A record number of 22,589 registrants and 971 companies using 297,400sq ft of exhibit space designated WEFTEC 2013 – the Water Environment Federation’s (WEF’s) 86th Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference – as the largest in the organisation’s 86-year history.
As the location for WEF’s first-ever conference in 1928, Chicago has proven to be a popular destination for what has become the world’s largest annual water quality conference and exhibition.
The last time WEFTEC was held in Chicago was in 2008—an equally successful event that set the previous record of 21,950 registrants.
“WEFTEC has evolved over the past 86 years, but it continues to demonstrate WEF’s unfailing commitment to serving the needs of the water profession,” said WEF interim executive director Eileen O’Neill.
“The event is carefully designed to offer a personal experience that can be customised for individual professional growth, which ultimately supports and contributes to the overall success of the entire water sector.”
WEFTEC also served as the venue for a special announcement from environmental advocate Robert Kennedy, Jr. and David St. Pierre, executive director of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on Tuesday morning.
Stressing the importance of environmental stewardship, they shared details about the planned launch of what they said would be the largest nutrient recovery project in the world. The announcement was made in the conference’s Global Center, which served as a central hub for international business opportunities among 86 countries.
Next year's WEFTEC will be held in New Orleans' Morial Convention Center between September 27 and October 1 2014.
