Good news! There is still time to submit your paper for the next IWA LET conference on 24-28 June 2024 in Essen, Germany. Join us at the premier international event for cutting-edge innovations in water and wastewater management. This edition is themed around Closing the water cycle through efficient and innovative technologies. This is a dynamic subject and one for which LET is ideally-placed to provide leadership. Do not miss this opportunity to participate. Download the call for papers and find out more!

Why Submit?

Submitting a paper for LET 2024 gives you an opportunity to present your work to a global audience with the possibility of publication in a leading international peer-reviewed journal. The technical programme will consist of platform presentations, posters, workshops and panel discussions. All outline papers selected for presentation will be available online and accessible to all conference delegates.

Full papers from a selection of presentations will also be considered for publication in one of the IWA Publishing journals. Selected posters will be on display for the duration of the conference. We invite you to submit outline papers on the respective topics, to be submitted via our conference website: iwa-let.org/programme-2024

Outline papers will be accepted for oral or poster presentations. The submission deadline for outline papers is 5 January 2024. Submissions will be peer-reviewed and authors will be notified.

Water & Wastewater Themes

The programme will provide a unique platform for water professionals to present and share their recent findings and insights. There are several hot topics related to water and wastewater advancements.

Joint Water and Wastewater Themes
Closing the water cycle
Micro-contaminant monitoring and removal

Water Themes
Developments in Digitalisation
Membranes, hybrid systems and new materials
Advancements in Desalination

Wastewater Themes
Resource Recovery and Sludge Treatment
Carbon and energy neutrality and greenhouse gas emissions
Innovative processes

Important Dates

30 November 2023: Deadline for plenary lecture proposal
15 December 2023: Deadline for outline paper (max. 2 x A4 pages) submission
05 January 2024: Extended deadline for outline paper submission
31 January 2024: Notification of acceptance for authors
31 January 2024: Advanced technical programme announced
1 March 2024: Deadline for Workshop proposal

Templates

Outline papers shall be limited to a maximum of two A4 pages (including figures and tables). The outline paper has to contain adequate information to allow for a sound review. To submit your outline paper please use the IWA template available here: iwa-let.org/programme-2024

As part of IWA’s mission to empower Young Water Professionals to contribute to sustainable water management, a new IWA Young Water Professionals (IWA YWP) chapter has officially been established in France this year. This IWA YWP French Chapter will be the country’s go-to network boosting connections for YWPs and a platform to support equal opportunities and quality career development.  

The IWA YWP French Chapter is a voluntary network open to all water and waste management professionals aged 35 or below who are enthusiastic, dedicated, and passionate about water-related issues. Here, Gabriel Capson Tojo, Chair of the chapter, presents some key points about the chapter. 

Q: What was the motivation for setting up an IWA YWP Chapter in France? 

GCT: France hosts many renowned research centres, such as the Laboratory of Environmental Technology (National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment; INRAE), the Toulouse Biotechnology Institute, and the National School for Water and Environmental Engineering, and world-leading companies in the water and waste sectors, such as SUEZ and VEOLIA. Moreover, there are many senior experts affiliated with the International Water Association (IWA) in the country. As such, France offers excellent opportunities for those willing to pursue a career in water and waste management. 

Within this context, there is a growing need to establish a dedicated network for Young Water Professionals (YWPs) in the country. Together with IWA’s Governing Member in France, the French Scientific and Technical Association for Water and the Environment (ASTEE)1, we have identified an ideal opportunity to merge their existing active network for young professionals in wastewater and solid waste and create a joint IWA-ASTEE YWP Chapter in France.  

Q: How will the chapter contribute to the empowerment of YWPs in France? 

GCT: The chapter will provide a unique opportunity for YWPs to expand their network, making use of opportunities offered by IWA and ASTEE. In addition, building up such a professional network will foster the acquisition of new skills and knowledge sharing, favouring both YWPs and the water and waste sector as a whole. After all, YWPs are the future leaders of the water and waste industry. Other than the aforementioned benefits, the creation of this chapter will also allow to:  

• Actively identify and discuss challenges and opportunities in the sector 
• Present a platform to share working experiences and job opportunities 
• Bring closer industry and academia, as YWPs from both sectors will be part of the chapter 

Q: What are your aims and objectives, and what activities do you plan to do? 

GCT : The IWA-ASTEE YWP French Chapter will focus on two main themes: professional networking & mentoring for young professionals, and knowledge sharing & interdisciplinary cooperation, especially between solid waste engineering and water-related fields, and also between industry and academia. The YWP French Chapter will undertake the following activities: 

• Promote the activity of the Chapter through social media and IWA Connect Plus, via the monthly ASTEE newsletter, and by posting our activities on official IWA/ASTEE channels. 
• Organise YWP events in IWA/ASTEE conferences where YWPs will meet and organise workshops and seminars on water and waste topics. We will also consider organising stand-alone YWP conferences when the time is right. 
• Organise regular national networking events, including seminars, guest lectures, and visits to companies, utilities, universities, and research centres. 
• Organise mentoring meetings with experienced water and waste professionals to provide guidance. The meetings will be open for everyone interested, not just chapter members. 
• Organise webinars regularly or contribute to existing ASTEE and IWA webinars to present results from both academia and industry. 

Meet the founding members! 

Gabriel CAPSON TOJO, Chair 

Current affiliation: Researcher at Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology – National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE) 

Gabriel is a chemical and environmental engineer (University of Santiago de Compostela and Ghent University) working around the concepts of circular economy and resource recovery. Gabriel holds a PhD in process engineering (Montpellier University 2017). Since 2022, he has been a researcher at INRAE, where he works mostly on anaerobic digestion and fermentation, resource recovery from wastewater (mostly using purple phototrophic bacteria) and biogas conversion. His main working interests include biological and chemical processes for resource recovery, involving process engineering, modelling, integration, and fundamental science. 

Adeline CLIFFORD, Vice-Chair 

Current affiliation: ASTEE 

Adeline is a project manager at the French Scientific and Technical Association for Water and the Environment (ASTEE). She oversees the activities of 20 multi-stakeholder working groups in the water and wastewater fields and edits scientific and technical publications on various topics pertaining to these domains. She also coordinates ASTEE’s European and International Affairs committee as well as the association’s young professionals’ group. Adeline holds a BA in Geography and a M.Sc. in Integrated Water Resources Management from McGill University (Canada). 

Sidonie DURIEUX, Secretary 

Current affiliation: IFB environment 

Sidonie comes from Annecy, France. She graduated as a chemical engineer from EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland) in 2014. During her studies she did an exchange with the National University of Singapore for one year, and took part in the organisation of the Balélec festival, the biggest student festival in Europe. After that, Sidonie took a year off, as a physics and chemistry teacher in a high school. She started her PhD in September 2018 studying the carbon valorisation from granulated sludge. Sidonie finished her PhD thesis in September 2022, and became a project engineer at IFB environment in January 2023. 

Chloé MEYER, Deputy Secretary 

Current affiliation: Bluefield Research 

Chloé is a senior research director at Bluefield Research. Her work focuses on supporting company strategies through water market intelligence, particularly in the municipal sector. Previously, she was a project officer in the UNESCO Division of Water Sciences and worked on water resources governance and transboundary cooperation in the Mediterranean region. Chloé holds a BA in History and an MA in Geography and Water Management from Paris Nanterre University. 

Catalina SUAREZ, International Outreach and Relations Coordinator 

Current affiliation: University of Pau and the Adour Region 

Catalina is a PhD candidate at the University of Pau and the Adour Region, working in collaboration with TotalEnergies. Her research focuses on microplastic contamination related to the anaerobic digestion process of bio-waste. She received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the National University of Colombia and M.S. in Bioprocess Engineering from the University of Lorraine. She is passionate about environmentally friendly engineering solutions for the welfare of agricultural regions. 

Pablo UGALDE SALAS, Webinar Coordinator 

Current affiliation: INRIA Centre at the University of Bordeaux 

Pablo is an applied mathematician who has dedicated his academic career to the study and modelling of microbial communities. He has worked in a broad range of ecosystems ranging from bioreactors to larger engineered ecosystems as well as the human gut. Pablo is interested in the integration of omics data in already existing models describing microbial ecosystems. He also likes combining elements from different disciplines, namely, bioprocesses, systems biology, bioenergetics, microbial ecology, and mathematics. 

Eloïse LENORMAND, Communication Officer 

Current affiliation: DEEP Laboratory, INSA Lyon 

Éloïse is mainly interested in Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in urban areas, particularly in the frame of preserving water resources and adapting cities to climate change. Éloïse has a multidisciplinary engineering background, holding a hydraulic engineering degree, an MBA and a PhD in process engineering from the the National School for Water and Environmental Engineering (ENGEES) at the University of Strasbourg. She has mainly worked with constructed wetlands for wastewater and stormwater management in France, Cambodia and Colombia. Her doctoral work was multidisciplinary, combining hydraulics in open systems and porous media, urban hydrology, micropollutants analysis, soil analysis, botany, plant ecology and ecological engineering in a pilot site. She is now focusing on hydrological-hydraulic modelling to create a decision-making tool aiming at implementing wisely urban NbS for stormwater management. 

Felipe GUILAYN, Industry-Academia Nexus Officer 

Current affiliation: SUEZ International Water and Environmental Research Centre (CIRSEE) 

Felipe is an Environmental and Sanitary Engineer (Brazil, 2015) and holds a PhD degree in Process Engineering (France, 2019). Felipe’s work has been almost fully oriented towards anaerobic digestion and digestate valorisation. As an R&D project manager and Head of Department at the CIRSEE, Felipe performs business-oriented research that addresses the needs and ambitions of SUEZ’s clients and its 40,000+ employees worldwide. Felipe’s work takes maximum advantage of his operational and plant design background in assessing the cost and performance of promising technologies. Felipe is a young scientific researcher (with a H-index of 7) and he continues to contribute both as publisher and reviewer for recognised journals and conferences in the waste(water) management and biotechnology domains. 

Assia MOKSSIT, Events Coordinator 

Current affiliation: SUEZ Technical Distribution Center 

Assia is a Moroccan-French engineer holding a PhD in Hydraulic Engineering from the École des Ponts ParisTech. She has an extensive background in water and environmental engineering, with a double Master’s degree in the field. Currently, she holds the position of research engineer at SUEZ’s Technical Distribution Centre, where she leads innovation projects dedicated to improving water network performance and management. Her research primarily centres around enhancing the resilience of intermittent water supply networks. As a management committee member for two IWA Specialist Groups (Water Loss, and Intermittent Water Supply), Assia plays an integral role in the expertise centre, maintaining close contact with academics, operational experts, and regulatory representatives within the water sector to drive practical advancements and solutions. 

Noah PEYSSON, Deputy Events Coordinator 

Current affiliation: National School for Water and Environmental Engineering (ENGEES) at the University of Strasbourg 

With an international and multidisciplinary education in business and sustainability, Noah graduated with a Master’s thesis on the topic of environmental and social issues in the supply chains of activated carbon. Commissioned by the Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority HSY, the largest Finnish water utility, the results have been presented at the 2022 IWA World Water Congress in Copenhagen. After graduation, Noah worked at the Euro-Mediteranean Water Information System (SEMIDE/EMWIS) on a European research project on Nature-based Solutions for water scarcity in the Mediterranean region (HYDROUSA). He recently started a new Master’s degree in geography at the University of Strasbourg. He is committed to acquire more scientific knowledge to consciously preserve the Earth’s most precious resources. He advocates for a cultural shift in local, national, and international water and agricultural policies. 

Noé KINET, Professional Development Officer 

Current affiliation: nextProtein 

Since 2010, Noé has worked in the USA, Brazil and France mainly in the biotechnology and agriculture sectors. Throughout his career, Noé has worked with a wide range of stakeholders, such as SUEZ and local network operators, managing digitalisation efforts and supporting with water quality data and pipes diagnostics to better understand the real condition of drinking water distribution networks. Today Noé works as a strategy and business development manager for nextProtein, an international company that raises insects from food waste to produce feed for farmers. Food waste is used to raise black soldier flies and produce insect meals and oils mainly for aquaculture and feed industries. 

We are pleased to announce the upcoming World Water Camp to be held on 11-15 August 2024, in Toronto, Canada. Toronto 2024 World Water Camp is a unique opportunity for students and young water professionals aged 35 or below with an interest in current water challenges to meet and network with other students from around the globe in a strong learning community.

What

The main aspect of Toronto 2024 World Water Camp is carefully guided participation in the International Water Association’s World Water Congress and Exhibition which will be held in Toronto, Canada. The Congress is the premier global event for water professionals and is designed to bring together over 10,000 people from academia, utilities, industry, government, regulators, and NGOs. It is held every two years in different cities across the globe. We are proud to welcome participants to the North American region in 2024.

Key Dates

26 July 2024: Warm up, Online

2 August 2024: Warm up, Online

11-15 August 2024: On-site, Toronto

28 August 2024: Recap session, Online

The Toronto 2024 World Water Camp will start with two 2-hour warm-up online sessions before the main conference. These will be held on Fridays (26 July & 2 August 2024). Participants will get to know each other and be introduced to planning to get the most out of participation in a large international conference on water.

Campers will then participate in the World Water Congress & Exhibition (WWCE) in Toronto, Canada, organised by the International Water Association (IWA) on 11-15 August 2024. After the event in Toronto, the World Water Camp will arrange for one recap online session (2 hours) on 28 August 2024.

During the stay in Toronto, Campers will stay near the conference location in Toronto, within walking distance from the Congress venue at the Metro Convention Centre. The Centre is conveniently located within walking distance of Union GO station which connects directly to Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Who can apply

Toronto 2024 World Water Camp is for students who are currently enrolled in an educational programme related to water at a Bachelor’s or Master’s level, or young water professionals under 35 currently working in the water and wastewater sector, of both technical and non-technical backgrounds. Students from all over the world are encouraged to apply.

Application

Are you interested in joining the World Water Camp? The application window is open until 23 December 2023. Click on the link below to complete the application form. As part of the application form, we ask you to prepare a motivation statement. This statement is important, as it will be used to select candidates for the limited number of places available. Thirty (30) participants will be selected. Alongside this opportunity, there is also a digital World Water Camp (coordinated by external stakeholders in Denmark) to be held February – May 2024. Participating in the digital World Water Camp can increase your chances of being selected for the Toronto 2024 World Water Camp.

>> Toronto 2024 Application Form

Selected participants will incur a fee of CAD 300 per person. Note that this is only a fraction of the actual costs, thanks to generous donations from our sponsors who are leaders in the water sector. The fee covers the entrance fee to the IWA WWCE, activities, and field trips. Travel expenses to and from Toronto are not included. There is a total of 10 scholarships for students from low-income countries, supported by the Camp organisers. Each scholarship is valid to cover the delegate fee to join the World Water Camp 2024 along with boarding and all meals. We hope you will join us!

About WORLD WATER CAMP 2024

World Water Camp is a collaboration between the following organisations:

• IWA Young Water Professionals (YWPs) Canada
• The International Water Association (IWA)
• Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)
• The University of Western Ontario (UWO)

As a participant in the World Water Camp, you will learn about current challenges and explore possible solutions in a growing water sector that offers many exciting work opportunities for young water experts.

The World Water Camp focuses on providing you with opportunities to build an international network among students sharing an interest in future water. We provide an international perspective on the water themes and approach the subject matter from the points of view of different stakeholders: utilities, consultants, contractors, equipment suppliers, researchers, environmental authorities, etc.

Part 1: Virtual Warm-up

Two virtual class sessions will be held on Zoom. There will be one session each week (July/August 2024) and each session will last 2 hours. Since participants are in different time zones, that actual time depends on your location (morning in the Americas, afternoon in Africa and Europe and evening in Asia).

During these sessions, you meet the teachers and get to know your fellow Campers by solving challenges in small breakout rooms. These class sessions will introduce the major themes of the World Water Camp including: Drinking Water, Wastewater, and Climate Change Adaption as well as prepare you to get the most out of your conference experience. We will also have lively debates about so-called “wicked” problems. In connection with these sessions, you will receive videos and other materials for viewing at your own pace.

Part 2: The Congress Week

This intense week in August 2024 is your opportunity to meet your teachers and fellow Campers in real life and to experience the exciting atmosphere of a major conference, where world experts meet to present and discuss global challenges in the water sector.

Each day, we will meet at breakfast and the task of the day will be presented. After breakfast, you will go to the conference venue in small groups and complete the task. This can involve sitting in at a specific presentation, searching the exhibition halls to spotlight certain industry products and services or simply having free time to explore the venue for any subject that has your specific interest.

In between conference participation, relevant field visits to exciting locations will be arranged and special sessions for specific subjects will be made – such as visiting the IWA Young Water Professionals organisation. Your own country may already have a YWP organisation. If not, you may be able to start one!

Each evening, we will meet with each other for the Philosophers’ Hour. During this time, we will reflect on the experiences of the day and get to know each other better. Following successful completion of the World Water Camp, you will receive an official Certificate of Participation.

Contact

If you have any questions about the camp, please contact

Hayat Raza hayat.raza78@gmail.com

Alexandra Webb awebb050@gmail.com

Only one month left to submit your paper for the next IWA LET conference in Essen, Germany! Join us at the IWA Leading Edge Conference on Water and Wastewater Technologies 2024, the premier international event for cutting-edge innovations in water and wastewater management.

This edition is themed around Closing the water cycle through efficient and innovative technologies. This is a dynamic subject and one for which LET is ideally-placed to provide leadership. Do not miss this opportunity to participate. Download the call for papers and find out more!

Why Submit?

Submitting a paper for LET 2024 gives you an opportunity to present your work to a global audience and the opportunity of publication in a leading international peer-reviewed journal. The conference technical programme will consist of platform presentations, posters, workshops and panel discussions. All outline papers selected for presentation are due to be included in an online preprint – which will be accessible to all conference delegates.

Full papers from a selection of presentations will also be considered for publication in one of the IWA Publishing journals. Selected posters will be on display for the duration of the conference. We invite you to submit outline papers on the respective topics, to be submitted via our conference website: iwa-let.org/programme-2024

Outline papers will be accepted for oral or poster presentations. The submission deadline for outline papers is 15 December 2023. Submissions will be peer-reviewed and authors will be notified.

Water & Wastewater Themes

The programme will provide a unique platform for water professionals to present and share their recent findings and insights. There are several hot topics related to water and wastewater advancements.

Joint Water and Wastewater Themes
Closing the water cycle
Micro-contaminant monitoring and removal

Water Themes
Developments in Digitalisation
Membranes, hybrid systems and new materials
Advancements in Desalination

Wastewater Themes
Resource Recovery and Sludge Treatment
Carbon and energy neutrality and greenhouse gas emissions
Innovative processes

Important Dates

30 November 2023: Deadline for plenary lecture proposal
15 December 2023: Deadline for outline paper (max. 2 x A4 pages) submission
31 January 2024: Notification of acceptance for authors
31 January 2024: Advanced technical programme announced
1 March 2024: Deadline for Workshop proposal

Templates

Outline papers shall be limited to a maximum of two A4 pages (including figures and tables). The outline paper has to contain adequate information to allow for a sound review. To submit your outline paper please use the IWA template available here: iwa-let.org/programme-2024

The IWA Digital Water Summit 2023, which takes place 14 to 16 November in Bilbao, Spain, is your exclusive gateway to the future of water management. This transformative event focuses on digitalisation and boasts a lineup of keynote speakers ready to inspire you and reshape the water industry as we know it. Do not miss these captivating discussions!

Keynote 1: Khalid H. Al-Jamea – Director of Sea Water Injection Department at Aramco, Saudi Arabia  

Khalid H. Al-Jamea will share how digitalisation can solve the sustainability balance. Learn from the world’s largest integrated energy and chemicals company and discover how digital transformation can revolutionise sustainable water management. Get ready to explore the dynamic interplay of water, energy, and carbon and witness the creative power of digital transformation in action.  

Keynote 2: Fernando Cortabitarte – Director of the Water Cycle at Acciona, Spain  

Dive into the world of data management and its profound impact on the water industry with Fernando Cortabitarte and his take on the impact of digitalisation in the water sector. His insights will reshape your understanding of how data can give your business a competitive edge.  

Keynote 3: Wim Audenaert – CEO and Co-founder of AM Team, Belgium  

Wim will transport you into a world where digitalisation goes beyond an objective. Discover how it offers a unique opportunity to tackle industry challenges, from evolving consumer needs to the climate crisis. Witness the future of the digital water industry and learn how digital tools are revolutionising the way we manage water.  

Keynote 4: Jorge Helmbrecht – Business Development Director, Idrica, Spain  

Jorge Helmbrecht will take you on a journey on digital sustainability. With climate-related events and growing demand, water utilities face a rapidly changing landscape. Learn how these challenges can be met while upholding sustainability standards through the power of digital transformation.  

Keynote 5: Rebekah Eggers – Global Client Engagement & Innovation Director, Energy & Resources Sector at IBM, USA  

Rebekah Eggers will show us how to harness the power of data and AI for a resilient water future. Experience the intersection of technology, data, and the water sector, and discover how AI and data are paving the way for a resilient water future. Be ready to be inspired by the potential of data to shape the industry’s digitalisation journey.  

Join us at the IWA Digital Water Summit, where innovation and collaboration are at the forefront in the digital era. This is an excellent opportunity to connect with industry leaders, gain invaluable insights, and be an active participant in shaping the future of digital water management.

The final programme is out now! Please find it here or download the document below: digitalwatersummit.org/programme-2023

Not yet registered? We have a few places left and we strongly encourage you to secure your tickets as soon as possible to join us in Bilbao next week.

Just a few years back, phrases like ‘Digital Water’ or ‘Digital Transformation’ began making their way into conversations within the water industry. In the last decade, terms like ‘Digital Water’ and ‘Digital Transformation’ have gained traction in the water industry. Prior to that, ‘Smart Water’ was the buzzword, and before that, it was ‘Water 4.0’ and ‘Industry 4.0’. It’s worth noting that currently, new terms are still emerging, with references to Industry 5.0 and 6.0. However, the label is less important than the practical implications. So, what does ‘Digital Water’ actually mean for the water industry today? 

It encompasses a wide array of elements, ranging from cutting-edge IoT sensors to digital renderings of pumping stations and treatment facilities, and the present-day marvel: the Digital Twin. Even the term ‘Digital Twin’ can hold different meanings for different people – for some, it represents a model, while for others, it stands as an all-encompassing source of insight into system performance. In my own experience, the most effective illustration that facilitated an understanding of Digital Water was presented by the Smart Water Networks (SWAN) Forum back in 2011. 

The SWAN Layers, fashioned after the earlier Purdue Model, provide a structured framework for comprehending Digital Water by dividing it into distinct layers: physical assets (Layer 1), instrumentation (Layer 2), communications (Layer 3), visualisation (Layer 4), and ultimately, data analysis and conversion into actionable insights (Layer 5). Two layers were notably absent from this model: i2O Water. 

In the past 12 years, many others have added or contributed to the SWAN layers. However, the system already sufficiently summarises the horizontal layers of a data and information management system. 

The weakness of the SWAN layers lies in its inherent technological orientation. In the realm of Digital Water, it’s imperative to acknowledge that there are other crucial perspectives to take into account, such as those related to business systems and human resources. While the SWAN Layers represented a pivotal paradigm shift in the industry and continue to do so, we must also factor in the business drivers. To achieve this, we must assess their requirements by scrutinising how the industry has evolved since the introduction of digital water solutions. 

To put this into context, the area of the water industry where we have probably seen the most development, is leakage or non-revenue water reduction. Technologies have been developed and integrated into water company systems to discover leaks. We have seen an increase in technologies such as smart sensors in pipes, as well as satellites that use pattern recognition to highlight areas with an increased likelihood of water leaking into the ground. The industry is starting to see the development of digital solutions in the wastewater network as well, using machine learning and monitoring within the sewer environment to find and prevent blockages. This is indeed important as we know the environment is at a greater risk of pollution through sewer overflows because of sewer misuse. 

When delving into the origins of digital water, much like any technological approach in any industry, it’s crucial to grasp its practical application. Personally, when I contemplate what I seek from Digital Water, I always return to the fundamentals. The global water industry generates vast volumes of data daily, yet only a fraction of it finds meaningful utilisation. To extract value from this data, the initial step is understanding the information requirements – from the CEO of the company to the frontline operator – and then aligning them with the data sources, changing the data strategy to suit. However, this marks just the inaugural phase. Once this foundational work is accomplished, the subsequent stride involves translating the information requirements into tangible business drivers. 

This is what Digital Water means to me. Let us know what Digital Water means to you. The Digital Water Summit on 14-16 November 2023 in Bilbao, Spain, is the ideal arena to continue this discussion. I invite you to join me there by registering today: www.digitalwatersummit.org or join the conversation online using #DigitalWaterSummit 

The International Water Association (IWA) will be hosting the World Water Congress & Exhibition (WWCE) 2024 in Toronto, Canada on 11-15 August 2024. The extended deadline for the call for content & reviewers for the WWCE is 10 November.

Call for Content

There is still time to submit and share your ideas, research, and expertise at the next edition of this flagship global event. Proposals can be submitted online for papers, workshops, and training offerings until the final deadline on 10 November.

The event continues the Congress series theme of ‘Shaping our Water Future’, and the 2024 edition will deliver an extensive programme giving opportunities to share insights on innovation and solutions across a comprehensive range of critical topics. This all adds up to a unique platform for water professionals to present and exchange their recent findings and insights.

Preparations are well underway for one of the biggest events in the water sector, with water professionals from more than 100 countries expected to be present at this prestigious event. Don’t miss this final chance and submit your content now!

To learn more about the submission options, process and programme topics, please visit the programme page on the event website or download the Call for Content. Once you have familiarised yourself with the options, you should select the relevant template to prepare your proposal (technical paper, workshop or training).

Call for Reviewers

On behalf of the IWA Programme Committee, we are calling for expert reviewers to assist in evaluating submitted proposals. We invite IWA members, as well as wider experts in water science and management, to apply to become a reviewer.

As a reviewer, you will be responsible for evaluating proposals submitted to the Congress and providing feedback to the authors. Reviewers will assess proposals for either platform or poster presentations at the Congress. These proposals each consist of a maximum of two A4 pages of text plus up to two A4 pages of supporting figures, tables and references. The reviewing process will take place from 6 November 2023 to 22 December 2023.

Your expertise and insights will help to shape the programme and ensure high-quality content. Reviewers will also benefit from official acknowledgment in the final printed materials distributed to all delegates attending the Congress. Upon request, we can also provide a certificate confirming that you have been a reviewer for the Congress. 

If you are interested in becoming a reviewer, please complete the online application form.

We look forward to your participation in this important event and appreciate your valuable contribution to the global water sector. 

This series introduces you to the members of the International Water Association’s Digital Water Programme’s Steering Committee and is hosted by IWA Strategic Programmes Officer, Erin Jordan.

Join the #DigitalWater conversation online or at the #DigitalWaterSummit in Bilbao this November! Registration is open: digitalwatersummit.org

IWA is pleased to present a new short guide on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Water Resource Recovery Facilities produced by the IWA Climate Smart Utilities GHG sub-group.

As humanity faces the looming challenges of global heating and irreversible tipping points such as increasingly frequent and record-breaking heatwaves and flooding, it is crucial for the water sector to accurately establish baselines and effectively reduce its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). These actions are integral to global efforts aimed at achieving the critical objective of limiting global warming to within 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. To date, there is limited guidance available for the water sector to support utilities in comprehensively accounting for and reporting emissions at water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs), which includes both upstream and downstream emissions from wastewater management.

This white paper has been produced by the IWA Climate Smart Utilities GHG sub-group with the aim of providing a concise overview of GHG emissions for utilities and practitioners. It draws upon recent research and publications on the subject, highlighting the relevance of life cycle carbon accounting and wider life cycle assessment. This paper serves as the first instalment in a series focusing on GHG emissions, monitoring, and mitigation in wastewater treatment.

Acknowledgments

With thanks to contributors:
Eoghan Clifford, University of Galway, Ireland
Conall Holohan, NVP Energy, Ireland
Alexis de Kerchove, Xylem, Sweden
Amanda Lake, Jacobs, United Kingdom
Daniel Nolasco, Nolasco y Asociados Consulting, Argentina
Martin Srb, Pražské Vodovody a Kanalizace, Czech Republic
Corinne Trommsdorff, French Solid Waste Partnership, France
Liu Ye, University of Queensland, Australia

The contributors also would like to extend their gratitude to the IWA Secretariat team (Benedetta Sala, Brenda Ampomah, and Charles Joseph) for their assistance and support throughout the publication process.