On July 21, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and World Business Chicago (WBC), with support from the City of Chicago, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and Chicago Sisters Cities International, will jointly present Chicago Water Summit 2014.

Construction is moving forward in Carlsbad, Calif., on the nation?s largest ocean desalination plant. The $1 billion project plans to provide 50 million gallons of drinking water a day for San Diego County when it opens in 2016.

During its annual meeting, May 4-7 in Palm Springs, Calif., the Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) honored four individual members and five member-company projects. Winners were recognized for exceptional service and significant achievements involving the use of plastic pipe.

Pamela Henry has been promoted to the position of deputy executive director of the Water Environment Federation (WEF). She has been with WEF for more than 25 years and is a seasoned leader who will oversee a number of key organizational programs.

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) held its Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE14) in Boston, Mass., June 8-11. The conference once again showcased some of the most innovative technology in the water utility industry to the more than 11,000 attendees.

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) announced the renaming of its Research Innovation Award in honor of Dr. Pankaj Parekh, an advocate for ensuring safe drinking water to protect public health. The winners were honored at ACE14 in Boston last week.

Neptune Technology Group Inc., has announced it has joined the Cityworks Partner Network as a Strategic Development Partner. In addition, iWater, Inc., Clevest and Continental Utility Solutions, Inc. (CUSI) have joined Neptune?s Connected Utility Partnership Program.

Singapore International Water Week (SIWW), held June 1-5, attracted more than 20,000 participants from 118 countries/regions spanning the government, international organizations, industry, and academia sectors.

On May 15, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) reintroduced the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Investment Act to the Senate. The bill is identical to the water private activity bond (PAB) legislation introduced by Reps. John Duncan (R-Tenn.) and Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) in March.

President Obama has signed into law the Water Resources and Reform Development Act, which includes the new Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Authority. Supported by AWWA and other water organizations, WIFIA is a new finance tool to help communities address essential water and wastewater infrastructure projects