Posted by Entech Engineering on Monday, June 1, 2026
As PWEA (Pennsylvania Water Environment Association) celebrates 100 years of advancing Pennsylvania’s water and wastewater industry at this year’s PennTec Conference in Hershey, PA, we are ready to raise a glass to the past, and to the future. Inspired by the PWEA’s founding spirit 100 years ago, we are going to “Party like it’s 1926!” Our Booth (#92) will feature a Prohibition-era speakeasy, complete with vintage vibes, classic games, prizes, and giveaways. We’ll be easy to find, just follow your nose and let the aroma of fresh popcorn (a prohibition favorite) guide you our way. Consider this your official invitation to step back in time while talking shop about the next century of water and wastewater innovation.
While we may be celebrating the past this year, the conversations happening inside our booth are focused squarely on the future of utility operations, infrastructure resilience, technology, and practical problem-solving for municipalities and operators across Pennsylvania. PennTec has long been a place where operators, engineers, utility leaders, and innovators come together to share ideas that strengthen the communities they serve, a mission that closely aligns with our commitment to helping clients make more informed decisions to confidently build, operate, change, and improve critical infrastructure.
Catch One of Our Six Presentations!
This year, Entech team members are proud to contribute to the conference with presentations covering some of the industry’s most pressing and emerging topics, including AI tools for operators, industrial pretreatment strategies, GIS-powered FOG management, innovative treatment process upgrades, financial resilience, and wastewater project funding opportunities.
Whether you’re looking for practical operational insight, long-term planning strategies, or simply a good conversation with fellow industry professionals, we hope you’ll stop by Booth #92 or one of our presentations during the conference. Follow the smell of fresh popcorn, try your luck at a few games, and celebrate 100 years of water with us; speakeasy style.
Below is the full line up of Entech-led presentations happening throughout PennTec 2026. Download the full 2026 PennTec program here.
Tuesday, June 16
AI Basics for Water & Wastewater Operators: Practical Tools for Everyday Tasks
9:15am – 9:45am
Bryon Killian, PE
Category: Utility Management / Gov. Affairs
Understand what AI is and how it works in plain terms. Use free AI tools to draft, summarize, and clarify work documents. Recognize appropriate use cases and risks in a utility context. Explore advanced tools for organizations ready to invest further.
Wednesday, June 17
Developing a Non-EPA-Mandated Industrial Pretreatment Program: A Practical Approach for Small and Mid-Sized POTWs
8:35am – 9:05am
Kara Humes
Category: Industrial Waste / Pretreatment
This presentation offers a practical framework for municipalities and utilities that are not required by the U.S. EPA to implement an industrial pretreatment program – but recognize the risks posed by industrial dischargers and wish to proactively manage them. The session will walkthrough how to establish legal authority, identify and characterize industrial users, implement local limits or best management practices (BMPs), and design simple inspection, sampling, and enforcement tools.
Palmer Township Case Study – The Power of a FOG Database
9:10am – 9:40am
Stacy Silva; Chris Taylor; Nick Hendricks
Category: Industrial Waste / Pretreatment
This presentation explores Palmer Township’s journey in developing a fats, oils, and grease (FOG) database to streamline compliance tracking and communication. By leveraging GIS and CRM tools, the township improved data organization, inspection management, and program accountability, demonstrating how customized digital systems strengthen municipal FOG control and operational efficiency.
Building Financial Resilience: The Strategic Value of Water & Sewer Rate Studies
11:15am – 11:45am
Eric Moore, PE
Category: Professional Operators
Discover how modern rate studies build financial resilience and unlock funding opportunities. Learn how aligning rate structures with capital goals helps utilities plan confidently, maintain compliance, and communicate value to their customers.
Making Cents of It All
11:15am – 11:45am
Tori Morgan; Natalie O’Connor
Category: Utility Management / Gov. Affairs
This presentation focuses on the various avenues for funding wastewater projects in Pennsylvania.
Ballasted Floc in an SBR, That’s Heavy!
1:00pm – 1:30pm
Dale Miller; Ashley O’Connor
Category: Professional Operators
Upgrading an SBR loaded at 90% of its capacity, while needing to take one basin out of service at a time. This can be a daunting task. With forward thinking and some ingenuity, it can be done. Join us to see how it’s done.
Categories: Municipal Infrastructure
Tagged: Potable Water | Wastewater | Budgeting & Funding