DSS Conference Held in Cleveland

Cleveland was the site for AWWAís annual Distribution Systems Symposium (DSS), held Sept. 23-26, at the Convention Center, bringing together engineers and service providers to an event that combines the best in water system distribution and operations issues.

More than 500 water professionals attended the conference and exposition, which featured four days of a technical program and a busy exhibit hall floor, which included 47 exhibiting companies. Attendees came to Cleveland from across the United States, as well as from Canada, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands Antilles and the Virgin Islands. The conference, specifically designed to address the most pressing issues facing water distribution, engineering and plant operations professionals, featured leaders in the industry on how to make the most of new technology and products, manage personnel effectively and increase system security.

We also received exceptional support from the City of Cleveland, whose staff served as room monitors, provided assistance with the technical tours and published a daily newsletter for attendees,î said Melinda L. Raimann, DSS ë07 planning committee chairperson and assistant commissioner for Cleveland Water.

While in Cleveland, many attendees took advantage of excellent weather and attended Cleveland Indians games — with some attendees witnessing them clinch the AL Central Division title on Sept. 23 — visited the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and explored the waterfront and downtown restaurants and nightlife. The DSS planning committee was very pleased with the reception DSS received this year and have already begun planning next year’s conference, which will be in Austin, Texas.

Among the areas spotlighted at the conference were asset management, contamination control, distribution operations and management, distribution system design, distribution system modeling project delivery control and regulations.

DSS also provided hands-on interaction with the newest products and services at the DSS exposition. Attendees were able to meet with manufacturers and service provider representatives in a setting in which services could be explained and advances in the field could be discussed.