Please note: the content of this program was updated to take into account the city's response to the effects of Hurricane Harvey.
Extreme flooding in the wake of Hurricane Harvey has severely impacted wastewater treatment infrastructure in the greater Houston area. Bayou and sewer overflows — combined with runoff from lawns, parking lots and industrial sites — present treatment challenges that must be overcome to deliver potable water to residents.
In addition, the volume of water required to meet municipal demand has increased significantly over the last decade for Houston and other cities with high population growth. Many of these cities are becoming more reliant on nontraditional water sources — such as recycled, brackish, desalinated, and waste and process water — to meet that demand. To be fit for its intended use, water from these sources often requires specialized treatments that draw additional power from the electricity grid. In addition, the logistics of collecting and delivering these multiple smaller water streams is more complex.
This workshop examined the effects of Hurricane Harvey and raised awareness of water treatment techniques that can be used in response to extreme storm events, as well as potentially increase the general use of nontraditional water sources while reducing their cost and environmental impact. Speakers offered perspectives from their respective areas of expertise, providing participants with multidisciplinary views on the issues associated with this water-energy nexus. They examined the challenges and opportunities presented by the decentralized collection, treatment and distribution of water from nontraditional sources that takes place in cities like Houston. The discussion also increased public awareness of the need for municipal water treatment engineers, and of the challenges they face in installing more resilient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly water treatment processes.
This event was sponsored by the Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies, the City of Houston and Headworks International. Follow @BakerInstitute on Twitter and join the conversation online with #BakerEnergy.
Agenda
8:00 am |
|
|
Continental breakfast |
8:30 am |
|
|
WelcomeLinda Capuano, Ph.D. Michele LaNoue |
8:45 am |
Panel — Houston and Hurricane HarveyDiscussion of flooding and infrastructure response Moderator: Linda Capuano, Ph.D., Fellow in Energy Technology, Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies Jason A. Iken Jeff Lindner The Honorable Gene Wu |
||
10:00 am |
|
|
Break |
10:15 am |
|
|
Panel — Technologies with Potential to Address Water Treatment ChallengesOpportunities in identifying, matching and implementing current and innovative technology to meet user needs Moderator: Gerald Seidl, Co-founder and Senior Vice President, Headworks International Desmond Lawler, Ph.D. Julie Nahrgang Tom Pankratz Lauren Stadler, Ph.D. Eva Steinle-Darling, Ph.D. |
11:25 am |
|
|
Closing RemarksLinda Capuano, Ph.D. |
11:30 am |
|
|
Adjourn |