Ross Reflects on the Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference in Chicago

Ross visited the Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) trade show in Chicago in September 2023.

As we have shared in the previous posts, Ross attended the Buried Asset Management Conference in Chicago and presented an asset management lecture at Purdue University.

Being in Chicago, Ross took the time to see the WEFTEC trade show. This was the first time Ross had been to this show. The show area had approximately 20,000 visitors and a vast and impressive exhibitor space.

Ross provided some reflections:

“I thoroughly enjoyed looking around the show, interacting with exhibitors and learning about the many innovations being displayed.

My daughter-in-law Chelsea was travelling with me. Her career in hospitality and marketing didn’t really overlap much with WEFTEC, but by the end of the day, she had seen a lot of valves, pipes, lining materials, inspection kits, reservoirs, treatment systems, pumps and CCTV systems. Truth be told, probably more than she ever wanted to see in her lifetime.

I know that Gillian Blythe and Garry Macdonald were at WEFTEC, but sadly, I never crossed paths with them.

I did bump into Wayne Spittal at the SUEZ stand. We did the kiwi thing of establishing connections and relationships, and I think we managed to give the Americans around us some amusement about just how New Zealand rolls.

I can recommend visiting WEFTEC (Water Environment Federation) to anyone in the water sector – if you have the opportunity. An informative and memorable experience.”

Below are some photos Ross took at the WEFTEC exhibits.