PRWA Conference 2026 Presentations From the Ranch

Knowledge Transfer: Attracting, Training, and Retaining the Next Generation

9:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Class 1-01 | Tori Morgan, LO, Eric Moore, PE. & Industry Panelists: Dave “DJ” Teter (Borough of Orwigsburg), Cora Shenk (City of Lebanon Authority), Mikayla Regan (Northern Lancaster County Authority),& Heath Edelman (Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology)

Your community will always need water and sewer services. This session explores workforce development in the water and wastewater industry. Attendees will learn principles of workforce planning, tools for stakeholder engagement, and strategies for organizational learning and training the next generation of operators.
Earn 1 DW & WW CH

Pumping Station Design: What Every Operator Should Know

9:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Class 1-12 | Chris Hannum, PE

This class reviews planning and regulatory considerations in pumping station design, focusing on duplex submersible systems. Topics include flow requirements, pumping capacities, wet well design, and control systems.
Earn 3 WW CH

A.I. (After the Inventory) Lead and Copper Rule Improvements

1:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Class 2-04 | Stacy Silva & Miranda Miller

This course reviews regulatory requirements under the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) and Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), focusing on service line inventory requirements and deadlines. Case studies provide practical lessons learned and strategies for successful implementation.
Earn 3 DW CH

Solutions for Solving Inflow & Infiltration (I&I)

1:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Class 2-12 | Tim Lester, PE & Michael Paladino (USG)

This course teaches collection system operators how to identify I&I problem areas, detect sources of inflow and infiltration, and apply corrective solutions once issues are identified.
Earn 3 WW CH

Not All It's Cracked Up to Be – Our Failing Pipe Infrastructure

1:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Class 4-10 | Tim Lester, PE & William D. Friedah, P.E. (USG)

This presentation explores the history of pipe materials, expected lifespans, and causes of premature pipe failure. It discusses the challenges facing aging infrastructure and considerations for pipe replacement strategies.
Earn 3 DW & WW CH

Nutrient Removal through the Biological Treatment Process

1:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Class 4-11 | Ed Pietroski, PE

This course explains nutrient removal in wastewater treatment through biological processes. It reviews biochemical mechanisms, operational control parameters such as MLSS and dissolved oxygen, and how aerobic, anoxic, and anaerobic stages interact to achieve nutrient removal.
Earn 3 WW CH

AI Basics for Managers: Practical Tools for Utility Oversight & Decision Support

8:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Class 5-03 | Bryon Killian, LO, PE

This workshop introduces water and wastewater utility managers to artificial intelligence tools. Participants learn how tools such as ChatGPT and Bing Copilot can support reporting, regulatory understanding, board communications, and management oversight.
Earn 1 DW & WW CH

Turning Data into Dollars – and Better Service: Why Your Utility Needs a Thoughtful, Transparent Water & Sewer Rate Study

1:30 PM – 3:45 PM | Class 6-02 | Eric Moore, PE, & Marcia Reuben

This presentation demonstrates how a well-designed rate study converts complex utility data into equitable and sustainable rate structures. Attendees learn how data-driven insights improve transparency, strengthen community trust, and position utilities for long-term financial resilience.
Earn 1 DW & WW CH