WEAT's 2nd Quarter Board Meeting at Texas Water will see new officer elections for the 2023-24 term. The Board Meeting & Networking Event is open to anyone interested in getting involved with WEAT and will be held on-site at the George R. Brown Convention Center (Room TBD) on April 11, 2023 from 1 to 4 PM.

Online registration will open soon at txwater.org!

Contact the WEAT office for your WEAT/WEF Member number.

Wednesday, April 12, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM, Opening Session

Join us at the Opening General session for Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner's Keynote Address.

Elected in December 2015 and overwhelmingly re-elected in December 2019, Mayor Turner is serving his second four-year term. He is Houston’s 62nd mayor.

As the chief executive of the world’s energy capital, Mayor Turner brings a performance-driven approach to the job, creating a more responsive, streamlined, and efficient delivery of city services while shoring up Houston’s financial future. Thanks to his leadership, the Texas Legislature, and local voters approved a pension reform package that reduced the city’s liability by billions of dollars and provided a “fix” that had eluded the city for 17 years.

Before serving as Houston’s mayor, Turner served for 27 years as the Representative for Texas House District 139. He worked on the House Appropriations Committee for 21 years and served as Speaker Pro Tem for three terms. He was appointed to several Budget Conference Committees to balance the state’s budget and serve on the Legislative Budget Board.

Watch the nation’s best operators and maintenance staff compete in the Operations Challenge Competition. The competition returns in person this year and is open to any team that would like to sign up; teams of two to four can compete in as many as seven events. Click here to sign up today!

The competition takes place in the Exhibit Hall on Wednesday and Thursday. This multi-day competition showcases each team’s knowledge and skills in Process Control, Laboratory Event, Pump Maintenance, Collection System, Safety, and our three exhibition events: Electrical, Vaughan Exhibition Event (Sponsored by Vaughn) and Vicaulic Exhibition Event (Sponsored by Victaulic). If you are interested in becoming an Operations Challenge Sponsor, more information is available by clicking here.

Non-Utility teams, and any person in attendance at the show, can sign up and compete in the Exhibition Events where two divisions are available. Division I represents past teams who have competed in all events, and Division II represents new teams competing in any event for the first time. Competitors can receive up to 10 TCEQ CEU hours, t-shirts, entry into the technical sessions and exhibit halls, and bragging rights! The top Texas Teams earn a free trip to the National WEFTEC competition.

Congratulate the best performing teams in each competition event, along with the overall winners, at the Operations Challenge Awards Ceremony, on Thursday, April 13 from 2:45 to 3:45 PM in the Exhibit Hall.

Each year, WEAT invites friends and colleagues to our President’s Reception — an evening of celebration, networking, and accolades as we honor WEAT’s President.

Sponsorship Opportunity

Sponsors of the President's Reception will benefit from exposure to WEAT Leadership and our online marketing. Seats are limited. Sponsor today! Sponsorship includes your name and logo acknowledgment at the virtual reception, on the WEAT website, in Texas WET, and logo with thanks on WEAT social media pages.

Event Sponsor: $700

• Two complimentary invitations to Presidential Reception
• Recognition with thanks and logo at the Reception
• Logo linked in emails promoting the Reception
  
• Recognition on the WEAT website and social media pages
• Recognition via a special insert in WEAT’s official print and e-publication – Texas WET

Sponsorship Deadline: March 17, 2023

WEAT Swag Sale spotlight:

- Miir camp mugs

- Kavu fanny packs

- Socks

- Bandanas

- Stickers

Purchase Here!

Wednesday, April 12, 9 AM to 1:30 PM

The WEAT Student Design Competition gives students the opportunity to design and present a project based on a real-world wastewater treatment plant design problem. Students will be competing to represent WEAT at the Student Design Competition in Chicago at WEFTEC 2023. The prompt this year is focused around the City of Austin Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, Austin’s largest WWTP. Students are tasked with developing detailed design alternatives and final recommendations for expansion of the WCWWTP from 75 MGD to 100 MGD Average Annual Daily Flow (AADF) and converting the Conventional Activated Sludge system to a BNR system.

Come out and support your alma mater or see some prospective future leaders in the industry! This year, teams from Texas Tech University, Southern Methodist University, The University of Texas, and Tecnologico de Monterrey will compete.

Thursday, April 13, 7:15 AM - 9:00 AM

Ticket required

Each year at the annual Texas Water™ Conference, we host the Women of Water Forum. This event focuses on the career paths, professional wisdom, and achievements of leading women in the water community who are willing to share their experiences to empower others to be successful in their careers. This year, Liz Fazio, General Manager for Gulf Coast Authority, will moderate a panel of women leaders that include Jenna Covington, General Manager for North Texas Municipal Water District; Carol Haddock, Director for Houston Public Works; Tina Peterson, Executive Director for Harris County Flood Control District; and Irazema Rojas, Chief of Technical Services at El Paso Water. We look forward to having you join us for breakfast as these women showcase the difference women can make in our water community, while also providing a forum for future leaders to network with seasoned professionals.

One ticket is included with Full Registration. Additional breakfast tickets are available at $50 each if purchased on or before March 20; $60 after March 20.

Friday, April 14, 8:30 AM

Attendees can add to their Texas Water 2023 experience by registering for one of the three Friday morning tours. Tour tickets are in addition to the conference registration and include transportation. The cost is $35 if purchased by March 20, 2023; $40 thereafter. A limited number of tickets may be available to purchase on-site. Choose one of the three tours that will leave from the George R. Brown Convention Center at 8 a.m. Friday morning!

Option 1: City of Houston Northeast Water Purification Plant Expansion

The City of Houston partnered with four regional water authorities to plan, design and construct a 320 MGD expansion to the Northeast Water Purification Plant (NEWPP). The project has been underway since 2012, design was completed in 2019, and construction is progressing towards start-up of the first phase of operation in 2023 and final completion by mid-2025. THe project is being delivered using progressive design-build with a total budget of almost $2 billion. The City, authorities, project advisor, and design-builder have worked collaboratively through many issues and challenges to be ready to deliver a new source of drinking water to over 2 million customers in the greater Houston area.

Participants will be guided on a walking tour of the areas that are under construction including pretreatment, intermediate ozonation, filtration, pumping, and other support facilities. All participants for this tour will be required to wear approved PPE and must arrive
wearing construction-toed shoes. Hard hats, vests, gloves, and safety goggles will be available for loan. The tour is limited to the first 40 people who sign up.

Option 2: Sugar Land Surface Water Treatment Plant & Constellation Stadium

The City of Sugar Land’s surface water treatment plant began delivering water to Sugar Land customers in November 2013. The completion of this plant marked an important milestone in the city’s long-range plans to meet growing water demands and comply with state mandate for groundwater reduction requirements. Water produced by the treatment plants originates from the Brazos River. The plant can deliver 10.86 MGD. Two raw water storage reservoirs can hold 27 MGD. The raw water undergoes robust treatment processes including high-rate plate settlers, membrane filters and granular activated carbon filters. Sugar Land’s water is treated to meet a very high standard which surpasses all federal and state drinking water standards. The plant received the Best Tasting Water in Texas in 2019 and the Best Tasting Water in USA in 2019.

Next, the tour will stop at the Constellation Stadium. Constellation Stadium is a state-of-the-art field and is the home of the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, the official Triple-A Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Houston Astros. The ballpark’s multi-purpose design features a variety of dynamic settings accommodating everything from intimate catered events to large festivals. This tour will provide an intimate look at the stadium. The tour is limited to the first 40 people who sign up.

Option 3: GCA Bayport Wastewater Treatment Facility & Armand Bayou Nature Center

Bayport Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) is Gulf Coast Authority’s largest facility, serving primarily industrial customers and two municipalities via a 2.25-mile BioSan pipeline for process wastewater and contaminated storm water runoff and a parallel “Clean Stream” concrete channel for streams that require solids treatment only, such as cooling tower blow-down water. The original plant was built by Friendswood Development Company, then owned by Exxon, as part of its Bayport Industrial Complex. GCA acquired the facility in 1974 and has expanded and improved it since. With customers ranging from petrochemical plants, warehouses, and transportation cleaning facilities to the City of LaPorte and the City of Shore Acres, Bayport WWTF treats one of the most diverse wastewater streams in the GCA system.
Next, you will have the opportunity to experience Armand Bayou Nature Center (ABNC) on a Bayou Safari Tour. ABNC is one of the largest urban wilderness preserves in the United States, containing 2,500 acres of the natural wetlands forest, prairie and marsh habitats once abundant in the Houston and Galveston area. ABNC is home to over 370 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians and offers hiking trails, live animal exhibits and a historic farm site. The Bayou Safari Tour begins with a leisurely stroll down our elevated boardwalk to our Environmental Learning Center, observing an abundance of local plants and wildlife. Then board on electric
vehicles, the Bayou Ranger I and II, for a ride through the riparian forest down to the bayou, prairie and farm area, and end by saying hello to our bison. The tour is limited to the first 40 people who sign up.

Wednesday, April 12

6:30 A.M. CHECK-IN, 7:00 A.M. START

The Young Professionals Dodson’s Drive 5K supports the Texas water industry’s young professionals by raising funds to support the WEAT/TAWWA Young Professionals Dodson Drive Fund, which provides scholarships for YP’s and funds to send YP’s to the Young Professional Summit each year. The Dodson’s Drive Fund was started in Spring 2011 in honor of Kenneth Dodson. Ken worked in the wastewater industry for 35 years and was a tireless supporter of YP education and growth throughout Texas. Ken passed away after battling cancer, but his memory and efforts live on through the Dodson Drive Fund and the Young Professionals Dodson’s Drive 5K.

This year’s Fun Run is a 5K course location starting in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center. It will be a five-loop course (1K per loop) around beautiful Discovery Green where participants will see the Downtown Houston skyline at sunrise. All teams and paid participants will be chip timed and receive a technical shirt. Finishers will receive their very own finisher’s ribbon to wear on your Texas Water badge. Awards will be given to the fastest male and female overall runners, fastest male and female masters runners, fastest YP male and female runners, and the fastest team. Sign up at www.txwater.org! Don’t miss being a part of this conference tradition!

Click here to explore the YP Dodson's Drive Fun Run Facebook page!

InFLOW stands for Introducing Future Leaders to Opportunities in Water and was conceived by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) in an effort to introduce promising students from underrepresented groups to professional careers in the water industry. InFLOW aims to enhance diversity and inclusion in the water workforce.

More information about the national InFLOW program is available at WEF's InFLOW page.

The InFLOW program is intended to showcase and inform students of the many rewarding careers in the water sector; as well as facilitate networking and mentoring opportunities for successful careers in the water sector.

More information about InFLOW at Texas Water is available at WEAT's InFLOW page.

Sponsorship

The WEAT/WEF InFLOW, Introducing Future Leaders to Opportunities in Water, is a program to enhance diversity and inclusion in the water workforce. Overall, the InFLOW program for students aims to provide students with the skills, experience, and connections they need to succeed in their chosen field after graduation.

Part of InFLOW takes place at Texas Water 2023, with the InFLOW Panel, an opportunity to have small and meaningful conversations with program supporters, mentors, and future employers, and tours around the exhibit hall.

We are looking for organizations like yours to join us as a sponsor to support outreach to diverse groups of up-and-coming professionals as we encourage and help prepare them for future water careers. The program is designed to help students gain practical skills and experience in our industry while connecting them with potential employers. Our sponsors have multiple opportunities to be recognized as part of our year-long InFLOW Program. Click Here to find out more about being an InFLOW sponsor.

Awards Lunch, Wednesday, April 12, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Join your incredible colleagues, WEAT Board members, and friends and family in celebrating and recognizing WEAT award winners at the Texas Water 2023 Awards Lunch. We will celebrate our members for their hard work and dedicated service to the water environment in Texas.

Your ticket to the luncheon is included with Full or Wednesday-Only Registration. Additional tickets are available for $75 on or before March 20; $85 after.

Tuesday, April 11

7 AM Check-in with breakfast; 8 AM Shotgun Scramble with lunch

Prizes & awards following

This year's golf tournament will be held at the Memorial Park Golf Course located at 1001 E Memorial Loop Dr, Houston, TX 77007. In 2019, the Astros Golf Foundation pledged to refurbish Memorial Park Golf Course to make it a world-class playing field for all Houstonians and now the course hosts the PGA TOUR's Cadence Bank Houston. The new course is designed by Tom Boak and four-time major winner Brooks Koepka and is known as one of the best municipal courses in the nation. The course does not host tournaments often, and we are lucky to have been able to command the entire course in the prime golf season in Texas. The PGA players love this course, and we invite you to chase your PGA dreams on this course too! There are 5 par 3’s and 5 par 5’s, so lots of birdies and hole in one opportunities.

As you play, check out one of the most intriguing features of the course: the state-of-the-art stormwater irrigation system that was designed to capture and retain 80 million gallons of stormwater for irrigation purposes, removing the golf course's irrigation from the city's potable water system. Water and golf coming together!

Note: There will be no on-site registration.

Register online at www.txwater.org or mail form with payment to:

TW22 Golf Tournament

P.O. Box 676

Pflugerville, TX 78691

Tournament Co-Chairs:

Chris Canonico, 713-540-5512, canonico@ardurra.com

JD Leffingwell, 832.418.5797, jd.leffingwell@sciphyn.com

Christian Annexy, 832-520-4560, cannexy@mccarthy.com

MEET & GREET/EXHIBIT HALL
TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 4:30 TO 6:30 P.M.

Texas Water attendees Meet & Greet in the Exhibit Hall at the George R. Brown Convention Center for refreshments. Registration opens at 4:00 p.m., then you can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the Exhibit Hall. More than 600 exhibitors are in one place, at one time, in the Convention Center.

Wednesday, April 12, 1:20 to 5:10 PM

Young Professionals will share their knowledge and experiences on an array of matters aimed at engaging YPs and seasoned professionals alike. Reference the program lineup for details.

Wednesday, April 12, 5:15 PM to 6:15 PM

Come out and join the YPs and seasoned professionals for drinks and hors d'oeuvres during this networking event. We will also recognize the winners of the Student Design Competition, the University Forum, and the Dodson's Drive Fun Run! The Mentoring Program's Networking Event will have participants discuss their experiences with mentors. Join us to learn more about the program and how you can participate!

Thursday, April 13, 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM

The Texas Water Engineer’s Ethics Seminar is an interactive and thought-provoking session led by Bob Pence and Gina Smith from Freese and Nichols, Inc. While earning one Professional Development Hour and satisfying the annual ethics requirement, you will learn to recognize ethical situations faced by engineers, analyze the issues of ethical situations, and discuss how to resolve ethical situations in a creative and professional manner. There is no additional fee or need to pre-register for this training.