Symposium chair announced,

Don Dickinson of Phoenix Contact has been named as General Symposium Chair for the upcoming 2018 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls (WWAC) Symposium.

Don Dickinson

Taking place at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda (USA) on 7-9 August 2018—only 15 minutes from the USA capital—the WWAC Symposium will feature two days of technical speakers, an exhibitor hall, a tour of a local water plant, and technical training courses on a variety of topics. The event, now in its fifteenth year, brings together automation professionals in the municipal water/wastewater sector from around the world.

“The ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium, also known as WWAC, is unique in its focus,” says Graham Nasby, Chair of the ISA-112 SCADA systems standards committee. “It is the only symposium in North America that is entirely devoted to the needs of automation professionals in the municipal water/wastewater sector. We are delighted to have Don Dickinson head up this important event for us in 2018.”

Dickinson and Phoenix Contact, a global leader in electrical engineering, electronics and automation, have been involved with the WWAC Symposium for many years. In 2012, when the event was rebooted as a modern conference, Phoenix Contact was one of the key sponsors of the event, a role it has held ever since. Over the years, Dickinson has served as a presenter, a member of the program committee, and Assistant Symposium Chair.

“I look forward to continuing to lead what has been a very successful symposium for the ISA,” remarked Dickinson in a recent interview. “Automation plays an integral role in addressing the significant challenges that we face in our industry, such as modernizing an aging infrastructure. The WWAC Symposium is focused on ensuring that the automation workforce is equipped to deal with these challenges and continues to benefit from advances in technology.”

Each year the symposium boasts an attendance of 200-300 water professionals, which includes plant managers, operators, engineers, and system integration personnel. With its focus on SCADA, instrumentation and automation, the gathering offers targeted training and knowledge-sharing that is not available at other conferences.

The WWAC Symposium partners with local sections of the AWWA (American Water Works Association) and the WEF (Water Environment Federation), in order to offer MDE/state-approved Continuing Education Credits (CEU), which can be used by state-licensed water operators for their annual license renewals. The event also offers PDH (professional developments hours) that can be used by both engineers and Certified Automation Professionals® (CAP®) to meet their continuing education requirements.

Abstracts are currently being solicited for the symposium. Potential authors and speakers are encouraged to submit a 250-word entry summarizing proposed presentations and papers for the 2018 conference. Submissions are due on 31 January 2018. The complete Call for Papers, author information kit, and a list of suggested topics of interest can be found on the website. Announcements about invited and guest speakers will be made in the new year and updates will be listed on the website as well.

#WWAC #Pauto #ISAuto

Early-bird registration deadline for Water/Wastewater symposium.

The deadline for early-bird registration for the 2017 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls (WWAC) Symposium has been extended to 1 July 2017. The original deadline was 15 June 2017.

ISA members who register by Saturday, 1 July will pay only $350—a discount of $150 off the regular rate. Additional registration discounts are available for AWWA, WEF and ITA members.

The 2017 ISA WWAC Symposium, to be conducted 8-10 August 2017  in Orlando (FL USA), is expected to draw between 200 and 250 attendees. The event is presented by the ISA Water/Wastewater Industries Division (WWID), in collaboration with the Florida Section of the AWWA (FSAWWA), the Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA), the WEF Automation and Info Tech Committee, and the Instrumentation Testing Association (ITA).

Some of the most highly regarded experts, including six distinguished speakers, will address the critical issues and challenges in automation facing the water/wastewater industry. Speakers and sessions will highlight the importance of instrumentation, SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) and automatic control applications to the safe, effective treatment and distribution of water, and the collection and treatment of wastewater.

Attendees will gain the latest news and trends in automation and control systems, instrumentation, cybersecurity, alarm management, and emerging technologies across the industry. Twenty-four technical presentations will be delivered on various aspects of automation and control.

In addition to an acclaimed keynote speaker and five notable guest speakers and the extensive technical program, the symposium will feature a hands-on instrumentation workshop (introduced for the first time), an exhibit showcase, a tour of a nearby water facility, high-value training opportunities and more.

The symposium also provides an excellent opportunity to gain valuable technical information, networking, professional development and continuing education credits (CEUs and PDHs).

“I continue to receive feedback that this event is truly one of the best of its kind due to the fact that the attendees and exhibitors are focused on solutions to real-world challenges and what’s actually experienced in on-the-job settings,” reports Kevin Patel, Director of the 2017 ISA Water/Wastewater Industry Division. “Adding to its value are the training opportunities, and the networking, professional development and continuing education credits.”

“Our secret is our focus,” says Patrick Gouhin, CEO and Executive Director at ISA. “Our annual ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium specifically caters to the needs of professionals involved with automation, instrumentation and SCADA in the municipal water and wastewater sectors. It is a unique niche event and we are proud of its increasing popularity. There is no other event like it in North America.”

#WWAC. #PAuto #Water #ISAuto

Water & Waste papers sought!

The 2017 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium (WWAC) is taking place 8-10 August 2017 in Orlando. (FL USA).

This year’s symposium will feature two full days of speakers, a plant tour, ISA training courses, and a supplier showcase. We will once again be offering CEUs and PDHs for all attendees. The industry-specific technical symposium will be priced at $350 for ISA members—online registration to be available shortly.

The 2017 Call for Abstracts is now available here.

#WWAC #ISAuto #PAuto

Best & brightest in Water/Wastewater!

The best and brightest minds—including five eminent speakers—will address the critical issues and challenges in automation facing the water/wastewater industry at the 10th Annual ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls (WWAC) Symposium, 4-6 August 2015 in Orlando (FL USA). Attendees will gain the latest news and trends in automation and control systems, instrumentation, cybersecurity and emerging technologies across the water/wastewater industry. More than 30 technical presentations will be delivered, along with a forum session that will allow attendees to have a voice in the future of automation. ISA training Courses Add value to your attendance at the symposium by taking an on-location ISA training course.  2 courses will be offered during the week. 3-4 August Asset Management and Enterprise Integration Using the ANSI/ISA95 Standard (IC55) Instructor: Paul Nowicki Credits: 1.4 CEUs /14 PDHs 4 August Introduction to the Management of Alarm Systems (IC39C) Instructor: John Bogdan Credits: 0.7 CEUs / 7 PDHs A strong emphasis will be placed on recent advances and innovations in applying security to control systems; improving operator situational awareness; and monitoring and diagnosing plant equipment and system reliability issues through smart technology. The exhibit showcase will feature the latest product and service information at engaging vendor and supplier exhibits, and daily networking luncheons and an evening reception will set the stage for mingling, meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends. The symposium, which will be held at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort in Orlando, Florida, USA, is expected to draw between 200 and 300 attendees and is presented by the ISA Water/Wastewater Industries Division, in collaboration with the Florida Section of the AWWA (FSAWWA), the Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA), the WEF Automation and Info Tech Committee and the Instrumentation Testing Association (ITA). Five outstanding opening session presentations and speakers John S. Young, Jr. P.E., will help to kick off the conference, delivering a presentation focused on the numerous challenges which must be addressed for water/wastewater utilities to be sustainable and provide safe, reliable service. Mr. Young has worked in the water utility industry his entire career. In 2010, Young retired from American Water, the largest water/wastewater utility in North America, after a 33 year career. At American Water, he served in numerous technical and management positions including Vice President–Engineering, President–American Water Works Service Company, Chief Water Technology Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Recently, as a utility consultant, he has supported or assessed numerous water utilities including the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (during the Detroit bankruptcy) and PRASA. In addition to Young’s address, the following prominent speakers will also give presentations during the event: “Open Secure Automation: Observations for Improved ICS Reliability, Security and Performance” Speaker: Albert Rooyakkers Albert Rooyakkers will deliver a talk about the importance of cybersecurity beyond the network. This presentation will discuss how the reduction in the system attack surface can impart simplification while hardening embedded systems from the inside out to cyber, electromagnetic pulse and other forms of malicious nation state attacks resulting in improved reliability and mean time between failures. Rooyakkers is the Founder, CTO, and VP of Engineering of Bedrock Automation. Albert’s recent technical endeavors include developing parallel processors for video, hybrid propulsion systems for transportation and currently, as a Bedrock founder and CTO, designing and commercializing a revolutionary cyber secure automation platform for the global market. “Situational Awareness – The Next Leap in Industrial Human Machine Interface Design” Speaker: John Krajewski John Krajewski will discuss how the HMI should be designed to optimize the operator’s interpretation of the vast amount of data being displayed. The cornerstone of improving the overall HMI design is to deliver Situational Awareness (SA). Only by achieving the proper Situational Awareness can the operations team make effective decisions that will deliver overall business success. Krajewski has 19+ years of experience in industrial automation and control systems. Krajewski began his career working as a control system engineer in the potable water industry. Subsequently, he worked as an application engineer for a system integrator who primarily focuses on the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. He joined Invensys Wonderware in April 2000 as a Senior Application Developer in the Product Marketing Department. Shortly thereafter, he assumed the role of Product Marketing’s Functional Manager of Infrastructure. He spent 5 years as a domain architect with responsibilities for architectural and functional definition of InTouch and ArchestrA technologies. For the past 5 years, he has served in multiple product management roles for Invensys HMI/Supervisory Control products. “WEF Current News and Trends” Speaker: Tom DeLaura, P.E. Thomas DeLaura, P.E. is the Vice President of Eramosa International, and the Executive Director of the Instrument Testing Association. DeLaura has 40 years of experience with automation, and has seen firsthand how it can support and enhance all facets of the wastewater business. His career has focused on influencing and comprehending industry best practices to enhance performance, enable well-informed decision making, and utilize human and automation resources to produce optimum results. His active roles at the local and national levels of ISA, WEF and AWWA are examples of his dedication to the industry and give him a true appreciation for the need to keep automation relevant during the many challenges and changes the wastewater industry is facing. DeLaura is a member of a number of committees in AWWA and WEF, including the AWWA I&C Committee, and he was WEF’s Chair of the Automation & Information Technology Committee. DeLaura has worked in all facets of automation associated with water/wastewater systems, from down in sewers, to out in the plant, and all the way up to the boardroom. He has written and presented on numerous topics of interest to the water and wastewater industry, and has received awards from the industry for his dedication and service. “AWWA Current News and Trends” Speaker: Michael Sweeney, P.E., Ph.D. Michael Sweeney, P.E., Ph.D. has served as the Deputy Executive Director of Toho Water Authority and has 30 years’ experience with water and wastewater utilities serving Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Louisville. He has also provided consulting services concerning utility management and technology throughout the U.S. and Canada and has served as Adjunct Professor at Purdue University and University of Louisville. He is a registered professional engineer and holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Environmental Engineering from Purdue and a B.S. degree in Public Health from Indiana University. Memberships include ISA, AWWA and he is WEF’s immediate past chair of the Utility Management Committee and current chair of the Literature Review Committee. #PAuto #ISAuto #WWAC16

Two hundred water & waste experts confer!

The 2015 International Society of Automation (ISA) Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls (WWAC) Symposium drew 187 attendees, 35 expert speakers and 35 exhibitors to Orlando, Florida, USA in early August to examine and confront the varied challenges associated with automation and instrumentation in the municipal water and wastewater sectors.

Daniel White  (Groov) "ready to roll at WWAC"

(Pic from twitter!)

The three-day, highly targeted event—focusing entirely on the needs of automation professionals—included an extensive program of technical presentations; an interactive panel discussion; poster presentations; a tour of a local wastewater treatment plant; a vendor exposition; networking events; and two training courses—one on alarm management and the other on asset management and enterprise integration. The symposium was held 4-6 August at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort.

“We had a very positive experience at the 2015 ISA WWAC Symposium,” remarked Tim Deschaines, Ph.D., a product manager at Process Analytics. “As an exhibitor, we had the opportunity to talk and meet with automation professionals from all over North America. Our conversations and interactions with key decision-makers in the water and wastewater sectors were highly educational, keeping us better informed of what’s going on in the industry and how to address evolving changes. We look forward to continuing our involvement in and support of ISA and ISA symposia.”

The event provided the ideal opportunity to gain the latest news and trends in automation and control systems, SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition), instrumentation, systems integration, optimization, cybersecurity, alarm management, and emerging technologies across the water/wastewater industry.

The exhibit showcase featured the latest product and service information, and daily networking luncheons and an evening reception set the stage for mingling, meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends.

Watch for details about the 2016 ISA WWAC Symposium, which will be held 2-4 August, also in Orlando. Stay updated by regularly visiting the website.

Brisk pre-registration for water & wastewater sympsium!

The International Society of Automation (ISA) tells us that pre-registration activity for the 2015 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls (WWAC) Symposium has been brisk.

Taking place at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort in Orlando (FL USA) the 2015 ISA WWAC Symposium is a three-day event that focuses on the challenges associated with automation and instrumentation in the water and wastewater sectors. The symposium features more than 30 technical speakers, two full days of technical presentations, a tour of a local plant, a general reception and a supplier showcase. This symposium is unique as it focuses entirely on the needs of automation professionals in the municipal water and wastewater sectors.

The full programme may be viewed here and registration for the 2015 WWAC Symposium is still open.

“Our secret is our focus,” says Patrick Gouhin, CEO and Executive Director at ISA. “Our annual ISA Water/Wastewater Symposium specifically caters to the needs of professionals involved with automation, instrumentation and SCADA in the municipal water and wastewater sectors. It is a unique niche event and we are proud of its increasing popularity. There is no other event like it in North America.”

A strong technical program

Helping to kick off the conference will be John S. Young, Jr. P.E., who will deliver a presentation to attendees on how the water/wastewater industry presents numerous challenges that must be addressed for utilities to be sustainable and provide safe, reliable service.

Young has worked in the water utility industry his entire career. In 2010, he retired from American Water, the largest water/wastewater utility in North America, after a 33-year career. At American Water, he served in numerous technical and management positions, including Vice President of Engineering; President of the American Water Works Service Company; Chief Water Technology Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Recently, as a utility consultant, he supported or assessed numerous water utilities, including the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (during the Detroit bankruptcy) and the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA).

• Read our report on the 2014 event (also held in Florida).

Registration for water & wastewater symposium!

Early bird registration deadline for 2015 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium extended!

The deadline for early bird registration for the 2015 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls (WWAC) Symposium has been extended to 1 July 2015. The original deadline was 15 June 2015.

Register by July 1 to get early bird pricing for the 2015 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium. Register for only $325—the special early bird ISA member rate (a $125 discount). Additionally, discounts are offered for AWWA, WEF, and ITA members.

Take advantage of two ISA training opportunities
Add value to your attendance at the symposium by taking an on-location ISA training course. Two courses will be offered during the week.

3-4 August
Asset Management and Enterprise Integration Using the ANSI/ISA95 Standard (IC55)
Instructor: Paul Nowicki
Credits: 1.4 CEUs /14 PDHs

4 August
Introduction to the Management of Alarm Systems (IC39C)
Instructor: John Bogdan

Credits: 0.7 CEUs / 7 PDHs

The 2015 ISA WWAC Symposium, to be conducted 4-6 August 2015 at Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort in Orlando, Florida, USA, is expected to draw between 200 and 300 attendees and more than 30 speakers.

Presented by the ISA Water/Wastewater Industries Division, in collaboration with the Florida Section of the AWWA (FSAWWA), the Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA), the WEF Automation and Info Tech Committee, and the Instrumentation Testing Association (ITA), the ISA WWAC Symposium helps professionals in the water and wastewater industries understand how instrumentation, SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition), and automatic control applications are vital to the treatment and distribution of water, and the collection and treatment of wastewater. The symposium also provides an excellent opportunity to gain valuable technical information, networking, professional development, and continuing education credits (CEUs and PDHs).

Attendees will receive 2.0 CEUs (credit equivalent units) from the ISA/Florida Section of the AWWA for attending this content-rich 2.5 day symposium. The two optional training courses also offer additional CEUs: Introduction to the Management of Alarm Systems (1-day = 0.7 CEUs) and Asset Management and Enterprise Integration Using the ANSI/ISA95 Standard (2-days = 1.4 CEUs). All CEUs and PDHs have been certified by the Florida AWWA and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

“The ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium has continued to be successful over the past three years. Our secret is our focus,” says Bob Lindeman, the 2012 president of ISA who gave the opening remarks at the 2013 WWAC Symposium. “The event caters specifically to the needs of professionals involved with automation, instrumentation and SCADA in the municipal water and wastewater sectors. It is a niche event and we are proud of its increasing popularity. There is no other event like it in North America.”

Symposium maintains tradition of high attendance!

Large gathering at the 2014 ISA WWAC Symposium to address automation challenges in the water and wastewater industries

An exuberant Daniel White of Opto 22 welcomes all comers at the Water/Wastewater Seminar

The 2014 International Society of Automation (ISA) Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls (WWAC) Symposium drew more than 170 attendees, 30 expert speakers and 27 exhibitors to Orlando, Florida, USA in early August to explore and confront the varied challenges associated with automation and instrumentation in the municipal water and wastewater sectors.

The three-day, highly targeted event—focusing entirely on the needs of automation professionals—included an extensive program of technical presentations; an interactive panel discussion; poster presentations; a tour of a local wastewater treatment plant; a vendor exposition; and two sold-out training classes—one on industrial cybersecurity and the other on troubleshooting instrumentation and control systems.

The 2014 ISA WWAC Symposium was organized by the ISA Water/Wastewater Industries Division in collaboration with the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA), the Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF) Automation and Info Tech Committee and the Instrumentation Testing Association.  In addition, 15 corporate sponsors supported the event.

“This year’s symposium delivered an excellent platform to examine in detail the key topics and challenges relating to automation in the water and wastewater industries, and to stay informed on the trends and dynamics shaping the future of these industries,” reports Kevin Patel, the general chair of the event. “The symposium featured some of the world’s most knowledgeable and experienced subject matter experts.”

Among the diverse topics addressed during the technical sessions were:

Read-out was a media sponser for this event!

• SCADA standardization
• SCADA integration
• Latest instrumentation
• Wireless communications
• DNP 3.0 protocol
• Cloud-based SCADA
• Cybersecurity
• Data management
• Smart Water
• Human factors
• Alarm management
• Optimizing process controls
• ISA Certified Control System Technician^® (CCST^®) exam information

A strong emphasis was placed on identifying opportunities and challenges faced by clean water agencies and pinpointing forward-looking solutions, some of which are being implemented today.

The keynote address, titled "A Vision for the Water Resources Utility of the Future," was delivered by Thomas W. Sigmund, P.E., Chair of the NACWA Utility and Resource Management Committee & Executive Director of NEW Water. Other notable speakers at the event included:

• Don Lovell, of ISA, who discussed the importance of troubleshooting in daily plant operations.
• Michael Sweeney, deputy executive director of the Toho Water Authority and long-time member of the American Water Works Association, who reviewed the current news and trends in the municipal drinking water sector.
• Tom DeLaura, vice president of Eramosa International and chair of the Water Environment Federation's Automation and Info Tech Committee, who highlighted the current news and trends in the wastewater sector.
• Bryan Singer, principal investigator for Kenexis Security, who outlined the most effective ways to conduct industrial security vulnerability assessments, and separated out what cyberattackers can and can't do.

Given the increasing risks posed by cyberhackers, cybersecurity was a hot topic. In his presentation, Singer helped attendees better understand the real threats posed by cyberattack and showed how owners and operators of critical infrastructure can better defend and protect industrial control systems (ICS). He pinpointed the most common techniques hackers use to exploit vulnerabilities and gain system and network access.

Utilizing modern ICS cybersecurity standards and engineering skills, Singer emphasized, can contain and limit the risk of significant network and system damage as a result of cyberwarfare.

In addition, a forum session on the Role of Automation within the Utility of the Future was held. Moderated by Tom DeLaura, the session examined how the evolving operating challenges of utilities will influence the need for automation. Panel members discussed that water utilities, for instance, are increasingly regarded as producers of a highly valued commodity, and that they will require significant operational improvements in order to be cost efficient

Forum session panel members included: 

Tom Sigmund, P.E., Chair, NACWA Utility and Resource Management Committee & Executive Director, NEW Water; 

Kalanithy Vairavamoorthy, Ph.D., Dean, University of South Florida, Patel College of Global Sustainability; 

Barry Liner, P.E., Director, Water Science & Engineering Center at WEF; 

Zdenko Vitasovic, Ph.D., Senior Engineer, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; and 

Mike Sweeney, Ph.D., P.E., Florida Section of the AWWA & Deputy Executive-Director, Toho Water Authority.

Adding to the value of the symposium were the two training courses, the networking and professional development opportunities, and the continuing education credits (CEUs and PDHs). The credits, provided by ISA and the Florida Section of the AWWA, can be used toward continuing education requirements for various state-issued water operator, wastewater operator and engineering licenses.

“It’s great to know that the symposium is getting better and better and larger and larger,” emphasized attendee Charles Aycock of the city of Roseville, California, USA.

Details of August Water/Wastewater symposium released!

Don’t miss the Early Bird Discounted Rate – Register by June 15!

!News Flash! Early-bird registration for this ISA WWAC Symposium has been extended to 1 July 2014.

This year’s ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium (#WWAC) features 33 technical speakers. This 3-day symposium (5-7 August, 2014, Orlando, FL, USA) is focused on the challenges associated with automation and instrumentation in the water and wastewater sectors. It features 2 full days of presentations on each day, a tour of a local water/wastewater facility, a general reception, networking events, a poster session, and a supplier showcase.

The keynote, from Thomas W. Sigmund, P.E., Executive Director of NEW Water, is entitled A Vision for the Water Resources Utility of the Future (Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at 8:15am) and there will be a forum session to further discuss this topic.

Keynote abstract:

Thomas Sigmund

The Water Resources Utility of the Future (UOTF) Task Force was created by the (US) National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) in 2012 to bring together industry experts to identify opportunities and challenges faced by clean water agencies and to identify forward looking solutions, some of which are being implemented today. The UOTF will transform both the way traditional wastewater utilities view themselves and how they will manage their operations and relationships with their communities and contributions to local economies. The Blueprint presents a vision for the future of clean water agencies as well as a series of actions to deliver the vision.

Originally technical engineering entities, today’s utilities now embrace sophisticated management approaches and are transforming themselves into managers of valuable resources, partners in local economic development and a member of the watershed community seeking to deliver maximum environmental benefits at the least cost to society. This presentation will present a vision for these new utilities and explore how instrumentation and automation are key to delivering on that vision.

Register by June 15 to get early-bird pricing for the 2014 ISA water/wastewater and automatic controls symposium. Register for only $325 – special early-bird ISA member rate ($125 discount).

• Please note that ISA headquarters has been doing an upgrade of their online registration system.
If there are any problems with the online registration, the paper forms should be used or call ISA customer service directly at +1 919-549-8411. 
Forms can also be sent in via fax to +1 919-549-8288.

There will also be a number of guest and invited speakers including Tom DeLaura, Chair, WEF Automation and Information Technology Committee & Vice-President, Eramosa Engineering International and Michael Sweeney, Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) & Deputy Executive-Director, Toho Water Authority. Last year DeLaura was named ISA’s Water and Wastewater Industry Division Member of the Year.

The 2014 symposium will therefore offer an unique opportunity for automation, instrumentation and SCADA professionals in the water and wastewater sectors to share ideas, network and earn continuing education credits.

The event includes two full days of technical speakers/presentations, networking events, a poster session, and a supplier showcase. A tour of a local wastewater treatment facility, and two short courses on SCADA Cyber Security and Troubleshooting Instrumentation & Control Systems are optional.


 
a proud Media Partner to ISA WWAC

Teaming up with water & waste symposium!

The Instrumentation Testing Association (ITA) and the International Society of Automation (ISA) are teaming up to co-promote the 2013 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls (WWAC) Symposium. Now in its eighth year, the symposium provides automation professionals from the water and wastewater sector the unique opportunity to come together to network, share ideas and learn about the latest technology. As a technical co-sponsor of the 2013 WWAC Symposium, ITA is helping ensure that the symposium continues to meet the needs of professionals who use instrumentation in the wastewater sector; reinforcing the mutual benefit of this collaboration for both associations.

Graham Nasby, WWAC 2013 Chair

Since its beginnings in 1984 when it was founded at a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) meeting in Chicago, Illinois, ITA continues to be an end-user-focused technical organisation that provides impartial third-party assessment of wastewater instrumentation technologies. Using a cooperative and impartial approach, the association seeks to address common instrument performance and reliability issues that often arise from the low-bid procurement environment that is typically associated with the municipal and industrial wastewater sectors.

With its technology-focused WWAC symposium, the ISA provides a forum for automation professionals to learn from their peers about the newest advances in instrumentation technology, instrumentation best practices and up-and-coming trends. By partnering with the ITA, the ISA will be able to continue to ensure that its technical program is both forward looking and well-grounded when it addresses leading-edge instrumentation technologies.

Tony Palmer, executive director of the ITA, says, “The partnering of the ITA and the ISA with respect to the ISA’s 2013 Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium is a natural fit. Our members are always on the lookout for new ideas with respect to the instrumentation, and the collegial atmosphere of the symposium is a perfect way to do that. Coupled with the ITA’s popular instrumentation performance reports, the symposium provides a very broad and comprehensive view of the current and future direction of wastewater instrumentation.”

Taking place 6-8 August in Orlando, Florida, USA, the 2013 ISA WWAC Symposium boasts an extensive program. With over 40 speakers, three invited speakers, a keynote on using controls system data to make smarter decisions, and two optional training courses, the symposium offers incredible value for attendees. The 2013 symposium also offers an optional training course on the sizing and selection of flow meters, a critical component of instrumentation technology used in the wastewater sector. Special registration rates are available to members of ISA and the associated technical organisations.

The symposium also continues its long tradition of meeting the needs of automation professionals in both the water and wastewater sectors. Instrumentation technologies span multiple industries, and the municipal water and wastewater sectors are no exception.

“The same flow meter and analyzer technologies are often found in both parts of the municipal water/wastewater sector,” remarks Graham Nasby, a senior instrumentation and control engineer with Eramosa Engineering, and general symposium chair for the 2013 WWAC symposium.

Nasby continues: “While the process fluids found in the two sectors are slightly different – one is water being distributed for use and the other is water being collected for treatment – there are a surprising number of commonalities between the two sectors when it comes to design, installation, operation and maintenance of instrumentation. The symposium provides an excellent forum for professionals from the two sectors to learn from each other in a collaborative environment. It is for this reason it has been my pleasure to help bring the ISA and ITA together to collaborate on the instrumentation aspects of the 2013 WWAC Symposium.”

• Read-out is proud to be a media partner with ISA's WWAC Symposium

Conference takes shape

The technical program for the 2013 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium (WWAC Symposium) is taking shape, and the final program is to be be announced soon. Scheduled for 6-8 August 2013, the WWAC Symposium presents a unique opportunity for professionals who work with SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition), automation and instrumentation in the water and wastewater sectors to come together, share ideas and gain valuable continuing education.

"The high quality of abstracts submitted this year are going to make for an impressive program," says Graham Nasby of Eramosa Engineering, the 2013 general symposium chair. "Our program committee is hard at work selecting the more than 30 speakers for the symposium’s technical program. This is in addition to our three invited speakers on cybersecurity, project management and human factors design. We will also be making our keynote speaker announcement very soon."

The WWAC Symposium is scheduled for Orlando, (FL USA). Attendance surged at the 2012 symposium and the momentum is expected to expand involvement again this year. This large increase in participation is a testament to the symposium’s renewed focus on today’s challenges in automation, instrumentation and SCADA for public infrastructure.

The symposium will also feature guest speakers from other municipal water/wastewater oriented associations, such as the (US) Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA). By forming strong partnerships with other associations, the symposium has been able to reach a broader audience of water and wastewater professionals across the industry. For members of these associations, the symposium also provides targeted professional development and training opportunities, which have been otherwise inaccessible.

“The ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium is a great venue to offer SCADA-specific continuing education opportunities. This is another example of the FSAWWA providing benefits to our membership and more specifically to those members who are involved with this aspect of our public water infrastructure," says Jason Parrillo, Chair of the Florida Section of the AWWA. "By partnering with ISA we can now offer specialized training that would otherwise not be available to our membership. For this reason we are very pleased to have been invited to partner with the ISA’s Water/Wastewater Division to promote this annual symposium."

In addition to planning the 2013 ISA WWAC Symposium, the symposium’s volunteer committee has already begun making plans for next year’s event. The committee is pleased to announce that the dates of the 2014 ISA WWAC symposium will be 5-7 August 2014, and it will also take place in Orlando. Current assistant symposium chair for 2013, Kevin Patel, will again be taking on the role of general symposium chair for 2014.

“I have had the privilege of working with the symposium committee for the past several years, and it has set a great path for the symposium to continue to be successful in the future," says Patel of Signature Automation, "I look forward to continuing the tradition of providing a high-quality, cost-effective technical symposium that directly addresses the needs of SCADA, automation and instrumentation professionals in our sector.”

Registration for the 2013 ISA WWAC Symposium is now available on the symposium website.

W&WW keynote & programme

The keynote speaker and technical program for the 2012 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls (WWAC) Symposium have been announced. Now in its seventh year, the annual symposium offers a unique opportunity for automation professionals from the water and wastewater sectors to come together to share ideas, network and earn continuing education credits.

Taking place 7–9 August in Orlando (FL USA), the 2012 ISA WWAC Symposium is a three-day event that focuses on the challenges associated with automation and instrumentation in the water and wastewater sectors. It features two full days of technical speakers/presentations, a tour of a local water treatment plant, a general reception, networking events, a poster session and a supplier showcase. This highly focused symposium has a long tradition as an event that caters to the needs of automation professionals in the water and wastewater sectors.

Asset Management Keynote

Celine Hyer: Keynote Speaker

This year’s keynote speaker will be Celine Hyer, a long-time American Water Works Association (AWWA) member, who will present a keynote address entitled “Facing Utility Challenges: Managing Risk and Addressing Aging Infrastructure Needs.” Hyer is a principal consultant with Red Oak Division of Malcolm Pirnie/ARCADIS in Tampa, (FL USA), where she leads the asset management practice for the South.

Tom DeLaura, Water Environment Federation (WEF) Automation and Info Tech Committee chair, will also give a guest presentation on automation technology trends in the wastewater sector. DeLaura, vice president of Eramosa Engineering International, is a long-time member of both the International Society of Automation (ISA) and WEF and has a career in the wastewater sector that spans over 38 years.

“The 2012 ISA WWAC symposium offers a full program of over 25 technical papers and presentations that will be of interest to the water/wastewater automation professional,” says ISA Executive Director and CEO Pat Gouhin. “The symposium offers a focused event that caters to the needs of individuals who are involved with SCADA, automation and instrumentation technologies as part of their daily jobs in this important sector of our municipal infrastructure.”

“This year’s WWAC symposium program is a fascinating mix of instrumentation, SCADA, cybersecurity and human factor topics. The program offers great insight to anyone who works in either the water or wastewater sector,” says symposium Program Chair Joe Provenzano, who has been active in the industry for over 40 years.

WEF and Florida AWWA Partner to offer CEUs/PDHs
The Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA) and the Water Environment Federation (WEF) Automation and Info Tech Committee have joined forces for this year’s symposium as technical co-sponsors. We reported this in an earlier story Collaboration in water & waste event.

Symposium attendees can receive up to 2.0 CEUs or 20 professional development hours (PDHs) for participating in the symposium. For Florida-based attendees, FDEP CEUs and PDHs will be provided through the FSAWWA. ISA members and out of state attendees can receive PDHs through ISA. The optional short course on Automation & SCADA Security offers an additional 0.7 CEUs for attendance. More information can be found on the symposium website.

Wireless to make splash at WWAC symposium!

Keynote speaker and technical program for the 5th Annual ISA Water and Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium

Wayne Manges addresses the 5th ISA-France Forum, June 2010

Wayne Manges, co-chair of ISA100 Wireless Standards Committee, certainly gets around. In mid June he addressed the ISA-France Forum on “Smart grids: automation, communications and cyber-security at the service of grid optimization”. This was the fifth annual ISA-France Forum and was held in Paris (F). It attracted over 140 participants.

Now we learn that he is to be the keynote speaker at the 5th Annual ISA Water and Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium (WWAC) in Orlando, (FL US), 3-5 August 2010. Manges, will review the first released ISA 100 standard and its potential impact on the water and wastewater industries. He will present on “WIRELESS IS NOW! Technologies, Standards, and Applications.”

Manges currently directs the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Industrial Wireless Program for UT-Battelle at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Oak Ridge (TN US), focusing on the needs of hard industries from DOE’s Industrial Technologies Program.

With 30 years at ORNL, Manges works extensively with steel, paper, and other industries, including water and wastewater, to bring robust, wireless technology to their markets, and is committed to the deployment of integrated systems that solve real problems. He has been declared a visionary for his early views on wireless applications and has published and presented papers around the world. He is also a contributing editor for Sensors Magazine.

He holds a BS in Education and Chemistry from California University of Pennsylvania, a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, an MS in Natural Science from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and an MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tennessee.

Manges’ opening-day keynote address will be followed by two days of technical presentations that focus on technologies, case studies, methods, and theory on water and wastewater processing, water collection, water treatment, SCADA, and more. Presentation titles include:

Improving the Availability of Lift Stations through Optimized Redundant/Backup Control, presented by Francisco Alcala and Jacob Moser, CDM

Real Time Visual Analysis and Monitoring of Feedwaters for Human and Industrial Consumption, presented by Paul O’Brien, J.M. Canty Inc.

Bringing Wastewater Treatment into the Twenty-first Century, presented by Chuck Saunders and Gary Szilagyi, Jacksonville Beach WWTP

Wireless Ethernet Technologies and Security for the Water Industries, presented by Mike Nager, Phoenix Contact

During exhibit hours, attendees will be able to view the latest controls equipment, as well as instrumentation to fit today’s industry needs, from industry vendors. Exhibitors include: Emerson Process Management, G Instruments, GE Sensing, MOXA, Phoenix Contact, Primary Flow Signal, Inc., and Spirax Sarco Inc./EMCO.

WWAC attendees represent public utility companies; water-technology companies; and automation-, processing-, and controls-solutions providers; and others.

Two ISA training seminars will be held in conjunction with the technical conference. These one-day technically focused courses include Industrial Flow Measurement Overview (EI10C), led by Wiley Montana; while Manges himself will lead Introduction to SCADA Systems Integration (IC30C1).