Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems will hold its 17th annual Spring Technical Conference and Industry Trade Show Monday through Thursday at the Parkway Plaza Hotel in Casper.

Featuring six "tracks" for industry professionals, the conference will provide information on basic water, advanced water, basic wastewater, advanced wastewater, water management and leadership, and hands-on work.

More than 50 classes will be offered during the conference designed to give new industry information to water and wastewater workers in the state. Highlights include a session on permitting, an Environmental Protection Agency roundtable, a class on solid waste and protecting water resources, a water conservation roundtable, and a class on water law as it relates to subdivisions.

"I'm interested in going to that one, too, because they just finished updating that law," said Mark Pepper, executive director for Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems. "I need to find out exactly how that affects subdivisions as it relates to water and sewer infrastructure. So do a lot of other (industry) people."

The conference is important to the rural water industry because it allows continuing education for industry workers who otherwise may not have the opportunity.

Certified water and wastewater operators are required to take a certain number of classes each year to maintain their licenses. Wyoming Rural Water holds this conference and one in fall to make taking classes easier and most cost-effective for industry professionals.

"Small communities in the state of Wyoming don't have resources that enable operators to get as much training bang for their buck," Pepper said. "Federal grants allow us to put on these conferences for a decent price and make it affordable."

Contact reporter Megan Lee at (307) 266-0589 or megan.lee@trib.com

Taste test

The nearly infamous "Best Tasting Drinking Water in Wyoming" contest will also take place during the conference, allowing one community water system to compete in the "Great American Taste Test" on April 22 in Washington.