FWRC 2022 – CONNECT AGAIN!
Highlights From the 2022 Florida Water Resources Conference Mish Clark It was great to connect again at the 2022 Florida Water Resources Conference (FWRC) after a three-year sabbatical due to the pandemic. Sponsored by Florida Section American Water Works Association (FSAWWA), Florida Water Environment Federation (FWEA), and Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association (FWPCOA), the conference was held April 24-27 at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach. The beach area made for easy access to comfortable hotels, quality restaurants, and, of course, the ocean. Daytona Beach is one of the major Florida cities that FWRC has on its site rotation, and
this year’s event set several new milestones, with everyone excited to reconnect.
2022 FWRC by the Numbers Here are some statistics from the conference: S 2,644 attendees S 360 exhibitor booths S 54 sponsors S Six paid events S 78 meetings S Five “Connect Again” networking events S 113 technical sessions and workshops S 95 continuing education units (CEUs) and 313 professional development hours (PDHs) awarded
A Multifaceted Conference The
conference
technical
program,
including workshops and special-interest presentations, was exceptional and the quality educational papers that were presented once again demonstrate why FWRC is so highly regarded as a premier event in the water/ wastewater business. Networking events brought to life the many ways that water professionals are growing and thriving in their careers. With the various opportunities and challenges they face on a daily basis, the broad array of technical presentations, roundtables, and symposiums provided many answers for them. The exhibit hall in the Ocean Center was completely sold out. There truly was a reason to visit every corner and the spaces in between. In the center of the exhibit hall, all could enjoy watching the various Operations Challenge competitions, where teams of four members competed in this statewide contest. Each year we try to include activities to make this event as interesting and informative as possible: Technical Tour: Daytona Beach’s LPGA Facility A tour of Daytona Beach’s LPGA Facility was held on Sunday and was very engaging and informative. It included the facility’s demonstration testing system, water reclamation facility upgrades, and water treatment plant upgrades. Operators Showcase The Operators Showcase, presented by FWPCOA, was an opportunity to review and discuss potable water reuse and the changes in Florida regulations. This year, Dr. Carlyn J. Higgins, assistant engineer with Hazen and
14 July 2022 • Florida Water Resources Journal
