IDA World Congress 2011 opens 4 September in Perth

The IDA World Congress 2011 on Desalination and Water Re-use opened on 4 September at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. A premier event for the global desalination community, it has attracted world leaders in desalination and water re-use and over 1200 delegates. The four-day Technical Program and exhibition examines the latest advances in desalination technologies and practices.

Presented by the International Desalination Association (IDA), the World Congress features keynote addresses by two of the world’s most recognised leaders in entrepreneurship, innovation and the environment. Sir Richard Branson delivered the keynote address via satellite during the opening ceremony, while Philippe Cousteau Jr will be the keynote speaker at the Awards Presentation and Gala Dinner.

With more than 4900 square metres covering three pavilions of prime exhibition space, the World Congress Exhibition is the largest ever presented at a World Congress. It features more than 100 companies from 21 countries that will showcase cutting-edge technology and services for desalination and water re-use.

The Technical Program, which spans four days, includes approximately 270 oral and poster presentations in 28 sessions. The call for papers produced nearly 400 extended abstracts, the greatest number ever received for review.

Technical Program highlights include:

• The Australian Experience. Australia is often called the driest continent on earth. This session explores the growth of desalination capacity, and its ongoing role in ensuring urban water security. Speakers include Sue Murphy, Chief Executive Officer, Water Corporation; David Furukawa, Chief Scientific Officer, National Centre of Excellence in Desalination; and Albert Goller, Managing Director, Siemens.
• Energy Sources, Use and Efficiency. Enhancing energy efficiency is a major focus for seawater desalination. This session includes presentations on solar thermal energy seawater desalination as well as energy recovery, one of the most important advances achieved in seawater desalination in the last decade.
• Recycling and Re-use. As the quest for additional water resources intensifies to meet ever-increasing demand, re-use of wastewater both for municipal and industrial purposes is being implemented at an unprecedented scale worldwide. This session will focus on such issues as public perception, technology and treatment requirements, permitting and disposal of waste streams that need to be addressed for successful implementation of reclamation facilities.
• Future Separation Technologies. The demand for new sources of water supply and the need to treat salty wastewater have spurred research and development. For example, membrane distillation, forward osmosis and capacitive deionisation techniques have recently advanced from theoretical concepts to benchtop, pilot-scale and even full-scale realities. Several of these technologies break down the traditional segregation of membrane and thermal desalination disciplines. This session will serve as a global showcase for some of the most hopeful and game-changing new desalination techniques known today.
• Water Resources Management. Escalating water demand due to increased population growth and the adverse effects of climate change continue to outstrip the supply of fresh water. Desalination has emerged as an important new source of water to meet the demand. This session explores strategies for Integrated Water Resource Management programs that would improve the planning and delivery of desalination and water re-use, and harmonise the desalination supply with the water supply from conventional sources.

Other World Congress highlights include:

• Gala Dinner and Awards Presentation. Held at the conclusion of World Congress week, this evening celebrates the achievements of the most distinguished paper authors and presenters as well as other industry luminaries.
• Plant Tours and Educational Workshops. Complementing the Technical Program and exhibition are exclusive, behind-the-scenes plant tours to some of Australia’s most sophisticated desalination facilities. Three workshops will be held on the last day of the World Congress Week, enhancing the educational experience.

The IDA World Congress is widely recognised as the premier event for the global desalination community. Held every two years, it is attended by top decision-makers in all aspects of desalination and water re-use from around the world. This year marks the first time the World Congress will take place in Australia, home to some of the most advanced desalination plants in the world.

The Australian Water Association is the strategic partner and Water Corporation is the principal sponsor for the 2011 World Congress.