Within the framework of the 2nd IWA-ASPIRE Conference and Exhibition, the International Water Utility Leaders Forum took place in Perth, Australia from 29th October to 1st November 2007. The participants were senior officials from the Governments, the representatives of international organizations, associations, institutes, scientists, managers in the Asian- Pacific region and all over the world. The forum was jointly organized by International Water Association – ASPIRE and Australian Water Association (AWA). AWA hosted the event and provided the logistics support. The Forum was conducted over two day covering four themes. Each themes opened with formal presentations followed by a panel commentary. The themes were:
· Working in a Water Stressed Environment,
· Intergrated Water Resource Planning,
· Developments in Delivering Water Services (Funding Investments and Models for Service Delivery),
· Utitility Twinning and Knowledge Sharing.
There were many basic issues
to be addressed, such as meeting the needs of exploding urban centre, low grade treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater, pollution of surface and groundwater and deterioration of aquatic ecosystems. The conference focused on design, operation, maintenance and management of water and wastewater systems. Innovations in the field, case studies on safe and reliable systems for removal of nutrients, water reuse, and methods of better operation were also be discussed at the conference. There was been specific emphasized on issues facing the Asia-Pacific Region.
Especially, this forum was an opportunity to the developed countries like: Japan, Singapore, Korea, HongKong – China, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand sharing their experience with the developing countries in the region: Vietnam, Thailand, Laos PDR, Cambodia, Philippines, others in South, Middle Asian… These are the important inputs for the twinning program of SEAWUN and Asian – Pacific region, amongst well-performed and modernized water utilities in the Asia, and also to foster the European utility participation on this activity. Mr. Vu Kim Quyen, Executive Director of the Southeast Asian Water Utilities Network attended and made a presentation in the event. And the 3rd International Water Utility Leaders Forum is expected to take place in Taiwan in 2008.