Next Generation Water Summit’s Friday Keynote to Discuss “One Water” Approach at the Utility Scale
SANTA FE, NM, April 4, 2023 – Water reuse and conservation are the central themes to the 2023 Next Generation Water Summit (NGWS). It’s only fitting that the Friday keynote will address both of these critical issues directly. Adel Hagekhalil, General Manager of the Metropolitan Water District in Southern California, will discuss his experience on both reuse and conservation, as well as his assertion that securing water resilience through a lens of water totality is the primary solution.
Hagekhalil’s keynote will kick off Day 2 of the NGWS, scheduled for 9:00am MT on Friday, June 16.
“We are working in a new reality, a new normal, where every year it feels like a record is broken – record heat, record dry, record snow,” said Hagekhalil. “We must manage this climate whiplash so that we can provide reliable water supplies. That means prioritizing storage, building on our progress in conservation, and investing in new, local water supplies like water recycling and stormwater capture. Working through integrated solutions as part of the ‘One Water’ approach, I know we can build a stronger, more resilient future for our communities and our region.”
Water is increasingly scarce. Growing the water supply through reuse has to be part of the solution, even though in some locales it is not preferred. Furthermore, promoting conservation during both drought and non-drought conditions is necessary. Hagekhalil’s “One Water” perspective seeks to disrupt the siloed practices of today’s water management with a more inclusive and holistic approach.
As general manager, Hagekhalil is responsible for leading Metropolitan Water District’s daily and long-term operations and planning to provide safe, reliable water to Southern California. Previously, he served nearly 10 years as assistant general manager of the Los Angeles’ Bureau of Sanitation, led the city’s wastewater collection system, stormwater and watershed protection program, water quality compliance, advance planning and facilities. He also helped develop the city’s 2040 One Water LA Plan, an award-winning regional watershed approach to integrate water supply, reuse, conservation, stormwater management and wastewater facilities planning.
A few of the other notable speakers include Jonah Schein, EPA WaterSense, National Program Manager; Laura Allen, author and founding member of Greywater Action; Paula Kehoe, Director of Water Resources, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and Commissioner on the Blue Ribbon Commission; and Bill Hoffman, ex-Assistant Director with the Texas Water Development Board, principal with H.W. Hoffman and Associates LLC, and author of numerous papers, articles and manuals on Commercial Water Auditing.
The Next Generation Water Summit will feature over 25 different live sessions from speakers around the U.S., in addition to an on-demand library of educational offerings. All sessions will be viewable online and available for up to 30 days after the Summit. The NGWS is hybrid this year, offering both in-person as well as virtual attendance. Additionally, there will be workshops prior to the event and tours post-event.
To register or for more information, please visit www.NextGenerationWaterSummit.com.
Hosts of the Next Generation Water Summit are the Santa Fe Green Chamber of Commerce; Green Builder® Coalition; City of Santa Fe; KuelWater, and the Santa Fe Area Homebuilder’s Association. The Presenting sponsors for this year’s NGWS are PNM and AVANGRID. The education partner is Santa Fe Community College, and the national media partner is Green Builder® Media.
About the Next Generation Water Summit
The Next Generation Water Summit brings together the building and development community, water reuse professionals, and water policymakers in a collaborative setting to share best practices and learn about innovative water conservation and water reuse techniques that can be used to comply with water conservation restrictions spreading across the southwest.
