Orlando, Florida, the theme park capital of the world, provided an excellent opportunity for delegates to combine the learning and networking opportunities of WEFTEC, with unmatched entertainment opportunities for accompanying families.

Some 16,677 delegates attended the 1998 Water Environment Federation Conference and Exposition in Orlando, where the weather was unsurprisingly perfect.

ES&E President Steve Davey and family were among the 20,000 people who enjoyed the evening at Universal Studios organized by WEF.

Conference organizers put together the much appreciated "WEFTEC for Families" program. This two part event, had children touring the tradeshow, and learning from an interactive display, which showed each step of the wastewater collection and treatment process.

Reserving Universal Studios for an evening gave delegates and families a unique opportunity to experience this spectacular attraction, with only a fraction of the usual crowds. For one evening at least, many were able to forget middle age and relive some of the excitement of their younger years.

Coming back from the future to reality, WEF directors faced a prodigious array of tough decisions at two lengthy board meetings.

After much discussion, the Board approved a $19,938,300.00 (US) budget for the upcoming year. Expenses of $19,741,100.00 will allow a Commitment to Reserves of $195,000.00. The Federation's reserve fund now stands at over five million dollars, which is in keeping with US government guidelines.

ZENON Environmental Systems won a WEF Innovative Technology Award in the Process Category. They have used membrane technologies to develop a hollow fibre microfiltration membrane, which allows for cost-effective upgrading of conventional wastewater treatment plants. Any existing wastewater treatment plant can be upgraded at low cost into a ZenoGem© process by lowering the ZeeWeed membranes directly into an existing aeration tank or clarifier. The ZenoGem process achieves better than tertiary treatment effluent quality in a single step and can be adapted to meet low BOD, COD, nitrogen, and phosphorus effluent requirements.

The City of London, Ontario's 'Royal Flush' beat twenty-six other teams to capture first place overall in the Division 2 category of WEF's annual Operations Challenge. The City of Toronto's 'Highlanders' came 5th overall in the Division 1 competition, in which eleven teams competed.

The hands-on competition consisted of five events (process control, laboratory, maintenance, safety, and collection systems), each designed to test the diverse skills required for the operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment facilities, their collection systems, and laboratories.

Rhonda Harris, the new WEF president, has invited Peter Nicol of CG&S to serve on the Constitution & Bylaws Management Committee. Together with the City of Winnipeg's Bill Borlase, Peter organized the highly successful Great Canadian Icebreaker, which attracted over 250 people to a unique night spot called Blazing Pianos. An annual event held before the start of WEFTEC, the Icebreaker event gives Canadian attendees the chance to meet and network with colleagues from home.

*Steve Davey is President of ES&E, a Director of the Water Environment Federation and a Past President of the Water Environment Association of Ontario.