Water Conference highlights important issues with resources, sustainability

What does it mean to prepare for climate change? It depends on who you ask.

Local leaders and constituencies gather each year, though, to discuss the challenges and preservation methods for managing one of our greatest resources: water.

For the 15th year, SWMO Water and Missouri State partnered to present the Southwest Missouri Water Conference this September. Our very own Cody Brewington once again helped to facilitate this successful conference.

“The conference has always remained steadfast in its goal: to ensure that southwest Missouri has water for centuries to come. This year’s conference brought in experts from across the nation that have had real life experiences with water shortages,” Brewington said.

The theme of this year’s conference was “trends,” and leaders discussed the importance of setting the trends, rather than following them, in order to be sustainable.

Missouri State University has served a vital part of the Water Conference planning since 2009, handling the sponsorship solicitation, registration, continuing education for engineers and water operators, and event planning at the Darr Ag Center.

“Southwest Missouri is starting to experience some of the issues with water shortages as this area continues to grow,” Brewington said. “I feel that this conference is setting the groundwork so that one day we don’t turn on water and nothing comes out.”