Illinois Water Environment Association
Date/Time
5/7/2026
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Central
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Central
Event Registration
Event Type(s)
IWEA Calendar
Event Registrations
Event Registrations
Event Description
Research and Innovation Committee Webinar:
Acceleration of Midwest Reuse Opportunities Driven by Economic Development
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Noon to 1 p.m.
Zoom Webinar
This event is affiliated with Chicago Water Week, presented by Current.
Water reuse is accelerating across the Midwest, driven by economic development, industrial growth, population shifts, and water scarcity. Surging data center construction is reshaping regional water demands and highlighting the need for innovative water management strategies. Learning objectives for this presentation include key drivers for reuse and emphasizing the impact of evolving water efficiency trends from hyperscale data centers on planning and operations.
Central Ohio case studies illustrate market analysis approaches to identifying customers and determining water demand and quality needs. Proximity to existing sources, water quality, and opportunities for future potable reuse are critical planning factors. The session will help utility leaders in Indiana recognize that effective planning is possible amid regulatory uncertainty. By collaborating with regulatory agencies and sharing lessons learned from other states, utilities can anticipate challenges and shape solutions.
Emerging challenges include water quality criteria gaps, total dissolved solids (TDS) management, regulatory considerations, and opportunities for municipal and industrial collaboration. This discussion highlights the value of stakeholder engagement and regulatory awareness in developing resilient, future-ready water strategies that support compliance and innovation.
Speaker: John Sheets, PhD, PE
John Sheets, PhD, PE, is CDM Smith’s Midwest Water Reuse Discipline Leader, focused on supporting utilities in water supply planning, water reclamation and reuse system design. He has over 14 years of experience in the water and wastewater sector, serving as project technical leader on strategic projects including water reuse planning, drinking water and water reclamation facility expansions, and emerging contaminant evaluations throughout the Midwest Region. He serves as the Chair of the Potable Committee for WateReuse Ohio’s state section.
Hosted by IWEA's Research and Innovation Committee
Free of charge to all!
1 PDH/TCH
Zoom webinar link will be forwarded by separate email the morning of May 7.
Acceleration of Midwest Reuse Opportunities Driven by Economic Development
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Noon to 1 p.m.
Zoom Webinar
This event is affiliated with Chicago Water Week, presented by Current.
Water reuse is accelerating across the Midwest, driven by economic development, industrial growth, population shifts, and water scarcity. Surging data center construction is reshaping regional water demands and highlighting the need for innovative water management strategies. Learning objectives for this presentation include key drivers for reuse and emphasizing the impact of evolving water efficiency trends from hyperscale data centers on planning and operations.
Central Ohio case studies illustrate market analysis approaches to identifying customers and determining water demand and quality needs. Proximity to existing sources, water quality, and opportunities for future potable reuse are critical planning factors. The session will help utility leaders in Indiana recognize that effective planning is possible amid regulatory uncertainty. By collaborating with regulatory agencies and sharing lessons learned from other states, utilities can anticipate challenges and shape solutions.
Emerging challenges include water quality criteria gaps, total dissolved solids (TDS) management, regulatory considerations, and opportunities for municipal and industrial collaboration. This discussion highlights the value of stakeholder engagement and regulatory awareness in developing resilient, future-ready water strategies that support compliance and innovation.
Speaker: John Sheets, PhD, PE
John Sheets, PhD, PE, is CDM Smith’s Midwest Water Reuse Discipline Leader, focused on supporting utilities in water supply planning, water reclamation and reuse system design. He has over 14 years of experience in the water and wastewater sector, serving as project technical leader on strategic projects including water reuse planning, drinking water and water reclamation facility expansions, and emerging contaminant evaluations throughout the Midwest Region. He serves as the Chair of the Potable Committee for WateReuse Ohio’s state section.
Hosted by IWEA's Research and Innovation Committee
Free of charge to all!
1 PDH/TCH
Zoom webinar link will be forwarded by separate email the morning of May 7.
Location
Setting: Live Virtual
Zoom
Zoom
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