Water. desalination + reuse

IDA International Desalination Association World Congress on Desalination & Water Reuse Desalination: A Promise For The Future MJCEC MEIJIANG CONVENTION CENTER, TIANJIN, CHINA – 20-25 OCTOBER 2013 _________ The biennial IDA World Congress is the world's premier event for the growing number of people who work in desalination and wastewater reuse. With a four-day technical program in five tracks, plus sessions on Desalination In China and an industry-leading exhibition of technology and services, the 2013 congress is expected to attract more than 2,000 delegates from around the world. Also included in the event are IDA Academy courses, tours of nearby desalination plants as well as unmatched opportunities for networking with the foremost experts on desalination on the planet. This all comes at a time when, as Corrado Sommeriva explains below, China is embarking on an ambitious but very necessary program of seawater desalination, as well as an increasing emphasis on reuse of municipal and industrial wastewater. ___ Exciting time for desalination in China Corrado Sommariva, president of IDA THE THEME for this highly anticipated event is Desalination: A Promise for the Future – one that our program will explore in depth. In fact, desalination is also a promise fulfilled. Today, hundreds of millions of people have access to clean water thanks to desalination. With its unique ability to provide the only new and sustainable source of fresh water to our thirsty planet, desalination has also facilitated economic growth around the world. In addition, desalination technologies have enabled the recycling and reuse of water for many applications, thus helping to increase sustainability and conservation of the world's most precious resource. China is a growing market for desalination and water reuse. As our Second Announcement went to press, we learned that China's National Development and Reform Commission has announced the initial list of regions and companies selected to carry out seawater desalination pilots, directing the listed regions and companies to actively promote the application of desalinated water and encourage its use in daily supplies. This is an exciting development towards the fulfillment of China's 12th Five-Year Plan for desalination, and it makes the timing and location of our World Congress even more relevant. We have received a very cordial welcome from the Tianjin government to hold our 2013 World Congress in this vibrant city, and we are working closely with our colleagues in Tianjin to ensure a truly unforgettable world-class experience for all our delegates, speakers and exhibitors. Tianjin's leading desalination history Haishan Zhao, director general, Tianjin Municipal Science & Technology Commission TIANJIN IS recognized for its leading role in desalination in China. As early as the 1980s, the first industrial facility for desalination in China was constructed in Tianjin, and today, the daily desalinated water in Tianjin already accounts for one third of the national total. In addition, the largest desalination plant in Asia has been built here, while, in the future, Tianjin will become a model city for desalination in China. | 46 | Desalination & Water Reuse | August-September 2013 The opening of Tianjin Binhai New Area is part of the overall national development strategy of China. Industrial clusters and big projects are located in Binhai New Area, which results in a higher demand on Tianjin water resources, especially desalinated water. Tianjin has huge room for the development of desalination and provides remarkable commercial opportunities to the world, especially in the field of seawater desalination. It was a matter of great honor for us that the IDA chose Tianjin as the venue for the 2013 IDA World Congress and Tianjin Municipal Government as its co-host for such an important event.

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