The International Water Association (IWA) is holding a specialist conference with the Australian Water Association (AWA) in Perth in October 2013 on natural organic matter (NOM), which will look at its effects on water treatment and reuse, and desalination.

The 5th IWA Specialist Conference on Natural Organic Matter Research builds on the success of previous conferences in the series and will showcase innovations and practical applications in the field.

Organised jointly by IWA, AWA and the Curtin Water Quality Research Centre, the conference will deliver a scientific programme featuring eminent/distinguished international keynote speakers, complemented with informative technical tours and unique social activities.

A wide range of themes includes:

· Innovations in characterisation, measurement, and monitoring of NOM
· Dynamics and impacts of NOM in water, wastewater, or recycling treatment processes
· NOM as disinfection by-product precursors: what’s new?
·
 Role of NOM in desalination processes
· NOM in water distribution systems (biofilms, chemical or microbial processes)
· Implications of NOM in biogeochemical processes and catchment management
· Environmental fate, transport and transformation of organic matter in aquatic systems
· Climate change and NOM,
 as well as any other innovative topics in NOM research or applications.

Applicants are invited to submit an abstract for a platform or poster presentation at the conference by 28 February 2013.