International Desalination Association Selects Australia For 2011 Congress

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3rd September 2009, 01:17pm - Views: 896





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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.


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“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.  



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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