Next-Gen Water Research Forum

by University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), Energized Watershed

Advancing Solutions to Water Scarcity, Reuse, and Resource Recovery in the Borderplex

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), in partnership with the Energized Watershed initiative, is hosting the Next-Gen Water Research Forum at the TecH₂O Learning Center in El Paso, Texas, on February 26-27, 2026. This free, two-day meeting will convene regional leaders to explore practical, next-generation solutions for water scarcity, reuse, and resource recovery in arid and semi-arid regions.

Purpose and Audience: This forum is designed for water professionals and researchers across West Texas and New Mexico, bringing together experts from utilities, academia, national laboratories, industry, and government. Participation is open to all stakeholders interested in advancing water innovation for the Borderplex region and the broader Southwest.

Focus Areas: Based on survey input from regional partners, the technical program is organized around three core focus areas:

Desalination and brackish groundwater treatment

Potable reuse and advanced treatment processes

Produced water, industrial water treatment, and resource recovery

With cross-cutting areas such as policy and regulation, systems integration, resilience planning, equity, and workforce development. These topics will guide sessions designed to identify shared challenges, align research priorities, and cultivate new collaborations.

Format and Activities:

The two-day program will include:

Keynote presentations from leaders in utilities, research, and policy

Thematic sessions and panel discussions

Some tours may require government-issued ID. Additional details will be provided in advance of the event

Tentative Agenda

Featured Keynote Speaker (Thursday)

We are pleased to welcome:

Christina Montoya‑Halter
Communications & Marketing Manager, El Paso Water
President, WateReuse Texas

A seasoned communications leader with 24 years of media, marketing, and public engagement experience, Christina oversees internal and external communications for El Paso Water. Her background includes a career in broadcast journalism and extensive involvement in regional and national water‑sector organizations.

Featured Keynote Speaker (Friday)

We are pleased to welcome:

Michael Hightower

Board Member, New Mexico Desalination Association
Senior Advisor, New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium

A civil and environmental engineer with 40 years of R&D experience, Mike has focused on desalination, non‑traditional water treatment, and water‑energy systems resilience. He currently serves as Senior Advisor to the New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium and previously spent 38 years at Sandia National Laboratories working on desalination and critical infrastructure programs.

Speaker Lineup Preview

Our technical sessions, workshops, and panel discussions will feature researchers, engineers, innovators, and workforce leaders, including: