Hosted and organized by:

• International Water Association
• Urban Water Research Center at the University of California, Irvine
• National Water Research Institute
• Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University
• Centre for Water Science, Cranfield University

About the Conference

The Fourth IWA Specialty Conference on “Natural Organic Matter: From Source to Tap and Beyond” will be held on July 27-29, 2011, in Costa Mesa, California.

The purpose of this 3-day conference on natural organic matter (NOM) is to bring together a diverse, interdisciplinary group of scientists and engineers who are interested in better understanding the environmental dynamics of NOM as it pertains to water research. Because of the increased importance of water reuse, conference discussions will include sessions on effluent organic matter (EfOM) as well.

The conference will examine the importance of organic matter in water and wastewater treatment, formation of disinfection (reaction) byproducts, management and sustainability, impact on ecological drivers and biogeochemical processes, and potential effects of land use and climate change.

While quantitative NOM studies on the above topics are well represented in the literature, less is known about the composition of NOM – or, its “quality.” Recent advances in the ability to characterize NOM promise to help the scientific community reach the next level for a fundamental understanding of the importance of NOM quality in environmental engineering and aquatic sciences. Analytical methods include excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy, ultrahigh resolution electrospray Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS), and high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, among others. The full potential of these methods in advancing the field has only just begun to be realized.

Equally important to NOM characterization and applications for refining its environmental dynamics in aquatic ecosystems is to review and discuss advances in the areas of membrane processes in water and wastewater treatment, disinfection byproducts, and control strategies for NOM removal in water treatment processes.

Conference sessions will highlight (but are not limited to) disinfection byproducts; NOM and EfOM characterization and monitoring; catchment processes and source management; removal and treatment strategies; changes in NOM during distribution; environmental fate, transport, and transformation; and applications to wetlands, groundwater, and coastal and oceanic studies, including remote sensing and a relatively new area, NOM in extreme environments.

We challenge you to suggest additional areas that relate to NOM in drinking water, wastewater, recycled waters, natural waters, and marine systems. At this conference, we anticipate lively discussions of all of these topics.

To assist in planning, please send an email of intent to participate to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . This notification is not a prerequisite for participation, but will be helpful to the organizers!

Attendees

The goal of the conference is to be inclusive of all disciplines with the common thread of better understanding the dynamics and impacts of NOM. Attendees are expected to include:

• Academics (Professors and Students)
• Water and Wastewater Utility Managers and Staff
• Consultants
• Engineers
• Researchers
• Government Officials

Conference Topics

• Molecular characterization of NOM
• Catchment and source management
• Monitoring
• Removal strategies
• Membranes and membrane treatment
• Environmental fate, transport, and transformation
• Disinfection byproducts
• Coastal waters and oceanic carbon cycling
• Wetlands and groundwater
• Photochemistry
• Advanced oxidation processes
• Remote sensing of NOM in water
• NOM in extreme environments
• New ideas

Conference Format

The conference will consist of plenary sessions, followed by three to four parallel sessions. Presenters will include invited speakers who are leaders in the field of NOM research, as well as those submitting papers or posters.

Abstracts Submission Process

Applicants are invited to submit an abstract for an oral or poster presentation at the conference. Student oral and poster presentations are also welcome. An award will be given for the best student poster.

Please note the following abstract guidelines:

• You may submit more than one abstract.
• Each abstract must be submitted with a completed Abstract Submittal Form, available at www.regonline.com/NOM2011.
• Abstracts must be written in English.
• Text must not exceed 500 words.

Abstracts must be submitted by January 21, 2011, for consideration. Complete guidelines for abstract submission are available at www.regonline.com/NOM2011.

Notification of Acceptance

Authors will be notified of acceptance by March 1, 2011. If selected, authors will be encouraged to submit an 8- to 15-page full manuscript for inclusion in the conference proceedings.

At least one author of each selected paper and poster must register and attend the conference to present the paper. Authors must meet their own expenses (conference registration, travel, hotel accommodations, etc.) to attend the conference.

Conference Registration

The cost of registration includes conference materials, three continental breakfasts, three conference lunches, one poster reception, and one conference gala dinner.

The deadline for early registration is June 24, 2011. Register online at www.regonline.com/NOM2011.