Our Mission: To connect and enrich the Illinois water community
and increase the awareness of the impact and value of water.

Illinois Water Environment Association

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Water Week 2026 and the National Water Policy Fly-in
April 14 - 15, 2026
Washington, DC

Mark your calendars for Water Week 2026 and the National Water Policy Fly-in in Washington. All registrants will receive an invitation to the Fly-In Prep Webcast on April 1, 2026.

Each year Water Week invites water professionals from across the nation to help advance key water policy priorities such as sustained growth in federal infrastructure investment, addressing water affordability, supporting water research & development and advancing sound science-based solutions, and making our critical infrastructure more resilient.

This premier event brings together water professionals, utility leaders, and advocates from across the nation for a week of impactful engagement and collaboration.

Learn more and register: https://www.wef.org/waterweek

Shared by IWEA's Government Affairs Committee
Cost: $150
more info...		4/14/2026
-4/15/2026		7:00am to 7:00pm

Join IWEA and Industrial Water, Waste, & Sewage Group (IWWSG) for a downriver social boating excursion on the Fox River! Our journey starts in Batavia, passes through Glenwood Park Forest Preserve, and stops for lunch near the dam in North Aurora. 

General info:
  • The shuttle will depart from Aurora Athletic Club (550 Clearwater Drive) promptly at 10 a.m.
  • Check in and take shuttle transportation upriver. Paddle downriver and end back at Aurora Athletic Club.
  • Duration
    • Total: 3 - 4 hours
    • Paddling: 2 - 3 hours
  • Rental from Howling Wolfe includes: boat (single/tandem kayak or canoe), paddle, personal flotation device, and shuttle transportation.
  • This is a self-guided trip.
  • The entire trip is downstream. The river current is slow to moderate depending on weather and river stage. Map available at: https://howlingwolfe.com/maps/
Lunch:
The group will stop at the North Aurora Dam for lunch. Buy lunch at one of the following restaurants or bring your own: Requirements: Guests are permitted for this event. All attendees must be 18+ or with a parent or guardian.

Cost is $69 per person to rent. You may alternately bring your own boat and shuttle it yourself. Stage your boat at 1644 S River St, Batavia, IL 60510, prior to 9:40 a.m. Those bringing their own boat still must follow all safety rules.

Registration deadline: April 4 | Cancellation deadline: April 14 (no refunds after the cancellation deadline)

Hosted by IWEA's Students and Young Professionals and Sustainability Committees
more info...		4/18/20269:30am to 2:00pmTom Parkinson

Sustainability Committee Webinar: MWRD Space to Grow Program - Greening Chicago Schoolyards
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Noon to 12:30 p.m.
Zoom Webinar

Since 2014, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) has partnered with Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the Chicago Department of Water Management (CDWM), Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC) and Openlands to transform CPS schoolyards into dynamic places to learn and play, while also educating them on the importance of green infrastructure to manage stormwater. This program, known as Space to Grow, gives students and their neighbors living in low-income communities improved outdoor spaces to play. These permeable surface areas are equipped with new playgrounds, turf fields, rain gardens and other features designed to collect more rainfall and keep it out of the sewers. The permeable surfaces will reduce flooding, reduce the load on the combined sewer system, and encourage the use of green infrastructure techniques that soak up more stormwater by using natural solutions.
 
Speaker: Ky Ochsner, MWRD, Assistant Civil Engineer

Hosted by IWEA's Sustainability Committee
Members $10 | Nonmembers $20
.5 PDH/TCH

Zoom webinar link will be forwarded by separate email the morning of April 22.
more info...		4/22/202612:00pm to 12:30pmFay Costa

Chicago Water Week
May 3 - 9, 2026

Experience a Week of Water Innovation, Collaboration, and Celebration!

Current’s 6th Annual Chicago Water Week returns May 3-9, 2026 with dozens of water-focused events.

Partnering organizations will independently host a variety of events throughout the week, from indoor and outdoor experiences to virtual and in-person gatherings.

Participate in this event to: 
  • Explore Water’s Impact: Learn about the essential role water plays in our environment, communities, and economy.
  • Engage with Water Stewards: Hear from water leaders, policymakers, innovators, researchers, and advocates on how our region is addressing pressing today’s most pressing water challenges.
  • Build Connections: Network with industry, business, regulatory, and community professionals who are passionate about water innovation and advocacy.

more info...		5/3/2026
-5/9/2026		 

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.
more info...		5/7/202612:00pm to 1:00pmArun Mande

Residuals, Biosolids and Treatment Technology Conference

May 11 - 14, 2026
Kansas City Convention Center (Kansas City, MO)

Hosted by the Water Environment Federation
For more information and to register, click here: https://www.wef.org/events--education/conferences/RBITT/
more info...		5/11/2026
-5/14/2026		8:00am to 8:00pm

more info...		5/25/2026 

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