More than 1,000 professionals working in a wide range of water-related disciplines gathered to network and share experiences and ideas at the ninth annual WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition, held October 5-7 in Las Vegas. As it has since its inception in 2008, WSI serves as a platform to help local communities achieve greater water efficiency and conservation, said Program Chairman Doug Bennett. “What makes this event successful is the diversity and collective knowledge of the people who attend,” Bennett said. “The format encourages people to engage with each other and those interactions energize the conference.”
The WSI program included comprehensive professional sessions and panel discussions, pre-conference workshops and an expo hall. It also featured opening keynote addresses by US Representative Dina Titus and noted urban water efficiency expert Paul R. Brown. In addition, a luncheon featured the presentation of the WaterSense Partner of the Year Awards by US EPA’s WaterSense Program and the Alliance for Water Efficiency.
WSI participants comprised professionals from 38 states and the District of Columbia, as well as Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Colombia, India, Iraq, Israel, Mexico, Nigeria, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Technical tours to Hoover Dam, Clark County Wetlands Park, the Springs Preserve and The Venetian Resort highlighted Southern Nevada’s water-efficiency practices and water resources, while an expo hall provided 80 exhibitors with an opportunity to share their water-efficient products and services.
The Southern Nevada Water Authority presented WSI in partnership with the Alliance for Water Efficiency, the American Water Works Association, Audubon International, the California Landscape Contractors Association, the California Urban Water Conservation Council, US EPA’s WaterSense Program, Green Plumbers USA, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, International Center for Water Technology, International Code Council, Irrigation Association and Imagine H2O. Agency supporters included City of Phoenix, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Denver Water, Water Research Foundation, US Bureau of Reclamation, San Diego County Water Authority and Central Arizona Project.
The 10th annual WSI conference and expo is slated for October 4-6, 2017, at the South Point Hotel and Conference Center in Las Vegas, NV. More information will soon be available at WaterSmartInnovations.com.