international water summit 2015 - day one

Industry leaders address global thirst for water sustainability solutionsTHE THIRD edition of the International WaterSummit (IWS) opens its doors at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre (ADNEC) today, asmore than 7,000 people from the water andwastewater industry worldwide gather to promoteand discuss water sustainability in arid regions.

Held under the patronage of HH GeneralSheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, CrownPrince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Com-mander of the UAE Armed Forces, IWS intends toact as a platform, bringing together world lead-ers, field experts and business innovators totackle the industry’s challenges and promote innovative solutions.

HE Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister ofState and CEO of Masdar, said, “Without access tosafe, potable water, global ambitions to create asustainable future underpinned by social and economic stability are unattainable.

“Yet, across the world, particularly in arid regions such as the Middle East and North Africa,significant water stress leaves our energy securityand economic future in the balance. IWS is a platform designed to address this.”

Co-located with the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) and EcoWASTE, and part of theAbu Dhabi Sustainability Week, IWS will feature

more than 70 global industry speakers as part ofits conference programme.

Key topics to be covered in this year’s conference include water conservation and futurewater sustainability, integrated water resourcemanagement, smart water technology and creat-ing water network efficiency. Another major focusof the IWS conference is the nexus of water andenergy in food security.

In 2011, Arab countries spent US$56bn onfood imports, according to a recent report by theArab Forum for Environment and Development(AFED). Furthermore, this figure is forecast togrow to US$150bn by 2050 if the gaps in foodproduction are not addressed.

Najib Saab, secretary general of AFED, stated,“Irrigation efficiency and water productivity needto be boosted to ensure food security for Arabcountries. A radical shift is necessary towardcrops that are less water-intensive.”

In addition to the exhibition and conference,IWS 2015 welcomes the launch of [email protected] inaugural initiative, co-organised by Isle Utili-ties, gives innovators and technologists fromacross the water industry the chance to connectwith investors and end users, as well as show-case their products and ideas to an expert panel.

www.internationalwatersummit.com 19th January 2015 INTERNATIONAL WATER SUMMIT

DAY 1

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DAILY NEWS19th January 2015

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WHAT’S INSIDE...

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NEWS: MENA region to spendUS$300bn on water projects by 2022

NEWS: Atmospheric Water Solutionslaunches innovative technology

FEATURE: Global experts set to address major industry topics at theIWS conference

Q&A: Alan Thomson,managing director forAbu Dhabi Sewerage & Services Company(ADSSC), speaks exclusively about viable solutions for water security andthe UAE's approach to sustainabletechnologies

PICTURE GALLERY: Take a look backat the highlights of IWS 2014

#IWS15

IWS is set to welcomemore than 7,000 people this year

S01 IWS Dailies 2015 DAY 1 _Layout 1 15/01/2015 09:53

www.internationalwatersummit.com 2 INTERNATIONAL WATER SUMMIT 19th January 2015

UAE Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW)launches Agricultural Innovation Centre in Sharjah

HIS EXCELLENCY Dr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad,the UAE Minister of Environment and Water, in-augurated the Agricultural Innovation Centre inAl-Dhaid, Sharjah in December. The new centrewill be responsible for the outlining, planningand execution of new and innovative researchprojects supporting sustainable agricultural de-velopment and contributing to the establishmentof a research network for agricultural innova-tions within the region.

The minister commented that the AgriculturalInnovation Centre falls in line with the UAE Vision2021, and also complements the National Inno-vation Strategy recently unveiled by HH SheikhMohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-Presi-dent and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler ofDubai, which will strive to make the UAE one ofthe world’s most innovative countries in sevenyears by focusing on seven major sectors in-cluding water, renewable energy and technology.

His Excellency added that the Agricultural In-novation Centre is part of the ministry’s strategy

to enhance food safety in the country and pro-mote the sustainability of local production, commenting that it is imperative to keep thecountry’s research abreast of advanced scienceand technological developments, which couldhelp to develop the local agriculture sector, suchas DNA profiling.

The minister was also briefed on the ongoingresearch on greenhouse and hydroponic systemsdevelopment as well as experiments conductedto cultivate quinoa, following which the Ministryis planning to expand the cultivation of this crop,which offers lucrative economic returns and hasthe ability to grow in hot and dry climates.

The centre will organise international work-shops on agricultural innovation in coordinationwith local, regional and international partners aswell as participating in industry-specific events.It will coordinate with top international centresspecialising in agricultural technologies throughthe execution of joint scientific research andpartnership programs and schemes to developthe country’s agricultural system.

It will collaborate with international organisa-

tions, authorities and industry experts, such asthe Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) ofthe United Nations and the International Centrefor Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas(ICARDA). The centre will also participate in jointstudies with the International Centre for Bios-aline Agriculture (ICBA) on areas including theeffects of multiple levels of salinity on the production of salinity-tolerant crops.

Stand no: 3120

MENA to spend US$300bn on water projects by 2022GOVERNMENTS IN the Middle East and NorthAfrica (MENA) region are expected to spendUS$300bn on water and desalination projectsby 2022, according to industry reports.

The prediction was made ahead of the Inter-national Water Summit (IWS) conference, whichthis year is titled ‘Promoting Water Sustainabil-ity in Arid Regions’, and will look to address thewater-energy nexus and its effect on regionaland global food security.

Rashed Al Rashdi, deputy director general ofthe Abu Dhabi Regulation and Supervision Bu-reau and a partner of IWS, said, “With AbuDhabi’s population and economy forecast togrow steadily over the coming years, harmonis-ing strategies that support the sustainable sup-ply of potable water is of key importance.

“IWS is a prime opportunity to share globalbest practices, and promote collaborative efforts towards conserving precious resourcesfor future generations and ensuring water isavailable to support future economic prosperityand social development.”

The conference will discuss water conserva-tion and future sustainability, strategic directionwithin the GCC and project investment.

In addition, 2015 marks the end of the

United Nations’ Decade for Action on WaterScarcity – an initiative designed to promote theMillenium Declaration, pledged to resolve waterand related issues.

Faraj El-Awar, programme manager of UNHabitat’s Global Water Operators PartnershipsAlliance, said, “Water is perhaps the most com-plex of the three major resource challenges asit is seen as a free resource and declared by theUN General Assembly in 2010 as a human right.

“Yet, the reality in arid regions is that it is ascarce and incredibly precious resource. Thismust be reflected through robust policies, inte-grated strategies and sustained investment,particularly as populations grow.”

IWS is supported by the Abu Dhabi Water &Electricity Authority (ADWEA), the EnvironmentAgency of Abu Dhabi, the Regulation and Super-vision Bureau (RSB), and Abu Dhabi SewerageServices Company (ADSSC).

DAY 1 NEWS

Abu Dhabi’s population and economy is set to expand in the years to come

(Photo: Asim Bharwani)

Experiments are being conducted to cultivatequinoa crops (Photo: Bioversity International)


19th January 2015 INTERNATIONAL WATER SUMMIT 3www.internationalwatersummit.com

Country pavilion showcases French companies’ talentsand products in water and wastewater technology

MORE THAN 35 French companies are exhibiting at the 2015 International WaterSummit (IWS) and the World Future EnergySummit (WFES) under the France Pavilion.

Organised by UBIFrance, the French Agencyfor International Business Development, theFrance Pavilion will allow exhibitors to show-case a variety of products and demonstratetheir relevant expertise at the conference.

French companies exhibiting at IWS in-clude UVGERMI, a manufacturer of UV

sterilisers for water treatment, as well asADIONICS, which provides new technology inthe water desalination sector.

As Europe’s second largest renewable energy producer, France is rich in renewable energy resources and is one of the leadingproducers of water treatment equipment, according to UBIFrance.

In addition to the French agency, the coun-try Pavilion has been organised in partnershipwith the ADEME International Club, the FrenchEmbassy to the UAE and the Renewable En-ergy Association.

Atmospheric WaterSolutions launcheslatest technology

ATMOSPHERIC WATER Solutions (AWS), one ofthe original Patent holders and a global leaderin atmospheric water generation technology,will be showcasing its latest generation tech-nology for the first time at the InternationalWater Summit (IWS).

Atmospheric water generators are systemsthat make pure water from air through theprocess of condensation.

Current machines are run on refrigerationsystems that require electricity to power com-pressors, which causes a barrier for developingworld countries with limited power supplies.

The company’s new machine, a finalist inthe Innovate@IWS contest for best new tech-nology, produces pure water from air without acompressor, requiring very little power.

It runs on heat supplied by a small amountof electricity, battery power, propane, naturalgas, or even heat from the sun.

This new technology is much more flexiblyscalable, giving AWS the ability to go far be-yond the current limits of 18,000 litres per day.

AWS has water-making devices from 12litres to an expected millions of litres per daywith systems running both on and off grid. Italso boasts sales across 22 countries, with offices in the USA, India and the Middle East.Its target industries include oil companies, ho-tels, miners, hospitals, and businesses.

NEWS DAY 1

Stand no: 3011

Hall 4: France Pavilion

French companies will demonstrate a rangeof technology and expertise at IWS

INNOVATE@IWS - DAY 110:00 – 11:30 Presentation: Gulf Market Challenges by Alan Thomson,Managing Director, ADSSC

15:00 – 15:15 The innovation cycle, commercialisation, and Technology Approval Group (TAG) byStuart Moss, Managing Director of Isle Utilities

15:15 – 15:35Research and Development for Water in the GCC by Dr. Taha B.M.J. OuardaHead of Institute Center for Water and Environment (iWater), and Professor, Waterand Environmental Engineering, Masdar Institute

15:35 – 15:45 A case study on Low-energy desalination using Forward Osmosis at Ghantoot pilotplant Trevi Systems USA, John Webley, CEO, Trevi Systems

15:45 – 16:00 Investment Community Requirements by Dr. Piers Clark, Partner, Global Water Development Partners, (a Blackstone Portfolio Company)

16:00 – 16:35

Competition Round 1- Municipal Water: Finalist candidates will present their innovations to the panel in a “Dragon’s Den” competition to see which innovation isthe most promising at IWS 2015.Participating Innovators: ControlPoint, Trevi Systems, Xylem, Sustec ConsultingContracting B.V.

Panel of Judges

Dr. Taha B.M.J. Ouarda, Head of Institute Center for Water and Environment (iWater), and Professor, Water and Environmental Engineering, Masdar InstituteDr. Piers Clark, Partner, Global Water Development Partners, (a Blackstone Portfolio Company)

IWS DAY 1 – PROGRAMME AT A GLANCE10:00 – 11:30 Joint Opening Ceremony Hosted by Masdar

11:30 – 14:30 Exhibitions Tours and Lunch

14:30 – 14:35 Welcome and Introduction

14:35 – 14:50 One-to-One Interview

14:50 – 15:00 High Level Keynote Address

15:00 – 16:00 The Economics of Climate Change

16:00 – 16:15 Keynote Address

16:15 – 17:30 Partnerships as Enablers for Technology Innovation – Solar Impulse Case Study



Global experts gather to addresswater sustainability challengesMORE THAN 70 experts from across the

globe will gather at this year’s Interna-tional Water Summit (IWS) to promote

worldwide collaboration in addressing water sus-tainability and security challenges in arid regionssuch as the Middle East and North Africa.

The four-day summit is set to include a con-ference that will discuss key topics, includingwater conservation and future water sustainabil-ity, energy-efficient and clean technology desali-nation, project investment and strategic watersector forecasting.

Water policies, integrated water resourcemanagement, the use of water in industry to im-prove sustainability, and the nexus of water andenergy in food are a number of other topics thatwill be the focus of the 2015 IWS conference.

Among the speakers and panellists lined upfor the conference programme will be Dr. WalidSaleh, head of MENA Regional Programme at TheUnited Nations University-Institute; HE RazanKhalifa Al Mubarak, secretary general of the En-vironment Agency, Abu Dhabi; and HE Dr. Abdul-rahman Mohammed Al Ibrahim, governor ofSaline Water Conversion Corporation, Saudi Arabia (SWCC).

The IWS 2015 conference, which last yearhosted more than 92 speakers and experts and297 delegates, will also feature Miguel AngelSanz, director of development and innovation atDegrémont; Adrian Sym, executive director at Alliance for Water Stewardship; and LindaMacPherson, vice-president at CH2M HILL.

The fourth day of this year’s summit, Thurs-day 22 January, will feature a workshop pro-gramme, including discussions on ‘Fresh water,stakes and law in context’, ‘Threats to sustain-ability of the marine resources in the ArabianGulf’ and ‘Solutions to achieve future sustain-ability’.

For the third year running, the InternationalDesalination Association (IDA) is a knowledgepartner at the IWS and as such will play a signif-icant role at the event. One way in which the IDAwill be actively involved in the four-day summitis by presenting sessions at the conference.

Tuesday 20 January will feature a number ofIDA-organised panel discussions. Moderated byIDA Desalination Academy president Leon Awer-buch, one such panel will focus on the desalina-tion energy and environment nexus while

another will look at sustainable desalination andadvanced water reuse.

IDA secretary general Patricia A Burke said,“Sustainability is a key topic for the world’swater supply and desalination is unique in itsability to provide our thirsty world with the onlynew and renewable source of fresh water.

“Through advanced water reuse treatment weare able to extend the lifecycle of this previousresource. Our industry’s great strides in reducingenergy requirements add an important dimen-sion to desalination and water reuse as a holisti-cally sustainable water solution.”

Furthermore, the 2015 edition of IWS will in-clude Innovate@IWS, a brand new initiative intended to allow innovators and clean technolo-gists to easily connect with investors, partnersand end users and work towards sustainablewater solutions.

Co-organised by Isle Utilities, the inauguralfeature will provide clean technology developerswith the chance to pitch their innovations to apanel of expert judges from across the globe,consisting of investors, regulators, utilities,water users in industries, and real-estate and

technical experts.Stuart Moss, Isle Utilities managing director

for Europe and the UK, said, “By participating inthe competition, technologists have five minutesto pitch their idea to a panel of experts. The se-lected tech will be presented to the audience,following which the technologies will be putthrough a due diligence procedure.”

Following the judging process individual win-ners will be chosen from three event categories:municipal water, industrial water, and water forreal-estate. The creators of these winning tech-nologies will be awarded dedicated meetingswith potential stakeholders from the investment,end user and partner communities.

“It is important that we offer a realistic pictureof how the technology can be commercialisedgiven regulatory requirements, environmentalimpacts and other issues,” Moss added.

“Naturally, investors will want to know thesize of the potential market for the new technol-ogy, and be fully aware of all the issues theyneed to consider.”For the full conference programme and speakerline up at IWS, please visit iwsabudhabi.com

The IWS conference hosted more than 92 speakers and welcomed around 300 delegates last year

DAY 1 FEATURE


19th January 2015 INTERNATIONAL WATER SUMMIT 5www.internationalwatersummit.com

MAP DAY 1

HALL 4HALL 3

WFES 2015EcoWASTE 2015

ENTRANCE FROMATRIUM

3220

3100

3130

3230

4300 4310

4126 4130

4220

4240

4440

3000 3001 3003 3004 3005 3007 3009 3010 3011

4210

ABU DHABI PORTSCOMPANY

XYLEMPEPSI Co.

EXEED3115

FCC AQUALIA3110

3242

SEAS SA

3120

MOEW

HEPWORTHREINERT

RITZ WATERLEAU

EADADWEA

ADSSC

RSB

ATMOSPHERIC WATERSOLUTIONS

SIPFAGGIOLATI

ADFCA

POSTER GALLERY

3200

JCCME

3320BLUE

OCEAN

3231

3235

ITRON

TARGETVALVE

3300

3301

3302

3303

3310 3311

3312 3313

3315 3316

3317 3318

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DMA

3104

DELTARES 7TH WORLDWATER FORUM

3240JFE

HYDROBALANCE

RITMO

DELMAINDUSTRIAL

SUPPLY

4420

SUEZENVIRONNEMENT

44134412

44154414

44174416

UBIFRANCE

HYDREKA

ADIONCIS

UVERGMI

ODYSSEEECOPLAGE

DATALINKMICROHUMUS

44114410

REVOLVE

3330

3331

33333332CLEANFIELD

HEXACOVER

DENMARK

ALWASAIL

TREVI

SUSTEC

CONTROLPOINT

ISLE

BGHOXYMEM

WISEWATER

ENNESYS ATMOSPHERICWATER SOLUTION

THERMOWATT UTILITYSENTRY

3400TMW

TECHNOLOGIES

NAHTAM

4123

4122 4125

4120

MI

XYLEM

FRT

SUSTAINABILITYBUSINESSCONNECT

44004401

4402

FRANCE PAVILION

MOEWFEATURE

INNOVATE@ IWSTHEATRE

4320ENNESYS

3344

3340DR BLUHM

STAR

3101 3102

31033210

IDAEAW AWW

ACWUA

SEATINGAREA

CAFE

IWSCONFERENCE

UK PAV

HAMBAKER

XIMAX

ORGANISEROFFICE

EXHIBITORHELPDESK

INTERACT

ARAMOON

VENUE MAP

EVENT FLOORPLAN

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DAY 1 Q&A

What are the best and most viable solutions to ensure water security in thearid regions of the GCC?

A: Firstly, the wise use of water is the priority.Water is still wasted in large quantities and thefirst step must be education and better controls.The UAE has taken a major step forward in 2015by raising tariffs to more realistic levels and reducing subsidies. Water is not valued as a commodity by the general public and it is largelytaken for granted.

Other areas of action require more co-ordina-tion from the key players, such as linking in witha sustainable agricultural policy. Our role at AbuDhabi Sewerage & Services Company (ADSSC) ofrecycling water is relatively small in the contextof the water cycle at only six to eight per centvolume, but nonetheless important.

How would you rate the UAE in terms of itsapproach to and adoption of sustainablewater technologies and research?

A: Technologically, the UAE understands whatcan be done and is making moves towards im-proving co-operation between the different enti-ties. It is difficult within the existingarrangements to progress at speed, but it isgratifying that we are at least moving in theright direction.

In my view the sector needs an overseer whois powerful enough to be linked into the political environment and can take difficult decisions withrespect to the water and wastewater sector,which may adversely impact on other interestson the short term, but deliver longer-term benefits to the region.

How far can efficient infrastructure andwater security support economic growthin the GCC?

A: Infrastructure is the backbone of any devel-oped economy. If there is no dependable waterservice then it is very difficult to attract invest-ment into any region.

Our STEP project, combined with the support-ing infrastructure improvements and augmenta-tion, is aimed precisely at supporting the emiratefor future development and growth. The securityof our system has improved consistently sinceour establishment in 2005 and when STEP is commissioned at the end of this year it will pro-vide Abu Dhabi with a world-class sewerageservice for generations to come.

How do you see water sustainability andavailability in the region developing overcoming years?

A: I would like to see more emphasis being focused on our regional strengths. The further development of solar power and other renewableenergy sources should be developed with re-spect to the water sector and how the technolo-gies can be applied successfully in the fields oftreatment and collection.

The growth of the region is unprecedented andit is challenging to maintain a consistent ap-proach to sustainability within the dynamicsplayed out in the sector.

I can see that many improvements have takenplace, but I believe some fundamental issues willneed to be addressed to achieve the massive improvements that are possible. I am optimisticthat the leaders of the region have the foresight

and courage to take these difficult decisions to ensure sustainability for future generations.

What are the major challenges of thewater-energy nexus in the region andwhat steps are governments taking toaddress these?

A: I believe that high-level co-operation and co-ordination must be developed further and thatwell-thought-through policies should be reflectedin action on the ground.

We live in the driest region in the world andevery drop of water should be regarded as precious. Although the sentiment is well understood, the challenge of changing behaviouris more complex and will take time. A combination of approaches is required to make itwork and I am confident that we are moving inthe right direction.

How important is IWS as a global and re-gional platform for the water management industry?

A: IWS provides a broad spectrum of representation from the global water sector.

The exhibition and conference is now firmly established as a major industry event and allows experts, politicians and leaders from thesector to take part in the debate over the futureof water in the region and beyond.

There are very few events where this opportunity is available and it is vital that thetopics are fully understood by key leaders inorder that they can make well-informed decisions on the future of our water reservesand needs.

Alan Thomson Managing Director

Abu Dhabi Sewerage & Services Company (ADSSC)
