Mile High City welcomes water community to ACE25

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) today kicked off its 2025 Annual Conference & Exposition (ACE25) in Denver, Colorado, which runs through June 11. The conference, themed “Elevate,” aims to raise the bar in every facet of water management.

Part of “elevating” water involves striving for a successful and sustainable water future, which is the goal of AWWA’s Water 2050 initiative. Throughout ACE25, attendees will find several opportunities to engage with Water 2050’s strategic priority areas: Sustainability & Resilience, Innovation & Circular Economy, Finance & Affordability, One Water Governance, and Equity, Access & Community Engagement.

Water 2050 sessions include:

• The Circular Economy & Emerging Contaminants (MON036): Monday, 2 p.m. MDT. Discusses maximizing resource efficiency and minimizing waste in water treatment, while managing emerging contaminants, crucial for building resilient water quality systems for the future.
• Building Financial Resiliency (MON061): Monday, 3:30 p.m. MDT. Explores strategies for strengthening long-term financial stability in water utilities, featuring insights from the Finance & Affordability Strategic Implementation Team and AWWA CEO David LaFrance.
• Future-Ready Water (TUE101): Tuesday, 1:30 p.m. MDT. An interactive workshop exploring water sustainability themes, including circular resource management and equitable technologies, designed to inspire and empower participants to shape the Water 2050 vision collaboratively.
• Community Engagement & Empowerment (TUE141): Tuesday, 3 p.m. MDT. Delves into fostering public trust and deepening community understanding of water needs, essential for building the foundational relationships required for a successful water future.
• AI in Action (WED134): Wednesday, 3 p.m. MDT. Young professionals showcase how artificial intelligence boosts efficiency in daily workflows and contributes valuable insights for shaping the Water 2050 initiative, highlighting the role of next-gen innovation.

“ACE is where the best minds of the water sector come together to share their successes and challenges and work together for creative solutions,” said Paul Olson, AWWA interim director of engineering and technical services. “Our ACE25 educational program fuels this collaboration, equipping attendees with the knowledge and expertise needed to tackle today’s challenges and build a resilient water future.”

Elected and appointed public officials at ACE25 will also be providing Water 2050 input during their annual breakfast event on Tuesday.

ACE25, held at the Colorado Convention Center, provides a forum for water professionals to connect, share knowledge, and collectively drive the sector forward.

Visit the conference webpage for registration, to see the full program, and for more information. The new mobile app, “AWWA ACE Events,” is now available in your device’s app store. It allows users to plan their conference schedule, stay updated with live event notifications, explore maps, exhibitors and session details and connect with other attendees.