Learn More about WaterSmart Innovations 2026 with Casey Rodriguez

WaterSmart Innovations (WSI26) is one of the most focused and comprehensive specialty conferences for sustainability, management, and conservation taking place in Portland, Oregon, October 21-23, 2026.

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Casey Rodriguez is a Water Resources Engineer within AWWA’s Education and Engineering Services Department. She works on projects, alongside AWWA volunteers, in water conservation and water resources. This includes developing WSI26’s technical program and sessions. We asked her a few questions on what is so crucial about WSI26 and why the water community should attend this year’s conference.

AWWA: What do you think makes WSI a particularly appropriate conference for the challenges we are facing as water professionals right now? 

Casey Rodriguez: We are experiencing a culmination of challenges that water utilities have never faced before, at least at the scale we are seeing today. The impacts of climate change and population growth are some of the biggest stressors on our finite water supplies, and we see that stress in the form of increased frequency and intensity of droughts, wildfires, and floods, as well as rising demand.  

WSI addresses these challenges by focusing on the practical strategies that help utilities use water more efficiently and manage their limited water resources, all while maintaining reliable service to customers. This conference brings together utility leaders, conservation professionals, resource managers, researchers, and more to present their solutions for maximizing the value of our water resources and strengthening long-term water security.  

AWWA: What does “sustainability” mean for WSI, and what can water professionals expect to learn about making their utilities more resilient?  

CR: We use the word sustainability to describe practices that responsibly develop, conserve, manage, and protect water resources to ensure safe and reliable drinking water supplies for the future. As demand grows and supply dwindles, it is becoming increasingly necessary for utilities to find solutions that do not jeopardize the water of future generations.  

WSI focuses on approaches within conservation programs, demand management and forecasting, integrated planning, source water protection, water reuse, and more that balance meeting customer needs with securing and maintaining adequate water use and supply. Finding this balance and adjusting the scale as conditions change is what ultimately leads to utility resilience.     

AWWA: What does resiliency look like in the context of a water utility? How can WSI assist utilities in achieving that goal? 

CR: Resiliency can come in many forms for a water utility, but at its core demonstrates a utility’s ability to anticipate, adapt, and recover from challenges. WSI focuses on helping utilities prepare for potential disruptions in service caused by drought, wildfires, extreme weather events, supply limitations, or shifting customer demand. Although there are many instances where utilities and water professionals must be reactive to these disruptions, WSI emphasizes proactive planning measures that ultimately reduce utility risk.  

Many of our sessions exemplify risk-reducing and adaptive strategies, answering questions that utilities are actively grappling with today: How should we prepare for and respond to drought? How can regionalization help strengthen our water security? What alternative water supplies should be pursued? What environmental and demand conditions should we expect 20 years from now? How can we better engage our customers in our conservation goals? By addressing these questions with real-world examples and realistic solutions, WSI helps identify ways for utilities to craft their own path towards a more resilient future.  

AWWA: Is there anything you would like to highlight in the 2026 program? Can you tell us a little about the brand-new “Wildfire Prevention and Protection” track at WSI26?

CR: The 2026 program has many amazing tours, workshops, and sessions for both water conservation and water resource topics, but I am particularly excited about our session “THU03: Trends and Lessons Learned in Managing Urban Water Use.” This session includes two highly anticipated studies from the Water Research Foundation and the Pacific Institute, both of which provide comprehensive national-level analyses on urban water use and efficiency patterns. For our attendees, these studies should be useful benchmarks in comparing trends observed at their own utilities and communities.   

I am also thrilled that WSI is featuring its first dedicated wildfire track, titled “Wildfire Prevention and Protection.” This track consists of two thoughtfully designed special-topic sessions that showcase perspectives from local Oregon utilities and organizations, as well as leaders from the National Forest Foundation and National Wildlife Federation. Both sessions should be great demonstrations of the power of engagement, cross-jurisdictional collaboration, and interagency partnerships in reducing wildfire risk to source waters.   

 AWWA: Thank you so much for your insights, Casey!  

WaterSmart Innovations is a place for professionals across the water community facing these issues, just like you, to come together and find solutions. WSI26 is where utility leaders, conservation professionals, resource managers, researchers, and more dive deep into water conservation and sustainability to bring back insights to their communities. Casey and our team at AWWA have carefully crafted the 2026 Educational Program, as well as the workshops and tours, to give our attendees the best, most comprehensive experience. We can’t wait to share it with you.

See The Full Program

Early bird pricing for WSI26 ends September 21! Register this summer to get the best rates. Pre-conference workshops and tours are also available to add to your registration, and they are expected to sell out.