Borchardt Conference

Megan H. Plumlee, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE

Research Director

Orange County Water District

Keynote Bio

Megan H. Plumlee, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE 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 applied research related to groundwater recharge. Dr. Plumlee 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. Dr. Plumlee holds Doctorate and Master of Science degrees in Environmental Engineering and Science from Stanford University and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with a minor in Physics from Pacific University.  She is a registered Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California. 

Keynote

Highlights from the Applied Research Program at OCWD: PFAS Challenges and Treatment Innovations for Drinking Water and Potable Reuse

This presentation will introduce the mission and current focus of the Research & Development (R&D) Department of the Orange County Water District (OCWD; the District) located in southern California. OCWD is a groundwater management agency of 227 staff that replenishes the Orange County Groundwater Basin, a vital aquifer supplying water to approximately 2.5 million residents across 19 large cities and water districts in north and central Orange County, ensuring water reliability and quality for the region. OCWD boasts the world’s largest potable reuse advanced treatment facility and in 2022 completed construction of the nation’s largest PFAS treatment plant at Yorba Linda Water District to restore local groundwater for drinking water supply. To support OCWD’s core operational needs, the eight-person R&D team investigates promising new technologies and approaches to improve water quality and increase efficiency in three core areas: advanced water purification (i.e., recycled water), groundwater recharge, and PFAS treatment in drinking water. PFAS has had a major impact on the District, as it is present above drinking water limits in over 100 of the 200 local drinking water supply wells across 10 cities in the District’s service area.  The presentation will provide an overview of current PFAS-related research at OCWD, ranging from utility-led projects, university investigations, and start-up company tech trials. Topics include removal and destruction of PFAS in RO concentrate, measurement of broad-spectrum PFAS, and sequestration during managed aquifer recharge, among others.

Belinda Sturm:

Director Kansas NSF EPSCoR

Professor and Ross McKinney Faculty Fellow

University of Kansas 

Speaker Bio 

Dr. Belinda Sturm is the Ross McKinney Endowed Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering at the University of Kansas and the statewide Director of the Kansas National Science Foundation EPSCoR program. Belinda joined KU in 2006 and served as the Associate Vice Chancellor of Research from 2018 to 2022 and Interim Vice Chancellor of Research from 2023 to 2024. At the national and international level, Belinda serves as on the Board of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors and Vice-Chair of the EPSCoR/IDeA Foundation, and she is active on several committees for the International Water Association, the Water Environment Federation, and the Water Research Foundation. Belinda earned her B.S. in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her PhD in Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences from the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Sturm’s primary research interest is the use of microbial communities in public health protection, water reclamation, and resource recovery from municipal wastewater. In 2012, the American Academy of Environmental Engineers awarded Belinda an Excellence in Environmental Engineering honor award for her research on coupling nutrient removal with algae-mediated energy recovery. In 2022, the Water Research Foundation awarded Belinda the Paul L. Busch Award to further research on aerobic granular sludge.  

Speaker Abstract 

Low DO BNR Systems: Anaerobic selectors, Comammox, and SND 

Utilities are increasingly adopting low dissolved oxygen (DO) biological nutrient removal (BNR) to reduce energy use and operating costs while still meeting stringent nutrient limits. Yet full-scale outcomes reflect a complex interaction between microbial selection, nitrification rates, sludge properties, and nitrous oxide emissions. A multi-year Water Research Foundation project evaluated low-DO BNR across 14 full-scale facilities, pilot systems, and bench-scale studies to identify when and how low-DO operation delivers reliable, energy-efficient performance.A central finding is the pronounced shift in nitrifying community structure under sustained low-DO conditions. While conventional high-DO systems are dominated by ammonia-oxidizing and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, long-term low-DO operation selects for complete ammonia oxidizers (comammox) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA). Across participating facilities, comammox accounted for roughly two-thirds of the nitrifying community, with AOA comprising another significant fraction. These organisms possess higher oxygen affinities and the ability to complete nitrification within a single cell—providing a decisive competitive advantage under oxygen-limited conditions and enabling more efficient simultaneous nitrification–denitrification.By integrating microbial ecology with full-scale performance trends, this talk offers a practical framework to support utility evaluation, optimization, and design of low-DO BNR systems.

Dr. David Sedlak

Plato Malozemoff Distinguished Professor

Dept of Civil & Environmental Engineering

University of California, Berkeley

Speaker Bio

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."

Speaker Abstract

Using Small-Scale Treatment Systems to Solve Some of the World’s Water CrisesThe creation of treatment systems capable of removing contaminants from water has been one of the most impactful achievements of environmental engineers. Because most of these technologies benefit substantially from economies of scale, centralized systems that involve expensive, vulnerable infrastructure usually have proven to be the most cost-effective means of improving water quality. Recent developments in manufacturing, sensing, materials science and biotechnology have the potential to alter this dynamic, enabling the deployment of small-scale treatment systems within existing water networks as well as the creation of autonomous "off-the-water-grid" systems. This lecture will introduce audiences to the latest developments in small-scale water systems by examining premise-scale water recycling systems and the potential for further deployment of such systems in other settings. By leveraging recent developments in small-scale treatment systems that do not require on-site operators or replenishment of chemical reagents, it may be possible to lower costs of water treatment and extend the benefits of modern water treatment to rural communities and citizens of low- and middle-income countries.

Borchardt-Glysson Water Treatment Innovation Lecture: 

Zhiyong Jason Ren

Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment

Associate Director for Research, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment

Speaker Bio

Prof. Zhiyong Jason Ren (Linkedin:zjasonren) is a professor in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment at Princeton University. He serves as the center’s associate director for research and was the acting director in 2020-2021. He leads the Princeton WET (Water & Energy Technologies) Lab with research and teaching focusing on the water–energy nexus, where they advance AI-enabled decarbonization and resource recovery in environmental and chemical systems. His group integrates electrochemistry, microbiology, and data science to uncover fundamental mechanisms and develop predictive models and scalable technologies. Jason has published one book, 250+ peer-reviewed articles, and holds 10 granted or pending patents. He has co-founded two startups with students and translated lab research to field applications. (https://ren.princeton.edu). Jason has been recognized with many awards including the 2024 Walter J. Weber, Jr. AEESP Frontier in Research Award, the 2021 Paul L. Busch Award, and the 2020 Walter L. Huber Research Prize. He is a Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry and the International Water Association. He is an executive editor for Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) and associate editor for ES&T and ES&T Letters. He received his Ph.D. in environmental engineering from Penn State University.

Speaker Abstract

Decarbonization: Quantifying and Directing Carbon Flows in Wastewater

Achieving carbon circularity requires integrated strategies to re-valorize waste carbon, mitigate emissions, and reduce reliance on non-renewable resources. Wastewater systems are shifting from “removal-centered” treatment toward carbon-aware, recovery-oriented management, where
traditional biological processes can be AI-enabled and electrified. This presentation highlights an integrated approach that couples data science with technology development to both understand and reshape wastewater carbon flows. We will present AI/ML frameworks that combine field
observations, literature mining, and mechanistically informed hybrid models to improve carbon accounting and pinpoint actionable levers to reduce emissions tied to microbial pathways. We will also discuss emerging electrified treatment and microbial electrochemical conversion technologies that convert organics and CO₂ into useful products that enable resource recovery and circular economy. 

Nominations for the 2026 Borchardt-Glysson Water Treatment Innovation Prize are closed.

Detailed nomination guidelines and an application form are available here.

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:

2017 - Marc Edwards

2020 - Karl Linden

2023 - Detlef Knappe

$1,500.00

$2,500.00

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.

 Thank you to our sponsors!

University of Michigan - Rackham Building

915 East Washington Street - 4th Floor
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1070
United States

Conference Dates:    May 5 and 6, 2026

Registration Rates:

2-Day Attendee: $300
1-Day Attendee: $180

Student Registration: $25 per day
Lunch and refreshments are included with registration. 

 REGISTER HERE

Continuing Education Credits (CECs):  Michigan CECs are pending EGLE agenda approval for both water and wastewater sessions.

A boutique-style hotel located in downtown Ann Arbor, just steps from the University of Michigan campus. With creative interiors inspired by local history and collegiate tradition, this property offers comfortable rooms, an on-site restaurant and bar, fitness center, and free Wi-Fi — making it a great base for exploring the city and campus. The hotel is approximately a 10-minute walk to the University of Michigan’s Rackham Building 

A classic downtown Ann Arbor hotel located directly on the University of Michigan campus with easy access to shopping, dining, and cultural attractions. Guests enjoy amenities such as complimentary breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and a 24-hour fitness center. The hotel is within walking distance of the Rackham Building (about ~10–12 minutes on foot), making it a convenient option for conference attendees.

A pet-friendly, all-suite hotel in downtown Ann Arbor with fully equipped kitchens, free hot breakfast, an indoor pool, free Wi-Fi, and a fitness center — great for both short and extended stays. Located about 0.6 miles (roughly a 10–12 minute walk) from the Rackham Building.

A full-service hotel and conference facility located on the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business campus, offering comfortable guest rooms, meeting spaces, and convenient access to campus amenities. It’s an excellent choice for visitors looking to stay right in the heart of the University area. The hotel is within walking distance (about a 5–10 minute walk) to the Rackham Building, making it very convenient for conference attendees.

A unique, campus-centered hotel located within the historic Michigan League building on the University of Michigan’s central campus. Guests enjoy comfortable rooms and classic collegiate charm, plus easy access to nearby restaurants, shops, and sights. It’s just a short walk (about ~0.1 miles, roughly 2–3 minutes) from the Rackham Building, making it one of the most convenient lodging options for conference attendees.

Technical program questions to:

Lutgarde Raskin, PhD  

Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Michigan  

E-mail: raskin@umich.edu

Lina Belia, PhD, PEng

PrimodalUS&Canada

E-mail: belia@primodal.com

Joyce Kennedy

Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Michigan

E-mail: joykenne@umich.edu

Phone : 734-764-6024

MI-AWWA

E-mail: info@mi-water.org