Bjerringbro, Denmark / London, UK, 15 December 2023

Discover the new publication: Youth Action for SDG6 – IWA & Grundfos Fellowship Outcomes

In 2022, Grundfos, a global leader in advanced pump solutions and water technologies, together with the International Water Association (IWA), initiated the Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship, giving 13 carefully selected Young Water Professionals (YWPs) a unique opportunity to make their voice heard on a global stage, with one of the highlights being active participation at the 2023 United Nations Water Conference in New York.

Youth Fellows in New York City with Poul Due Jensen and Kala Vairavamoorthy (centre back).

At the conference, YWPs engaged with global leaders in panels, workshops, and roundtables. The Fellowship culminated at Grundfos Headquarters in Denmark in September 2023, where YWPs showcased projects, discussed takeaways, and emphasised the crucial role of young professionals in shaping the water sector’s future.

Earlier this week, these young water professionals presented an impactful and unique publication at the 5th IWA 2023 Emerging Water Leaders Forum held alongside the IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition in Kigali, Rwanda. Impressed with the work the YWPs have done over the year, Grundfos announced that it will continue to support the Fellowship along with IWA by extending the collaboration and give the YWPs the opportunity to work and strengthen their projects. The members who have passed the 35-year mark will support the Fellowship in an advisory role, leaving 10 Youth members on the journey to accelerate water action. Grundfos and IWA will continue conversations to reinforce the value of youth for the water sector at a global scale.

Poul Due Jensen, CEO of Grundfos says, “We are proud to support the YWPs. When it comes to safeguarding our precious water resources, we have a responsibility to act now while at the same time being forward-looking. By collaborating with these dedicated young people, we are enabling future water leaders, whose fresh perspectives will lead us towards sustainable water management.”

Kala Vairavamoorthy, Executive Director, IWA added, “The Fellowship brought together 13 exceptional YWPs from diverse corners of the world, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries to create a transformative journey. The result of this journey is today’s joint Grundfos-IWA publication. The partnership with Grundfos is very important to us as it has enabled young water professionals to pick up and work on key projects and also have a voice at key global forums.”

The Youth Action for SDG6 – IWA & Grundfos Fellowship Outcomes aims to highlight the important role young people play in the UN 2030 Agenda, focusing on how the water sector can be transformed by their energy and excellence. It is a culmination of the exciting journey the 13 YWP have been on. Each chapter of this anthology is a mosaic of the Youth Fellows’ projects, carefully chosen to reflect their unique contributions toward achieving the SDGs, with a focus on SDG 6. The publication’s five chapters focus on how we can activate, develop, and yield the contributions from young water professionals around the globe effectively.

The publication is a testimony to the diverse understanding of the representatives of the Fellowship and offers both inspiration and concrete suggestions for actors in the water industry and policy makers.

Inês Breda (left) in Kigali

Inês Breda, outgoing IWA-Grundfos Fellow & Senior Manager of Global Partnerships and Alliances, Grundfos, says “Participating in the fellowship feels like getting a sneak peek of the water crisis at a global scale, while at the same time it gives me hope because I experienced how water professionals from all around the globe spend vast amount of their time and energy into developing solutions.  I am thankful for the experience and I cannot wait to continue to support the current young leaders of the water sector.”

-ENDS-

About the Publication

The publication is co-authored by the IWA & Grundfos Youth Fellows and edited by IWA. Link to access the publication: IWA & Grundfos Fellowship Outcomes

The list of contributors to the publication:

• Marina Batalini de Macedo, Adjunct Professor, Federal University of Itajubá, Brazil
• Pabel Cervantes-Avilés, Assistant Professor, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico
• Sudipti Arora, Research Scientist, Dr. B. Lal Institute of Biotechnology, India
• Jacob Amengor, Water Quality Analyst, Ghana Water Limited, Ghana
• Krisztian Mark Balla, Technology Development Engineer, Grundfos Holding A/S, Denmark
• Muhammad Anique Azam, PhD Scholar and Lecturer, NED University of Engineering & Technology, Pakistan
• Charles Shachinda, Technical Officer – International, British Water, United Kingdom
• Hadi Toure Guindo, Water Engineer, AFR’EAU, Mali
• Chelsea Hayward, Senior Process Engineer, Jacobs, Australia
• Inês Breda, Senior Manager of Global Partnerships and Alliances, Grundfos, Denmark
• Krithika Iyer Shivakumar, Senior Manager, Sustainability and External Relations Grundfos India, India
• Yang Villa, Asia and the Pacific Water Resilience Hub Manager, Asian Development Bank, Philippines
• Farokh Iaqa Kakar, Environmental Engineer, Brown and Caldwell, Canada

About Grundfos

Grundfos pioneers solutions to the world’s water and climate challenges and improves the quality of life for people. As a leading global pump and water solutions company, we promise to respect, protect and advance the flow of water by providing energy and water efficient solutions and systems for a wide range of applications for water utilities, industries and buildings. Find out more: grundfos.com

About IWA

The International Water Association is a global network of water professionals dedicated to delivering equitable and sustainable water solutions for the benefit of society. Its mission is to inspire, connect and deliver impact on the water sector. As a non-profit organisation with a membership over more than 140 countries, IWA connects scientists with professionals and communities, so that pioneering research offers sustainable solutions. In addition, the Association promotes and supports technological innovation and best practices through international frameworks and standards. For more information, please visit www.iwa-network.org

Media contacts

• Grundfos: Mahathi Parashuram, Director of Public Relations; mahathi@grundfos.com
• IWA: Keith Hayward, Marketing & Communications Director; hayward@iwahq.org

10 December 2023 | Kigali, Rwanda

The 7th Edition of International Water Association, Water and Development Congress & Exhibition (IWA – WDCE) 2023 convenes at Kigali Convention Centre on 10-14 December 2023.

The WDCE 2023 brings water professionals around the globe to discuss water and sanitation opportunities and challenges to come up with innovative solutions geared towards ensuring safe, sustainable and climate-resilient water and sanitation services for all.

Dubbed under the theme ”Water, sanitation, and climate resilience – keys to a water-wise future”, the International Water Association’s Water and Development Congress & Exhibition 2023 is bringing together water and sanitation practitioners including policy makers, technologists, researchers, academia, members of the civil society, and financiers, amongst others, to share knowledge and best practices that would shape Africa’s innovation potential to meet the SDGs and address water issues.

The WDCE 2023 is hosted by the Republic of Rwanda under the joint coordination of IWA and Water and Sanitation Group (WASAC Ltd). The event will attract over 100 exhibitors around the global ultimately to showcase solutions in the water and sanitation sector.

The unique contributing factor of the 7th edition of WDCE2023 is built around five broad thematic areas:

• Drinking water treatment and supply
• Wastewater treatment and sanitation services
• Integrated water management and planning
• Utility management and operation
• Governance and finance.

This is an outstanding opportunity for governments and other stakeholders to share insights on specific needs and interests that would be game changers to low- and middle-income countries in the water and sanitation sector.

IWA is the leading network and global knowledge hub for all water professionals and anyone committed to the future of water. With its legacy of over seventy years, it connects water professionals in more than 140 countries to find solutions to global water challenges as part of a broader sustainability agenda. IWA also promotes and supports technological innovation and best practices through international frameworks and standards.

“The 2030 deadline to reach the UN Sustainable Development Goals is approaching fast. I believe all of those gathering in Kigali share a sense of urgency to meet on the vital issues around water, to share much-needed insights and experience, and to better secure progress towards those goals,” said IWA President Tom Mollenkopf.

“Both developed and developing economies are facing the issues of inadequate water supply, inadequate sanitation services, issues of climate change, management challenges among water utilities, and insufficient investment resources towards accelerating water and sanitation infrastructure. The Congress provides an opportunity to explore smart innovations and lessons from the region that can accelerate change,” commented Abimana Fidele, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure in Rwanda.

“We are proud to be co-hosting the Congress. Rwanda has made remarkable strides towards sustainable water management and sanitation. This means that our country provides an ideal setting for this significant event. This is an opportunity to forge new partnerships and strengthen collective efforts towards achieving water security and sanitation for sustainable development,” adds Prof. Omar Munyaneza CEO of WASAC Group Ltd.

“The value of the Congress platform is especially clear when it comes to sanitation, one of the core strands of the event theme. This is not just about needs; it is about the potential for low- and middle-income countries to pursue a different path. This offers exciting opportunities to combine decentralized and off-grid technologies in ways that integrate circular economy approaches.” stresses Kala Vairavamoorthy, Executive Director of IWA

Pictured from left to right: Prof. Omar Munyaneza, Abimana Fidele, Tom Mollenkopf

Notes to Editors

For media enquiries and further information, please contact:

Keith Hayward, IWA Director of Communications & Marketing, Keith.Hayward@iwahq.org

Robert Bimenyimana, the Ag. Manager PR and Communications – WASAC Group Ltd, rbimenyimana@wasac.rw

About the International Water Association (IWA)

The International Water Association (IWA) is a global network of water professionals, researchers, and practitioners committed to achieving sustainable water solutions. IWA connects people and organisations to drive innovation, knowledge, and best practices in water management. Through its diverse membership and collaborative platforms, IWA strives to tackle pressing water challenges and shape a sustainable future. iwa-network.org

About the Water and Sanitation Group (WASAC Ltd)

The Water and Sanitation Group (WASAC Ltd) is the water utility responsible for the supply of clean and safe water, as well as sanitation services, in Rwanda. WASAC is dedicated to promoting equitable access to water and sanitation, supporting sustainable development, and improving the quality of life for all Rwandans. www.wasac.rw

On 20-24 March 2023, the Youth Action for SDG6 Delegation, thanks to the support of the International Water Association (IWA) and Grundfos, attended the UN Water Conference in New York and actively participated in a wide range of events as an opportunity to advocate for a water-wise future. The youth delegation was made up of the 14 individuals selected for the joint IWA-Grundfos Youth Action for SDG6 Fellowship. Under this initiative, these young water professionals are taking part in a special programme of activities, a highlight of which is active participation at the UN Water Conference.

The fruitful week was packed with sessions, meetings, and dialogues where the delegation was able to contribute with ideas and solutions related to different challenges in the water sector. During this once in a lifetime opportunity, the youth delegates were able to successfully engage in discussions arguing for a water-wise future. They spoke to world leaders, met their peers, and advocated for a meaningful engagement of young water professionals in different arenas. Through their diverse backgrounds and experiences, they supported underrepresented voices and perspectives in a bid to empower the most vulnerable in the water dialogue.

Youth delegates (left to right): Pabel Cervantes, Krithika Iyer Shivakumar, Ines Breda, Krisztian Mark Balla, and Marina Batalini de Macedo

Krithika Iyer Shivakumar, Youth Action delegate from India, commented: “I’m leaving New York City with a lot of learnings, hope, and commitment to take actions to safeguard our water. Through this experience at the UN Water Conference, I had the privilege to meet global leaders demonstrating thought leadership coming forward to forge lasting partnerships with young people and the marginalised at the heart of solutions.”

Chelsea Hayward (centre) speaking at the IWA event on cross-sectoral partnerships

The youth delegates took part in an official side event organised by IWA on cross-sectoral partnerships held on 22 March. Among the youth delegates, Chelsea Hayward moderated the event, while Jacob Amengor and Farokh Kakar acted as rapporteurs. The event saw a highly engaged dialogue among representatives from NGOs and the public and private sectors on securing inclusive urban sanitation globally. High-profile speakers included IWA Executive Director Kala Vairavamoorthy, Grundfos Director of Water Sustainability Virginia Newton-Lewis, and Brian Arbogast from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Brian Arbogast (left), Kala Vairavamoorthy (centre) and Daniela Bemfica (right)

Additionally, IWA and Grundfos’ wider involvement at the UN Water Conference in New York has successfully built cross-sectoral and intergenerational partnerships focusing on how the water sector can maximise the benefits of integrating young professionals to achieve sustainable development. The conference outcomes, which includes 700 commitments and pledges on water, and the experience of the Youth Action for SDG6 delegates will be used as inputs for a joint IWA-Grundfos publication, expected later in 2023, on the critical role that youth engagement plays in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.  

IWA and Grundfos’ wider involvement at the UN Water Conference in New York contributed towards cross-sectoral and intergenerational partnerships that maximise the benefits of integrating young professionals in the water sector to achieve sustainable development. The conference outcomes and the experience of the Youth Action for SDG6 delegates will be used as inputs for a joint IWA-Grundfos publication, expected later in 2023, on the critical role that youth engagement plays in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Reflecting on the busy week in New York, Inês Breda, Youth Action delegate based in Denmark added: “Poul Due Jensen (Grundfos CEO) and Kala Vairavamoorthy (IWA Executive Director) showed a perfect alignment on the role of youth for the future of water, and all Youth Action for SDG6 fellows felt empowered. The UN Water Conference was also the ideal moment for us to recognise that our work will not end this week, this is simply the start of a wave of actions.”

Stay tuned and keep following IWA and Grundfos for more updates. #YouthActionforSDG6

Inês Breda in New York

Notes to Editors

For more information, please contact:

Benedetta Sala, Communications Officer: benedetta.sala@iwahq.org

Keith Hayward, Marketing & Communications Director: keith.hayward@iwahq.org

Mahathi Parashuram, Director of Public Relations (Global): mahathi@grundfos.com

About the International Water Association

The International Water Association (IWA) is a network and an international global knowledge hub open to all water professionals and anyone committed to the future of water. With a history dating back 75 years, IWA connects water professionals around the world to find solutions to global water challenges as part of a broader sustainability agenda. As a non-profit organisation with a membership over more than 140 countries, IWA connects scientists with professionals and communities, so that pioneering research offers sustainable solutions. In addition, the Association promotes and supports technological innovation and best practices through international frameworks and standards. For more information, please visit www.iwa-network.org

About Grundfos

Grundfos pioneers solutions to the world’s water and climate challenges and improves quality of life for people. As a leading global pump and water solutions company, we promise to respect, protect and advance the flow of water by providing energy and water efficient solutions and systems for a wide range of applications for water utilities, industries and buildings. Find out more: grundfos.com

London, UK – 1 March 2023

The International Water Association (IWA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have released the second edition of the Water Safety Plan Manual, which offers practical guidance for the development and implementation of water safety planning in accordance with WHO guidelines for drinking water quality. The launch of the Water Safety Plan Manual, 2nd Edition was marked through an online webinar co-hosted by IWA and WHO, bringing together experts and stakeholders from around the globe to discuss the importance of water safety planning and the experience gained with more than 10 years of practical implementation.

The manual is intended for water suppliers and organisations supporting water safety planning programmes, including government agencies responsible for public health, regulation, and surveillance of drinking water quality, as well as non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations. It provides a broad range of examples and case studies from low- through to high-income settings, highlighting practical solutions to real-world challenges from around the globe to help readers apply the guidance in diverse contexts.

The manual covers various aspects of water safety planning, including risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication. It also provides guidance on the development of monitoring programmes, contingency planning, and documentation of water safety plans. The second edition of the manual includes updates and new guidance to address emerging challenges in the water sector, such as climate change, equity, and resilience.

“We are excited to release this updated Water Safety Plan Manual, which provides practical guidance and case studies to support the development and implementation of water safety planning in diverse contexts,” said Dr Kala Vairavamoorthy, Executive Director of the International Water Association. He added: “This updated edition is an important resource for water suppliers and organisations worldwide. Equity and climate considerations have been integrated to help ensure more resilient drinking water supply for all.”

“Water safety planning is a central recommendation of WHO’s Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality, and as we accelerate progress on achieving SDG 6.1, this second edition will better support practitioners to provide more resilient and safer drinking water services to safeguard the health of all users” added Bruce Gordon, WHO, Switzerland.

The manual is available for download on the IWA website.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For more information, please contact:

Benedetta Sala, Communications Officer: benedetta.sala@iwahq.org

Keith Hayward, Communications Director: keith.hayward@iwahq.org

About the International Water Association

The International Water Association is a global network of water professionals dedicated to delivering equitable and sustainable water solutions for the benefit of society. Its mission is to inspire, connect and deliver impact on the water sector.

As a non-profit organisation with a membership over more than 140 countries, IWA connects scientists with professionals and communities, so that pioneering research offers sustainable solutions. In addition, the Association promotes and supports technological innovation and best practices through international frameworks and standards. For more information, please visit www.iwa-network.org

The International Water Association is delighted to announce that its President, Mr Tom Mollenkopf, has been recognised in the Australia Day 2023 Honours List with him being appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia by the Australian Government. Mr Mollenkopf has been recognised for his “distinguished service to business, particularly through the essential services industry, and to the community”.

The International Water Association is extremely pleased that the significant work of its President has been acknowledged in the prestigious 2023 Honours List. On behalf of the Association, and of the wider water community, IWA wishes to congratulate Tom on the award, which underlines the significance of his contribution to the world of water and beyond.

Tom, who trained as a lawyer and holds an MBA, has been a substantive and well-regarded figure in the water sector for more than two decades. Prior to becoming IWA President, his roles have included being CEO of the Australian Water Association and of the Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust, and he has worked extensively for WaterAid Australia, as well as having been IWA Deputy Executive Director from 2005-2007. He has also been a prominent figure in Australian surf lifesaving organisations.

On receiving the award, Tom commented: “Over more than 25 years, water – working and playing in it – has been a core part of my life. I feel very honoured then to be appointed as an Officer in the Order of Australia. I’m grateful for the Award because, as much as it recognises anything I have done, it celebrates all those who volunteer their time in lifesaving to give the community a safe aquatic environment. The Award also highlights the critical role of all my colleagues and peers who work towards sustainable and equitable water management for the benefit of our communities and environment.”

The Order of Australia recognises Australians who have demonstrated outstanding service or exceptional achievement. There are four levels of award, with individuals appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large.

Announcing this year’s awards, Australia’s Governor-General, Hon. David Hurley, said: “The recipients have had a significant impact at the local, national and international level and are, quite simply, inspiring.”

View the Australia Day 2023 Honours List

2 December 2022, Bilbao, Spain

The Spanish city of Bilbao has hosted the first edition of the International Water Association’s Digital Water Summit, bringing together participants from around the world to share insights into the opportunities for greater and more rapid deployment of digital technologies in the water sector.

The Summit, which has been running from 30 November to 2 December, builds on IWA’s established Digital Water Programme and focused on connecting water utility end users with digital innovators and solutions providers.

Co-organised with local water utility Consorcio de Aguas Bilbao Bizkaia and AEAS – the Spanish Water and Wastewater Association – the aim of the Summit has been to support the sector on its ‘digital transformation journey’.

The Summit explored key questions, such as: What is digital water? What is the difference between digital water and digitalisation? How can we make the water industry more digitally aware? Held at Bilbao’s Euskalduna Conference Centre, the event featured keynote and technical presentations, InnoHub presentations and exhibits on commercial solutions, and interactive sessions in which participants were able to engage in the debate around the digital journey.

Oliver Grievson, Chair of IWA’s Digital Water Programme, reflecting on the importance of digital water today, commented during the event: “We can’t achieve Net Zero without digital tools, without measuring to manage. Digital water is an integral part of how we address current challenges such as climate change.”

The event highlighted the potential for digital water and digitalisation to help tackle a wide range of issues in the water sector worldwide. See www.digitalwatersummit.org for more details.

About IWA’s Digital Water Programme

The International Water Association’s Digital Water Programme aims to act as a catalyst for innovation, knowledge and best practices around digitalisation for the water industry and to provide a platform to share experiences. It also aims to promote leadership in transitioning to digital water solutions and to consolidate lessons to guide the natural evolution from the ‘business as usual’ to becoming a digital water utility.

The Programme is driven by end users (e.g., utilities, regulators) as well as solution providers (e.g., technology companies, software companies, researchers, academia) at the forefront of emerging technologies that aim to deliver solutions to improve the provision of water and wastewater services.

For more information, see: iwa-network.org/programs/digital-water

A hugely successful week focused on ‘Water for Smart Liveable Cities’

The International Water Association’s 2022 World Water Congress & Exhibition officially came to a close on 15 September. The edition, held in Copenhagen, Denmark, was a huge success, combining an expanded programme, important launches and announcements, and excellent attendance in terms of delegate, exhibitor and visitor numbers.

Innovations in the event format and features included IWA’s first High-Level Summit, which saw the participation of government ministers. This added a political dimension that covered three topics – finance, governance, and partnerships for water and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Signing of the Emerging Water Leaders Endowment Fund. Left to right: IWA Executive Director Kala Vairavamoorthy, Founding Donor Glen Daigger, IWA President Tom Mollenkopf

Young water professionals (YWPs) represented a key dimension of the Congress, with them having an even greater profile than during previous editions. In particular, the week saw announcement of an endowment fund for young water leaders, supported by founding donors Glen and Patty Daigger; and the announcement of funding for YWPs to participate in next year’s meeting to review progress of the UN SDGs, supported by Grundfos. YWPs also had a prominent role in running and participating in sessions, including in a plenary session focused on Uniting Youth for Water.

“All of this has added even greater breadth and depth to our Congress. So, it is no wonder that we can say that this week in Copenhagen has given IWA its most successful Congress in the history of IWA. We have made history here in Copenhagen,” commented Kala Vairavamoorthy, Executive Director of IWA.

During the closing ceremony held on 15 September, IWA announced the inspiring utility stories featuring in the first edition of its Climate Smart Utilities Recognition Programme, with this 2022 edition having been supported by Xylem.

Some of the Climate Smart Utilities ‘Most Inspiring Stories’ receive recognition on stage during Closing Ceremony, with Alexander Austin, Xylem

The closing ceremony also included the announcement of the three best poster presentations, selected from the more than 500 posters submitted. These were:

• River Rejuvenation – Water Quality Issues and Challenges in The Ganga River Basin of India by Mitthan Lal Kansal, IIT Roorkee, India
• The Development of Water Quality-Based Covid-19 Surveillance for Non-Sewered Areas by Sudhir Pillay, Water Research Commission, South Africa
• 1,4-Dioxane Decomposition with VUV and its Computational Prediction Taking into Account Effects of Inorganic Ions by Taku Matsushita, Hokkaido University, Japan

These announcements in the closing ceremony followed others made during the week, including the outcomes of the IWA High Level Summit on 12 September, the winners of the 2022 IWA Awards and of the Project Innovation Awards, two technical publications and multiple Memoranda of Understanding signed by IWA. Find out more here: https://iwa-network.org/media/

The dates and location of the next IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition have also been announced. The next Congress will be held on 11-16 August 2024 in Toronto, Canada.

Facts & Figures

500+ Posters and papers submitted

300+ Exhibitors

160 Technical sessions

Participants from 102 countries

42  Utilities’ stories celebrated as part of the Climate Smart Utilities Recognition Programme

23 Award recipients

16+ Workshops

All the official photos from the event are available on IWA’s Flickr.

13th IWA Project Innovation Awards

• 18 Winners in six Award Categories
• Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant wins Grand Innovation Award

Copenhagen, Denmark, 13 September 2022. At the 2022 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition, the water sector celebrated outstanding innovation and leadership in the industry with a gala ceremony for the 18 winners of the six categories of the IWA Project Innovation Awards.

Awarded biennially at the IWA World Water Congress, the Project Innovation Awards recognise and promote excellence and innovation in water management, research and technology. This 13th edition of the Project Innovation Awards (PIA) programme features six categories with three finalists each. Each category recognises a distinct aspect of water innovation, from breakthroughs in research to innovations in governance.

The 13th IWA Project Innovation Awards attracted a record 203 applications from 52 countries during an open nomination process throughout 2021 and 2022. This scale of interest in the awards programme reveals the breadth of innovation and ambition throughout the IWA network, and should be a cause for great optimism across the sector. Entries were evenly spread across the six award categories, each of which reflects a distinct field of innovation in water management. Every project was independently evaluated by a panel of expert judges according to its innovative nature and key outcomes. Judges also took into account the circumstances in which each project was devised and its potential for broader impact. Following a rigorous and competitive evaluation process, the judging panel selected a top three for each category. Tonight, we are here to recognise the outstanding achievements of our finalists – and to celebrate trailblazing innovation as one of them is crowned winner of the Grand Innovation Award 2022.

Project Innovation Awards

The Awards celebrate the invaluable contribution of key innovations in water science and management, which IWA members and network participants bring to the water sector and the world. With this celebration and official distinction, the Association drives the desire for innovation contributing to the sustainable management of water.

Water underpins every aspect of human and environmental existence. The severe water challenges facing the world today require an unprecedented global response. Innovation plays a central role in achieving IWA’s vision of a world in which water is managed wisely to satisfy the needs of human activities and ecosystems in an equitable and sustainable way.

#ProjectInnovationsAwards

Grand Innovation Award

The award categories include the Grand Innovation Award 2022 presented to an outstanding example of

innovation in the water sector. This year, the Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant from Singapore has won the Grand Innovation Award for its unconventional water treatment plant. The plant features a sleek, modern design where water treatment processes are situated underground, freeing up the land at ground level for public and recreational activities. This transforms the plant from a mono-functional infrastructure into a lush park that is rich in biodiversity and supports nature and a variety of wildlife, demonstrating that engineering and design excellence can go hand-in-hand in the push for sustainable urbanisation. The plant can treat either seawater or freshwater depending on the prevailing weather conditions. In dry weather, KMEDP will draw water from the sea to produce desalinated water. When it rains, the plant will draw rainwater collected in the Marina Reservoir to produce potable water. The plant can produce 137,000 cubic metres of drinking water per day, strengthening Singapore’s water supply resilience. The project, which is also Singapore’s fourth desalination plant, began commercial operations in June 2020.

2022 IWA Project Innovation Award Winners:

Category: Market-changing Water Technology and Infrastructure

• GOLD: Choa Chu Kang Waterworks Membrane Expansion from PUB, Singapore
• SILVER: Sustainability and Resource Recovery from Organic Waste: The First Sludge & Food Waste Co-digestion Project in China from Tongji University, China
• BRONZE: Unlocking Opportunities In Sanitation: From Poo To Product (P2P) by NAWASSCOAL CO Ltd, Kenya

Category: Performance Improvement and Operational Solutions

• GOLD: Changi Water Reclamation Plant Digital Twin by Jacobs
• SILVER: Green Square – Enabling Urban Renewal Through Effective Flood Risk Management And Stormwater Harvesting (Climate Change), City of Sydney
• BRONZE: Environmentally-friendly Desalination System Concept: Transforming Seawater (LIFE DREAMER), Acciona

Category: Breakthroughs in Research and Development

• GOLD: Ferrate(VI)-enabled Emergency And Daily Household Water Treatment by Montclair State University
• SILVER: ViviMag: Urban Mining of Iron And Phosphate From Sewage by Wetsus
• BRONZE: Australia’s First Biosolids Gasification Facility from Logan City

Category: Exceptional Project Execution and Delivery

• GOLD: Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant, Keppel Seghers
• SILVER: Achieving A Paradigm Shift Of Water Pollution Control And Social Development: Erhai Lake project by China Water Environment Group, Shanghai Jiao Tong University & People’s Government of Dali
• BONZE: Groundwater Replenishment Scheme, Water Corporation

Category: Governance, Institutions and Social Enterprise

• GOLD: Circular Gavà – Heading Towards The Implementation Of Circular Opportunities In The Territory by CETAQUA
• SILVER: Proyecto Agua Segura, Argentina
• BRONZE: Perth Water Sensitive Transition Network by Monash Sustainable Development Institute

Category: Smart Systems and the Digital Water Economy

• GOLD: Buffalo’s Wastewater Network Optimization Program, Xylem Inc.
• SILVER: Data-driven Decision Making – Developing The Data|APX Software Solution by Herning Vand
• BRONZE: Digital Engagement & Efficiency Through Collaboration by Moulton Niguel Water District, United States of America

This edition of the PIA Awards has been sponsored by:

www.worldwatercongress.org  

#WorldWaterCongress

The International Water Association’s World Water Congress & Exhibition, underway in Copenhagen, Denmark, has hosted a High-Level Summit, connecting leading figures from the water sector with government and city politicians from Copenhagen (Denmark), Freetown (Sierra Leone) and Tshwane (South Africa) around the theme of water as a key to action on climate and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Summit was organised by the International Water Association, the Danish Water and Wastewater Association (DANVA), the Municipality of Copenhagen, P4G and the Confederation of Danish Industry, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment of Denmark and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

As the leading global water sector membership organisation, IWA’s Congresses bring together water sector representatives and showcase excellence in research and practice. The 2022 edition is the largest IWA Congress to date. This year it also featured a High-Level Summit for the first time, adding a political dimension that covered three topics: finance, governance, and partnerships. These are crucial elements in addressing water challenges and delivering change on the ground to improve lives and protect the environment.

The Summit, whose delivery was led by DANVA, was held in the context of the overall theme of the Congress: ‘Water for Smart Liveable Cities’.

“Cities are ideally placed to contribute much-needed action both on the climate change agenda beyond COP26 and on implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The IWA Summit has provided an ideal opportunity to focus on water in advance of COP27, and of the March 2023 UN review of the Water Action Decade”, said Tom Mollenkopf, IWA President. 

The Summit included Ministerial contributions from India and South Africa, and contributions from cities. Joakim Harlin, Director of the Freshwater Ecosystems Unit, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), set the tone for the Summit with a call to action. “We cannot afford to wait. The time to act is now. Policymakers must put water at the heart of action plans, and everyone has a role to play. Business as usual is not an option if we are to achieve the SDGs and climate targets. We have an opportunity to start here and now, today!”

“The water sector has a lot to offer to meet the global climate and sustainability goals. We have learned today that we need to work together not only in partnerships, but in transformative partnerships based on trust and transparency. This must be supported by governments and municipalities. The presence of the policy and decision-makers today contributed to building a common sense of urgency for action, which applies to both politicians and water specialists,” commented Carl-Emil Larsen, CEO of DANVA, which led delivery of the Summit.

“We need to approach water as a key action point for addressing climate challenges and as a key enabler for a sustainable future. The IWA High-Level Summit today is an important setting to get the conversation going. However, it is vitally important these conversations lead to practical partnerships where our collective knowledge leads to tangible actions,” added Poul Due Jensen, CEO, Grundfos, a solutions provider.

With the COP27 and 2023 UN review of the Water Action Decade meetings taking place next year, the messages of the Summit will be gathered together and released to provide a reference point on the opportunities to connect practical options 

Key messages and calls to action from the High Level Summit:

• Water solutions are of fundamental importance for our future: resilient solutions are urgently needed.
• Freshwater ecosystems are a critical part of the puzzle – these need to be factored in as part of the solution.
• Joint efforts and partnership are required to accelerate action and make a difference.

With the 2022 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition coming to an end, IWA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2022 IWA Awards. The Awards ceremony took place during the Opening Plenary on 11 September 2022.

Awarded biennially at the IWA World Water Congress, the IWA Awards recognise the broad range of excellence, leadership and innovation, which IWA members and network participants bring to both our Association, and the industry at large, and exist to encourage the continued role of innovation in contributing to the sustainable management of water.

In addition to the Global Water Award (Nisha Mandani), this edition features four outstanding winners in different categories.

Development Award for Research: Prof. Damir Brdjanovic, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Netherlands.

Development Award for Practice: Africa Sand Dam Foundation, Kenya.

Young Leadership Award: Céline Vaneeckhaute, Université Laval, Canada

Gender and Diversity Award: Annabell Waititu, Bigfive Africa Ltd., Kenya

IWA is committed to recognising the special contributions and achievements of its members and water sector professionals, and the invaluable contributions they make to progress in water science and management. Find out more about the IWA Awards.