Pre-Registration is CLOSED
If you have not registered for the conference and wish to attend you will have to register on-site.
The LRWA office will be closing at noon today (Friday) and closed all next week.
Please bring registration and payment with you to the conference.
July 19-23, 2027
Lake Charles Event Center
Lake Charles, LA
There!
Thank you, everyone, for attending the 2026 Annual Conference in Lake Charles, LA!
We look forward to seeing you again next year!
LRWA will email the attendee list to all exhibitors and speakers in the coming weeks. We appreciate your patience as we process all the information from the conference. Please note that only those who provided an email address on the booth registration form or comment forms will receive the list.
Details will be provided after January 2027 regarding class and exhibitor registration, hotel room blocks, award nomination forms, water taste tests, etc.
Booths Spaces inside Coliseum Area - Sold Out
LRWA sold all booth spaces inside the Coliseum area, we are now utilizing our overflow area in the concourse/corridors area near the concession and bathrooms. These booths are shown on the layout as numbers 35-64.
Contact LRWA by email (lrwa@lrwa.org) to be placed on a waiting list.
Call 866-580-7444 and provide Group Code SLARW26
Or online at www.llakecharles.com and enter the group code SLARW26
**Discounted LRWA Conference Rate: $159.00**
Please note that a daily resort fee of $20.99, plus 15.75% tax, will be applied to your reservation.
If your company or system is tax-exempt, you must inform the hotel and complete all required paperwork before checking in.
To take advantage of the discounted rate, please make your reservations by 8:00 AM on June 19, 2026.
All reservations must be guaranteed with a first-night deposit or secured with a credit card. Cancellations must be made at least 48 hours before arrival to avoid being charged for the first night’s room and tax. If your organization is tax-exempt, please inform the hotel during the reservation process and submit your tax-exempt paperwork before your arrival. This will help ensure a smoother check-in experience for attendees.
The resort fee includes access to the pool and lazy river, pool towel usage, guest room Wi-Fi, fitness center access, bottled water, in-room coffee, unlimited local calls, overnight valet parking, and turndown service upon request.
**Additional Information: **
– Maximum occupancy: 4 guests per room
– Check-in time: 4:00 PM
– Check-out time: 11:00 AM
Once the LRWA room block at L’Auberge Casino Resort reaches capacity, we cannot guarantee additional rooms will be available. Our contact at the hotel has allocated a limited number of rooms specifically for LRWA.
Candlewood Suites
1105 West Prien Lake Road
Lake Charles, LA 70601
337-478-8008
Group Code:
LRWA Annual Convention
Group Rate:
$119.00 (Single Queen)
or
$129.00 (Double Queen)
Online booking link:
Candlewood Suites online
Reservations must be made before 6/12/26
Reservations must be cancelled within 24 hours before arrival to avoid a cancellation penalty of one night’s stay.
Check in 3:00 PM / Check out 12:00 PM
Hampton by Hilton
3175 Holly Hill Road
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 480-6443
Group Code:
LRW
Group Rate:
$144.00 (One King or Two Queens)
Online booking link:
Hampton Inn Online
Reservations must be made before 6/19/26
Reservations must be cancelled within 48 hours before arrival to avoid a cancellation penalty of one night’s stay.
Check in 3:00 PM / Check out 11:00 AM
Wingate by Wyndham
1731 West Prien Lake Road
Lake Charles, LA 70601
337-502-5112
Group Code:
Rural Water Association 2026 — 071226RUR
Group Rate:
$109 (King or Two Queen)
Online booking link:
Wingate by Wyndham Lake Charles Casino Area | Lake Charles, LA Hotels
(online group rate code 071226RUR)
Reservations must be made before 6/25/26
The Marco Hotel Lake Charles
401 North Lakeshore Drive
Lake Charles LA 70601
(337) 439-2444
This hotel is close to the Event Center, but they did not offer LRWA any discount rooms this year.
Ballroom on the 1st floor
Name badges will only be printed at the conference (Event Center) and will not be available at L'Auberge.
Join us at the L’Auberge Casino Resort on Wednesday, July 15th, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM for an unforgettable evening. Enjoy live music, delicious appetizers, and a variety of beverages while networking and building lasting connections. The event will take place in Ballroom on the first floor.
Alcohol will be served at this event. To receive a special wristband, you must be 21 years old or older.
We look forward to seeing you there!
LRWA is seeking monetary assistance to help offset event-related expenses. Without your support, this event would not be possible.
If your company would like to contribute, please feel free to contact the LRWA office at 800-256-2591.
Contributions may also be made online by clicking the button below to visit the Exhibitor page on our website. Please scroll to the “Tickets” section to complete the online form for credit card payment.
Thank you for your consideration and continued support of LRWA.
Test your skills and speed in assembling a working meter in this exciting bracket-style competition! The Ultimate Meter Challenge is open to professionals attending the 2026 LRWA Annual Conference in Lake Charles. Participants will receive a practice meter (at no cost) and an exclusive event t-shirt.
- Grand Prize: $500 gift card
- 2nd Place: $300 gift card
- 3rd Place: $100 gift card
Advance to Nationals!
- The winner will automatically qualify for the National Rural Water Association Conference in Phoenix, AZ (September 2026).
- Compete for a chance to win a trip for two to Hawaii in the national championship!
How to Register
- Click on the button below to complete the registration form.
- On-site Registration: You can also sign up at the Zenner booth during the conference.
Practice & Time Trials at Zenner Booth:
- Tuesday: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM then 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Finals on the Main Stage: Thursday: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Closing Ceremonies)
For questions, contact Zenner USA. Get ready to showcase your skills and compete for glory!
Share your Expertise with Future Leaders!
The Louisiana Rural Water Association (LRWA) is now accepting presentation proposals/abstracts for its Annual Conference, scheduled for July 13–16, 2026, at the Lake Charles Event Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana. This event is a great place to showcase new technology and connect with Water and Wastewater Professionals from around Louisiana.
New Presenter Policy: Only presenters representing companies that have paid the current year’s LRWA membership dues (deadline: January 31) and submitted a booth registration with payment for the conference will be considered.
Submission Details:
-
Complete the online presentation submission form by March 13, 2026.
-
After this deadline, LRWA will begin selecting presentations for the conference agenda.
Topics of Interest:
We welcome presentations relevant to the water and wastewater industry, including:
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New technology and innovations
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Security and emergency preparedness
-
Utility management and operations
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Board training and governance
-
Regulatory updates
The conference provides specialized training and networking opportunities designed for utility managers, town council members, and utility board members, covering all aspects of the water and wastewater industry.
Conference Sessions:
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24-Hour Technical Classroom Sessions: July 14–16 (Tuesday–Thursday)
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Exhibit Hall Presentations: 30-minute presentations at your booth on Thursday, July 16, from 10:00 am–11:45 am
The LRWA Annual Conference brings together water and wastewater utility systems—large and small, municipal and rural—to share best practices, enhance skills, and foster professional connections.
Click below to complete the online presentation request form(s)
Thursday, July 16
LRWA is inviting exhibitors to deliver a 30-minute demonstration or presentation at our Annual Conference, taking place July 14-17, 2025, at the Lake Charles Event Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
We are seeking engaging and informative topics relevant to the water and wastewater industry, including but not limited to:
- Emerging technologies
- Security and cybersecurity
- Utility management
- Board training and governance
- Regulatory updates and best practices
This conference offers an exceptional platform for education and networking, bringing together utility managers, town council members, and utility board members from across Louisiana. Attendees will gain valuable insights into all aspects of the water and wastewater sectors, from operations to management and regulation.
If you are interested in volunteering as a presenter, please complete the form below. The deadline for conference presentation submissions is May 22, 2026. After this date, LRWA will schedule exhibitors into 30-minute presentation slots based on topic and availability.
Join us in making this year’s LRWA Annual Conference a success by sharing your expertise and innovations with industry professionals!
Click below to complete the online presentation request form
Deadline for awards nominations has been reached. Consider nominating in 2027.
Do you employ/know an outstanding system or outstanding employee? If so, please consider nominating them for one of LRWA’s prestigious awards. Each year LRWA recognizes the systems and system personnel who have gone above and beyond in operations, maintenance, and management of water and wastewater systems as well as outstanding office personnel who are necessary to keep the systems running smoothly. The deadline to submit nominations is March 6, 2026. Awards will be presented at a luncheon on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 in Lake Charles, LA.
Click on either the Online Form, or the PDF format below.
The Louisiana Rural Water Association is seeking the highest quality drinking water from a Public Water System to represent Louisiana’s rural water systems in a national competition in Washington, DC for 2027!
The taste test will be held at the LRWA office in Kinder on Wednesday, May 27th. All entries will be judged, and the winner will be announced during our Annual Conference at the Awards Luncheon Ceremony on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
**Is Your Water a Champion? Put it to the test!**
Taste Test Rules:
– System must be a member of LRWA.
– System must have a grade score of 70 or higher
– Participants should use a quart-sized glass container.
– Do not fill the glass container to the top.
– Do not chill the water.
– Label the container with the system name, contact person, and contact phone number.
– An entry form must be submitted by Wednesday, May 20, 2026
– Water must be received by Thursday, May 21st, before 3pm. It can be brought or mailed to LRWA at 1325 3rd Ave., Kinder, LA 70648.
You may submit your entry in Word Document or PDF format via email at lsonnier@lrwa.org or fax it to 337-738-5620.
Click below on the form format you wish to complete.
