Global Dialogue on the Creation of Sustainable and Reliable Water Supplies: A New Imperative

Thursday 21 August
Morning Seminar

Convenors: Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI)

Water utilities around the world face unprecedented challenges as they strive to create sustainable and reliable water portfolios. Today, we face a global water crisis induced by climate change, population migration and explosions, water rights claims, depleting water resources, rapid industrialisation and urbanisation combined with continued concerns of economic affordability. These challenges are universal in nature – they do not respect geopolitical boundaries.

The severity and blend of these multi-dimensional challenges faced by the utilities varies across the globe. Water utilities continue to grapple with the extreme impacts of these challenges, learning from their own experiences with virtually no historical perspectives to lean on. In the process, they are paving new paths and learning some very significant and often expensive lessons. It is imperative that these experiences are actively shared with others in order to facilitate quick learning and potentially create a much needed knowledge spiral within the industry.

The seminar will provide a platform to a panel of participants, each of whom will be invited to animate a specific challenge they face in their part of the globe. These presentations will be followed by an interactive round table discussion with water practitioners and policy makers from around the world. The global dialogue will enable participants to share their visions, ideas and experiences and inspire others with strategies and applicable solutions to these challenges.

Seminar Programme          09:00-12:00, Room K2

Chair and Moderator: Mr. Amy Shanker, PE, Retired Environmental Executive, Kansas City, USA