Back to Events
Bangor, ME 04401-6846
46th Annual Conference & Trade Show
Tuesday, December 8, 2026
at 4:00 PM (EST)
to Thursday, December 10, 2026 at 3:00 PM (EST)
Cross Insurance Center
515 Main StreetBangor, ME 04401-6846
* Registration open until 12/7/26 at 5:00 PM (EST)
Event Details
We welcome you to join us in Bangor for our 46th Annual Conference & Trade Show!
December 8-10, 2026
Located a short walk from downtown Bangor, the Cross Insurance Center is the perfect place to make new connections in the industry this year.
All water training credits approved. Wastewater training credits currently pending.
Tuesday Night 12/8 Keynote 6:00-7:30 |
|
AI is Coming to Maine: What Data Centers Mean for Water and Wastewater (W/WW/VSWS/ADMIN) |
|
Wednesday 12/9 SESSIONS |
|
| CONCURRENT SESSION 1: 8:00 - 9:00 AM | TRACK |
| I & I: The Sneaky Thief | W/WW |
| Navigating the New Operator Portal: A Step-by-step Guide | W/VSWS/Admin |
| MEWARN & Emergency Planning | W/WW |
| You've Been Awarded SRF Funding. Now What? | W/Admin/WW Mgmt |
| Learn from the Mistakes of Others | W/WW/Admin |
| CONCURRENT SESSION 2: 9:10 - 10:10AM | TRACK |
| What Your Lab Results are Trying to Tell You | W/WW |
| Backflow Prevention in Practice: From Hazard Identification to Compliance | W/WW |
| Beyond the Pump: Chemical Feed System Design, Troubleshooting, & Security | W/WW/VSWS |
| What the Numbers Tell Us: Financial Trends, Challenges, & Ways to Overcome Them | W/Admin/WW Mgmt |
| From Operator Knowledge to a Living Capital Plan | WW |
| CONCURRENT SESSION 3: 10:20 - 11:20AM | TRACK |
| Attracting & Retaining Top Talent in 2027: What Makes Your Water District Different | W/Admin/WW Mgmt |
| Everyday Dilemmas: Real-World Ethical Scenarios for Small System Operators | W/VSWS/Admin |
| Ampherometric Sensor Technology: Considerations in Selection & Installation | W/WW/VSWS |
| From Data to Decisions: Putting SCADA to work in Water & Wastewater Operations | W/WW/Admin |
| Real Time Microbiological Insights Through Computer Vision: Advancing Operator Decision Making and Knowledge Retention in Wastewater Treatment | WW |
|
------- LUNCH & TRADE SHOW ------- 11:20-12:40 |
|
| CONCURRENT SESSION 4: 12:40 - 1:40PM | TRACK |
| We Did it Ourselves! Operator Led Upgrades that Save Money | W/WW/VSWS |
| You Have Your Capital Plan. How Do You Support It and Use It | W/WW/Admin |
| From Sample Bottle to Defensible PFAS Result | W/WW/VSWS |
| Understanding the Physical & Cybersecurity Threat Landscape Facing the Water & Wastewater Sector | W/WW/Admin |
| Why Communication is Harder Than it Looks | W/Admin/WW Mgmt |
| CONCURRENT SESSION 5: 1:50 - 2:50PM | TRACK |
| Where Does it Go? Understanding Current Sludge & Biosolids Management & the Challenges Being Faced | WW |
| Leak Dectection: Localize, Locate, & Pinpoint | W/WW |
| Under Seige: Why Hackers Target Small Systems (And How to Stop Them) | W/WW/VSWS/Admin |
| Audits, Rates, & Operating Losses: Getting Ready for a Major Infrastructure Project | W/WW/Admin |
| Maps & Drawings | W/WW |
| CONCURRENT SESSION 6: 3:00PM - 4:00PM | TRACK |
| Not All Butterfly Valves Are the Same: Understanding Double Eccentric Design | W/WW |
| DWP Updates | W/Admin |
| Steel & Concrete Coatings/Linings for the Water & Wastewater Industry | W/WW |
| TRUST is NOT Internal Control: Recognizing, Preventing, & Responding to Financial Fraud | W/Admin/WW Mgmt |
| SCADA Instrumentation & Control | W/WW |
|
-- INDUSTRY MEET & GREET | TRADE SHOW | EJP METER CHALLENGE -- 4:00PM-6:00PM |
|
Thank you to our Web & Program Sponsors!
Room Block Information
Hollywood Casino Hotel500 Main Street, (877) 779-7771 Use Code: Maine Rural Water when booking Click here to book |
Fairfield Inn Bangor300 Odlin Road, (207) 990-0001 Ask for the Maine Rural Water room block Deadline November 10, 2026 at midnight Click here to book |
Residence Inn Bangor22 Bass Park Blvd. (207) 433-0800 Ask for the Maine Rural Water room block Deadline November 10, 2026 at midnight Click here to book |
_________________________________________________________________________________
THURSDAY 12/10 SESSIONS
| CONCURRENT SESSION 1: 8:00 - 9:00AM | TRACK |
| Eliminating the Wet Well with Direct In-Line Pumping | WW |
| From Buildup to Better Water Quality: Distribution System Cleaning Methods | W/WW |
| Navigating the Federal PFAS Rule: Monitoring, Treatment, & Compliance | W/Admin |
| Red Tape & Real Talk: A Conversation with the PUC | W/Admin/WW Mgmt |
| You Don't Have to Own It to Protect It: Practical Source Water Protection Strategies | W/Admin |
| CONCURRENT SESSION 2: 9:10 - 10:10AM | TRACK |
| Do More With Your Meters | W/WW |
| When the Wheels Come Off...We Bring the Trailer. Emergency Response, Resources & Readiness | W/WW |
| Understanding the Power of TOC Optimization | W/WW |
| Aging Infrastructure, Rising Costs: Planning for What's Ahead | W/Admin/WW Mgmt |
| Guarding the Digital Pipeline: How Water Utility Owners Can Protect Their Systems & Vet IT Contracts for Robust Cybersecurity | W/WW/Admin |
|
---- BRUNCH | TRADE SHOW | TASTE TEST ---- |
10:10AM -11:40AM |
| CONCURRENT SESSION 3: 11:40AM - 12:40PM | TRACK |
| DWP Updates | W/Admin |
| Finding the Line, Finding the Leak: Tools & Techniques for Detection | W/WW |
| Ductile Iron Pipe 101 | W/WW |
| Maine DOT Permits & Requirements for Utility Work | W/Admin/WW Mgmt |
| The Project is Funded. Now What? | W/Admin/WW Mgmt |
| CONCURRENT SESSION 4: 12:50PM - 1:50PM | TRACK |
| Restraint Essentials for Pipelines | W/WW |
| The History of Chemical Feed | W/WW/VSWS |
| Artificial Recharge to Supplement Groundwater Supply | W/WW |
| Working Safely in the Road | W/Admin/WW Mgmt |
| Cross Connection Control | W/Admin |
| CONCURRENT SESSION 5: 2:00PM - 3:00PM | TRACK |
| Water Service Line Repairs: Fittings, Corrosion, & Proper Installation | W/WW |
| Understanding the Lead & Copper Rule Improvements | W/Admin |
| The Right Parts at the Right Time: Inventory Management for Utilities | W/WW |
| Moving the Road to Protect Water Quality: Lessons Learned from Adams Pond | W |
| PFAS Treatment for Rural Water Systems: How to Plan, Design and Implement Treatment Options for PFAS Management | W/WW |
| ------------- EDUCATION TRACK KEY ------------- | |
| W = Water | WW = Wastewater |
| VSWS = Very Small Water Systems | WW Mgmt = Wastewater Management |
|
Admin = Management/ Admin |
|
Please direct any questions to our Training Department at
(207) 737-4092 or trainingdepartment@mainerwa.org.
(207) 737-4092 or trainingdepartment@mainerwa.org.