Borchardt Conference
May 5 - 6, 2026 | Ann Arbor, MI
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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 | Contacts
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. |  |
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Glysson Keynote Lecturer: Dr. Belinda Sturm, Ross McKinney Professor, Dept of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering, University of Kansas
AEESP Distinguished Lecturer: Dr. David Sedlak, Plato Malozemoff Distinguished Professor, Dept of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
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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." |
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Borchardt-Glysson Water Treatment Innovation Lecture: TBD
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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). |
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Topics of interest for presentations include recent developments in the drinking water, wastewater, and water reuse fields, including but not limited to: |
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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. |
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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: 2008 - Charles O'Melia 2011 - David Sedlak and Janet Brown 2014 - Rhodes Trussel and George Tchobanoglous 2017 - Janet Stout and Sudir Murthy; Marc Edwards 2020 - Michèle Prévost and Charles Bott; Karl Linden 2023 - Paul Westerhoff and Adrienne Menniti; Detlef Knappe
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| 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, Director of Energy, Research, & Innovation, Great Lakes Water Authority
Becky Lahr, Drinking Water Quality Manager, City of Ann Arbor
Phil Argiroff, Former Assistant Division Director (Retired), Water Resources Division – EGLE
Bryan VanDuinen, Senior Engineer, Geosyntec Consultants of Michigan, Inc.
S. Joh Kang, Principal, Water & Energy Advisors, LLC
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Registration Rates 2-Day Attendee: $300 Student Registration: $25 per day |
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Continuing Education Credits (CECs) Michigan CECs are pending EGLE agenda approval for both water and wastewater sessions. |
Technical program questions to:
Lutgarde Raskin, PhDDept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Michigan E-mail: raskin@umich.edu
Lina Belia, PhD, PEngPrimodalUS&Canada E-mail: belia@primodal.com |
Conference information questions to:
Joyce KennedyDept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Michigan E-mail: joykenne@umich.edu Phone : 734-764-6024 |
Registration questions to:
MI-AWWAE-mail: info@mi-water.org
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