AUGUSTA – Maine Water Utilities Association’s annual meeting and trade show will be held Feb. 6-8 at the Cumberland County Civic Center and the Holiday Inn by the Bay.

The 79th association conference is jointly hosted by the New England Water Works Association and the Maine Wastewater Control Association. Hundreds of water and wastewater utility experts from throughout Maine and New England will be in attendance.

The trade show provides water and wastewater experts with an opportunity to discuss various water issues, participate in development seminars and discover new technologies being introduced by many national vendors who provide products and equipment to the water and wastewater utility industry.

This joint conference officially opens Sunday with a “meet and greet” event from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Holiday Inn by the Bay.

In addition to the many technical modules being offered, Monday’s sessions will focus on the organizational management of public utilities, including succession planning and benchmarking.

The trade show opens its doors for the preview at 3:30 p.m. Monday with exhibitors from the many and varied products and services needed to supply the drinking water and wastewater industries on hand. It opens again at 8 a.m. Tuesday and runs through the entire day.

A special feature this year is the 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday trade show reception featuring a host of raffles and giveaways as well as the announcement of the 2005 photo and rigs and gigs contest winners. The public is welcome to tour the civic center during the show to learn more about what’s hot in the water and wastewater utility industry. Copies of the trade show program and agenda of training sessions may be obtained by sending e-mail to the MWUA at [email protected], or by calling 832-2263.