Borchardt Conference

May 5 - 6, 2026 | Ann Arbor, MI

Michigan Water Environment Association. A century of excellence and a future of possibility.

Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy ...

The Borchardt Conference is the premier triennial event highlighting applied research and real-world experience in environmental engineering and water utility operations. Co-sponsored by the University of Michigan’s Department of Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, MI-AWWA, MWEA, and EGLE, the conference brings together professionals and researchers to exchange knowledge and advance the field. Continuing Education Credits (CECs) and Professional Development Hours (PDHs) are available to those who meet the requirements. Download & Share the Conference Flyer

Keynote Speakers | Abstract Guidelines | Water Treatment Innovation Prize | Sponsorship Opportunities | Registration Information | Lodging | Contacts

Meet Our Keynote Speakers

Borchardt Keynote Lecturer: Dr. Megan Plumlee, Research Director, Orange County Water District

Megan Plumlee, Ph.D., P.E. is the Director of Research for the Orange County Water District (OCWD) in Fountain Valley, California, where she oversees a team of research scientists and engineers conducting applied studies to support the District’s core operational needs. This includes evaluations of promising new technologies for the advanced purification process for potable reuse as well as for groundwater recharge. Megan has authored or co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals. Her current work includes oversight of OCWD’s ongoing PFAS pilot program testing various treatment options for removing PFAS from the region’s groundwater-based drinking water supply.

Glysson Keynote Lecturer: Dr. Belinda Sturm, Director Kansas NSF EPSCoR, Professor and Ross McKinney Faculty Fellow, University of Kansas

Dr. Belinda Sturm is the Ross McKinney Endowed Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering at the University of Kansas and the statewide Director of the Kansas National Science Foundation EPSCoR program. Belinda joined KU in 2006 and served as the Associate Vice Chancellor of Research from 2018 to 2022 and Interim Vice Chancellor of Research from 2023 to 2024. At the national and international level, Belinda serves as on the Board of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors and Vice-Chair of the EPSCoR/IDeA Foundation, and she is active on several committees for the International Water Association, the Water Environment Federation, and the Water Research Foundation.

Belinda earned her B.S. in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her PhD in Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences from the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Sturm’s primary research interest is the use of microbial communities in public health protection, water reclamation, and resource recovery from municipal wastewater. In 2012, the American Academy of Environmental Engineers awarded Belinda an Excellence in Environmental Engineering honor award for her research on coupling nutrient removal with algae-mediated energy recovery. In 2022, the Water Research Foundation awarded Belinda the Paul L. Busch Award to further research on aerobic granular sludge.

AEESP Distinguished Lecturer: Dr. David Sedlak, Plato Malozemoff Distinguished Professor, Dept of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley

David Sedlak is the Plato Malozemoff Distinguished Professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and the Director of the Berkeley Water Center at UC-Berkeley.

His research focuses on the fate of chemical contaminants, with the long-term goal of developing cost-effective, safe, and sustainable systems to manage water resources. He is particularly interested in the development of local sources of water, including water reuse - the practice of using municipal wastewater effluent to sustain aquatic ecosystems and augment water supplies - as well as the treatment and use of urban runoff and groundwater from contaminated industrial sites. Dr. Sedlak is a member of the US National Academy of Engineering, chair of its Water Science & Technology Board and recipient of numerous awards including the Paul Busch Award for Innovation in Applied Water Quality Research and the Clarke Prize for Excellence in Water Research. He is also the author of "Water 4.0: The Past, Present and Future of the World's Most Vital Resource" and "Water for All: Global Solutions for a Changing Climate."

Borchardt-Glysson Water Treatment Innovation Lecture: TBD

Call for Abstracts

Abstracts for oral and poster presentations for the 2026 Borchardt Conference are due on January 23, 2026.

Detailed abstract submission guidelines and an abstract submission form are available here.

Every three years, the Borchardt Conference brings together a diverse group of engineers, scientists, practitioners, and students to present and discuss the latest issues and advances in water and wastewater science and engineering. In addition to the Borchardt-Glysson Water Treatment Innovation Lecturer and three keynote speakers, presenters for oral and poster presentations will be selected from submitted abstracts on recent developments in the fields of drinking water and wastewater. Graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged to submit abstracts.

Presenters will be selected through a committee review of abstracts, which must be limited to one page and submitted with the accompanying form. Oral presentations are to be 15-17 min (with an additional 3-5 min Q&A).

Topics of interest for presentations include recent developments in the drinking water, wastewater, and water reuse fields, including but not limited to:

New technologies/emerging treatment practices
Trace organic/inorganic contaminants
Direct and indirect water reuse and water conservation
Nutrient removal, recovery, and control
Nanotechnology for analysis and treatment
Process residuals handling and disposal
Microbial source tracking
Climate adaptation strategies
Emerging chemical and microbial contaminants

Microbial topics in drinking water systems
Disinfection and disinfection byproducts
Corrosion control
Advances in instrumentation and controls
Real-time monitoring to improve system operation
Sustainable solutions and resource recovery
Decentralized and small footprint treatment
Infrastructure asset management strategies
Applications of AI, machine learning, data science,and modeling

Borchardt-Glysson Water Treatment Innovation Prize Guidelines

Nominations for the 2026 Borchardt-Glysson Water Treatment Innovation Prize are due on January 23, 2026.

Detailed nomination guidelines and an application form are available here.

The Borchardt-Glysson Water Treatment Innovation Prize is an honor consisting of a $10,000 cash award to acknowledge a senior or mid-career professional whose accomplishments in the water or wastewater treatment fields have been nationally and internationally recognized. The Prize will be presented at the Borchardt Conference. As part of the award ceremony, the recipient is invited to deliver the Borchardt-Glysson Water Treatment Innovation Lecture.

Past Recipients:

2017 - Marc Edwards

2020 - Karl Linden

2023 - Detlef Knappe

Sponsorship Opportunities

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$750.00

$1,500.00

$2,500.00

Bronze Sponsors are appreciated for their generous support of the 2026 Borchardt Conference. Logos of sponsor organizations will be prominently displayed on the conference website, in distributed written materials, and on screens during oral program breaks throughout the event.

Silver Sponsors play a vital role in the success of the 2026 Borchardt Conference and are recognized for their valued contribution. Logos of Silver Sponsors will be featured on the conference website, in distributed written materials, and displayed on screens during program breaks throughout the event.

As a token of appreciation, one complimentary registration is included at the Silver Sponsorship Level, providing full access to the conference program and networking events.

Gold Sponsors receive prominent recognition for their valued support of the 2026 Borchardt Conference. Logos of sponsor organizations will be featured on the conference website, in distributed written materials, and displayed on screens during program breaks throughout the event.

In appreciation of your partnership, one complimentary registration is provided at the Gold Sponsorship Level. Additionally, Gold Sponsors receive exclusive access to a job fair/table opportunity during lunches and poster sessions—an excellent venue to connect with attendees and emerging professionals.

Sponsorship Committee:

John Norton Jr. PhD, PE, Director of Energy, Research, & Innovation, Great Lakes Water Authority
Becky Lahr PhD, Drinking Water Quality Manager, City of Ann Arbor
Phil Argiroff, Former Assistant Division Director (Retired), Water Resources Division – EGLE
Bryan VanDuinen PE, Senior Engineer, Geosyntec Consultants of Michigan, Inc.
S. Joh Kang PhD, PE, Principal, Water & Energy Advisors, LLC

Financial contributions:

Contributions can be provided by credit card or check. If you need an invoice, please contact Joyce Kennedy at joykenne@umich.edu or 734-764-6024. W9 forms are available for those who need them.

By credit card:

MI-AWWA Borchardt Conference Website

By check:

University of Michigan 2026 Borchardt Conference Planning Fund

University of Michigan – CEE || Attn: Joyce Kennedy

1351 Beal Avenue, 142 EWRE

Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2138

Sponsor Registration Process:

Sponsors planning to attend the conference must complete conference registration.

Organizations sponsoring at the Gold or Silver level are eligible for one complimentary conference registration. To redeem this registration, please contact the MI-AWWA office at 517-292-2912 or info@mi-water.org.

Additional conference registrations beyond the complimentary ticket must be purchased separately through the conference registration system.

Conference Registration - NOW OPEN!

University of Michigan - Rackham Building

915 East Washington Street - 4th Floor
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1070
United States

Conference Dates: May 5 and 6, 2026

Registration Rates:

2-Day Attendee: $300
1-Day Attendee: $180

Student Registration: $25 per day
Lunch and refreshments are included with registration.

REGISTER HERE

Continuing Education Credits (CECs): Michigan CECs are pending EGLE agenda approval for both water and wastewater sessions.

Lodging Information

Please note: The Borchardt Conference does not have an official host hotel or room block. The hotels listed below are recommended options for your convenience and are located near the conference venue.

Graduate by Hilton Ann Arbor	A boutique-style hotel located in downtown Ann Arbor, just steps from the University of Michigan campus. With creative interiors inspired by local history and collegiate tradition, this property offers comfortable rooms, an on-site restaurant and bar, fitness center, and free Wi-Fi — making it a great base for exploring the city and campus. The hotel is approximately a 10-minute walk to the University of Michigan’s Rackham Building
Bell Tower Hotel	A classic downtown Ann Arbor hotel located directly on the University of Michigan campus with easy access to shopping, dining, and cultural attractions. Guests enjoy amenities such as complimentary breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and a 24-hour fitness center. The hotel is within walking distance of the Rackham Building (about ~10–12 minutes on foot), making it a convenient option for conference attendees.
Residence Inn Marriott - Ann Arbor Downtown	A pet-friendly, all-suite hotel in downtown Ann Arbor with fully equipped kitchens, free hot breakfast, an indoor pool, free Wi-Fi, and a fitness center — great for both short and extended stays. Located about 0.6 miles (roughly a 10–12 minute walk) from the Rackham Building.
Ross Executive Learning and Conference Center	A full-service hotel and conference facility located on the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business campus, offering comfortable guest rooms, meeting spaces, and convenient access to campus amenities. It’s an excellent choice for visitors looking to stay right in the heart of the University area. The hotel is within walking distance (about a 5–10 minute walk) to the Rackham Building, making it very convenient for conference attendees.
The Inn at the Michigan League	A unique, campus-centered hotel located within the historic Michigan League building on the University of Michigan’s central campus. Guests enjoy comfortable rooms and classic collegiate charm, plus easy access to nearby restaurants, shops, and sights. It’s just a short walk (about ~0.1 miles, roughly 2–3 minutes) from the Rackham Building, making it one of the most convenient lodging options for conference attendees.