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Illinois Water Environment Association

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Elucidating the Impact of Low Dissolved Oxygen on Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal Under Aerobic and Anoxic Conditions at Full Scale
Thursday March 5, 2026
Noon to 1 p.m.
Zoom webinar

In this webinar, Riley Doyle will present her full-scale research on the impact of low dissolved oxygen (DO) on biological phosphorus removal. Her work at Hampton Roads Sanitation District’s (HRSD) Virginia Initiative Plant (VIP) shows that elevated aerobic DO concentrations can rapidly and persistently impair biological phosphorus removal, while sustained low-DO operation improves phosphorus removal performance, promotes polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs), and enables anoxic phosphorus uptake. Notably, improvements in effluent orthophosphate concentrations were observed even after the elimination of chemical phosphorus precipitation, highlighting the strength of the biological response. These findings challenge conventional high-DO design assumptions and identify low-DO operation as a pathway to more stable and energy-efficient nutrient removal.

Key findings presented in this webinar include: 
 
  1. Improved Phosphorus Removal Under Low DO: Sustained low-DO operation resulted in lower and more stable effluent orthophosphate concentrations compared to higher-DO operation.
  2. Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Cycling: Batch testing demonstrated increased phosphorus release and aerobic uptake rates under low-DO conditions, indicating more efficient EBPR metabolism.
  3. Microbial Community Shifts: Reduced DO favored microbial populations associated with PAOs, directly linking operational strategy to improved biological performance.
  4. Anoxic Phosphorus Uptake: Measurable anoxic phosphorus uptake was observed, accounting for up to approximately 40% of aerobic uptake rates in some cases, suggesting opportunities to leverage post-anoxic processes for improved efficiency. This webinar will be particularly valuable for utilities, operators, engineers, and researchers seeking full-scale, data-driven strategies to meet increasingly stringent phosphorus limits while reducing aeration energy demand.
This webinar will be particularly valuable for utilities, operators, engineers, and researchers seeking full-scale, data-driven strategies to meet increasingly stringent phosphorus limits while reducing aeration energy demand.

Speaker: Riley Doyle, EIT PhD Candidate Water Engineering at Université Laval, doctoral research in collaboration with Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD)
Riley Doyle is a PhD candidate in Water Engineering at Université Laval, conducting her doctoral research in collaboration with HRSD. Her PhD work is based on full-scale research at HRSD’s Virginia Initiative Plant. She holds an MS in Environmental Engineering from Virginia Tech and a BS in Environmental Engineering from Bucknell University. Her research focuses on optimizing biological phosphorus removal at full-scale facilities, the role of internally stored carbon in post-anoxic denitrification, and process modeling to evaluate CO₂ volatilization under different alkalinity addition scenarios. Riley is passionate about applying biological understanding to practical challenges in wastewater treatment, water quality, and resource recovery.

more info...		3/5/202612:00pm to 1:00pmArun Mande

See Illinois Association of Wastewater Agencies :: Home (ilwastewater.org) for more information. 
more info...		3/10/2026
-3/12/2026		8:00am to 5:00pm

Sustainability Committee Webinar: MWRD Space to Grow Program - Greening Chicago Schoolyards
Thursday, March 12, 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 $20 | Nonmembers $30
.5 PDH/TCH

Zoom webinar link will be forwarded by separate email the morning of March 12.
more info...		3/12/202612:00pm to 12:30pmFay Costa

WEF Young Professionals Summit 2026

March 22 - 24, 2026
Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, NC

The WEF/AWWA Young Professionals (YP) Summit is the premier water and wastewater industry workshop for young professionals. This standout event gives YPs the opportunity to develop your leaderships skills and industry knowledge. With over 400 water sector participants, you will be able to both learn from each other and create a diverse network to support your evolving career path.

Hosted by the Water Environment Federation
For more information and to register, click here: https://www.wef.org/membership--community/students--young-professionals/yp-summit/
more info...		3/22/2026
-3/24/2026		8:00am to 8:00pm

Financing the Future of the U.S. Water Sector

March 23, 2026
9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
The Westin Charlotte (Charlotte, NC)

Across the nation, aging water infrastructure and rising costs are creating an urgent need for additional capital and innovative financing solutions. In addition, as the water sector moves toward a circular water economy, unlocking up to $47 billion annually in direct economic value for U.S. utilities and municipalities, the sector must come together to chart a path forward. 

To meet this challenge, the Water Environment Federation is convening leading experts from across the country for a high-impact summit focused on financing the future of water infrastructure. Together, we’ll explore strategies to leverage federal resources, mobilize private investment, and build sustainable funding models that drive long-term resilience and growth.

Hosted by the Water Environment Federation
For more information and to register, click here: https://www.wef.org/events--education/conferences/financing-the-future-of-the-u.s.-water-sector/
more info...		3/23/20269:00am to 6:00pm

WEF | AWWA Utility Management Conference

March 22 - 27, 2026
Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, NC

This year, the WEF/AWWA Utility Management Conference is offering 34 innovative, interactive technical sessions and 7 pre-conference workshops.

Hosted by the Water Environment Federation
For more information and to register, click here: https://www.wef.org/events--education/conferences/utilitymanagement2026/
more info...		3/24/2026
-3/27/2026		8:00am to 8:00pm

The Illinois Wastewater Professionals Conference is the largest annual wastewater and water reuse conference in Illinois. The program focuses on all aspects of water, except drinking. 
more info...		3/30/2026
-4/2/2026		9:00am to 5:00pmAnn Davidson

more info...		4/5/2026 

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

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