With huge investments being directed towards water and sanitation infrastructure, particularly in the Global South, IWA’s Water and Development Congress & Exhibition (WDCE) 2025 will once again deliver a comprehensive programme focused on the water-related needs of low- and middle-income countries.

To be held in Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand, on 8-12 December 2025, this edition will build on the success of the 2023 edition held in Kigali, Rwanda, providing the vital opportunity to share knowledge on innovations in science and practice, and highlight the opportunities for securing new and effective solutions in water and sanitation policy, technology and management.

Reflecting on the challenges of the region, the Governor of Thailand’s Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA), one of WDCE’s partner organisations, Suwara Thawitchasri said: “One of the most critical challenges we face is the security and quality of raw water sources. Climate change is creating increasingly unpredictable conditions – droughts, floods, and saltwater intrusion – that directly affect both the availability and quality of water for production.

“Another key issue is the growing demand for water driven by rapid urbanisation. As Bangkok continues to expand, we must consistently upgrade and expand our supply networks to ensure safe and reliable access to clean water for every community. These issues are vital because they directly impact public health, the resilience of the city, and the overall economic development of Thailand.”

Advancing innovation

With an overarching theme of ‘Water, sanitation, and innovation – pathways to progress and a resilient future’, this year’s WDCE will present solutions spanning water and sanitation services, the role of water in urban areas, the links between cities and basins, and the opportunities to achieve climate resilience. Featuring keynote addresses by leading figures in the sector, specially invited to share their experiences in shaping and delivering solutions, the programme will also provide a unique platform for water professionals to present and share their recent findings and insights.

High Level Summit

A landmark feature of WDCE 2025 will be the High Level Summit on ‘Water Security and Resilience’ to be held on 9 December. Convened in collaboration with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and other strategic partners, this prestigious event aims to bring together the political and decision-making aspects of water and sanitation, complementing the technical and professional dialogues with strategic leadership perspectives, creating an unparalleled opportunity to align regional and global priorities on water security.

This invitation-only event will gather high-level leaders from governments, international organisations, and key institutions across South and Southeast Asia, ensuring a trusted space for regional voices to come together. The discussions will culminate in the release of the Bangkok Communiqué on Water Security and Resilience, a forward-looking statement reflecting shared priorities and actionable pathways toward a more secure and resilient water future.

Asari Daud, IWA Vice President, said: “The pressures on our water systems are intensifying, and the urgency of advancing water security and resilience has never been greater. In South and Southeast Asia, where rapid growth meets climate stress, the challenges are profound but so too are the opportunities. This summit provides a vital platform to unite regional leaders, breaking down silos, and building new models of cooperation. By aligning political will with technical expertise, and fostering South-South collaboration, we can accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals and shape a shared, resilient water future. The Bangkok Communiqué will stand as a statement of our common priorities and a roadmap for collective action.”

Utility and Regulation Forums

‘Driving innovation, shaping inclusive and sustainable water futures’ is the theme of the Utility Leaders Forum, which will be held on 10 December. Presenting a unique opportunity for those tasked with managing utilities to exchange views, network and access the insights of prominent water utility leaders in a setting that is by utility leaders for utility leaders, the Utility Leaders Forum is curated by an international committee of experienced utility practitioners and is structured to facilitate an open and interactive dialogue around some of the most critical issues facing utilities.

William Fernandes, deputy general manager, City of Toronto, and IWA Board member said: “In IWA we aim to be a global home for utilities, engaging them in enriching exchanges. We see utilities standing at the intersection of innovation and responsibility. This iteration of the Utility Leaders Forum is a unique opportunity to share global perspectives and learn from each other’s successes and failures in innovation. We hope that this forum will bring about meaningful change, ensuring water services are inclusive, sustainable and resilient for all communities.”

Also taking place on 10 December is the International Water Regulators Forum, this year marking its 10th anniversary and offering a unique opportunity to explore regulatory innovation, regional cooperation and inclusive governance.

Emerging Water Leaders Forum

The 2025 Emerging Water Leaders Forum, which will be held on 11 December, will focus on equipping the next generation to lead in the face of climate, governance, and capacity challenges, ensuring water systems are resilient, equitable, and future-ready. Strongly aligned with the resilience focus of this edition of WDCE, the forum will have an emphasis on personal and institutional growth, showcasing future-ready skills, inclusive leadership and big picture strategic thinking.

Chotiwat Jantarakasem, Chair of Thailand’s Young Water Professionals Chapter, said: “Every day, Young Water Professionals are driving change across the global water sector. This year, I’m thrilled to welcome young people to my home country. The IWA Emerging Water Leaders Forum will not only recognise the vital role of youth in the water sector, but also inspire us to imagine what we can achieve together for a better water future.”

Inclusive Urban Sanitation Forum

Also taking place on 11 December, the Inclusive Urban Sanitation (IUS) Forum will provide a platform to share lessons from three years of engagement in advancing the Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) approach, highlighting key findings from the recently completed CWIS Global Consultation, which gathered insights from more than 50 organisations worldwide. It will also serve as an opportunity for sector stakeholders to reflect on progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals in relation to sanitation and explore priorities beyond 2030.

Priscillah Oluoch, head of sanitation and programmes at the Malindi Water and Sewerage Company, Kenya, and a member of the IUS Task Force said: “Inclusive urban sanitation is about more than infrastructure, it is about people, power and possibility. Progress happens when every voice counts, when communities help shape solutions and when institutions break silos to work together. Citywide Inclusive Sanitation shows us that resilience grows when sewered and non-sewered systems coexist, when innovation is guided by equity, and when dignity and health are at the centre of design. In a changing climate and with fast-growing cities, the most powerful innovation is inclusion, because only by serving everyone, everywhere, can sanitation become the true foundation of sustainable and resilient futures.”

From Land to Sea

A further forum to be held on 11 December is ‘From Land to Sea: Tackling Pollutants, Protecting Health, and Restoring Ecosystems’. This forum will explore the sources of pollutants from land and sea, their impacts on human health and marine ecosystems, and identify practical solutions to reduce these threats and promote healthier, more resilient environments.

Advancing solutions for the region and beyond

“Climate change, urbanisation, and population growth are intensifying water challenges across Asia,” said Prof Sangam Shrestha, co-director of the Global Water & Sanitation Center at the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. “We believe integrated solutions – digital innovations, nature-based approaches, and inclusive governance – are critical for resilience and equitable access. The IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition 2025 is a vital platform to exchange knowledge, showcase regional leadership, and build global partnerships that advance water security and accelerate progress towards SDG 6.”

Local relevance is highlighted by Wilas Chaloeysat, Governor of Thailand’s Metropolitan

Electricity Authority (MEA), a partner organisation of WDCE, who said: “For the Metropolitan Electricity Authority, efficient water management is a priority issue directly linked to both society and the environment. We place strong emphasis on responsible water use, minimising the impacts of wastewater and ensuring long-term water security. For MEA, comprehensive management is not only about meeting operational needs, but also about aligning with environmental standards and our commitment to social responsibility.”

Looking internationally, Dr Jennifer Balatedi Molwantwa, CEO of the Water Research

Commission (WRC), South Africa, a strategic partner of the WDCE, said: “Research, development, and innovation extend beyond local challenges. The WRC values collaboration at regional, continental, and global levels to exchange insights, share lessons and co-create scalable solutions for the water and sanitation sector. As a strategic partner, WRC is pleased to see sanitation featuring prominently on the development conference agenda. Addressing water and sanitation challenges remains central to achieving inclusive and sustainable development. The WRC looks forward to a successful Development Conference and the meaningful exchanges it will foster.”

With inspiring keynotes, forums, social activities and an extensive exhibition, this edition of IWA’s Water and Development Congress & Exhibition is set to deliver a world-class event dedicated to delivery of sustainable water and sanitation to those in pressing need.

As Prof Pai-Chi Li, President of co-organiser AIT, concluded: “We are proud that AIT is co-hosting the International Water Association’s Water and Development Congress, which reflects our role as a hub for innovation, dialogue and collaboration in Asia. Our vision is to build a sustainable and inclusive future, and this gathering presents an opportunity to connect global expertise with local action, transforming ideas into tangible solutions that enhance water and sanitation for communities across Southeast Asia and beyond.”

More information

www.waterdevelopmentcongress.org

ADB and water – a strategic imperative for Asia and the Pacific

Norio Saito, Senior Director, Water and Urban Development Sector Office, ADB

Asia and the Pacific are facing a convergence of threats: growing demand, resource scarcity, climate extremes, and growing inequality. In this context, water security isn’t just a development goal, it’s a strategic imperative for resilient, sustainable, and inclusive growth.

The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) forthcoming publication, Asian Water Development Outlook (AWDO) 2025, will show that Asia-Pacific is making strides in water security. However, the stakes are rising. Our data finds that over the past 12 years, a significant number of  people have moved out of extreme water insecurity, thanks to countries prioritising their weakest areas, mainly in rural water supply and sanitation services. Yet, despite having basic access to water supply and sanitation, many remain vulnerable to poor water quality, unsafe sanitation, ecosystem degradation and climate shocks.

In addition, climate-related disasters are accelerating, outpacing readiness and reversing hard won development gains. Moreover, environmental water security has emerged as the region’s most urgent challenge, with ecosystems under siege from unchecked development and underinvestment in conservation efforts.

AWDO 2025 will make it clear that infrastructure alone is not enough. Without sustainable service delivery, maintenance, and healthy ecosystems, water systems cannot deliver lasting health or resilience. The path forward demands bold, integrated action where climate adaptation, ecosystem protection, and inclusive planning are no longer optional, but essential.

In response, ADB is scaling up efforts for water security through financing, technical assistance, knowledge, and partnerships. Non-revenue water reduction is critical to reduce wastage and improve service delivery inclusively and efficiently. We are helping our client countries strengthen water sector policies, institutions, and regulations to enhance sustainability and attract the private sector.  City-Wide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) is being mainstreamed to provide safely managed sanitation services inclusively. In addition, the Glaciers to Farms initiative – aimed at mobilising up to $3.5 billion from ADB and the Green Climate Fund – has been launched for glacier preservation and to enhance the resilience of communities, food systems, and social infrastructure in nine countries in Central and West Asia. We are also strengthening multilateral cooperation and governance to address systemic challenges.

As Principal Strategic Partners we hope that IWA’s Water and Development Congress & Exhibition 2025 (WDCE) will provide a vital platform for dialogue and  innovation, enabling ADB to strengthen partnerships with governments, financiers, the private sector, academia, and other relevant organisations.

AWDO 2025 will be officially launched at the WDCE opening plenary session on 8 December. We look forward to meeting you at the event to exchange ideas and forge partnerships to build a water-secure and climate-resilient future.

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ISO 17298: Biodiversity for organizations – Guidelines and Requirements, aims to provide a practical, scalable framework to help organisations assess their biodiversity impacts, dependencies, risks and opportunities.

With biodiversity under increasing pressure, ISO’s new standard offers an important tool to help organisations take measurable, accountable action to protect and restore biodiversity.

ISO hopes the new standard will empower organisations to strengthen operations, access nature-positive finance, and build trust with customers, regulators, and society – reducing regulatory and reputational risks and the disruption to supply chains and higher operating costs that can be associated with biodiversity loss.

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Amid growing use of alternative water sources in agriculture, experts raised concerns about harmful chemical contaminants entering the food chain. Using a global framework, the group identified high-priority substances – including arsenic, lead, cadmium, fluoride, microcystins, and PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances – or ‘forever chemicals’) – based on dietary exposure risks. 

The report highlights gaps in monitoring, regulation and standardised assessment methods. Participants urged enhanced cross-sector collaboration under a ‘One Health’ approach, alongside improved guidance, research and capacity building to better manage chemical risks in agrifood water systems. 

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Conflict has forced more than three million people to flee their homes in Khartoum State. With large parts of the state becoming more accessible, more than 34,000 people have returned since the beginning of 2025. Most are returning to damaged homes in areas where basic services, including water and sanitation, are largely unavailable, with more than one million children estimated to live in the affected localities. 

Recent continuous attacks on power plants have disrupted electricity supply and worsened water shortages, significantly impacting access to safe and clean water. This has forced many families to collect water from unsafe and contaminated sources, increasing the risk of cholera and other deadly waterborne diseases, especially in overcrowded neighbourhoods and displacement sites.  

UNICEF is implementing a multi-pronged cholera response, targeting high-risk communities and supporting essential water infrastructure, including the provision of water treatment chemicals (polymer and chlorine) and a 1000 kilovolt-amperes generator to sustain operations at Al Manara Water Treatment Plant, serving more than one million people in Karrari and Old Omdurman. 

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Titled ‘Drought Impact Monitoring: Baseline Review of Practices’ and released under the banner of the Integrated Drought Management Programme – a joint initiative of the WMO and the Global Water Partnership – the report presents a global overview of current practices, highlighting case studies and identifying examples of good practice, and enabling environments that support effective monitoring.  

The report provides operational guidelines to help countries establish or refine their drought monitoring systems. It also encourages cross-sector collaboration, open databases and tools to improve data accessibility, and tailored systems that can be adapted to local needs. 

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By examining the intersection of climatic drivers and underlying vulnerabilities, this report aims to reinforce the continued importance of improving drought monitoring, planning and response capabilities, while providing actionable insights for researchers, policymakers and humanitarian organisations working to address drought resilience. 

The report finds that the impacts of climate change, including rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns and the 2023-24 El Niño event, are the primary drivers of the droughts that have been experienced in recent years, amplifying soil moisture deficits and evaporation, and transforming regional water deficits into systemic disruptions.  

Major drought hotspots 

The report identifies several regions under acute stress, including: Eastern and Southern Africa, where more than 90 million people are facing acute hunger; Somalia where ~43,000 drought-related deaths were recorded in 2022 and 25% of the country’s population faced crisis-level food insecurity by early 2025; and Zambia, where river flows have dropped to 20% of average flows and the Kariba Dam dropped to just 7% capacity, impacting hydropower supplies resulting in daily blackouts, disrupting healthcare, industry and daily life.  

In Turkey, groundwater depletion has resulted in sinkholes, threatening infrastructure and ecosystems. Meanwhile, in Latin America, Amazon watersheds hit historic lows in 2023-24, precipitating mass fish and river dolphin deaths, and compromising transport and access to potable water. The Panama Canal saw daily transits fall from 38 to 24 ships, disrupting global trade and spiking commodity prices. South and Southeast Asia have also been impacted, with drought suppressing the production of staple crops such as rice, coffee and sugar in Thailand and India. Additionally, in India, monsoon variability and groundwater over-extraction is damaging agriculture. 

Impacts on transport and global trade 

Reduced Panama Canal transit capacity had ripple effects on global shipping and supply chains. Drought has also disrupted river navigation on rivers such as the Amazon and Zambezi, disrupting commerce and livelihoods.  

Toll on health and the economy 

Drought is raising health concerns, with increased cases of malnutrition, diarrhoea, cholera and dehydration, especially among women, children, the elderly and people with chronic illness. Currently, global annual losses from drought exceed $300bn, and are expected to double by 2035. Studies have found that 77.6% of the Earth’s land has grown permanently drier, with dryland areas swelling by 4.3 million km². The estimated cost of land restoration is projected to be approximately $2.6tn by 2030. 

The root causes driving water scarcity are climate change and global warming, with long-term global temperature increases worsening soil evaporation and moisture loss. The 2023-24 El Niño event intensified drought, in Africa, Latin America and Asia in particular.  

Unsustainable land and water management  

Over-extraction of groundwater, deforestation, irrigation and land degradation have increased the vulnerability of regions facing drought, and many countries still lack proactive national drought strategies and early warning systems.  

Report recommendations 

The report proposes a multi-level, multi-sectoral response, including: 

• Early warning systems and monitoring – deploying real-time drought and impact monitoring incorporating meteorology and socioeconomic data.  

• Support systems such as Africa’s sand and dust storm warnings and data from the International Drought Resilience Observatory (IDRO).  

• Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) – emphasising watershed restoration, agroforestry, sustainable grazing, reforestation, and groundwater replenishment.  

• Infrastructure and water management – expanding desalination, wastewater reuse, aquifer recharge, and resilient water storage systems. Along with decentralised energy systems to reduce dependence on hydropower in drought-prone regions. 

• Governance and policy reform – pushing for national drought policies that are proactive, inclusive (including young people, women and Indigenous communities), and cross-sectoral.  

• Finance and private sector participation – encouraging incentives and regulation to shift subsidies to sustainable land use, agriculture, and water management. 

• Responses to the strategic outcomes of COP16 – including the launch of the World Drought Atlas and IDRO, and the leveraging of AI to improve global drought risk tracking. 

Long-term implications 

Drylands now cover ~40% of non-Antarctic land – nearly a third larger than India – and account for massive GDP losses, especially in Africa and Asia. The OECD projects drought-related economic costs to have more than doubled since 2000, potentially rising 110% by 2035. Land degradation continues to expand by ~1 million km² per year, accelerating desertification and ecological collapse. However, restoring just one billion hectares could generate up to $1.8tn annually, creating jobs, and reinforcing food, climate and biodiversity resilience.  

This UNCCD report marks a turning point – highlighting that drought is no longer a localised hazard, but a systemic global risk, crossing boundaries and systems. It entwines the water-energy-food nexus, undermines economic stability and exacerbates social inequalities. Yet, it also presents a blueprint for transformation through proactive, inclusive governance, science-backed early warning, nature-based and infrastructural adaptation, and scaled financing – including crucial private-sector engagement. 

While the COP16 commitments serve as an initial structure for guidance, the real test lies in implementation – the deployment of early warning systems, advances in NbS, the shifting of investment flows, the empowerment of vulnerable communities, the forging of legally binding frameworks, and the mainstreaming of drought resilience across sectors and regions. 

This Drought Hotspots report is a clarion call – not just highlighting dramatic drought intensification across continents, but also rigorously framing how to respond. It presents policy foresight and practical solutions: early detection, ecological restoration, governance reform, finance mobilisation and community inclusion. The window for action remains narrow. Global cooperation and resolute action between now and COP17 are vital to halt the march towards irreversible land degradation and safeguard resilience. 

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Over the past few years, we’ve seen a surge of young professionals eager to shape the future of water. The YWP Steering Committee, elected by the IWA YWP Community every two years, has been part of our decision-making structure since the 2000s. IWA now has more than 50 active YWP Country Chapters worldwide – from China to South Africa, Brazil to the UK, and, recently, new chapters in Ireland, Mali and Burkina Faso. Each chapter is driven by IWA YWP members who are determined to influence water governance, management, innovation and sustainability – locally and internationally. 

It’s hard not to be inspired by the level of commitment our YWPs demonstrate. Whether organising national conferences, hosting technical workshops, participating in global dialogues or designing community-led initiatives, these young leaders are redefining what it means to be a water professional today. 

In June, I had the pleasure of hearing about the 3rd IWA YWP Canada Conference, which brought together more than 200 participants, including professionals, academics and students. It featured panels, technical sessions and a global hackathon, where five international teams presented innovative solutions to water challenges in their home countries. This type of collaboration and innovation is exactly what our sector needs and is something IWA’s YWPs are uniquely equipped to deliver.  

Take, for example, the Iberoamerican IWA YWP Chapters. This growing coalition of Spanish-speaking YWP chapters emerged from a simple, yet persistent, challenge: the lack of technical content available in their native language. Their solution? A dynamic series of Spanish-language webinars, co-organised across countries, bridging linguistic and geographic divides to deliver relevant and inclusive knowledge to their peers. When empowered, YWPs don’t just participate – they lead, create and solve. 

Alongside our growing chapter network, IWA has launched flagship programmes to nurture young leadership in the sector. The IWA & Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship supports exceptional young professionals working on water and sanitation, amplifying youth voices in global policy dialogues. Meanwhile, the IWA LeaP leadership programme for YWPs brings together early-career professionals from across the world for a year-long journey focused on leadership development, strategic thinking and personal growth. Both programmes are part of IWA’s commitment to equip young leaders with the tools and platforms to influence global water governance. 

Looking ahead, I am especially excited about the Emerging Water Leaders Forum at the IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition in Bangkok, in December – an initiative that will bring together young professionals from across the globe to engage in a powerful learning and networking experience. The Forum is an event led by YWPs for YWPs. Meanwhile, planning is well under way for the 2026 IWA European YWP Conference in Milan, Italy, where we anticipate another milestone gathering for our YWP community. 

IWA believes that the YWP Community is a strategic asset, integral to our Association’s Strategic and Operational Plans. We cannot talk about the future of water without the voices, ideas and leadership of young professionals at the table. 

As President, I am committed to ensuring that YWPs remain front and centre in our journey. That means not only recognising their contributions, but also actively creating the platforms, opportunities and support systems they need to thrive. The future belongs to those who prepare for it today. 

To our YWPs – thank you. Your work reminds us that the future of water is not something distant. It’s already here – and it’s in good hands. 

Hamanth Kasan, President, IWA 

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Articles in this edition span the spectrum of actions needed to contribute to water security in the face of widening and deepening concerns around drought. 

Monitoring provides the essential foundations for action. In the case of drought, another report, from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) (see News), reviews current practices of drought impact monitoring. Water quantity monitoring covers how volumes present compared to historical records. This core need has to be connected with monitoring of the impacts of drought across sectors such as domestic water supply, agriculture and the environment. Drought is a complex, slow-onset issue and an understanding of impacts is key to reducing vulnerability. 

There is a broader need for institutional strengthening and coordinated action across the sector. Dealing with drought in this context is part of wider national ambitions and outlook. Here we see the importance of initiatives such as Indonesia’s National Water Self-Sufficiency Initiative. This aims to almost double the number of households with access to piped water over a five-year period. Investment is important here, but so too is a focus on operational excellence. 

Other aspects can be layered on top of this sector outlook. This includes diversifying water sources. A changing climate and therefore prospect for drought is a long-term concern, but, as the UNCCD report makes clear, needs are very real today. Rainwater harvesting (see p26)can quickly enhance security locally. It also provides a focus for education and awareness-raising. 

Specific tools and approaches can also help the sector navigate the path from the current day into the localised, uncertain future. Here we see the value in the use of scenarios, such as the approach being deployed in Sydney (p37). There, scenarios are helping make clear the value in pursuing different strategies, such as increasing investment in catchment management, implementing use of green, blue and grey features in urban areas and agriculture, and envisioning the local bulk water supplier as a manager of a carbon-positive catchment. 

Another opportunity is to draw on the wisdom of Indigenous knowledge – as is explored on p13, looking at the case of New Zealand. Indeed, this article sets out an approach that actively builds partnerships to bring together the best of what science and Indigenous knowledge have to offer. 

Alongside that spectrum of options, a further key to unlocking water security is to exchange experiences on advancing our sector. As the articles on the Water and Development Congress & Exhibition (p30), ASPIRE (p13) and Water Horizons (p44) events show, IWA is certainly playing its part in delivering a drought response. 

Keith Hayward, Editor 

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SonoChem System 

The SonoChem System, developed by Gloucestershire-based Naicker Scientific, was awarded the grand prize of £150,000. This groundbreaking innovation uses microwaves and ultrasound to purify water extracted from the Moon’s frozen soil, a crucial step in supporting long-term lunar missions. 

Led by Lolan Naicker, Naicker Scientific’s SonoChem System employs ultrasonic technology to generate millions of microbubbles in melted lunar ice. These microbubbles create extreme temperatures and pressures that break down contaminants, producing safe, drinkable water for astronauts.  

“Imagine digging up the soil in your back garden in the middle of winter and trying to extract frozen water to drink,” said Lolan Naicker. “Now imagine doing it in an environment that is -200°C, a nearly perfect vacuum, under low gravity, and with very little electrical power. That’s what we will have to overcome on the Moon. If we can make the SonoChem System work there, we can make it work anywhere, whether that’s on Mars’ glaciers, or here on Earth in regions where accessing clean water is still a challenge.” 

FRANK 

First runner-up was FRANK (Filtered Regolith Aqua Neutralisation Kit), developed by RedSpace, which was awarded £100,000. 

FRANK uses a three-stage approach to deliver a continuous flow of drinking-grade water in a lunar environment that would first heat the lunar soil (regolith) sample in a sealed chamber to separate off volatile gases and leave a liquid of water, methanol and regolith fragments. The liquid is passed through a membrane to remove solid particles. The remaining liquid is distilled to separate the methanol from the water. 

AquaLunarPure 

AquaLunarPure, developed by a team from Queen Mary University of London, UK, won the second runner-up prize and was awarded £50,000. 

The team’s system transforms melted lunar ice into ‘supercritical water’, a state in which oxidation removes all contaminants in a single step. A reactor would first heat lunar ice to leave behind dust and rock particles, then heat it to more than 373°C at 220 bars of pressure to turn it into ‘supercritical water’ – not a solid, a liquid or a gas, but a fourth state that appears like a thick vapour in which oxidation will remove all the contaminants in one step. Direct heating and insulation contribute to the high energy efficiency of this reactor, compared with current state of the art technologies. 

A joint project between the UK Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency, the Aqualunar Challenge aims to find innovative solutions to water purification on the Moon and here on Earth. UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said: “The Aqualunar Challenge was set up to overcome one of the most significant obstacles to humans surviving on the Moon or other planets – the availability of clean drinking water. By teaming up with our Canadian partners and harnessing the wealth of talent and creativity found across the UK, the challenge has uncovered a range of new ideas, including Naicker Scientific’s SonoChem system. Many of these ideas could not only fuel future space exploration, but also help improve lives and solve water shortages here on Earth – mitigating the impacts of climate change as we work towards a net zero future.” 

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‘Water Horizons 2025: Transforming Utilities for a Resilient, Net Zero Future’ is a new conference on the IWA calendar, taking place on 24-25 September in London, UK. Organised by IWA Conferences Ltd, this event will bring together global leaders in the water sector to explore the latest innovations and strategies for building resilient, sustainable water utilities, with a particular focus on opportunities for technology, digital transformation and regulatory compliance. 

“The technological opportunities for digital water are exploding, but there are still challenges in taking them from research and practice through to implementation,” says Janelcy Alferes, who is R&D project leader monitoring technology and digital water, WaterKlimaatHub – VITO, Belgium, and Chair of IWA’s Specialist Group on Instrumentation, Control and Automation (ICA). “This conference will be a great platform to discuss this.”  

Facilitating the digital transformation 

IWA is playing an important role in this, and Water Horizons 2025 is the latest part of the Association’s drive to help water practitioners grasp the very best that digital technologies can offer, to deliver sustainable, smart and efficient water systems.  

“IWA is already doing a lot to facilitate this,” says Alferes. “It really recognises the value of digital solutions and how it can support many aspects of water management.”  

She references IWA’s impressive Digital Programme, the three editions of IWA Digital Water Summits in Bilbao, Spain, and IWA’s Specialist Groups that are promoting the use of digital solutions. She says: “There is a lot of support for really pushing the idea of finding digital solutions to improve our water systems. And there is increasing interest in finding synergies between different Specialist Groups.”  

As Chair of IWA’s Specialist Group on ICA, Alferes is conscious of the potential for IWA’s membership to come together to develop opportunities and enhance the role and power of existing and emerging technologies. 

Advanced technologies 

Focusing on how water utilities can future-proof their services while advancing their climate and carbon goals, Water Horizons 2025 will open with the theme of ‘Technology opportunities, digital transformation and the regulatory horizon’. This first day of the two-day programme will explore how utilities are embracing advanced technologies – from AI and IoT to smart water networks and digital twins – to drive operational efficiency, compliance and system resilience.  

The second day will build on the theme of day one, focusing on ‘Building resilient water systems and advancing net zero solutions’, shifting the focus to implementation and how utilities can apply innovation to reduce emissions and build low-carbon, circular water systems. 

Alferes sees Water Horizons 2025 as an opportunity to look at the new technologies that are available and focus on how they can be used most effectively to improve water systems and the management of water resources in applications across drinking water, wastewater and industrial processes.  

“It’s about how to make use of the technology,” she explains. “I’ll cover different aspects, ranging from sensors to digital twins and support tools, and how to bring those tools forward to help support decision-making.” 

Stakeholder engagement 

Alferes also highlights the importance of collaboration between stakeholders, and the need to avoid looking at water in isolation. She says: “If we are to face the challenges that we have today and those that we will have tomorrow, we really need to consider water as a part of our ecosystems, and to consider the important links between water and energy, food and agriculture.  

“We can’t just consider water in a silo. We need to collaborate with the different stakeholders – with the water utilities, the technology providers, researchers, and the community and municipalities. It is important to take into account the different parts of the puzzle.” 

There are still gaps that need to be bridged to enable digital water to be as effective as it can be, she adds, and much of that is to do with taking research from theory into practice and facilitating cross-sector collaboration and learning.  

“We need efforts to be made in different directions, but I think we are going along the right track,” says Alferes. “My interest is in helping to bridge these gaps and enabling research and innovation to be applicable in practice.” 

Water Horizons 2025 provides the ideal opportunity, whether you are starting out on your net zero journey or looking to network and share experiences with others building resilience into their systems, to future-proof a water sector facing the challenges of climate change, urbanisation, and increasing population and consumption.  

The challenges may be great, but, if we work smarter, the rewards will be too.  

Join us at ‘Water Horizons 2025: Transforming Utilities for a Resilient, Net Zero Future’ to be part of this transformation. 

More information 

Visit www.waterhorizonsevents.org/home?event-key=wh2025 to find out more about ‘Water Horizons 2025: Transforming Utilities for a Resilient, Net Zero Future’. 

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