Facility Tours

These tours give attendees the chance to see real-world applications, connect with industry professionals, and earn Contact Hours while expanding their knowledge. With five different tours available, attendees can choose the experiences that best match their interests and professional goals, adding meaningful, hands-on learning to their WEFTEC experience.

Pre-registration is required and space is limited.

Registration Fees

Registration fees include transportation and may also include a donation to the host facility or organization.

Bus Departure

For WEFTEC 2026 in New Orleans, tour buses will depart from and return to the  Ernest N. Morial Convention Center's Transportation Center at the intersection of Convention Center Boulevard and Calliope Street . Boarding will begin promptly, and buses will depart 15 minutes after boarding begins.

Security Clearance

Some facilities require visitors to complete a waiver and provide identification in advance for security clearance. Registrants who do not meet these requirements by the specified deadlines will be unable to board the tour bus or access the facility. Refunds will not be issued for non-compliance.

Food and Beverage
Unless otherwise noted, food and beverages, including water, will not be provided. Attendees are encouraged to bring a refillable water bottle.

Schedule

Monday, September 28

Tour 1 From Wastewater to Resource: The East Bank Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour

1:00 pm to 3:20 pm

Registration fee: $60.00

Tour Description: Visit New Orleans’s main wastewater treatment facility, which serves the entire East Bank District of the city. Attendees will gain an overview of the treatment processes that protect public health and water quality and see how wastewater is managed from influent to final discharge. The tour will also highlight the facility’s fluidized bed incinerator and how it is used to reduce the volume of dewatered sludge as part of the facility’s solids management strategy.

Registration Requirements: Advance registration is required by August 22, 2026. Tickets will not be available for purchase after August 22, and substitutions are not permitted.

Security Clearance Requirements: Registrants are required to complete the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans’ Liability Waiver in advance. A separate email will be sent with the waiver form, which should be submitted along with the required documents immediately after registering. All registrants must have photo identification available on the day of the tour.

Tour Requirements: Portions of the tour take place within an active treatment facility. The tour includes walking on uneven terrain and climbing stairs. The site is not ADA accessible. Participants should wear closed toe, nonslip shoes and dress appropriately.

Tuesday, September 29

Tour 2 Storm Surge Protection in Action: The Lake Borgne Surge Barrier

9:15 am to 12:15 pm

Registration fee: $60.00

Tour Description: Visit a section of the Lake Borgne Surge Barrier on the New Orleans side and gain insight into one of the region’s most significant post–Hurricane Katrina flood protection investments. This 2.9 km (1.8 mile) structure is part of the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reduce storm surge risk for more than one million residents across the greater New Orleans area.

Attendees will learn how floodwalls, levees, floodgates, sector gates, and the surge barrier function together to protect against storm surge from Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Borgne, and the Gulf of Mexico. The tour will also highlight the role of the Flood Protection Authority East in operating and maintaining the system across Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Bernard Parishes.

Registration Requirements: Advance registration is required by August 22, 2026. Tickets will not be available for purchase after August 22, and substitutions are not permitted.

Tour Requirements: This tour takes place primarily outdoors. The site is not ADA accessible. Participants should expect extended walking, uneven or rough terrain, multiple flights of stairs, loud operational equipment, and areas at elevated heights.

Portions of the tour are weather dependent, and attendees should be prepared for wind, rain, or sun exposure. Participants must wear closed toe, flat shoes such as sneakers and dress appropriately for outdoor conditions. Bringing sunscreen, sunglasses, bottled water, and insect repellent is recommended.

Facility Tour 6: Down by the River Bike Ride, guided by Louisiana Bucket Brigade

9:15 am to 1:15 pm

Registration fee: $75.00

Tour Description: Down by the River is a 6-mile guided bike ride along the Mississippi River levee in St. Charles Parish, part of the 85-mile stretch of river known as “Cancer Alley.” More than a bike ride, it is an exploration that connects America’s largest slave revolt to today’s work for environmental justice, weaving Black history, present-day organizing, and storytelling into an unforgettable experience.

The Route Tells the Story:

• Environmental Justice in Action: Hear personal testimony from community co-leaders about current industrial pollution challenges and how local residents continue the region’s long tradition of resistance.
• The Diamond Community and the Bittersweet Victory: Pedal through the Diamond community of Norco and learn how Margie Richard and the Concerned Citizens of Norco won a landmark campaign against Shell—a blueprint for community power.
• 1811 Slave Revolt: Ride the same river road where over 500 enslaved people organized the largest uprising in U.S. history. This revolution inspired the Diamond residents into action.

* The registration fee includes bicycle & helmet rentals. Proceeds benefit the Louisiana Bucket Brigade to support their ongoing environmental health and justice work.

Registration Requirements: Advance registration is required by August 22, 2026. Tickets will not be available for purchase after August 22, and substitutions are not permitted.

Security Clearance Requirements: Registrants are required to complete a Liability Waiver in advance. A separate email will be sent with the waiver form, which should be submitted along with the required documents immediately after registering.

Tour 3 From River to Tap: The Carrollton Water Purification Plant Tour

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Registration fee: $60.00

Tour Description: Located along the Mississippi River, the Carrollton Water Purification Plant has been transforming river water into safe, reliable drinking water for the entire East Bank District of New Orleans for more than 100 years. Attendees will explore the treatment processes that purify millions of gallons each day and learn how the facility generates the power needed to keep operations running efficiently and continuously.

Registration Requirements: Advance registration is required by August 22, 2026. Tickets will not be available for purchase after August 22, and substitutions are not permitted.

Security Clearance Requirements: Registrants are required to complete the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans’ Liability Waiver in advance. A separate email will be sent with the waiver form, which should be submitted along with the required documents immediately after registering. All registrants must have photo identification available on the day of the tour.

Tour Requirements: Portions of the tour take place outdoors and inside operational areas, so aspects of the experience are weather dependent. The tour includes walking on uneven terrain and climbing stairs. The site is not fully ADA accessible. Participants should wear closed toe, nonslip shoes and dress appropriately for the weather, as some areas are not air conditioned.

Wednesday, September 30

Tour 4 Living with Water in the Pontchartrain Basin–A Tour by Pontchartrain Conservancy*

8:30 am to 1:00 pm

Registration fee: $75.00

Tour Description: Site 1: Located on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain, the New Canal Lighthouse is a science and history museum that also serves as a public education and outreach center. Attendees will explore interactive STEM exhibits focused on Southeast Louisiana’s environment and learn about the Pontchartrain Conservancy’s work in water quality protection and coastal restoration.

Site 2: Take a guided walk along the Bucktown Marsh Boardwalk, part of the new Bucktown Harbor on Lake Pontchartrain. This 305 m (1000 ft) boardwalk features bird blinds and interpretive signage highlighting the Pontchartrain Basin, local watersheds, native plants, wildlife, fisheries, and coastal ecosystems.

Site 3: Visit one of the city’s largest pumping stations and learn how it helps manage stormwater. This stop will cover the history of the city’s drainage system and current stormwater management practices.

*The registration fee includes Lighthouse admission and a donation to the Pontchartrain Conservancy.

Registration Requirements: Advance registration is required by August 22, 2026. Tickets will not be available for purchase after August 22, and substitutions are not permitted.

Security Clearance Requirements: All participants must complete a Photo Release and Liability Waiver in advance. A separate email will be sent with the waiver form, which should be submitted along with the required documents immediately after registering.

Tour Requirements: The tour has some sites that are both partially outdoors and outdoors, so aspects of the tour are weather dependent. Portions of the tour include casual walking and potential climbing of stairs (sites 1 and 2 are wheelchair accessible but site 3 goes inside a pumping station and may not be completely accessible by wheelchair). Participants should dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable shoes.

Tour 5 Building Resilience: Green Infrastructure in New Orleans

9:00 am to 12:50 pm

Registration fee: $60.00

Tour Description: An immersive tour of three green infrastructure projects nestled in different New Orleans communities.

Site 1: Begin with a visit to the Bayou St. John Green Infrastructure Demonstration Project at 3500 Toulouse St., completed in 2023. This community-based project demonstrates stormwater detention and retention through strategic earthwork, expanded tree canopy, and buried monitoring infrastructure that tracks performance and supports long term system management.

Site 2: Continue to the Mirabeau Water Garden, a 101 000 sq m (25 acre) recreational and educational space designed to reduce flood risk. As a key component of the Gentilly Resilience District, this project plays an integral role in the City’s stormwater reduction strategy and serves as a flagship example of large-scale urban water management and community-focused design.

Site 3: Conclude at the Vision 2 Reality Stormwater Management Park, where a formerly flood-prone and underutilized site has been transformed into a multifunctional green space. Designed to address extreme rainfall and drainage challenges, particularly in historically underserved neighborhoods, this project highlights nature-based solutions developed through collaboration between community partners, municipal agencies, and technical experts.

Registration Requirements: Advance registration is required by August 22, 2026. Tickets will not be available for purchase after August 22, and substitutions are not permitted.

Tour Requirements: Closed-toe, non-slip shoes are required. The tour is outdoors and involves walking on uneven terrain, so participants should wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. A hat and/or umbrella is also recommended.

Tour Requirements: Participants should be comfortable completing a 6-mile guided bike ride along mostly flat, levee-top terrain. Bicycles and helmets will be provided. Attendees should wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes appropriate for outdoor activity and weather conditions. Restroom facilities will be available at the third stop, approximately 30 minutes into the tour.