Website: http://www.iwa2014lisbon.org/
The International Water Association (IWA) organises the high-profile IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition every two years. We are excited to announce that the 2014 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition will be held in Lisbon, Portugal. Lisbon’s lively present and proud past combine in a melting pot of cultural diversity. Its friendliness and relaxed atmosphere promise a unique experience for all visitors.
Situated at the mouth of the Tagus River, and famed for its 58-kilometre long Águas Livres aqueduct and its canals, Lisbon has the oldest and largest water supply company in Portugal—Empresa Portuguesa de Águas Livres (EPAL).
EPAL has continued to evolve and to serve the Lisbon area with quality, modern water solutions to cope with historic and recent water challenges.
In the past 20 years, Portugal has seen outstanding improvements in water management, including increased expertise in regulation, planning and governance of water services. This requires complex international basin management, as Portugal shares five river basins with Spain. These improvements have been reflected in the creation of the Portuguese Water Partnership; its mission is to demonstrate Portugal’s intent to work with international professionals, institutions and companies to build on the shared knowledge and skills of the world’s water research and industry leaders.
The country’s main water associations are represented by CNAIA, the Portuguese National Committee of IWA, which provides discussion forums, training and professional development for its members. CNAIA also puts great emphasis on the cooperation required to develop sustainable water management in line with the Millennium Development Goals.
Portugal’s experiences will be of interest to international leaders looking for successful examples of enterprising regional systems, national policy initiatives, balancing private and public sectors, financial sustainability, and the regulation and benchmarking of water systems.
In that light, this 9th IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition continues the IWA’s biannual tradition, which began in Paris in 2000, of gathering together under one roof the best international ideas and the most dynamic global water professionals.
