Public Officials

Are you a public official with oversight of water? ACE26 will position you to make the best-informed decisions for your utility and community. Join your elected and appointed colleagues from throughout North America and across the globe to explore the trends, shared challenges, and transformational technologies that impact water governance today.

Page Content

Welcome to ACE!

ACE boasts a long list of professional sessions that are directly relevant to public officials and are available throughout the conference. Deepen your expertise in:

Capital project and infrastructure financing
Water resource and utility management
Public engagement and communication
Water policy and regulations

A visit to the exhibit floor, including more than 1,000 booths, will provide you access to solutions to virtually any water challenge while preparing you for the future. Whether you oversee a water system serving 1,000 people or 1 million, AWWA’s Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE) an help you be the best leader for your governing body, utility, and community.

Event Highlight

Public Officials Breakfast & Caucus

8:00 – 11:30 a.m. | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 (Registration Required)

Public Officials Breakfast & Caucus: free to elected and appointed public officials attending the conference. Registration for this special program is required, and is open to elected or appointed public officials only. Sign up during the standard registration process and you will be contacted with additional details prior to June.

Public Officials Training at ACE

Public Officials Certificate Courses: ACE offers a targeted program for new and returning public official attendees to help them make informed decisions around utility operations and finances. The three courses are designed for mayors, water and wastewater board commissioners, and council members, and will include information about key water issues and strategies to address them. The courses may be taken individually or together, depending on what topics are most relevant to you.

CRT1 – Introduction to Water and Sewer Operating Environments

Sunday, June 21, 2026 | 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Individual Course: $155 Member | $255 Nonmember – prices increase after June 18

Officials completing this course will acquire a basic understanding of the regulatory environment and water supply concerns surrounding public water systems. The course will discuss the regulatory environment that utilities operate in and why, the rule making process and permitting agencies.

*Please note: CRT courses are available at an additional cost to public officials only. You must be registered for the conference itself, in order to add on a CRT course.

CRT2 – Water and Sewer Infrastructure, Operations, and Maintenance

Monday, June 22, 2026 | 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Individual Course: $155 Member | $255 Nonmember – prices increase after June 18

This course explores the mission and inner workings of water treatment and piping assets, with a focus on the management of these assets to protect public health and reduce outage risk, including maintenance requirements and utility expenditures.

*Please note: CRT courses are available at an additional cost to public officials only. You must be registered for the conference itself, in order to add on a CRT course.

CRT3 – The Changing Environment: How AI is Transforming the Water Industry

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Individual Course: $155 Member | $255 Nonmember – prices increase after June 18

Join us as we explore how artificial intelligence is evolving today’s water sector.

*Please note: CRT courses are available at an additional cost to public officials only. You must be registered for the conference itself, in order to add on a CRT course.

CRT4 – All Three Courses

Combined Courses: $380 Member | $680 Nonmember – prices will increase after June 18.

This option includes all three courses above (CRT1, CRT2, and CRT3). AWWA will award a Certificate of Completion after completing all three courses.

*Please note: CRT courses are available at an additional cost to public officials only. You must be registered for the conference itself, in order to add on a CRT course.

Workshops & Tours

ACE26 has a variety of workshops and facility tours in and around Washington, D.C. scheduled as well. You may register for pre-conference tours and workshops along with your registration to ACE. If you would like to add a workshop or tour to your existing registration, please email your request to services@awwa.org. A complete list of our offerings can be found at the link below.

Learn More

ACE26

Track Spotlights

Build your ACE itinerary and team up with your fellow water heroes!

Explore All Tracks

A Focus on PFAS

Growing concern about the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water has increased awareness of broader issues related to emerging contaminants. Understanding their formation, treatment, destruction, and communication is crucial to help utilities take the next step in regulatory compliance.

Intelligent Water

Intelligent water combines smart technologies with data-driven solutions to efficiently manage and use water resources. Using sensors, automation, and data analytics, intelligent water systems monitor water quality, distribution, and usage. Models and digital twins utilize this information to create predictive scenarios, helping systems operate more effectively and meet treatment goals.

Communicating With Clarity

In the water community, communication is more than just messaging; it’s essential. Utilities are finding creative ways to educate, engage, and empower their audiences. Attendees will learn how to clarify complex topics, turn projects and regulations into communication opportunities, and use creativity and strategy to build trust and understanding.

What Attendees Are Saying

“After attending the technical sessions, I left feeling very good about the condition of my water district.”