The Water Environment Federation’s Annual Conference Is Heading Back to Chicago
WEFTEC drew more than 20,000 attendees to New Orleans in 2016, with more than 1,000 exhibiting companies displaying the latest in innovative water technology.
This year will mark the Water Environment Federation’s 90th annual Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC), being held Sept. 30 – Oct. 4 at McCormick Place in Chicago. WEFTEC is the largest water and wastewater industry tradeshow in North America where water professionals from around the world come to learn, connect and explore new, transformative ways to manage and create the future of water.
WEFTEC’s 2017 technical program and exhibition will include more than 130 technical sessions, 29 workshops, local facility tours, numerous events, and 1,000 exhibitors who will showcase the latest developments, research, solutions and cutting-edge technologies. Attendees will also find increased opportunities to interact directly with global water experts through mobile sessions, product demonstrations, the popular Innovation Showcase, and more than a dozen specially-designed pavilions.
Here are a handful of new technologies and announcements sent our way from companies that will be exhibiting at the show this year.
Badger Meter BEACON Advanced Metering Analytics
BEACON AMA from Badger Meter combines the intuitive BEACON AMA software suite with proven ORION AMI technology giving water utilities greater visibility and control over utility management. BEACON AMA uses a managed solution approach – plus fixed and cellular networks – to deliver a simple yet powerful end-to-end solution. Built-in infrastructure management services and a flexible system design eliminate maintenance and technology concerns. Call 800-616-3837, go to badgermeter.com/BEACONAMA or visit booth #1025 at WEFTEC to discover more.
Baldor Reliance Motors
As cities and towns continue to grow, so does the demand for water and wastewater capacity, resulting in rising energy costs. System optimization will be required to meet the increased demand, reduce overall operating costs and comply with new regulations. Stop by booth #2231 to learn how Baldor-Reliance motors and Dodge mechanical power transmission products can improve the overall efficiency and increase reliability in your municipality.
Bentley AssetWise
When buried underground assets fail, the consequences impact many people. It is key to understand the probability and consequence of failures of pipes and proactively monitor, assess and maintain them. Bentley Systems will be featuring their latest AssetWise capabilities for condition-based monitoring, assessment and maintenance of water and wastewater networks at WEFTEC 2017. Learn how maintenance and capital improvement programs can be driven by the information collected from condition based monitoring and assessment and the use of risk based methodologies to drive maintenance and capital decisions.
CUES SPiDER
The SPiDER Scanner is the first wireless and color manhole inspection technology in a lightweight and compact form factor. The SPiDER is a scanner which can calculate its position in the manhole shaft by using its sensor data to measure its incremental motion instead of the payout cable. SPiDER weighs less than 30 lbs. and can be hand carried to easements or other previously difficult to access sites. Visit CUES at WEFTEC, booth #612 and at cuesinc.com.
Echologics EchoShore-DX Cellular Node for Fixed Leak Detection
Echologics has released a cellular version of the EchoShore-DX fixed leak detection node. Utilities can now quickly deploy nodes using their existing cellular communication provider. This enhancement greatly increases the areas where the technology can be applied, from targeted deployments in zones with high leakage or recurring water main breaks to city-wide implementation. EchoShore-DX nodes provide the utility with daily reporting on the development of any leaks in the system, allowing prioritization of leak repairs. Come see us at WEFTEC, booth #1131.
Environmental Dynamics’ New Approach to Biological System Design and Operations
The Symphony Operating Management System links three key items
to deliver unprecedented performance; real-time process automation, high-performance automation and right-sized equipment. Together the system provides the tools necessary to improve overall Utility value, and deliver better plant performance with less energy use. Plants using this system are capturing direct savings in energy use and improvements in effluent quality approaching 50 and 25 percent, respectively. Learn more about Symphony at EDI’s booth #1654.
E/One Sentry Advisor: A New Option for Grinder Pump Monitoring
The E/One Sentry Advisor offers a new level of sewer system monitoring and protection — and can even predict service needs. The system monitors and records pump performance of each grinder pump on the system. Alarm conditions can be sent automatically to service personnel via the cellular network. Reports help to review system performance and spot data trends such as frequent alarms or unusually long run times. Online mapping shows the location of every pump in the system, from a few stations to hundreds.
Insituform CIPP
Insituform is a leading worldwide provider of cured-in place pipe (CIPP) and 
other technologies and services for the rehabilitation of water and wastewater pipeline systems. Insituform’s technologies allow its customers to avoid the extraordinary expense and extreme disruption that can result from traditional “dig and replace” methods. Since its formation in 1971, Insituform has rehabilitated enough pipe to circle the globe. Visit insituform.com for more information.
LMK Technologies’ T-Liner
LMK’s T-Liner is a one-piece homogenous main and lateral CIPP connection liner that is ASTM F2561 compliant. T-Liner has a uniform wall
thickness and can be installed with either polyester or epoxy resin. T-Liner with Insignia compression gasket-sealing technology provides a verifiable non-leaking system. These compression gaskets are embedded between the host pipe and the T-Liner and are compatible with all pipe types including polyethylene. Call 815-640-9302 or visit lmktechnologies.com/t-liner for more information.
HOBAS Non-Circular Line
HOBAS Pipe USA has added non-circular profiles to its product line. The 
HOBAS NC-Line consists of glass-reinforced polyester pipes designed for constructing or rehabilitating non-circular sewers. These special pipes can be made in virtually any shape to fit inside the old sewer for rehabilitation. HOBAS NC-Line Pipes are manufactured on a computer-controlled machine that can produce specially shaped pipes with both circular and non-circular cross-sections up to a diameter of 118 in. Visit hobaspipe.com for more.
Prioritize Sewer Cleaning with the SL-RAT
Save time. Save water. Save money. Inspect more and clean better. Assess pipes for 
blockage in three minutes or less with the Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tool (SL-RAT) by InfoSense. Patented active acoustic technology provides a very fast low-cost assessment of blockage conditions within gravity-fed sewers. Highly portable, GPS enabled, cloud-based data management, EPA validated. More than 75 million feet inspected by more than 180 utilities globally. Visit infosense.com for more.
Mueller H-306 Fabricated Steel Tapping Sleeve
The H-306 is designed for hot tapping ductile iron pipe and thick-wall C900 plastic pipe. It features an integral bolt flange, Rilsan nylon coating, working pressures up to 300 psi, and is available in sizes ranging from 4 to 16 in. The H-306 is an economical tapping sleeve ideally suited for use with Mueller CL-12, C1-36, and Mega-Lite drilling machines in less corrosive soil environments. It is made from A36 fabricated steel and meets the requirements of AWWA C223. Come see us at WEFTEC, booth #1131.
Singer 106-2SC-PCO & 206-2SC-PCO Dual Solenoid Electronic Control Valve
The Singer Model 2SC-PCO is designed for use with Singers MCP Multi-
Process Control Panel or the EPC Single-Process Control Panel. The flow into and out of the upper operating chamber is controlled by the two pilot solenoids. The electronic control determines whether the opening solenoid or the closing solenoid is operated. Virtually any hydraulic function can be achieved using the “open-close” output from the SCADA controller to the valve. This precision control valve is good for remote locations, requiring minimal power with manual controls for emergencies and the ability to service in-line. Visit us at WEFTEC, booth #4451.
Thern Davit Crane
The new First Mate davit crane by Thern is simple perfection – simple setup, easy to use, easy to transport, easy on your budget and can easily lift up to 850 lbs. Pedestal, wall and flush mount bases are easily installed with just four anchor bolts. Install multiple bases and the crane is even more economical, as it quickly folds down and then is easily moved from station to station. A great tool for lifting pumps, mixers, gates, UV panels, man-hole covers, trash baskets and more. See it at Thern’s WEFTEC booth #7724, or at thern.com.
Underground Solutions, Inc. Fusible PVC
Underground Solutions’ Fusible PVC products; Fusible C-900, Fusible C-905 and FPVC contain a proprietary PVC formulation that, when combined with UGSI’s patented fusion process, results in a monolithic, fully-restrained, gasket-free, leak-free piping system. Fusible C-900 and Fusible C-905 both comply with the AWWA standards AWWA C900 and C905 respectively and are certified to NSF 61. For more information, visit undergroundsolutions.com.
