Keynote Presentation
Water Forum
Monday 17th January
10.30 | Visit Exhibition
13.35 | Welcome Address
13.40 | The UAE’s new potable water outlook
13.55 | Leveraging the new water usage norms
Keynote Panel
Covid-19 has shifted water consumption trends but what does that mean for future planning and desalination requirements? This session debates how demand will change and what will stay the same, as working patterns shift and industries such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and food production consider localisation strategies. Where will the main opportunities for efficiencies now lie?
Confirmed Speakers:
14.40 | Renewing the region’s water strategy: Water self-sufficiency not efficiency?
Panel
In the wake of the pandemic does the water industry seek new policies focused on effectiveness rather than efficiency? Should decentralised, self-sustaining communities be the new priority? This discussion reviews a new blueprint for the region’s integrated water strategy and how government stimulus packages should be used to maximise social and economic opportunities in normal and emergency conditions.
Confirmed speakers:
15.20 | Increasing household water efficiency
Panel Discussion
With the world’s consumption footprint shifted towards the residential sector, the region will have to work harder building a conservation culture that attaches value and quality to household water. This session raises awareness on policy and educational initiatives that have successfully changed consumer behaviour or incentivised technology/equipment retrofits to reduce water use. It also challenges what else can be done.
.png/_jcr_content/renditions/original./345385803/David%20King%20(270x270).jpg)
Ramiz Hamdan Ragheb Alaileh
Sustainability & Energy Efficiency Director
Abu Dhabi Department of Energy
16.00 | Close of Day One
Tuesday 18th January
10.30 | Welcome Address
10.35 | Building sector resilience through clean energy
Keynote Presentation
With traditional plants relying on long distance fuel supply as well as strategic components such as chemicals and spare parts, the procurement and continuity of supply during times of pandemic can be expensive and logistically challenging. This session explores how increasing the renewable energy share in water generation will move the industry towards its sustainability goals and provide better protection against unforeseeable events.
10.55 | Decarbonising desalination: Aligning decoupled power with water production
Keynote Presentation
Governments are looking at how to align decoupled power and water production through the adoption of RO to reduce costs. This presentation will discuss Abu Dhabi's approach to displacing thermal cogeneration with the parallel (and pressing) need for decarbonisation.
11.15 | Decarbonising desalination
Panel Discussion
Reverse Osmosis membrane technology has evolved to become today’s state-of-the-art water production technology. This session will focus on the status of energy-efficient measures and membrane technologies that can further reduce the carbon and chemical footprint of desalination. As RO takes more of the desalination capacity, it also asks where the opportunities are to further reduce the technology’s carbon footprint and what incentives need to be in place for this to happen.
.png/_jcr_content/renditions/original./345385789/Riaan%20Van%20Der%20Merwe%20(270x270).jpg)
12.00 | The role of zero liquid discharge in decarbonisation
Presentation
A circular approach to water management that should result in no discharge during the treatment process. This presentation looks at some of the promising solutions and approaches to zero liquid discharge (ZLD) that can lead to more water reuse, increased minerals recovery and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Presented by:
12.20 | Revisiting water re-use priorities
Panel Discussion
Building on the ZLD presentation, this panel will look at methods to increase the use of recycled water, which has the greatest potential to reduce desalination and lower energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and save money. But as a water resource is it undervalued and is local investment low? This session explores ways to increase the value and use of grey water, and therefore contribute to the decarbonisation of water in the region.
Confirmed Speakers:
13.00 | Visit Exhibition
14.30 | The new food security - water nexus
Panel Discussion
As the UAE moves towards food self-efficiency, it will create a further strain on scarce water resources. How can the most efficient water use be balanced with the pursuit of food security, and what sources of water can be tapped? What can be implemented in the short-, medium-, and long-term to fill the gaps in food security and water/energy consumption?
Confirmed speakers:
.png/_jcr_content/renditions/original./345385796/Dr%20Tarifa%20Al%20Zaabi%20(270x270).jpg)
Dr Mohamed Abdel Hamyd Dawoud
Advisor-Water Resources, Environment Quality
Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi
15.10 | Localised food production using brackish water?
Case Study
This presentation will look at the use of brackish water in the region, and where it is best suited.
Presented by:
Dr Mohamed Abdel Hamyd Dawoud
Advisor-Water Resources, Environment Quality
Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi
15.25 | Minimising water use in farming
Panel Discussion
This session explores the most promising innovations in agriculture/food production and their impact on water use/reuse. Is the move towards efficient indoor farming or should crop specific approaches be taken to maximise water efficiency?
Confirmed speakers:
16.00 | Close of Day Two
Wednesday 19th January
10.30 | Welcome Address
10.35 | Innovation highway
Keynotes
Digitalisation and automation can deliver huge efficiencies in water management but the sector is years behind other industries. The good news is that recent events have shown that plants can be operated remotely and the appetite and opportunity for automation is high. These presentations will provide an eye-opening snapshot of some of the most promising innovations that will benefit the supply chain in the long-term.
Case Studies
10.35: Digital Twins
.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/original.image_file.375.375.0,829,3280,4109.file/412819658/Shehab%20Al%20Ameri%20(2).jpg)
10.50: Remote monitoring of plants
11:05 | Advanced tech approached to wastewater
11.20 | Atmospheric water extraction - emergency backup or scalable strategy for clean water?
Case Study
This session will look at some the work being done around atmospheric water, looking at the technologies being used, their approaches to harvesting water, their cost vs value for money and if they are scalable.
11.20 | Case Study 1
11.35 | Case Study 2
12.05 | GCC water and wastewater projects
Case Study
As governments push for more efficient approaches to desalination and water reuse, this session will provide insight into the region's latest projects, where they are happening and why they are being built and commissioned.
Presented by:
12.25 | Lessons learnt in asset resilience for utilities
Panel Discussion
Many utility operations can be run remotely, benefiting the industry long-term. This session explores the lessons utilities have learned and the key takeaways in ensuring future asset resilience. How will the recruitment and development of specialists change? Is automation the main way forward?
Confirmed speakers:
13.00 | Visit Exhibition
14.30 | Aquifer recharge and water security
Panel Discussion
This session focuses on the artificial recharge of aquifers in ensuring sustainability, and economic and water security. It will look at the most feasible sources of water (based on pilot results) that can optimise this strategic water reserve during normal and emergency conditions, including TSE and mixed brine.
Confirmed Speakers:
Dr Mohamed Abdel Hamyd Dawoud
Advisor - Water Resources, Environment Qualit
Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi
15.10 | Optimising infrastructure investments through the cradle-to-grave lens
Panel Discussion
How to assess and maximise new investments in water infrastructure by considering the long-term, economic impact on the complete industry value chain. This session explains how to take an overall unit cost approach to water throughout an asset’s entire lifecycle.
Confirmed speakers:
