Industrial Water Solutions 2026, presented in partnership with the Water Environment Federation, is just one week away! This week, we’re spotlighting technical sessions which focus on onsite industrial reuse systems and reuse in the food processing industry.  

Our "Scaling Onsite Water" session will tackle water management solutions that enable reuse, efficiency, and resilience at the building and campus scale, with input from experts Bob Salvatelli of H2O Innovation, Joe Downey of Ardurra, Zach Gallagher of Natural Systems Utilities, and Lucy Pugh of AECOM. 

Our "Water Stewardship in Food Processing" session will explore how the food and agriculture sector is advancing water stewardship across production and processing, with panelists Mike Buettner of Alfa Laval, Gopi Sandhu of Nestle Purina, John Crisman of Molear, Margaret Wild of Kennedy Jenks, and Alexander Hobby of Hilmar Cheese. View the final technical program for more information. 

The WateReuse Association and WateReuse Utah welcome the Timpanogos Special Service District (TSSD)! TSSD is a regional wastewater collection and treatment provider located in American Fork, Utah. It processes up to 30 million gallons of wastewater per day for over 240,000 residents across 10 northern Utah County cities.  

The draft conference program for WateReuse California’s 2026 conference is now available. This year’s conference will feature nearly 100 technical presentations and over 150 speakers, a dedicated one-and-a-half-day track for operators, immersive networking experiences, and more. This year’s keynote speaker is Tammie Jo Shults, who was among the first women to become an F/A-18 Hornet pilot in the U.S. Navy and successfully landed a Southwest Boeing 737 plane after an engine exploded at high altitude, saving 148 lives. Plus, don’t miss remarks from water industry leaders E. Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the California State Water Resources Board and Peter Grevatt, CEO of the Water Research Foundation.

Last week, CBS News featured water reuse as a key solution to the increased water demand caused by the proliferation of data centers in Illinois. The article notes that while Lake Michigan contains over one quadrillion gallons of water, resilience planning and sustainability strategies are still necessary to protect water resources in the region. "Our wastewater treatment plants can supply data centers, and this is what I call, in Illinois, the low-hanging fruit," Rachel Havrelock, executive director of WateReuse member The Freshwater Lab, told CBS. Angela Densham, director of regional government affairs at WateReuse member Alliance for the Great Lakes, shared: “We have to be really thoughtful in our region about who takes our water and how much is taken. That's why we think when it comes to data centers it's really about planning and management."

Our upcoming Industrial Water Solutions event, taking place in Chicago, Illinois, from June 8-10, will focus on implementing circular strategies for high tech industries and across the entire industrial sector. Rachel Havrelock will participate in the technical session “How to Scale Industrial Water Reuse: Addressing and Overcoming Integrated Barriers” on Wednesday, June 10. 

Last week, Texas Border Business highlighted General Manager and CEO of WateReuse member Brownsville Public Utilities Board Marilyn Gilbert’s participation in a panel at the RGV Connect Water Forum, where she emphasized the importance of investing in reuse to tackle Brownsville’s water supply challenges. Gilbert shared Brownsville’s plans to supplement its current alternative water supplies – including a partnership with the South Regional Water Authority, brackish groundwater desalination, reservoir expansion, conservation, and its existing water reuse system – with an upcoming direct potable reuse project which would yield 8 million gallons per day. Gilbert shared the importance of the project for securing long-term water resiliency: “My hope is that we don’t fall into that pattern again—that another storm comes, water levels rise, and we simply forget about these issues,” she said. 

This new community engagement guide is designed to support utility leaders, educators, local organizers, and community members who are involved in planning or implementing water reuse projects. It includes an overview of types of reuse, engagement strategies tailored for each project phase, and real-world case studies of effective strategies to ensure community acceptance and support.  

June 8-10, 2026 | Chicago, IL

Industrial Water Solutions, co-hosted by WateReuse and the Water Environment Federation, is the essential conference for professionals who provide, treat, manage, use, or regulate water in industrial settings to find solutions that turn waste streams into value streams. Join industry thought leaders to collaborate, network, and share strategies to empower industries and the communities they call home.

June 16, 2026
Free to everyone

Join the WateReuse Kansas Section for an introductory webcast exploring the evolving landscape of water reuse across the state. This session will provide a high-level overview of current state legislation and regulatory developments, along with insight into the Kansas section’s goals to advance water reuse and strengthen collaboration among utilities, industry, and policymakers.

June 18, 2026 | Hermiston, OR

WateReuse Pacific Northwest and the City of Hermiston, Oregon invite you to the fifth annual Summer Summit and Social at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center. Tour the Hermiston water recycling plant, get updates from Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality, meet WateReuse members from across the Pacific Northwest, and more.

July 16, 2026
Free to WateReuse members

Non-potable water reuse systems have a long history of supplying “the right water for the right use” through systems of purple pipes. One of the most common uses is for landscaping, including city parks, golf courses, commercial landscaping, and more. Utilities need specialized outreach efforts to engage the stakeholders who use this water. Their outreach teams must be prepared to speak about water quality, cross connection prevention, regulatory paperwork, and public perception. Join our panel of communications professionals to hear about their successes and challenges in non-potable water reuse outreach. 

July 19-21, 2026 | Flagstaff, AZ

The annual Arizona Water Reuse Symposium, hosted by WateReuse Arizona and the AZ Water Association, brings together industry leaders for education, conversation, and networking in Flagstaff, Arizona.

August 24-26, 2026 | San Francisco, CA

WateReuse California's 2026 Annual Conference will include insights from leading practitioners of water reuse in California, opportunities to learn about San Francisco’s leadership on onsite water recycling, and networking events to facilitate connections with colleagues new and old in a fun and focused setting.

September 15-17, 2026 | San Antonio, TX

Mark your calendar! The Annual WateReuse Texas conference brings together industry leaders in water reuse for education, conversation, and networking to promote the growing water reuse industry in Texas. The conference includes interactive workshops, networking events, and rich technical content including presentations about reuse-related research, funding, case studies, treatment technologies, planning, communications, advocacy and more!