DCU Water Conference

DCU Water Conference took place on 27th & 28th of November and was a huge success. ‘Water, The Greatest Global Challenge’, highlighted the growing pressures on global and national water resources and outlined the innovations currently being developed through research and development to address these challenges now and into the future.

As global demand for water is expected to increase by 40% and spend on water infrastructure is expected to reach $22 trillion by 2030, the conference highlighted issues particularly in relation to water scarcity, cost and reuse. A sustainable quality water supply is not only a vital resource for life, it is also an increasing source of economic value. As the challenge of maintaining the availability of clean water, water infrastructure and efficiency of supply continues, along with new regulations and increased costs for supply and consumption, more attention needs to be focussed on the issues facing the growing water industry and the environment.

Technologies for water treatment and wastewater treatment are almost 100 years in existence. There is an increasing demand from industry for disruptive innovation to reduce the cost of energy in the treatment of water and to introduce new technological advances to enable the reuse of water. Attendees heard about the latest smart water technologies and the increasing impact of the Internet of Things on the industry.

New research and technologies for the treatment and distribution of water along with sensing technologies to enhance the measurement of supply and monitoring of water quality were discussed.

Technological solutions and innovations which will provide new opportunities for companies in emerging new sectors with the water industry were outlined and delegates learned how global funds are investing in water and where future opportunities lie in raising capital.

Keynote speaker John Durkan, Environmental & Sustainability Manager of ABP Foods who has adopted some of these new innovative technologies to help recycle treated wastewater said, “These technologies make it possible to achieve better water stewardship, to reuse water and to contribute to the water circular economy, based on the principle of reduce, reuse and recycle in order to avoid further depleting already scarce natural resources.”

Also speaking, conference organiser, DCU’s Professor Fiona Regan said, “Against the backdrop of the growing challenges faced by the water sector, DCU is developing a Water Institute, a technology-focussed research centre that will generate knowledge and inform decision-making about more sustainable use of our water resource, both nationally and globally. We will also be working with Enterprise Ireland and other water experts in Ireland over the coming months to develop a cluster of companies with interests in the water sector to come together to collaborate in finding opportunities and innovations in relation to water infrastructure, technology and utilities.”

A proposed new Water Institute at DCU aims to address national, international and global water resource problems through excellence in research, education and innovation in water science, technology, management and governance.  

Its vision is to provide informed leadership decisions and sustainable action, using advanced technology and data analytics in a multidisciplinary, dynamic research environment. This will be achieved through collaboration between Water Institute members, government, industry, partner academics and agencies.

For more information on the conference and DCU Water Institute, contact jane.wall@dcu.ie