Dr. Marc Edwards, engineering professor and researcher at Virginia Tech, joins a distinguished list of speakers at the 2016 International Emerging Technology Symposium, May 10-11, Westin O'Hare in Rosemont, Ill.

Edwards, Tim Keane, consulting engineer, principal, Legionella Risk Management, Inc. and Gary Klein, president, Gary Klein and Associates, Inc., will discuss “Opportunistic Pathogens in Premise Plumbing.”

The prime directive of the plumbing industry is to design and install safe water supply and sanitary systems for our nation’s buildings. However, water scarcity resulting from persistent drought and declining water quality are causing problems that the plumbing trade, plumbing engineers, building and facility managers, health officials, and even the public-at-large need to be aware of in order to mitigate the potential for opportunistic pathogens to thrive in premise plumbing and infect at-risk building occupants. 

While it may seem that the issues of drought and the increase in legionellosis outbreaks are unrelated, they are in fact directly linked. The 2016 IETS will take participants on a deep dive into this issue with podium presentations and a vibrant panel discussion.

Other featured topics include the following:

• The Plumbing Industry’s Research on Peak Demand for Residential Buildings

Dr. Steven Buchberger of the University of Cincinnati will provide an update on the ASPE/IAPMO/WQA’s peak demand study, which has the potential to arrive at a new statistical process for water supply pipe sizing in residential buildings.

• Keynote Address presented by sustainability research expert Professor Stuart White

Professor White, director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures, leads a team of researchers dedicated to creating a path to a sustainable future through independent, project-based research.  An acclaimed author, commentator and award honoree with over 30 years of experience in sustainability research, Professor White’s work focuses on achieving sustainability outcomes for a range of government, industry and community clients across Australia and internationally.

More information on the complete including the 2016 Symposium Presentations can be found here.