A pivotal event in the global desalination and water reuse sector will be held at the US industry’s epicentre amid an historic drought when the 2015 IDA World Congress on Desalination and Water Reuse convenes in San Diego, California at the end of August 2015. The “location, theme and timing could not be more appropriate,” said IDA secretary general, Patricia A Burke.
“The focus of the 2015 Congress: Renewable water resources to meet global needs, is particularly relevant, with California’s record-breaking drought generating an extraordinary interest in reuse and desalination. The World Congress is a forum for vital discussions taking place surrounding the growing demand for a sustainable source of fresh water in response to population growth, economic expansion, degradation of existing resources, and the effects of climate change,” she said.
The IDA World Congress brings together public and private sector leaders in the world’s desalination and water reuse community, including end-users, technology developers, suppliers, researchers, academics, consultants, engineers and financial services providers. It will be held at the San Diego Convention Centre during 30 August – 4 September. It will be the second time San Diego has hosted the event in its near 30-year history.
It features a four-day Technical Programme, an 11,000 square-metre exhibition, IDA Academy courses, and abundant networking opportunities throughout the Congress week. Delegates also have the opportunity to tour the soon-to-be commissioned Carlsbad desalination plant, the largest seawater desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere, and the Orange County Groundwater Replenishment System, the world’s largest water purification system for direct potable reuse.
The 2015 World Congress incorporates several new programme highlights. Nine open forum discussion panels will explore key issues surrounding reuse and desalination, and an Innovation Theatre will provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs and solutions providers to showcase new products and services. In addition, the IDA World Congress will include an Education Day for middle school students and an invitation-only session for community leaders engaged in water treatment and conservation programmes.
Confirmed keynote speakers include Mark Weston, chairman of the San Diego County Water Authority board of directors; HE Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman Al Hussein, Minister of Water and Electricity, Saudi Arabia; Dr Ivonne Baki, diplomat, peace negotiator, and humanist; and Dr Benjamin Cook, research scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and lead author of a recent NASA study linking carbon emissions with increased risk of megadroughts in the US. Officials from AECOM and ACWA Power International will also speak during the opening ceremony.
Topics in the Technical Programme will include emerging technologies; environment and sustainability; brackish and seawater water desalination; water reuse and disinfection; industrial water and wastewater treatment; thermal desalination; pre- and post-treatment; governance, finance and project delivery; and plant operations and optimization. Awards totaling more than US$ 25,000 will be presented including those for best papers.
Two events will be co-located with the 2015 World Congress. During 28-29 August the DesalTech 2015 Conference will focus on Research in emerging water desalination technologies for municipal and industrial applications. It is co-organized by the National Water Research Institute, National Centre of Excellence in Desalination Australia, and KAUST Water Desalination and Reuse Center. In addition, IDA’s North American affiliate the American Membrane Technology Association, will hold a pre-conference workshop on 30 August titled, The pioneers and the present -the North American story.”