Several Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) members and PMI’s federal government affairs consultant will address the industry’s most urgent water and regulatory issues at the 2022 Emerging Water Technology Symposium (EWTS). The event will take place from May 11-12, in San Antonio, Texas. Early bird registration runs to March 15.

The seventh biennial EWTS is co-convened by PMI, the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE), the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) and IAPMO.

“This year’s symposium offers manufacturers, plumbers and all water-efficiency professionals plenty of networking and learning opportunities to explore industry challenges and new technologies to solve those challenges,” said PMI CEO/Executive Director Kerry Stackpole.

Packed with presentations covering key topics for plumbing manufacturers, EWTS will explore water-related content in the proposed Build Back Better Act, pathogen control in building water systems, water reuse and recycling implications, performance requirements and a regulatory framework for non-sewered toilets, and more.

On May 11, Christoph Lohr, vice president of strategic projects at PMI member IAPMO, will contribute to a panel of experts from 3:15-4:30 p.m. to discuss “Effective Risk Management of Building Water Systems for Pathogen Control.” The panel will also include Janet Stout, Ph.D., president and director of the Special Pathogens Laboratory and a research associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh; Julius Ballanco of JB Engineering; and Matt Freije of hcinfo.com.

Also on May 11, C.J. Lagan, leader of product testing and compliance, R&D engineering, fixtures, at PMI member LIXIL, will present with several others in a session titled “Overview of the Performance Requirements and Likely Regulatory Framework for ‘Reinvented Toilets.'” The session will focus on the potential of products that meet the ISO 30500 product standard for high performance non-sewered sanitation devices – also known as “reinvented toilets” – to address the needs of rural communities that don’t have sewers. Other presenters will include Edward Osann, senior policy analyst with the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Clément Cid, Ph.D., senior research engineer with Linde+Robinson Lab.

On May 12 from 3-4 p.m., Stephanie Salmon, PMI’s federal government affairs consultant, will participate in a panel discussion on “Implications of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Build Back Better Legislation on Water Infrastructure and Plumbing.” Rounding out the panel will be Ron Burke, president and CEO, AWE; Dain Hansen, executive vice president, government affairs, IAPMO; Osann; and a speaker from the Environmental Protection Agency.

To register for the EWTS, please visit https://www.aspe.org/2022-ewts-registration/.