WEFTEC 2020 will be a fully virtual event in October called WEFTEC Connect that offers attendees interactive education, an exhibitor showcase and networking experiences, according to a recent press release from the Water Environment Federation. Registration for WEFTEC Connect will open on July 13 with programming scheduled for Oct. 5-9.

“While we will miss seeing water professionals in person in New Orleans this October, WEF is extremely excited to create a digital place for us to gather and to continue our tradition of delivering premier water education and exhibitions to the world,” says WEF President Jackie Jarrell. 

 WEFTEC Connect will be a unique virtual event that uses the latest online learning platform to create an immersive experience for attendees. It is being carefully shaped to be responsive to feedback gathered from water professionals on preferred education and participation options. WEFTEC Connect will include:

• a blend of live and prerecorded technical content;
• data-driven connections between participants;
• 1:1 appointment scheduling with exhibitors;
• live chats between individuals or groups;
• virtual meeting rooms for networking and product demonstrations; and
• access to educational content and the exhibitor showcase for a full year.

WEFTEC Connect will enable water professionals from around the world to learn and share with peers no matter their location and provide hundreds of hours of live and recorded content that may be used to fulfill educational requirements related to licensing. 

The cancellation of WEF’s October meeting in New Orleans was necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic that has made it inadvisable to hold the traditional WEFTEC in-person meeting, according to a WEF spokesperson. Currently existing governmental orders at both the state and local level restricting the congregation of groups and other social distancing regulations, together with travel restrictions that will prevent a large number of our attendees from attending this meeting, informed WEF’s difficult decision, according to WEF Executive Director Walt Marlowe. The 2021 event will be held in Chicago, and the 2022 event will be held in New Orleans. 

“Our top priority is always the health and safety of everyone at WEF events,” says Marlowe. “We look forward to seeing the water community online at WEFTEC Connect in October. And we will be ready to welcome you in person next year at WEFTEC 2021 in Chicago.” Learn more at www.weftec.org.