring a reliable and sustainable water future through innovative programs, technological advancements and collaboration with organizations ranging from local to international.

Speaker:
Nicole Neeman Brady, Vice President, LOS ANGELES BOARD OF WATER & POWER COMMISSIONERS

• Where are the biggest strides being made in moving towards carbon neutral water systems?
• How can we work to measure carbon reduction and which technologies will play the biggest role in achieving this?
• What is the importance of the food-waste-energy nexus in reaching a more carbon neutral water industry?
• How can state and federal leadership encourage a focus on carbon neutrality? Will we see regulatory changes in the future? How will the transition to Net Zero be funded?

Moderator:
Peter Fiske, Executive Director, NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR WATER INNOVATION

Speakers:
Clayton MacDougald, Venture Capital – Water, EMERALD VC
Devesh Bharadwaj, CEO, PANI ENERGY
Liz Crosson, Chief Sustainability Resilience & Innovation Officer, METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Alaina Harkness, Executive Director, CURRENT

Hear from Schneider Electric on how digitization is creating a viable path for young talent to join the water sector, ensuring a continuation of the crucial work and expertise for the next generation.

Speakers:
Sherry Ressler Kovar, Water Wastewater Segment Leader – US, SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC
Mohammed Anwar, Global Business Development Director – Smart Water and Digital Transformation, SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC

• As regulation on and public concern about PFAS increases, where are the biggest advances in PFAS detection and abatement emerging?
• How can the carbon footprint of PFAS destruction be reduced, while meeting regulatory requirements and being affordable to implement?
• Where have we seen successful public/private partnerships to tackle PFAS issues?
• Will resin-based solutions offer enough benefits over thermal destruction to stimulate a shift in standard practice for abatement?
• How can new regulations and litigation help solidify where ownership of PFAS responsibility lies in the value chain? How will the chain of custody be verified?

Moderator:
David Rose, Partner, THALES WATER ADVISORS

Speakers:
Sally Gutierrez, Director (NRMRL), EPA
Robert Bowcock, Managing Director, INTEGRATED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, INC
Julie Bliss Mullin, CEO, ACLARITY
Nicole Richards, CEO, ALLONNIA

• What are the biggest problems facing wastewater management systems? Who is making the biggest strides in solving these problems?
• Where have we seen greatest success in energy generation from wastewater, and what business models are proving most viable for today’s utilities?
• How are industrial end users tackling their water usage as part of their sustainability strategies?
• Are infrastructure upgrades the best ways to reduce energy consumption? What other ways can utilities drive energy efficiency in their wastewater systems?
• With approximately 60 percent of the energy used at wastewater treatment facilities going to aeration, does it make sense to focus on anaerobic digestion to make it faster and more efficient? Why or why not?
• What is holding back innovation in this space? How can utilities overcome municipal budget restraints as well as limited policy and regulatory mandates?

Moderator:
Megan Leitch, Engagement Manager, MCKINSEY & COMPANY

Speakers:
Pietro Cambiaso, Manager of Compliance & Sustainability, INLAND EMPIRE UTILITIES AGENCY
Charles Bott, Director of Water Technology & Research, HAMPTON ROADS SANITATION DISTRICT
Aklile Tesfaye, Deputy General Manager Operations, WSSC WATER

Moderator:
Cristina Ahmadpour, Managing Director (Americas), ISLE UTILITIES

Speakers:
Robert Bornhofen, Director of Innovation, DC WATER
Kimberley Reed, Chief Innovation Officer, LOUISVILLE MSD
Adekunle Ojo, Manager of Water Resources, SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT

• What are the biggest current challenges in asset management? What technological innovations are we seeing to address those challenges?
• How do we move from a reactive approach to more predictive, efficient resource deployments, such as replacing parts before they fail?
• Which leak detection innovations are proving most accurate in pinpointing trouble areas? Where are the major gaps in leak detection technology?
• What hurdles can we expect to see in lead service line abatement? Can trenchless technologies and remote sensing help reduce the financial burden for these massive projects?

Moderator:
Peter Beland, President, STEPWELL WATER CONSULTING

Speakers:
Janelle Boelter, Director of Infrastructure Management, LAS VEGAS VALLEY WATER DISTRICT
Greg Land, National Strategic Account Manager, MASTER METER
Kumi Premathilake, SVP – Advanced Metering Infrastructure & Utility Automation, ACLARA
Justin Kauffman, Director of Asset Management, AQUA AMERICA

Early-mid stage technology entrepreneurs present snapshots of their solutions in remote sensing and trenchless technologies, with time for Q&A.

Judge:
Kelly Trott, Senior Investment Officer, IMAGINE H2O

Start-Ups:
Alberto Lopez, CEO, SUNFISH INC
Andrew Vandekop & Teisha Vandekop, CEO & CMO, EM LOCATOR TECHNOLOGY
Josh Mackanic, CEO, CIVILGRID
Megan Ross, VP, SEDIVISION

• What are some of the most exciting investment opportunities along the water value chain?
• How can utilities attract private investment to help fund the maintenance and improvement of their infrastructure? Should they be looking to private investors for funding?
• Do investors’ expectations around quick returns prevent them making lucrative long-term investments in the water industry? How do we change this perception?
• What can start-ups do to best position themselves for funding success, regardless of which stage they’re at?

Moderator:
Mark Lambert, Managing Partner, WATERMARK RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

Speakers:
Paul Hauffen, Venture Partner, BURNT ISLAND VENTURES
Khalil Maalouf, Investment Partner, XPV WATER PARTNERS
Peter Brooks, CEO, SYLMAR GROUP
Clayton MacDougald, Venture Capital – Water, EMERALD VC

With water resources falling under greater and greater pressure, what can we do to ensure cross-sector collaboration? How can holistic approaches to watershed management help meet the challenges of our rapidly changing climate?

Speaker:
Adel Hagekhalil, Chief Executive & General Manager, METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

• Which technologies are at the forefront of California’s water resiliency strategy?
• How can the rest of the nation learn from California’s example in terms of drought and stormwater resilience?
• Where are the biggest success stories in California’s PFAs strategy? What lessons could be learned from the failures?
• With the recent snowpack measurements, is there a risk of shortsightedness, particularly in public perception, in looking at California’s water scarcity? How can this misconception be combatted?
• What is California’s water strategy going to produce and what can we look forward to in the next 12 months?

Moderator:
Reese Tisdale, President & Co-Founder, BLUEFIELD RESEARCH

Speakers:
Jeanna Long, National Digital Innovation Leader, WOODARD & CURRAN
Rob Thompson, General Manager, ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
Stephan Tucker, General Manager, WATER REPLENISHMENT DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Beverley Stinson, Executive Vice President & Water Business Line Leader, AECOM

• As one of the biggest strains on the water systems they rely upon, how can farmers and utilities work together to identify the right technologies to optimise water efficiency in agriculture?

Moderator:
Julia McCusker, Regional VP, Water, COBANK

Speaker:
Lee Odell, Chief Operations Officer, ATEC WATER FILTERS

• Where are we seeing the biggest innovations in circular water systems? Who are the major players in this sector?
• What upgrades and changes would need to be implemented in wastewater treatment systems to deal with the growing problem of microplastics in potable water reuse?
• Should farmers and businesses be investing in on-site non-potable water reuse systems to reduce their impacts on the utilities that serve them? Where are we seeing the biggest strides in this?
• How can the rest of the nation learn from Las Vegas’ closed loop system? How translatable are desert communities’ water strategies for places like New England?
• Is encouraging rainwater harvesting a viable method to reduce demand on groundwater, rivers, and other traditional sources of water? What are the challenges and opportunities around rainwater collection?

Moderator:
Melissa Meeker, CEO, THE WATER TOWER

Speakers:
Zeynep Erdal, Director, Integrated Solutions & Capabilities, BLACK & VEATCH
Matt Collings, Assistant General Manager, MOULTON NIGUEL WATER DISTRICT
Aaron Tartakovsky, Co-Founder & CEO, EPIC CLEANTEC
Newsha Ajami, President, SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Delegates break into small groups to discuss the most critical issues facing the water industry. Each table is hosted by an industry expert, and delegates can choose the topic most relevant to their business.

• Harnessing the Water-Energy Nexus to Build Smarter Cities
  Host: Sophie Borgne, Water Segment President, SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC
• Desalination: An Emerging Water Supply Alternative
  Host: Scott Maloni, Client Director, State & Local Government, BLACK & VEATCH
• Don’t Let It Flow Away: On-Site and Decentralized Water Re-use
  Host: Rahul Shah, Senior VP, CHEMSEARCH FE
• Water Industry: Navigating Digital Water
  Host: Mike Karl, VP, Global Digital Leader, Water, AECOM
• Lead Service Lines: What Comes After Inventory?
  Host: Isaac Pellerin, VP of Marketing, 120WATER
• Seawater Intrusion: Challenges and Opportunities
  Host: Piret Harmon, General Manager, SALINAS VALLEY BASIN GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY
• Moving From Concept to Reality: Attracting Investment Throughout the Growth Stage
  Host: David Rose, Partner, THALES WATER ADVISORS
• Toilet to Tap: Getting the Public on Board with Recycled Drinking Water
  Host: Robert Bornhofen, Director of Innovation, DC WATER

• Given its higher-than-anticipated level of contaminants, what are the largest hurdles to treating stormwater for use in cover?
• As predictive technologies improve, how can utilities and municipalities more efficiently capture flash flood water? Will this be enough to get ahead of increasingly chaotic weather patterns?
• With more and more instances of hosepipe bans and other water usage restrictions, what community outreach strategies can utilities and municipalities use to help persuade rate payers to adopt less water intensive lifestyles?
• What other ways beyond stormwater capture can be used to supplement snow melt and increase water supplies?

Moderator:
Amy Weinfurter, Director of Strategic Projects, WATERNOW

Speakers:
Hampik Dekermenjian, VP, HAZEN AND SAWYER
John Tennert, Stormwater Management Committee Chair, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FLOOD AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Alan Dodd, Director – Public Works, CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE

Speaker:
Pete Perciavalle, SVP, Water Innovation Leader, STANTEC

• In what ways are new data models and cutting-edge technologies helping make our water systems more agile?
• How can better data usage and AI help to drive energy efficiency and mitigate the impact of rising energy costs for utilities?
• How can new AI solutions help utilities to move from a reactive, ‘firefighting’ position to a more proactive means of operating?
• What are the pitfalls of incorporating generative AI into a utility’s toolkit?

Moderator:
Stuart Rudick, Partner, EVERBLUE VENTURES

Speakers:
Gigi Karmous-Edwards, CEO & President, KARMOUS EDWARDS CONSULTING
Pete Perciavalle, SVP, Water Innovation Leader, STANTEC
Sascha Kuflik, Business Unit Director Water, SEBAKMT
Igor Starkov, VP, Digital Twin, SIEMENS

Early-mid stage technology entrepreneurs present snapshots of their solutions around water quality and filtration, with time for Q&A.

Judge:
Jeremy Lenz, President & CEO, SONOBE STRATEGIC

Start-Ups:
Sean Mulligan, Founder & CEO, VORTECH
Nathaniel Banks, Co-Founder, POLYGONE
Darren Kretz, Director of US Operations, IXDEN
Jonathan Haswell, CBO, OCEANWELL

• What will be the biggest challenge facing North American water systems in 2024?
• How can utilities and municipalities prepare for what’s on the horizon? How do we move from reactive to proactive processes?
• Where can people look for funding and alternative revenue sources as new regulations and maintenance costs grow?
• What’s the most exciting breakthrough you expect to see in the next year?

Moderator:
Abby Ostovar, Water Policy Specialist, MONTGOMERY & ASSOCIATES

Speakers:
Randy Hayman, Commissioner & CEO, PHILADELPHIA WATER
Adam Krantz, CEO, NACWA
Adel Hagekhalil, Chief Executive & General Manager, METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Mahesh Lunani, CEO, AQUASIGHT