Live Events
Spotlight On Water Resources
PWX@Home works around your busy lifestyle. You can choose one afternoon per month to set aside and embrace an all-new virtual learning experience. The second Tuesday of each month from August through July, APWA will unveil education in 12 key public works focus areas. The series features sessions on relevant topics—most of which were selected for PWX 2020 in varying formats to maximize learning and engagement.
View all 2020-2021 Spotlight On... Series sessions >
February 9, 2021
1:00–4:30 p.m. CT
Attend three Water Resources sessions for one low price! Registration is $50 for Members and $75 for Non-Members. Registration discounts are available when registering groups and for the entire annual series. Participants are eligible for up to 0.3 CEUs for this program.
Register for February
Register for Annual Series
City of Coral Gables - Cost Effective Approach to Infiltration and Inflow Abatement Utilizing Trenchless Technologies
Speakers: Jorge Acevedo, Paola Davalos
The City of Coral Gables is located within Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city owns, operates, and maintains its Sanitary Sewer Collection System. Wastewater flows from the city are then discharged into Miami-Dade Water and Sewer System for treatment and disposal. As a Volume Sewer Customer of Miami-Dade County, the City of Coral Gables has seen tremendous success in reducing its billing costs by reducing wastewater flows through an aggressive Infiltration and Inflow (I/I) abatement program. For each 100 gallons per minute of I/I reduced, the city saves over $162,000 on billings annually, in addition to savings in power costs, pumping, and operation and maintenance activities associated with the I/I flow. The city’s I/I abatement program’s success is directly linked to the utilization of trenchless technologies such as Pipe Bursting, Sliplining, and Cured-In-Place Pipe. These trenchless techniques have not only been extremely cost-effective, but have also allowed for rehabilitation and repair of sewers while minimizing impact on the community, both in residential neighborhoods, and in the city’s vibrant downtown area.
Proficiency Level: Applied
Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize the performance of trenchless techniques in reducing I/I as determined through flow measurements taken before and after the sewer rehabilitation.
2. Analyze the interrelationship between Wastewater Flow Data, Rainfall Data, Tidal Elevation and Groundwater Table Elevation as these relate to estimating I/I.
3. Develop I/I Corrective Action Plans and implement cost-effective rehabilitation/repair methods utilizing trenchless techniques.
4. Prepare a community outreach and engagement strategy to obtain input to align the needs of community stakeholders with the goals of a project.
Communicating PFAS Discoveries and EPA Action Plan Impacts to the Press and the Public
Speaker: Mike McGill
The discoveries of man-made, contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), especially a group of chemicals names PFAS, constitute the greatest future threat to public confidence in our nation’s drinking water. The sheer number of these contaminants and the lack of health and safety data on all of them, combined with new, disruptive developments that are occurring nearly every week, could lead many of our customers to question whether or not they should turn on their taps. That’s why it’s more important than ever that utilities become or stay the go-to source for information about their drinking water. While it is understandable that new drinking water standards take time to be correctly developed, the lack of expediency with the EPA’s Action Plan put the responsibility for addressing the PFAS problem back onto the states. Meanwhile, testing being conducted by academics and activists are vastly outpacing the regulatory process. The headlines their test results are generating are forcing states to come up with new drinking water standards. Fast. States are creating new standards based on a combination of scientific data and political expediency. The checkerboard effect is leading to frustration and anger from the public, which is already confused over how these chemicals were allowed to enter into our source waters in the first place. WaterPIO has been in the middle of handling PFAS communications since 2016 and emerging contaminant communications since 2008.
Proficiency Level: Advanced
Learning Objectives:
1. Examine the latest information about the discoveries of PFAS in drinking water and how the EPA and state governments are reacting to the latest news.
2. Plan for a PFAS discovery that could permanently damage the utility's reputation if public communications are mishandled.
3. Utilize the public and key stakeholder messages that have helped water and wastewater service providers explain the impacts of PFAS discoveries on their services.
A Cost-Effective Approach - Using Real Time Control and In-System Storage Strategies to Prevent Sanitary Sewer System Overflows
Speakers: Deryk Daquigan, Azalea Mitch, Dan O’Leary
Facing years of aging infrastructure and inadequate sewer system capacity, the City of San Mateo was issued a Cease & Desist Order by the State of California Regional Water Quality Control Board to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows caused by rain induced inflow and infiltration. The city evaluated two options: conveying peak design storm flows to the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and building in-system storage within the sewer system. The in-system storage approach was selected as it eliminated the need for larger capacity at the WWTP, reducing overall capital costs. After an evaluation of 50+ locations for a 5.3 million gallon underground wet weather flow storage structure, the city pursued the acquisition of easements and embarked on an expansive public outreach effort. The design for the in-system storage approach is based on a real-time control strategy to operate the new structure and the pumping systems within the collection system. Weather forecasting will determine the activation of storage and the wet weather treatment mode at the WWTP, an approach that has required in depth training of the operations team. Overall, coordination with residents, developers, multiple city departments, and an outside agency for the easements has been essential for a successful project.
Proficiency Level: Applied
Learning Objectives:
1. Develop an objective evaluation method and criteria to guide programmatic and project specific decisions which account for technical, environmental, social, and economic considerations
2. Communicate engineering and science to the general public and convince governing bodies of adopting alternative operational approaches.
3. Prepare a community outreach and engagement strategy to obtain input to align the needs of community stakeholders with the goals of a project.
Small Cities/Rural Communities Perspective On Water Resources
February 3, 2021
Noon–1:00 p.m. CT
No city, large or small, can operate effectively without proper, reliable sanitary sewer collection systems and wastewater treatment plants. Large municipalities have large water operations, but small cities and rural communities have unique water challenges. Join this panel as they discuss water resources and resilient and sustainable systems.
Registration is FREE for Members and Non-Members. You can
register for the entire year of programming or by each individual
program.
Register for February
Register for Annual Series
Virtual Stormwater Summit
February 17-18, 2021
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. CT
The PWX@Home Stormwater Summit features seven virtual education sessions selected by APWA’s Water Resources Management Committee for presentation at PWX 2020. The two-day event features presenters sharing agency perspectives and experiences on topics such as project funding strategies; implementation of new technologies, methods for building flood resilient communities, including green infrastructure; applications of IoT water level sensors; creating an open-source web tool; and simultaneously handling alternative project delivery methods. Presenters will highlight successes as well as share lessons learned. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with presenters via a question-and-answer opportunity at the end of each session, as well as network and learn from other attendees via table discussions, a unique feature within the Summit platform.
Only full event registration is available. Registrants will have access to session recordings following the program in case scheduling conflicts prevent participation in live sessions or to revisit following the live event. Participants are eligible for 0.6 CEUs upon the completion of this program.
Registration is $85 for Members and $110 for Non-Members. Group discounts are available.
Certified Stormwater Managers (CSMs) are offered special pricing of $55 Member/$80 Non-Member. CSMs should contact education@apwa.net for special registration link.
Learn more >
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Third Thursday Advocacy Jam: Water Resources
February 18, 2021
2:30–3:30 p.m. CT
With the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimating that water infrastructure in the United States will require at least $700 billion in investment over the next 20 years, and the Canadian Government committing to establish a Canada Water Agency to promote collaboration among all levels of government to protect freshwater sources, the need for engagement at the federal level is clear. Join the APWA’s US and Canadian Government Affairs staff for an overview and interactive discussion on the state of water policy in both countries, including potential clean/drinking water legislation, federal programs and regulatory changes, the impact of water resource management on transportation and emergency management, and challenges facing the water workforce.
Registration is FREE for Members and Non-Members. You can register for the entire year of programming or by each individual program.
Register for February
Register for Annual Series
CLL: PFAS in your water-what you need to know and why!
February 25, 2021
10:00–11:00 a.m. CT
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are manmade chemicals that includes PFOA, PFOS, and others; manufactured and used around the United States since the ‘40s. PFAS are found in water-repellent, wrinkle-free, and stain-resistant fabrics; non-stick cookware; paints; firefighting foam; and other household and industrial products. PFAS are persistent – they’ve been referred to as forever chemicals - in the environment and in the human body; they don’t break down and accumulate over time. According to the US EPA, there is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects. PFAS has been found in drinking water and full cycle back in wastewater sludge. In this Click, Listen & Learn, we will help you understand PFAS, how it gets into our water and wastewater, it’s risks and current thinking in public works.
Registration is FREE for Members.
Register Now