A New Year with New Opportunities: Glancing Ahead at 2020 with the International Desalination Association

It’s no secret that the demand for fresh water is growing at unprecedented rates in the midst of an era of mounting climate uncertainty. Securing the water-energy-food nexus is central to the challenge of a sustainable future, and for the International Desalination Association, 2020 is the perfect time to face this challenge head-on.

2020 will begin with IDRA’s strategic partnership with Cape Town’s 2020 W12 Congress. The W12 Congress brings together city officials, academics, business executives, water experts, and students from major cities in the world that are likely to face a “Day Zero Scenario” – that is, the day water resources are completely depleted, and taps run dry. As a strategic partner, the IDRA will play a key role in the upcoming conference. Current IDRA President, Mr. Carlos Cosin, will deliver a keynote speech to congress delegates, detailing how the water sector and the IDRA continue to develop and promote sustainable water solutions.

The partnership also furthers IDRA’s growing involvement in the sub-Saharan African water market, where the 2021 World Congress will be hosted in Mombasa, Kenya. At the end of 2019, the Association announced the dates of the industry’s flagship event, the 2021 World Congress. Scheduled for November 7-10, 2021, the Congress will travel for the first time to sub-Saharan Africa, hosted by the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Kenya and the Ministry of Water, Mombasa. By taking the sector’s largest networking event to a new market, the Association is highlighting the global importance of water solutions.

“Building sustainable cities and urban communities must be a worldwide collective effort,” says IDRA Secretary General, Ms. Shannon McCarthy. “As the world’s leading resource on advance water treatment, IDRA is thrilled to take the Congress to a completely new location, and we thank the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Kenya, and the Ministry of Water, Mombasa for their generosity and support.”

While these preparations are underway for the 2021 World Congress, the Association has a host of other events on the horizon. At the October 2019 IDRA World Congress in Dubai, IDRA signed a strategic agreement with Singapore International Water Week, held from July 5-9, 2020 announcing the IDRA Exhibition Pavilion. This pavilion offers prime real estate to the water and energy industry’s top companies, spotlighting innovations and technologies to 24,000+ high-profile clients from around the world. The IDRA Pavilion is highly visible and branded specifically for the renewable energy and advanced water treatment sector, designed to the field’s top-level decision makers.

Exhibitors will especially appreciate their exclusive access to IDRA’s Business Forum conducted during SIWW. IDRA will host a two-hour panel discussion on important challenges and achievements in the water sector, providing a platform for sharing industry expertise and network development.

But SIWW is the just the beginning of IDRA’s 2020 agenda. From September 28-30, the Association will hold its third International Water Reuse and Recycling Conference in Rome, Italy. Already extended abstracts are being accepted on topics that relate to the renewable energy -water nexus, such as “Cutting-Edge Technologies,” “Direct and Indirect Potable Reuse,” Non-Potable and Agricultural Reuse,” “Water Quality Monitoring and Control,” “Advanced Water Technologies for Joint Desalination and Water Reuse,” “Industrial Water Reuse and Recycling,” “Best Practices in Reuse,” and “Health Concerns in Water Reuse.” All abstracts will be peer-reviewed by a technical program committee, with abstracts submitted here.

The WRR 2020 Conference also presents a variety of sponsorship opportunities, offering organizations a chance to access the Association’s global network. IDRA’s sponsorship packages range from 5,000 Euros to 30,000 Euros and include benefits such as exclusive brand recognition, complimentary conference packages, and much more. For more information please contact sponsorship@idadesal.org.

In short, for IDRA the year ahead is already a busy one, making it an exciting time for its membership, network, and the energy-water sector at large.

To become an exhibitor in IDRA’s Pavilion at SIWW, contact exhibits@idadesal.org.

To submit your extended abstract to the 2020 International Water Reuse and Recycling Conference, visit here.

To become a sponsor for the 2020 International Water Reuse and Recycling Conference, contact sponsorships@idadesal.org.

Inquiries about sponsorship, exhibition, and other opportunities for involvement in the 2021 World Congress can addressed to info@idadesal.org.

Source: Global Solar Council