MasterClass Workshops

The IWC MasterClass Workshop program is designed to provide practical information that includes a basic understanding of the topic as well as detailed case studies.

MasterClass Workshops are presented by experts in the field and are loaded with technical content, not sales information. Each workshop will provide an opportunity for a technical exchange between the students, the instructor and other workshop participants; and also provides the attendee with 3 1/2 professional development hours (PDHs) and a certificate of completion.

Please note that all listings are tentative and subject to change. An additional fee of $275.00 is required for each workshop ($325.00 each if not attending the conference). A $100.00 discount applies when two or more full-price workshops are purchased. Water Basics Package – 01/01A, 02/02A, 04/04A – $700

Sunday, November 8, 2026 – 1:00-5:00 PM

Workshop 01: Water Treatment 101 (repeats on Thursday)
Dennis McBride, Burns & McDonnell, Kansas City, MO

Water Treatment 101 This workshop is a great introductory course covering many of the basic concepts of industrial water treatment. It will address unit operations (clarification, filtration, lime/soda ash softening, iron and manganese removal, membrane filters, and roughing demineralizers) used in water preparation for industry with emphasis on power, chemical industry, and refineries. It includes treatment of cooling water systems as well as boiler water makeup. Wastewater generated by these unit operations and their treatment and disposal will be discussed. Basic water chemistry requirements for low, medium, and high pressure boilers will also be discussed.

Workshop 02: Reverse Osmosis: From Water to Wastewater and Everything in Between…2026 (repeats on Wednesday)
Jane Kucera, UCC Environmental, Naperville, IL; Ken Marshall, KM Strategic Solutions LLC, Plainfield, IL

Reverse osmosis (RO) has become a very popular and necessary water demineralization tool, treating and producing everything from water for industrial applications, ultrapure water for pharma and microelectronics, and purified wastewater for reuse. Understanding the fundamentals of RO, particularly as applications become more challenging in the environment of reduce, reuse, and recycle, is critical to optimal operations. However, the rapid growth in breadth of RO applications has left understanding of this technology lacking. Professionals and operators familiar with other demineralization technologies are now faced with operating RO systems with little or no understanding. Hence, this Workshop covers the basics and best practices of RO technology, from sound design practices to proper operating techniques to assist in filling the informational gap. Fouling and concentration polarization, data collection and normalization, pretreatment, cleaning and layup, and troubleshooting are just some of the topics included in this Workshop. This Workshop is intended for all who need to understand the essentials of RO to help achieve optimal performance of this technology which is used in virtually all water/wastewater treatment systems today.

Workshop 03: Biological Wastewater Treatment – A Chemical Engineering Perspective on Biological Processes
Kyle Stern, Kiewit Engineering Inc., Lenexa, KS

Objective is for attendees to get an introduction and foundational understanding of biological processes for treating carbonaceous waste, as well as macronutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. As a chemical engineer primarily, this workshop will come from the perspective of the underlying foundational reactions and kinetics to gain process understanding.
We build this understanding by looking at different industrial applications for biological treatment and how these type of systems can tie into process objectives.

Workshop 04: Ion Exchange Technology and Practical Operating Practices (repeats on Thursday)
Wayne Bernahl, W. Bernahl Enterprises, Elmhurst, IL

Ion exchange technology is not new yet most industrial ion exchange systems do not operate at top efficiency. Ion exchange technology is often not well understood by operating personnel.

 

Wednesday, November 11, 2026 – 1:00-5:00 PM

Workshop 05: Secret of Successful FGD WWT Operations – All the Trick’s you need to Know
Derek Henderson, P.E., Duke Energy, Raleigh, NC; Bill Kennedy, P.E., Stantec, Charlotte, NC

Workshop objective is to share real life experiences in operating FGD WWT systems from the front end to the back.

Workshop 06: Industrial Water Reuse – Lessons Learned & New Technologies
Ed Greenwood, P.Eng., BCEE, WSP, Barrie, Ontario, Canada

The primary objective of this workshop is knowledge transfer. It is aimed at those vested in developing the next generation industrial water reuse plant. Several workshop facilitators will objectively compare competing strategies to treat and recover wastewater for reuse. With many plants approaching 10 or 15 years of operation, the field of Industrial Water Reuse is maturing. Some reuse strategies have proven to be reliable and cost-effective but some have not. This workshop will explore the reasons why and address the common issues facing water reuse. Topics will include:
– Navigating the challenging and changing water treatment technology landscape – an unbiased comparison of popular treatment technologies (i.e. Clarifiers, MMF, MF, UF, GAC, IX, RO, ED, Chlorine, Ozone, AOP, UV)
– Common problems (design issues and performance issues)
– Emerging technologies and opportunities
– Optimizing cost and reliability
– Case Studies (success stories and cautionary tales)
Facilitators will encourage interactive discussion on case studies to unravel lessons learned. Participants will leave the workshop with a broad understanding of the water reuse landscape and how they might apply some of the more popular reuse strategies to develop the next generation water reuse plant.

Workshop 07: Unlocking the Science: A Journey Through Water Treatment Processes
Jeff Easton, Ph.D., P.E., Clearstream Environmental, Sandy, UT

In this engaging workshop, we delve into the core principles of water treatment unit processes. By demystifying the intricacies of these fundamental methods, engineers and project professionals gain the knowledge needed to make informed decisions. Join us as we explore the “how” behind achieving process objectives.
Unit processes to be covered:

Workshop 02A: Reverse Osmosis: From Water to Wastewater and Everything in Between…2026 (repeat from Sunday)
Jane Kucera, UCC Environmental, Naperville, IL; Ken Marshall, KM Strategic Solutions LLC, Plainfield, IL

Reverse osmosis (RO) has become a very popular and necessary water demineralization tool, treating and producing everything from water for industrial applications, ultrapure water for pharma and microelectronics, and purified wastewater for reuse. Understanding the fundamentals of RO, particularly as applications become more challenging in the environment of reduce, reuse, and recycle, is critical to optimal operations. However, the rapid growth in breadth of RO applications has left understanding of this technology lacking. Professionals and operators familiar with other demineralization technologies are now faced with operating RO systems with little or no understanding. Hence, this Workshop covers the basics and best practices of RO technology, from sound design practices to proper operating techniques to assist in filling the informational gap. Fouling and concentration polarization, data collection and normalization, pretreatment, cleaning and layup, and troubleshooting are just some of the topics included in this Workshop. This Workshop is intended for all who need to understand the essentials of RO to help achieve optimal performance of this technology which is used in virtually all water/wastewater treatment systems today.

 

Thursday, November 12, 2026 – 8:00 AM-Noon

Workshop 08: RO/NF Operator Training
Tom Imbornone, Wigen Water Technologies, Chaska, MN

The objective of this workshop is to provide operators and system owners of RO/NF systems the understanding and techniques required to ensure optimal and reliable system performance. This workshop will be appropriate for novice to advanced operators. We will review how RO membranes respond to changes in temperature, pressure, and salt concentration. We will also explain flux, recovery rate, rejection, the boundary layer, and concentration polarization. These fundamentals will be applied to trouble shooting techniques where we find the root cause of common real-world problems and how to prevent them from occurring again. We will also discuss optimal clean in place practice, including common foulants and how to effectively clean them. We will also review how to use analytical information, such as a membrane autopsy, to guide operations and the cleaning process.

Workshop 09: PFAS101: Everything you never wanted to know about PFAS and Never would have asked
Tonya Chandler, BioLargo inc, Westminster, CA

The objective of this workshop is to equip participants with a clear, practical, and scientifically grounded understanding of PFAS—what they are, why they persist, and how their evolving regulatory landscape is reshaping responsibilities for utilities, industries, and communities. Through an engaging blend of technical insight, humor, and real‑world storytelling, this session demystifies the chemistry, behavior, and treatment challenges of “forever chemicals,” ensuring attendees walk away with both foundational knowledge and actionable strategies.
Participants will gain a comprehensive overview of PFAS origins, uses, and pathways into the environment, followed by an exploration of their current status as global contaminants driving intense regulatory scrutiny. The workshop will clarify how CERCLA, DOT, and related rules are shifting liability, cleanup expectations, and project planning—empowering attendees to anticipate impacts rather than react to them.
A major objective is to compare treatment technologies in a way that is accessible and decision‑focused. Attendees will examine the performance, limitations, and lifecycle economics of legacy approaches such as granular activated carbon (GAC) and ion exchange (IX), alongside emerging electrostatic and electrochemical systems that are redefining what effective PFAS mitigation can look like.
Beyond the technical content, the workshop aims to make PFAS memorable and approachable through interactive elements, visuals, and the debut of “Forever Freddy,” a character designed to bring levity to a complex topic. Whether participants are operators, engineers, regulators, or communicators, they will leave with sharper insight, improved confidence, and a more nuanced understanding of how PFAS science connects to policy, operations, and public trust.

Workshop 10: Cold Lime Softening – A Chemical Engineering Approach to Physical-Chemical Softening
Harley Schreiber, WesTech Engineering, Salt Lake City, UT

This course will arm those who are involved in lime softening projects or the operation of softening equipment with the understanding of many of the concepts integral to the process. This will include terms and concepts such as carbonate versus noncarbonate hardness, P and M alkalinity, milliequivalents, CO2 removal, soda ash requirements, re-carbonation, and process control.

The course begins with a review of water chemistry fundamentals. Water chemistry experience is not a prerequisite. The course quickly expands from fundamentals to investigate the more complex areas of cold lime softening applications which includes carbon species equilibrium, alkalinity relationships, and carbonate versus non-carbonate hardness. Understanding these concepts leads to the development of softening equations that will enable course participants to calculate reagent dosing and sludge production.

This softening course is unique from others in that it methodically builds from simple to advanced concepts without missing critical steps in between. The course material includes assignments that will be worked on in class to ensure a thorough understanding of the concepts have been mastered. The material will also become a valuable reference for future use as you encounter lime softening applications in your work activities.

Workshop 04A: Ion Exchange Technology and Practical Operating Practices (repeat from Sunday)
Wayne Bernahl, W. Bernahl Enterprises, Elmhurst, IL

Ion exchange technology is not new yet most industrial ion exchange systems do not operate at top efficiency. Ion exchange technology is often not well understood by operating personnel.

 

Thursday, November 12, 2026 – 1:00-5:00 PM

Workshop 11: Electrodeionization Workshop: Design Principles, Operation and Practical Maintenance
Jeff Tate, UCC Environmental, Harleysville, PA

Participants will gain a detailed understanding of RO-EDI operation

Workshop 12: Inside the Membrane: Hands-On Membrane Autopsy Workshop & Lab Experience Tour
Taylor Cowan, American Water Chemicals, Plant City, FL

This hands-on workshop gives you direct access to AWC’s state-of-the-art membrane autopsy facility, where you’ll learn how to diagnose the real causes of performance decline, from scaling and fouling to chemical and mechanical damage, so you can keep systems running reliably.

Through guided, interactive exercises and live autopsy demonstrations, you’ll move from concepts to application, learning how to translate lab data into actionable operational decisions.

What you’ll experience:
• Performance and integrity testing, visual inspection of membranes, foulant collection, and chemical solubility tests
• Advanced analysis techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Zeta Potential, contact angle, flat-sheet cell, and dye testing

What you’ll take away:
• Confidence in identifying failure mechanisms, not just symptoms
• Proven approaches to optimize clean-in-place (CIP) protocols and chemical selection
• Approaches to improve system performance, recovery, and membrane life
• The knowledge needed to keep your operation running efficiently and avoid unplanned downtime

If you’re responsible for membrane performance, this workshop is for you!

Note: This workshop will take place at AWC’s Headquarters in Plant City, Florida. Round-trip transportation will be provided from the conference hotel.

Workshop 13: Concentrate Management for Industrial Desalination
John A. Korpiel, P.E., Xylem, Wexford, PA

(Revised for 2026)
This workshop will provide an overview of the options for managing the concentrate generated from industrial desalination processes and their associated challenges. The workshop is intended for engineers, technologists, managers, and operators who want to gain a better understanding of concentrate management but will also serve as a refresher for those who already have experience in this area. While prior knowledge of membrane-based desalination is beneficial, it is not a strict requirement for attending this workshop. The following topics will be discussed:
• Introduction and challenges of industrial desalination concentrate management
• Overview of conventional brine management options available for disposal and beneficial reuse, including surface water discharge, deep well injection, evaporation ponds, land application, blending, and internal recycling
• Strategies for brine minimization by optimizing conventional membrane-based desalination processes or by using innovative membrane-based minimum liquid discharge (MLD) technologies
• Opportunities for brine resource recovery
• Thermal technologies for MLD or zero liquid discharge (ZLD) applications
• The benefits, limitations, and potential issues to be considered when evaluating each of the brine management options and technologies
• Example flow sheets of integrated MLD and ZLD process systems
• Emerging technologies for brine minimization

• Evaluating concentrate management options

Workshop 01A: Water Treatment 101 (repeat from Sunday)
Dennis McBride, Burns & McDonnell, Kansas City, MO

Water Treatment 101 This workshop is a great introductory course covering many of the basic concepts of industrial water treatment. It will address unit operations (clarification, filtration, lime/soda ash softening, iron and manganese removal, membrane filters, and roughing demineralizers) used in water preparation for industry with emphasis on power, chemical industry, and refineries. It includes treatment of cooling water systems as well as boiler water makeup. Wastewater generated by these unit operations and their treatment and disposal will be discussed. Basic water chemistry requirements for low, medium, and high pressure boilers will also be discussed.