INTERNATIONAL DESALINATION ASSOCIATION SELECTS
AUSTRALIA AS SITE FOR 2011 WORLD CONGRESS
Australian Water Association (AWA) and Western Australia’s Water Corporation Are
Strategic Partners
TOPSFIELD, MA, Sept. 2, 2009 – The International Desalination Association (IDA)
announced today that Perth, Australia will be the host city for the 2011 World Congress on
Desalination and Water Reuse. This marks the first time that the IDA World Congress, the
premier global event for the desalination and water reuse industry, will be held in Australia.
An industry consortium led by the nation’s premier water body the Australian Water
Association (AWA) and Western Australia’s Water Corporation has been successful in
securing this major international water event for Australia. Both organizations will be IDA’s
Strategic Partners in planning and presenting the World Congress.
More than 1,800 delegates from approximately 80 countries are expected to attend the World
Congress in Perth over five days in November 2011. In addition to an extensive technical
program, there will be a major Exhibition showcasing the latest water desalination and
recycling equipment and technology.
Patricia Burke, Secretary General of the IDA, acknowledged the role of its Strategic Partners,
Water Corporation and AWA, in bringing the World Congress to Australia.
Water Corporation has led the recent introduction of large scale seawater desalination for
public drinking water supplies in Australia. AWA is the leading organization representing
water professionals in Australia and is widely recognized for its promotion of sustainable
water management through collaboration, advocacy and professional development.
“The Water Corporation is a global leader in planning water supplies in response to climate
change, and is an ideal partner for our 2011 Congress,” Burke said. “The Corporation has
made big strides in the adoption of seawater desalination for Perth’s water supply as well as
advanced technology to treat wastewater for recycling and poor quality groundwater sources
in remote areas.”
Water Corporation CEO Sue Murphy said the World Congress would direct the global
desalination industry’s attention to Western Australia and give the Corporation a huge
opportunity to show the world how it was responding to climate change, which had already
had a major impact in reducing the region’s rainfall.
“We began moving towards desalination at the beginning of this century – much earlier than
expected – because our traditional surface water and groundwater sources were suffering
badly,” Murphy said.
“We are also applying desalination technology in recycling of treated wastewater for
industrial use and in a trial of groundwater replenishment that will involve recycling highly
treated wastewater and that has the potential to produce huge volumes of drinking water in
the future.”
Tom Mollenkopf, CEO of the Australian Water Association, which represents the water
industry including national desalination and reuse interests, stated, “To attract an event of this
caliber represents international recognition of the Australian water sector’s capability and
world leading practice. Perth offers leading practical examples and is home to the recently
established Australian National Centre of Excellence in Desalination.”
IDA supports the development of technological solutions to lower the costs of desalination,
reduce its energy needs and mitigate or eliminate environmental concerns. It holds World
Congresses every two years, attended by scientists, engineers, members of the public sector
and others involved in the desalination industry. This year’s World Congress is being held in
Dubai, 7-12 November. Its theme is “Desalination for a Better World.”
Site selection for the World Congress is made following a rigorous bidding process. Criteria
include the credentials and reputation of the proposed strategic partner; availability of solid
logistical support, from excellent lodging for attendees, presenters and staff, to good travel
connections; reasonable Customs and visa processes; and excellent on-the-ground support
capabilities. Since 1985, the IDA World Congress has been held in the Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bermuda, Gran Canarias, Japan, Kuwait, Singapore, Spain, United Arab Emirates (Abu
Dhabi and Dubai), and the USA.
The International Desalination Association (www.idadesal.org) is a non-profit organization
comprising over 2,200 members from 60 countries, including scientists, end-users, engineers,
consultants and researchers from governments, corporations and academia. IDA is associated
with the United Nations as part of a growing international network of non-governmental
organizations (NGOs).
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For further information contact:
Ann Seamonds, International Desalination Association, +1-978-887-9959
seamonds@seamonds.com
Phil Kneebone, Water Corporation, +61-407-778-425
phil.kneebone@watercorporation.com.au
Edie Nyers, Australian Water Association, +61-2-9467-8416 enyers@awa.asn.au
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