ACE18 Onsite Program ACE18 Program Digimag

PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM Thursday, June 14, 2018 is evaluating the implications of decentralized systems in the greater context of more systemwide approaches to reclaimed water that also include centralized systems. New tools and system models can help inform decisions about where and how best to produce water that is “fit for purpose” (e.g., nonpotable versus potable reuse) while optimizing financial resources, water resources, infrastructure, and human capital. This talk will focus on how innovation can bolster approaches to development of sustainable water systems and greater water supply reliability. IL14 The Importance of Communication in Innovation 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Innovation Lounge—Booth #21108 Presented by ImagineH2O Great ideas are useless if you are unable to communicate them effectively. Imagine H2O Founders and Partners will discuss what good communication looks like and what the benefits are, whether it is inside or outside your organization. This session is a practical, lively discussion of an area of the water sector that really needs work. Explore this crucial skill, whether you are a tech provider, utility manager, sales agent or student. Water Utilities Issues Forum 11:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Room: Mandalay Bay Ballroom A Moderator: David LaFrance, AWWA CEO Join your fellow attendees for a conversation exploring key questions, challenges, and solutions to advance the knowledge and understanding of affordability. Affordability is an undeniable challenge for many utilities. Rate increases are necessary for some utilities to sustainably fund infrastructure projects on an ongoing basis, increasing the financial burden on utility customers and resulting in household affordability challenges. Utilities have addressed these challenges in a variety of ways, often with the regulatory framework driving differences at a local, regional, and federal level. The “Water Utilities Issues Forum” addresses affordability from the perspectives of thought leaders from utilities, academia, and the consulting community. Water Utilities Issues Forum Panelists: Cathy Bailey—Executive Director, Greater Cincinnati Water Works Cathy Bailey has been with Greater Cincinnati Water Works for more than 25 years, beginning as a chemist and taking on roles of progressively increasing responsibility ever since. As Transition Manager, she facilitated and managed all integration activities with the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati, and in her current position is responsible for an operational budget of more than $30 million and oversees more than 600 utility staff. Manny Teodoro—Associate Professor, Texas A&M University Manny Teodoro’s scholarship stands at the nexus of politics, public policy, and public management, with emphases on American environmental policy. Professor Teodoro pursues a line of applied research on utility management, policy, and finance, working with industry leaders on management and policy issues. IL15 Accelerating the Import of Israeli Water Technologies to the United States 1:00–1:30 p.m. Innovation Lounge—Booth #21108 Presenter: Gili Elkin Although 60% of Israel is a desert and the rest semiarid, and although the demand for water in Israel is almost twice as much as Israel’s natural water resources can supply, Israel exports water to its neighbors. There are many factors that helped turn Israel into a water powerhouse. The main ones are education, water planning, water management and innovation. Despite the scarcity of water in the United States and the need to duplicate Israel’s water achievements, there are many challenges in importing Israeli water technologies to the US: (a) US water utilities are risk-averse; (b) lack of budget. The solution: Israel– US Water Initiative, founded with the goal of accelerating the import of Israeli water technologies to the United States to help solve the water crisis. IL16 Smart Utility Innovation—Leveraging SmartSCADA 1:30–2:00pm Innovation Lounge—Booth #21108 Presenters: Michael Karl, Brown and Caldwell Keith Kolkebeck, SUEZ As a progressive Owner-Operator with facilities nationwide, SUEZ North America (SUEZ) strives to deliver best-in-class service for customers. This mission drives SUEZ to focus on improving overall utility performance by reducing operator training time and increasing insight into day-to-day operations through access to better information—creating a smarter utility. SUEZ appointed an internal cross functional team to work with Brown and Caldwell to establish a National Smart SCADA Master Plan and develop a realistic approach to achieve these objectives. This team held visioning workshops evaluating best-in-class approaches in the utility industry and mapped out a plan for Smart SCADA that significantly benefits the overall Sm art Utility approach. The result is an innovative approach to implementing Smart Utility in a phased, achievable manner, focused on early, tangible early wins to build acceptance and set the foundation for leveraging advanced technologies as part of the future Smart Utility vision. Attendees will learn about the roadmap and process to implementing Smart SCADA as a precursor to Smart Utility. Rick Giardina—Executive Vice President, Raftelis Rick Giardina has over 39 years of managerial and financial experience in the private and public sector covering technical areas such as municipal fee development, utility cost of service and rate structure studies, privatization and regionalization feasibility and implementation studies, management and operational audits, and rate filing and reporting. 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