WaterSmart Innovations

About WaterSmart Innovations

AWWA’s WaterSmart Innovations (WSI) is the American Water Works Association’s premier conference dedicated exclusively to advancing sustainable, efficient, and resilient water management. It brings together water utility professionals, resource managers, planners, engineers, conservation specialists, public agency representatives, consultants, and policy leaders.

The program addresses water supply reliability, including climate adaptation, wildfire impacts on watersheds, urban water-use trends, and the nexus between water, energy, and sustainability. Sessions show how utilities use data, technology, customer engagement, and strategic planning to meet future water demands while protecting finite water resources.

2026 dates and venue

• Dates: October 21–23, 2026 (Wednesday–Friday)
• Venue: Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97232
• All conference events take place at the Oregon Convention Center unless otherwise noted.
• Official hotel block: DoubleTree by Hilton Portland (book by September 30 for the $169 group rate, or when the block fills).

Schedule at a glance

Official schedule (subject to change): https://www.awwa.org/conferences/watersmart-innovations-schedule/

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

• Registration 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Pre-conference workshops and facility tours 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (times vary; additional fee)
• Students & Young Professionals Connect 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Thursday, October 22, 2026

• Registration 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
• Opening General Session 8:30–9:30 a.m.
• Exhibit Hall 9:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
• Morning professional sessions 10:00–11:30 a.m.; lunch in the Exhibit Hall 11:30 a.m.–1:15 p.m.; afternoon sessions 1:15–4:45 p.m.
• Cocktail reception in Exhibit Hall 4:45–6:30 p.m.

Friday, October 23, 2026

• Registration 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
• Morning professional sessions 8:30–11:45 a.m.
• Exhibit Hall 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
• Lunch in the Exhibit Hall 11:45 a.m.–1:30 p.m.; afternoon sessions 2:00–4:45 p.m.

Daily hours vary, so a single start/end time is not listed.

Registration

Registration is open. Sign up by September 21, 11:59 p.m. ET for early-bird rates.

Register: https://events.awwa.org/GcmMaintenance/awwa/login/login.html?C=30000288N

Full-conference (educational sessions, exposition, reception and lunches; workshops and tours extra): member early $595 / non-member early $695; member regular $695 / non-member regular $795. Speaker and student discounts require validation. Exhibits-only (non-booth staff): $70 member early / $100 otherwise. Pre-conference workshop or facility tour: $90–$180. Spouse/guest (non-industry): $65. Rates subject to change.

Cancellations must be in writing. Email substitutions or cancellations to [email protected].

Who attends

Water resource planners and engineers; conservation and green infrastructure professionals; municipal water and wastewater utility staff; consultants; local, state, and federal government agencies; water quality specialists; and public affairs managers.

Organizer

American Water Works Association (AWWA)
6666 W. Quincy Ave., Denver, CO 80235 USA
800.926.7337 / 303.794.7711
[email protected]

Exhibitor sales: Donna Walstrom (A–I) [email protected]; Eddie Quinn (J–Z) [email protected]; [email protected]