The provision of a safe and adequate water supply is key in ensuring the safety, public health and economy of a country. With the combined pressures of rapid urbanisation, booming population growth, climate change, and increasing resource demands from the industries, there is a need to quickly discover solutions to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of water technologies and systems before our cities are overwhelmed by their water challenges and can no longer provide for the needs of the community and industry in a sustainable manner.

A paradigm shift is also required in the water sector to look at the challenges in a holistic manner and discover innovative technological solutions which are both water and energy-efficient. This is especially important for industries or non-domestic sectors which are big consumers of water resources and where the largest efficiency gains can be made from improved water technologies and management approaches.

Cities around the world are consuming resources at an unprecedented rate which has led to the growing generation of waste. The resulting tension between resource and waste means that achieving environmental sustainability is an imperative priority, and necessitates a paradigm shift in the management approach, in both the municipal setting and the industries. Contrary to the traditional approach, which views that waste needs treatment for safe disposal, the new approach is to close the materials cycle by turning waste to resource. The focus of this theme is sustainable wastewater treatments and management strategies that aim at the higher goal of turning waste to resource. For the industries, this new approach not only translates into more environmentally sustainable practices, but may lead to cost-benefits as well.

The uncertainties of climate change and its associated impacts have imposed a challenge to urban areas, whose growing populations and industrial activities put increasing pressure on water resources and availability. An integrated and sustainable approach to water management from the various stakeholder groups is essential to address these water issues. 

The correlation between water and energy, or “water-energy nexus” is apparent and garnering more attention as both are critical resources in high demand. Strategies to balance the utilisation of these resources through integrated policy, urban planning, and changes in behaviour need to be implemented.

Safe drinking water is the basic element of human health and forms the core of all public health policies. However, access to safe drinking water remains a challenge in many countries. Issues such as design and implementation of water safety plans, management of microbial hazards and chemical contaminants as well as contaminants of emerging concern are some of the challenges water suppliers and utilities face today.

With information on water contaminants and their implications on health becoming readily available, people are demanding more stringent water quality guidelines and standards. In addition, water suppliers and utilities are also being challenged to provide safe drinking water under extreme weather patterns such as prolonged droughts, frequent floods, as well as during natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis.

The sessions in this theme will cover different aspects of water quality and health issues relevant to the provision of safe drinking water.