2025 Water Wellness Summit Offers Expert Analysis & Recommendations for Waterborne Disease Prevention

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With less than 6 weeks until the 2025 Water Wellness Summit, the Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires' Disease (APLD) has announced the speaker list and agenda for this free conference, which will focus on addressing waterborne disease holistically from source-to-tap.

The 2025 Water Wellness Summit is scheduled for October 2, 2025, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC. This summit will convene leading experts from public health, government, utilities, building and plumbing systems, the scientific community, and patient advocates. Attendees will engage in interactive discussions focused on challenges, best practices and new policy developments aimed at safeguarding our public water systems and premise plumbing from source-to-tap, with special attention to the growing threats posed by Legionella bacteria and other waterborne pathogens.

"With major Legionnaires' disease outbreaks this summer in New York City and other parts of the country and rates of waterborne disease including Legionnaires' seeing year over year increases over the last decade, it is more critical than ever that we bring together stakeholders across our water systems to discuss how best to work together to safeguard our potable water, as our health and lives depend on it," said Tom Leach, 2025 Water Wellness Summit organizer on behalf of APLD. "Together, we will explore the challenges facing our community drinking water systems along with innovative solutions and best practices to combat the growing threats from waterborne pathogens."

Some of the speakers and presenters include:

• Robert Bowcock, Managing Director, Integrated Resource Management, Inc., who has extensive experience in water resource management and sustainability.
• Elizabeth Hannapel, MPH, Epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (pending CDC approval), bringing vital public health insights to the discussion.
• Andrew Kricun, PE, Principal at Moonshot Missions and Co-Chair of the Microbial and Disinfection Byproducts Rule Revisions Working Group at the National Drinking Water Advisory Council of the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Gary Klein, President of Gary Klein and Associates, recognized for his work in plumbing systems and water efficiency.
• Bill McQuade, PE, CDP, Fellow Member of ASHRAE and President of ASHRAE, who will share insights on engineering solutions for water safety.
• Deborah Vacs Renwick, PE, SDWA Compliance Manager at the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, focusing on regulatory compliance and public health with water utilities.
• Jill Akre, a Legionnaires' disease survivor, sharing personal insights on the importance of water safety.
• Gwen Hanlon, a dedicated clean water advocate and family member of a Legionnaires' disease victim, will discuss community-driven initiatives.
• Tom Leach, from Leach Policy Management, providing expertise on policy development and advocacy in New Jersey.
• Jon Leleu, Argentum Partners, focusing on strategies for water wellness in Illinois.

Also invited to participate in the 2025 Water Wellness Summit:

The Honorable Frank Pallone, Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, who advocates for clean water policies; and 

The Honorable M. Teresa Ruiz, Majority Leader of the New Jersey Senate, known for her commitment to public health and sponsorship of S2188 (2024) for Legionnaires' disease prevention in New Jersey.

To view the full agenda and secure your place at this important, free collaboration opportunity CLICK HERE.

"Join us as we work together to ensure the safety and wellness of our public water systems," Leach said. "We look forward to your participation in this critical dialogue about protecting our water from source-to-tap."

For more information, visit the Alliance's website: https://preventlegionnaires.org/.

SOURCE Prevent Legionnaires'