Conference Agenda

Preparing to Meet Tomorrow's Challenges

Wednesday, April 16

7:30 - 8:30 a.m. | Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m. | Opening Remarks
Kazi Parvez Fattah, Conference Chair

8:40 a.m. | Welcome
Caroline Bennett, CEAE Department Chair

Plenary Session // Woodruff Auditorium, fifth floor

8:45 - 9:20 a.m. | Keynote Address - KDHE Regulatory Update
Cathy Tucker-Vogel, Drinking Water Administrator, Kansas Department of Health and Environment

9:20 - 10 a.m. | Addressing the Health Threats from Nitrate Contamination in Drinking Water
Jesse Bell, Claire M. Hubbard Professor of Water, Climate and Health, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

10 - 10:40 a.m. | Networking Refreshment Break

10:40 - 11:20 a.m. | ReUSA: A State-by-State Comparison of DPR Regulations
Scott Miller, Reuse Regulatory Lead, Black & Veatch

11:20 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Cybersecurity in the Water Sector
Kevin Morley, Manager - Federal Relations, American Water Works Association

12 - 12:10 p.m. | Announcements & Award Presentations

12:10 - 1 p.m. | Luncheon

Afternoon Sessions - Water Quality, Supply & Resource Management // Alderson Auditorium, fourth floor

1 - 1:45 p.m. | Drinking Water Quality Issues Intensified by Public Water Supply Well Construction Practices
Robert J. Gavin, Compliance and Data Management Unit Chief, Kansas Department of Health and Environment

1:45 - 2:30 p.m. | Leveraging Advancing Technologies for Pipe Replacement and Condition Assessment at WaterOne
Jason Beyer, Supervisor - GIS Services, WaterOne
Peter Gaskamp, Project Engineer, WaterOne

2:30 - 3 p.m. | Networking Refreshment Break

3 - 3:45 p.m. | How Effective are Streambank Stabilization Projects?
Tony Layzell, Assistant Scientist, Kansas Geological Survey

3:45 - 4:30 p.m. | Exploring Multi-Scale Controls on Streamflow and Solute Export in the Kansas River Watershed
Erin Seybold, Assistant Professor, KU Department of Geology

Afternoon Sessions - Water Resource Recovery Facilities // Woodruff Auditorium, fifth floor

1 - 1:45 p.m. | Sludge Densification with Hydrocyclones at Plug Flow Facilities: Two Kansas Success Stories
Alexandra Doody, Principal, Discipline Leader - Nutrient Removal, CDM Smith
Theresa Kopper, Environmental Engineer, CDM Smith

1:45 - 2:30 p.m. | Five Years after Start-up of Sidestream Fermenter at the Wakarusa River WWTP: The Good and The Less than The Good
Ed Kobylinski, Senior Process Engineer, Olsson
Murthy Kasi, Technical Expert, Olsson

2:30 - 3:00 p.m. | Networking Refreshment Break

3 - 3:45 p.m. | Tips for the Successful Development of Renewable Natural Gas Projects
Scott Martin, Biogas / RNG Practice Lead, Burns & McDonnell
Will Franke, Biogas Project Engineer, Burns & McDonnell

3:45 - 4:30 p.m. | Tailored Hydrothermal Liquefaction Strategies Based on Sludge Structure: The Role of Biochemical Wastewater Treatment in Shaping Sludge Composition
Susan M. Stagg-Williams, Professor, KU Chemical & Petroleum Engineering
João Poli, Ph.D. Student, KU Chemical & Petroleum Engineering

Afternoon Sessions - Air Quality Management // Kansas Room, sixth floor

1 - 1:45 p.m. | PFAS and the Air Pathway
Kelli Deuth, Principal, Ramboll Americas Engineering Solutions

1:45 - 2:30 p.m. | The Indoor Air Quality in Classrooms with Different Air Purification Solutions on Student Sickness-Related-Absenteeism and Academic Performance
Josephine Lau, Associate Professor, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

2:30 - 3 p.m. | Networking Refreshment Break

3 - 3:45 p.m. | Uncovering the Air Quality and Climate Impacts of Wildfire Aerosols from Western U.S. Fires
Nishit Shetty, Assistant Professor, KU Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering

3:45 - 4:30 p.m. | A New Annual PM2.5 NAAQS, Where Do We Go From Here?
Douglas Watson, Director, Bureau of Air, Kansas Department of Health and Environment