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Annual Conference 2026
Texas Desal 2026 Annual Conference
Sonesta Bee Cave, Austin Texas
September 22, 2026
- September 24, 2026
2026 CONFERENCE THEME
Desalination: Investing in a Resilient Texas
Join water leaders, municipal engineers, and technology providers across Texas as we explore membrane innovations, brackish groundwater desalination, produced water management, and resilient water infrastructure.
September 21, 2026
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
• Colony Ballroom D-E
Exhibitor Setup
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
• Honeycomb 1
TXD Board Meetings (Outgoing)
September 22, 2026
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
• Colony Ballroom D-E
Exhibitor Setup
T
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
• Foyer
Registration
T-1
1:00 PM - 1:05 PM
• Colony Ballroom A-C
Texas Desal Welcome, Conference Overview & Introductions
Moderator:
Steven Sanchez, Yuliana Porras-Mendoza
T-2
1:05 PM - 1:35 PM
• Colony Ballroom A-C
The State Water Plan & The Coastal Bend Water Crisis
Moderator:
Mark Ellison
Speaker(s):
Jeremy Mazur
T-3
1:35 PM - 2:30 PM
Kyle Panel Discussion
Moderator:
Kyle Frazier
Speaker(s):
Lihy Teurstein, Michael Irlbeck
T-4
2:30 PM - 3:45 PM
• Colony Ballroom A-C
Digital Infrastructure Through Sustainable Water Stategies
Moderator:
Justin Sutherland
Speaker(s):
John Moynier, Joshua Berryhill, Mitchell Rockey
3:45 PM - 4:00 PM
• Colony Ballroom D-E
Refreshment Break
T-5
4:00 PM - 5:15 PM
• Colony Ballroom A-C
Emerging Solutions
Speaker(s):
Andrew Tiffenbach, Malynda Cappelle, Quantum Wei, Sachin Nair
Fun Event
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
• The Meridian
One Water Many Wines FunRaising Event
Moderator:
Bill Norris
September 23, 2026
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
• Foyer
Continental Breakfast
W-1
8:30 AM - 9:45 AM
Funding for Water Panel Discussion
Speaker(s):
Scott Gallaway
W-2
9:45 AM - 11:45 AM
• Colony Ballroom D-E
News You Can Use: Advancing Tools, Projects and People in Desalination
Speaker(s):
Brianne Martin, Darrell Byrer, Ignacio Beneyto, Mike HIghtower
10:30 AM - 10:55 AM
• Colony Ballroom D-E
Refreshment Break
W-Lunch
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
• Colony Ballroom A-C
Luncheon & Annual Membership Meeting
Speaker(s):
Steven Sanchez
W-3
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Desal Along the Gulf Coast
Moderator:
Kyle Frazier
Speaker(s):
Paul Choules
W-4
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Update on Strategies for Desalination Concentrate Management
Moderator:
Robert Boysen
Speaker(s):
Chris Benjamin, Keith Lampi, Steve Tedesco, Umang Yagnik
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM
• Colony Ballroom D-E
Refreshment Break
W-5
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
We Are TWDB
Moderator:
Scott Reinert
Speaker(s):
William Alfaro
4:45 PM - 6:00 PM
Networking Event
September 24, 2026
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
• Foyer
Continental Breakfast
TH-1
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Produced Water
Speaker(s):
Shane Walker, Steven Walden
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
• Colony Ballroom D-E
Refreshment Break
TH-2
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
"Time to Water" Delivering Desalination Projects During A Drought
Moderator:
Bill Norris
Speaker(s):
Daniel Wilson, Rosana Ramirez
11:45 AM - 1:30 PM
Lunch & Panel Discussion with Pioneers of Desal
Moderator:
Bill Norris
TH-3
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM
Panel Discussion
Moderator:
Kyle Frazier
Speaker(s):
John Dupnik
TH-4
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Rethinking our Approach to Desalination Projects
Moderator:
Eva Arnaiz Garcia
Speaker(s):
Mark Donovan, Steven Walden, Vasu Veerapaneni
TH-5
3:30 PM - 3:45 PM
Conference Closing
Moderator:
Steven Sanchez, Yuliana Porras-Mendoza
