Record Attendance for AWWA Hydraulic Model Integration Workshop at ACE 2008

Premier Event Highlighted Modeling Innovations Shaping Future of Drinking Water Industry

Broomfield, Colorado USA, June 2008 — MWH Soft, a leading global provider of environmental and water resources applications software, today reported record attendance for the American Water Works Association (AWWA) workshop on integrating hydraulic network models with infrastructure management technology, presented Sunday June 8, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA, and chaired by MWH Soft President Dr. Paul F. Boulos.

Sponsored by the AWWA Engineering and Construction Division, “Hydraulic Model Integration to Reduce Capital and Operational Expenses: Creating the Future” featured a variety of real-world case study presentations by water utility leaders from around the world. Each participant drew from hands-on experience in successfully implementing these critical distribution systems strategies. (See full agenda below.)

In sharing “lessons learned,” the group helped demystify the complex process of integrating hydraulic network models with infrastructure management technology, from maintenance (CMMS), customer service (CIS) and engineering (CIP, GIS) to operations (SCADA). They also described the many benefits of melding network modeling and management technologies, from enhanced enterprise performance to an improved bottom line. Among those benefits were better design of new and replacement pipes; improved water quality, leakage, energy, project and chemical inventory management; more effective preventive maintenance; and enhanced system security, integrity, performance and customer service levels.

Participants learned about the latest innovations and improvements in water distribution system management and operations — with a special focus on integration and automation — from experienced industry leaders representing water utilities of many sizes across the US, Canada, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Presenters included experts from American Water, NJ; Cincinnati Waterworks, OH; Denver Water, CO; East Bay Municipal Utility District, CA; Gold Coast Water, Australia; Las Vegas Valley Water District, NV; San Antonio Water System, TX; Thames Water Utilities Ltd, UK; and Toronto Water, Canada. An open panel format discussion period concluded the workshop, making all speakers available to answer questions and discuss specific model integration issues.

The workshop received high accolades from attendees. “This was one of the best learning workshops I have ever attended,” said Kurt Vause, P.E., Engineering Manager at Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility in Alaska. “It offered a wealth of invaluable learning experiences shared by utility colleagues who have successfully implemented hydraulic model integration projects. All the presentations were outstanding, and represented significant contributions to the water industry. It was enjoyable to meet with colleagues who share a passion for innovation in the quest to deliver safe drinking water to our communities.”

“This was a very successful and exciting technology transfer workshop,” commented Hugh Costello, P.Eng., Senior Production Design Engineer for Calgary Water Resources in Alberta, Canada. “It presented the state-of-the-art in hydraulic network model integration for improving water distribution management activities, with a wide variety of innovative solutions to real-world problems. It also provided an excellent opportunity to see what other utilities were doing to meet today’s challenges in the water industry around integration issues. A very educational session.”

Added Thomas E. Dumm, P.E., Technical Director for O’Brien & Gere in Landover, Maryland, “This was a remarkably successful workshop with exceptional coverage of the latest advances in modeling technologies. It provided attendees with a unique opportunity to hear from key utility figures about proven, cutting-edge solutions that can significantly boost productivity and success, and optimize water distribution system operations and performance.”

With more than 60,000 members, AWWA is the largest organization of water professionals in the world. Its Annual Conference & Exposition (ACE), known as The World’s Water Event, is the most comprehensive and diverse water conference on earth. It is renowned for offering invaluable insights into breakthrough research, presenting the latest updates to government policies, and pinpointing emerging scientific trends in the water industry worldwide. This year’s conference featured more than 91 sessions and over 530 presentations representing the work of more than a thousand water industry experts.

“As the focus on protecting, improving and sustaining the reliability, integrity and performance of our drinking water infrastructure systems intensifies, the need to collaborate more effectively, share information, and discuss technological innovations and proven, cost-effective solutions is more pressing than ever,” noted Boulos. “This industry-leading workshop was phenomenally successful in giving attendees a much more focused understanding of integrated network modeling and how it can make their organizations more successful and give them a competitive edge on the future.”