The registration deadline at the Hyatt Regency Miami has passed. Because of the overwhelming interest in this program – we have secured an additional block of rooms at the Courtyard Miami Downtown, a short walk from the Hyatt at the same $229 rate. To make your reservations contact the Courtyard Miami Downtown at 800.228.9290 or via online reservations . Be sure to mention you are attending the NACWA 2013 Winter Conference. Reservations will be accepted until January 23.

"The best way to predict the future is to create it." This quote, attributed to business guru and corporate management expert Peter Drucker, could easily describe the current transformational change underway in the clean water community. Today’s utility leaders are not satisfied with predicting the future – they are creating it. NACWA’s 2013 Winter Conference will provide an opportunity to explore some of the existing innovations and leading-edge practices that are defining the Water Resources Utility of the Future.

Efforts to cut costs and boost revenues during the Great Recession have led clean water utilities to continue experimenting with innovative practices including energy initiatives, resource recovery, water reuse, and more. While the economic risks associated with innovation have had some cooling effect over the last few years, the evolution from wastewater treatment facility to resource recovery facility is happening right before our eyes. Beyond cost savings, clean water utility managers are working to better position their utilities as important contributors and responsible managers of their communities’ environmental, social and economic resources. This more visible and engaged role in the community is and will continue to reap benefits for the clean water community.

As NACWA continues to work on targeting its advocacy agenda to better position the clean water community for the future, early adopters are helping to create success stories and identify regulatory and/or economic roadblocks to more widespread adoption of the innovations and practices that are shaping the Utility of the Future. The 2013 Winter Conference will explore some of these success stories, the potential barriers and roadblocks, and discuss the business case for innovation that many utilities will need to make before taking the plunge.