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International Water and Effluent Exhibition (IWEX) celebrates 25 Years of Water Innovation
Sustainable water management is now accepted as one of the most pressing environmental concerns facing governments across the world.
In recent years the UK alone has experienced extreme weather events ranging from water shortages to storm water and flash floods. The causes range from global warming and disrupted weather patterns, to increased human activity and spreading urban areas. Organisations are responding to these changes by reviewing the likely impact on their operations, including their vulnerability to flooding, and their overall dependency on water – particularly in areas such as manufacturing.
All this provides a compelling backdrop to the International Water and Effluent Exhibition (IWEX) 2011, which will celebrate both its 25th anniversary, and its position as the UK’s premier water industry event when it returns to the NEC Birmingham from 24th - 26th May 2011.
IWEX has become one of the most accredited and largest forums in the country for water organisations and utilities companies. It attracts buyers, specifiers and decision-makers from across the water and effluent industry who come to see the very latest advances in water technologies and innovative solutions to sustainable water practices.
IWEX forms part of Sustainabilitylive! which brings together the National Energy Management Exhibition (NEMEX), Brownfield Expo (BEX), Environmental Technology (ET), and Sustainable Business (SB) - The Event.
Who will be there?
As one of the largest accredited forums in the country for water organisations and utilities companies, IWEX already has more than 70 companies signed up for the 2011 exhibition. Visitors to IWEX will have the opportunity to speak to representatives from companies such as Schneider Electric, Technolog Ltd, Utilitec Services Ltd, WEG Electric Motors and SEBA KMT UK.
Sustainabilitylive! attracted just under 9,000 visitors in 2010, with numbers expected to rise in 2011. Popular draws are likely to include water treatment technology, rainwater harvesting, anaerobic digestion, latest developments in water research and innovation and smart metering.
Seminar programme
The busy three-day seminar programme at this year’s event will discuss key issues that are currently affecting the water sector.
On Day One, sessions will include asset and storm water management and the latest legislation updates. Delegates can attend presentations on SUDS and flood management by both Dr Rachel Dearden, a hydrogeologist from the British Geological Survey and Terry Nash, director of the UK Rainwater Harvesting Association.
Day Two, will address issues such as FOG (fat, oil and grease) solutions and smart metering. Phil Mills, director of the Policy Consulting Network, will also be presenting his paper on private sewers.
On the final day of the seminar programme, Duncan Wildgoose, the business development manager at Imtech Process, will discuss the carbon and energy challenge, and Dr Alan Fletcher, head of waste assurance at Speedy, will address providing energy through anaerobic digestion from sewerage.
Delegates will also have the opportunity to see two project presentations from the joint winners of the Society of British Water and Wastewater Industries’ (SBWWI) Water Dragon 2010 Innovation Award. The first project will be presented by Mr Paul Dommett and Mr Arthur Arscott from RPS Consultants (UK) Ltd, and the second will be delivered by Roger Tucker from Viking Johnson and Mark Oliver from Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions.
IWEX University Challenge
Following its success last year, IWEX will again present its own University Challenge which highlights the best research carried out in the water sector. This year, the focus will be on efficiencies and cost savings for procedures and technologies, new innovations, increases in energy savings, sustainable water management and more effective water filtration treatments. Members of the judging panel will include Paul Horton from CIWEM, Steve Kaye from Anglian Water and Ken Gedman from engineering consultancy, Grontmij.
Entries will be judged on innovation, technical content and commercial potential. Last year’s winners were The University of Sheffield with their research project on Data Driven Leak Detection. The presentations will be held and judged on Thursday 26th May in the Water Theatre.
Institute of Water Drilling and Tapping Championships
IWEX highlights will also include the 23rd Institute of Water National Drilling and Tapping Championship. This is traditionally a hotly contested event where the best practitioners from the water companies test their skills in drilling and tapping a high pressure water main, each hoping to be crowned champion.
This prestigious event involves teams of two battling against the clock to drill and tap a 150mm diameter ductile iron main under pressure at 70-100 psi and installing a simulated service connection. Last year’s winners were Balfour Beatty’s Jason Barrett and Lee Maddock with a winning time of 2mins 24secs. Recognising excellence and innovation – the Environment and Energy Awards
The Environment and Energy Awards recognise excellence and innovation in sustainable business practices across the environment, land, energy, water and sustainable business sectors, and has attracted a record number of entries for 2011.
This year, the awards will have 13 categories including two new awards: Best Energy-Efficient Refurbishment Award and Best Energy Supplier Customer Service Award. Results will be announced at a gala dinner at the National Motorcycle Museum on Tuesday, 24 May 2011.
IWEX will be held in Halls 3 and 3a at the NEC from 24th – 26th May 2011. For up-to-date exhibitor news, seminar programmes, information on how to exhibit or how to register for free attendance visit www.iwex.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 8651 7120.