Author: Matt Luna / Fanack Water
Water scarcity is a familiar theme for those working in the water sector. It is even more familiar for people without access to clean water, as they are struggling to live in these conditions.
Solutions and technology to tackle water scarcity were presented, promoted and connected at the International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) 2024 World Congress in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from 8 – 12 December. Increased public awareness and emphasis on the integration of the latest advancements in desalination were buzz areas around the Congress which is held once every two years. Fanack Water attended the Congress to experience some of the key innovations and meet the people making them happen – in the exhibition hall, plenary sessions, and workshops. Some highlights of the exhibits included floating desalination plants, a “Mega Vessel” membrane system on display, advances in energy recovery, new approaches to brine discharge in desalination, and the latest filtration and pump systems.
The XPRIZE on Water Scarcity led off on Sunday 8 December in a workshop with organizers and competing team candidates and members pitching their focus on key problems and solutions. A total XPRIZE prize purse of US$119 million for “Revolutionizing Desalination for Global Water Use” is intended to help drive and support competition from some of the brightest minds on the field to make key steps forward in mapping out a more sustainable water future for everyone.
“There is a surprising lack of awareness of water scarcity outside of the water community. In fact, there should not really be a separate water sector, because water crosses all sectors,” said one panelist at the XPRIZE event, “We are working on these issues for our grandchildren’s children, and we need people from all backgrounds: artists, designers, engineers, young engaged actors and much more.” The XRPIZE is aiming at “driving widespread access to clean water by creating reliable, sustainable, and affordable seawater desalination systems.”
A Congress plenary session on “Enhancing Water Stewardship through Industrial Water Reuse” during the IDRA Leaders Summit on 10 December heard concerns from utilities and industrial facilities around the world on water regulations and complexities when seeking a benchmark across sectors. “Just give us a water standard,” was a complaint from a fracking organization in the United States that was seeking clarity on regulations to better think about compliance. It was pointed out that many corporations do not necessarily avoid regulations, but want more clarity on what the regulations are.
“It takes a lot of water to have even a modest lifestyle,” summed up a panelist at the “CEO Lightning Talks” session of the Leaders Summit. Special working groups continuing after the Congress were proposed to promote collective action on emerging water scenarios that require new kinds of thinking, with new technology and cooperation across sectors. Some really good questions remain on how to best convey and apply the value of water that much of the rest of the world outside of the water sector does not see. There are risks in new approaches, and there are greater risks likely in doing nothing on alleviating current and future water scarcity around the world.
For more information on the XPRIZE for Water Scarcity, visit the website of the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative: https://www.mohamedbinzayedwi.ae/
For more information on the IDRA World Congress 2024, visit: https://wc.idadesal.org