Presentations from the symposium may be viewed here.  ​

More than 120 industry, water utility and academia participants attended the fifth International Emerging Technology Symposium, May 10-11 at The Westin O'Hare in Rosemont, Ill.

“We were thrilled with the high quality of presentations, and the experience and expertise that were brought to the 2016 International Emerging Technology Symposium by our speakers,” said IAPMO Group CEO Russ Chaney. “These biennial symposiums have grown into a successful and useful gathering of experts from academia, engineering, manufacturing, labor, codes and standards development, as well as test laboratories from throughout the world.”

Co-convened by the Alliance for Water Efficiency; American Society of Plumbing Engineers; the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating; the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials; the Mechanical Contractors Association of America; the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association; Plumbing Manufacturers International; the United Association; and the World Plumbing Council, the event gathered nearly 30 respected experts in the fields of water, energy efficiency, plumbing and civil engineering, and microbiology to discuss their areas of expertise.

The two-day symposium addressed a diverse spectrum of water and sanitation issues, including: “Innovation in Urban Onsite Water Reuse;” “Sustainable Water Reclaim Systems;” “Estimating Peak Water Demands in Buildings with Efficient Fixtures;” “Pathogen Research in the Built Environment;” “Plumbing Technologies from Down Under;” “Advancing Energy Efficiency in Urban Water Systems;” “WaterSense: The Next Decade;” “Common Mistakes in Managing Legionella in Large Buildings;” and “Water Quality, Water Savings and Water- Energy Nexus – Three Issues, One Solution?”

The 2016 symposium included two = panel discussions on “Hot Water System Efficiency and Research” and “Mitigating Opportunistic Pathogen Outbreaks from Premise Plumbing Systems,” and had a great showing from members of academia, including Dr. Jamie Bartram of the Water Institute at UNC; Dr. Steven Buchberger of the University of Cincinnati; Dr. Marc Edwards of Virginia Tech; Dr. Michael Gormley of the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Design at Heriot Watt University – Edinburgh; Dr. Janet E. Stout of the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering; and Dr. Andrew Whelton of Purdue University.

“With high-profile issues such as the Flint lead crisis and the increase in reported legionellosis events, industry experts are placing a higher degree of focus on the unintended consequences of water and energy conservation,” Chaney said. “The water and energy conservation communities have seen the technological advancements being made in our industry over each two-year period of this symposium, dating back to the first International Emerging Technology Symposium conducted in 2008. These advancements have presented society with safer and more reliable water supplies, and sanitation protocols are being presented in a safe and sustainable manner.”