Abstract Submissions are closed—thank you for your participation!

Abstracts must be submitted online by February 15, 2019  Download Call for Abstracts as pdf

Please join us for PNCWA2019, the 2019 Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association Annual Conference and Exhibition in Portland, Oregon, September 8-11, 2019. This annual conference is the region’s largest water quality educational event with over 970 individuals attending last year!

Our program committee is excited to accept abstracts for PNCWA2019's technical sessions. 

The conference focus is: Bridging the Gaps in Bridgetown

At this pivotal time – a generation about to retire; our infrastructure requiring massive replacement; a new workforce needed; drivers to deliver projects faster with fewer resources to higher standards; how can we bridge the gaps in our knowledge to transform and meet the challenges of the future? What bridges can we build with other industries to innovate and adapt? How can we bridge the gaps between engineers and the contractors for more efficient delivery? How can we build bridges for workforce development?

To engage the next generation of leaders, the program committee is particularly interested in teams of presenting authors that bridge industry experience (co-presenters that span senior level with mid and entry level) and bring diverse perspectives (collaboration and presentations between owners, consulting engineers, operators and/or construction contractors) to bridge lessons learned in project delivery. More specifically, we are especially seeking:

• Wastewater 101 A refresher track covering current technology for pump stations; pipeline design; odor control, headworks; clarification; disinfection; aeration; solids thickening and dewatering; digestion; polymer optimization; digester gas storage and treatment.
• Planning, Resiliency, Climate Science What lessons can we learn from other countries or other industries (such as water and power) for seismic design? How are future flows and loads, cost estimating, energy neutrality, climate change, resiliency being integrated into planning?
• Construction/Alternative Delivery What lessons can we learn from contractors to improve design documents? Where are the optimum milestones to transition from engineer lead to contractor lead design? Where are the typical gaps in the designs that cause changes in construction? How can we improve interdisciplinary gaps (coatings/concrete, etc?) How are you structuring your alternative delivery contracts and why?
• Facility Operations and Maintenance Wet weather flow management; struvite; process optimization; strategies for operating during a major upgrade/emergency; what are great features for operations/maintenance? New technologies to improve O&M, Energy/Chemical optimization, biosolids management? Programming challenges/lessons learned?
• Collection, Pump Stations and Conveyance  Condition assessment tools, use of trenchless technologies, infiltration and inflow strategies and successes, integrated (e.g., stormwater and sanitary) planning, standby power options (mobile pump, generator, dual feed).
• Stormwater Green streets, wet weather challenges, stormwater quality.
• Wastewater Treatment Process EBNR, advanced treatment, process modeling, high-strength wastewater, sidestream treatment.
• Resource Recovery Water reuse, nutrients, biosolids, gas and energy. Marketing products.
• Innovation and the Future Embryonic technologies, innovative materials and processes, research, pilot and demonstration testing results, aerobic granular sludge, biomimicry.
• Regulatory Challenges TMDL, ECC, metals, biological treatment for wet weather. What are the pressing regulatory issues and what do we anticipate in 10 and 20 years?
• Utility Management Financing strategy; tools to optimize utility operations; regional collaboration; emergency plan; capital programs; contracting methods; public communication strategies. How are you building a competent and efficient organization?
• Asset Management & Data Where is the industry going with BIM/GIS? What tools do other industries use (industrial, water?) How are you using your data? CMMS, IT, SCADA, predictive maintenance?
• Leadership, Social Equity, Workforce Development What skills are needed for career and organizational success? Leadership, conflict, mentorship, networking, negotiation, delegation, communication/presentation skills, project management; investment in continuing education, the generational hand-off?

If you have an interesting subject that does not readily fit into the program topics called out above, please submit it anyway. We don’t want to miss out on hearing about an exciting opportunity to learn!

Please consider the following requests when submitting your abstracts for consideration:

• Limit abstracts to 300 words and be concise in the title (75-character title is the max)
• Include a brief resume of all presenters (not all authors).
• Use normal formatting. Do not use all caps, etc.
• Notification of selections will occur in early April 2019
• Selected speakers are required to develop the abstract into 30-minute presentations and expect 10 minutes of Q&A.
• Electronic copies of accepted presentations will be collected at the conference.
• Presenters are expected to register for the conference and pay all applicable registration and preparation fees.
• Less than 2/3 of the submitted abstracts are normally selected for the program. 

We look forward to receiving and considering your abstract. If you have any questions, please contact Mike Rainey at [email protected] or myself at [email protected]

Jennifer E. Coker, P.E.

City of Portland, BES

PNCWA2019 Technical Program Chair

Abstract Submissions are closed—thank you for your participation!

Download Call for Abstracts as pdf

Never had an abstract accepted at PNCWA? This could make the difference in an abstract being accepted or not! Watch an 8 minute presentation on best practices for submitting an abstract: Abstract Best Practices