Call for Abstracts | 2025 96th Annual Technical Conference & Expo (PennTec)
Date/Time
10/17/2024
12:00 AM - 12:00 AM Eastern
Event Description

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
Instructions for Submitting an Abstract/Presentation for the PWEA Annual Technical Conference
June 22-25, 2025  •  Kalahari Resort and Convention Center •  Pocono Manor, PA
The Pennsylvania Water Environment Association (PWEA) has issued a Call for Abstracts for its 96th Annual Technical Conference & Exhibition – PennTec 2025.

Individuals desiring to present at the PennTec Conference should submit an abstract by no later than Thursday, October 17, 2024. Please read the criteria below to be sure your abstract contains the most relevant information.  Presentations will be in blocks of 30 minutes, which includes time for questions and answers.
 
Abstracts will be submitted electronically via this SmartSheet link:
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/5b41446769404c90a35eaa7933490511
* Abstracts mailed or submitted via email will not be accepted.
 
There is no limit to the number of abstracts that may be submitted by an individual, company, organization, or institution.  However, in order to provide a valuable educational experience for attendees, the Program Subcommittee will work to limit the number of presentations by a single company or organization during a technical session. Membership in PWEA is not a requirement to present. Speakers are responsible for all of their own transportation, lodging and travel related expenses. Discounted registration fees will be offered to the Primary Presenter for the day of presentation, or for the entire conference. (Any additional presenters must register at the regular conference rates.) Please note: only one Primary Presenter per technical session will be published in the PennTec Conference Registration Brochure.
 
Abstracts are being solicited on cutting-edge and hot topics for Wastewater, Stormwater, and/or Drinking Water in the below categories. The main bullets are the Technical Program categories, indicating the focus for each program. The sub-bullets are suggestions for topics in each discipline. Other topics not included on this list are welcome.
  • Biosolids
    • Innovative usage
    • WWTP Case Studies
    • Emerging Technologies
    • Dewatering
    • Disposal
  • Collection Systems
    • Inflow & infiltration
    • Private property issues
    • Flow issues related to climate change
    • Pump station topics
    • Force main topics
    • Measurement – tv – laser – sonar
    • Smart or intelligent system management
    • Pipe or lateral rehab
    • Other relevant issues
  • Engineering (W/WW)
    • New techniques and equipment for underground utility verification/location
    • Improvements related to drinking water or wastewater safety
    • Mitigation of disinfection byproducts
  • Construction (W/WW)
    • Alternative Project Delivery methods
    • Use of Design-Build for project delivery
    • New/innovative construction techniques
    • Constructability reviews for Design projects
  • Government/Regulatory Affairs (W/WW)
    • Complying with regulatory requirements
    • Case studies about regulatory agency and regulated entity cooperation
    • Needed regulatory program changes
    • Impact of legislation and/or regulations on facility operations and budgets
  • Industrial Waste Pretreatment
    • Innovative Design
  • Municipal Industrial Pretreatment Program Tasks
    • Emerging Contaminants
    • PFOS/PFAS
    • Water Source Protection
    • Developing and complying with EPA mandated Industrial Pretreatment Programs
  • Laboratory Practices (W/WW)
    • Catalysts and Reagents
    • Ethics
    • Equipment
    • Innovative Techniques & Methods
    • Data Management
  • Professional Operations (W/WW)
    • Ethics/Best Practices
    • Innovation
    • Preventative Maintenance
    • DEP - such as handling NPDES Permit renewals, DEP inspections and/or Regulatory compliance
    • PA One Call
    • Mapping/GIS integration
    • System Optimization
    • Smart Development/System Growth Practices
    • Crisis/Emergency Management
  • Safety (W/WW)
    • OSHA Updates and Practices
    • Employee Safety – office, plant and field
    • Pandemic safety lessons learned 
  • Stormwater
    • Regional approach to stormwater management
    • Integrated water resource planning
    • Ramping up a stormwater authority
    • Water quality at the watershed scale
    • GIS tools for planning and asset management
    • Stormwater BMPs – Case studies of funding, performance, and maintenance
    • Urban climate resilience
    • Impact of the new normal for weather patterns
    • Updating codes and ordinances for better stormwater management
    • Municipal collaboration for meeting MS4 requirements
    • Model programs for MS4 public education and involvement
    • Innovative and cost-effective approaches to community stormwater problems
    • Model programs for flood management
    • Stormwater rate making
  • Drinking Water Topics
    • PFAS
    • Microplastics
    • Mitigation of Disinfection By-Products
    • Jar Testing
    • Lead Contamination
    • Corrosion Control of Lead Pipes 
  • Utility Management (W/WW)
    • Leadership Development and Organic Growth for Sustainable Management
    • Working effectively with neighboring utilities and municipalities; Community Outreach and meeting consumer demands with a focus on system sustainability
    • Effective Customer Service
    • Using Technology to Enhance Productivity
    • Setting rates based on sound operational and financial planning
    • Budgeting focused on critical activities for sustained performance
    • Inter-Agency cooperation:  Meeting service expectations and regulatory requirements
    • Levels of Service:  Improving responses to emergencies and the security and safety of assets
    • Prolonging asset life and improving decisions about asset rehabilitation, repair, and replacement
    • Asset Management/Business Case Evaluation/Capital Program Optimization: Reducing overall costs for both operations and capital expenditures
    • GIS System Integration
    • SCADA Systems
  • Soft Skills
    • Time Management
    • Effective Communication/Conflict Resolution
    • Adaptability and Work Ethic
    • Proactive/Critical Thinking / Decision Making
 
SUBMISSION FORMAT REQUIREMENTS 
Abstracts will be submitted electronically via the Smartsheet link:
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/5b41446769404c90a35eaa7933490511
* Abstracts mailed or submitted via email will not be accepted.
 
Abstracts should be a minimum of one and a maximum of three double-spaced full pages of text, including bibliography. Up to three additional pages of supporting tables and graphics may be included. The footer of each page should contain the corresponding author’s last name, abstract title, and the page number (example: Smith, Regional Approach to XYZ, page 1 of 3). Abstracts that fail to meet the maximum page requirement will be given consideration after other submissions. PLEASE SUBMIT ALL DOCUMENTS AS ONE ATTACHMENT. Abstracts must clearly define the objectives, status, methodology, findings, and significance of the investigation or study. Submissions on hot topics, regulatory issues, and new technologies are especially welcome. The Primary Presenter indicated on the Abstract Submission Form will be notified of acceptance or rejection by December 31, 2024.

 
CRITERIA FOR ABSTRACT SELECTION
 
  1. RELEVANCE: The topic presented in the abstract should appeal to the Joint Conference audience; presenting breakthrough technologies, new concepts, novel applications of concepts, original ideas, new twists, hot topics, or application of fundamental techniques to today’s problems. The abstract should present ideas, concepts or lessons learned that are transferable and usable at other facilities and situations.
 
  1. STATUS OF PROJECT: The abstract should establish that the project or case study is well-developed and should present data or results to support the hypothesis or principle being demonstrated. Data should have been subjected, at a minimum, to preliminary analysis. Abstracts showing concrete results with practical applications are more likely to be accepted.
 
  1. TECHNICAL CONTENT: The objectives and scope of the project should be stated. The conditions under which the data were obtained, and the general procedures/methodology used should be presented. The abstract should address the consequences of the issue/project presented. The consequences, both intended and unintended, could include environmental, economic, and social impacts.
  1. BENEFITS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Actual benefits and applications should be reported. Has the project helped to clean water or has it reduced pollutant discharges? Does the method described save time or money or increase accuracy? Is system management or operations more efficient or effective? Is this a specific finding or of more general application?
  2. CONTENT, CLARITY, AND QUALITY: Authors should prepare clear, concise abstracts that follow the requirements. The quality and content of the abstract are considered indicative of the final technical presentation for PennTec 2025.
 
Location
UNITED STATES
Contact Person
Melanie Greene
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