AIWW Aquatech: Look back on an impelling Amsterdam International Water Week
The third edition of the Amsterdam International Water Week was an impelling event. From all over the world professionals had gathered to talk about the unavoidable move towards a more circular economy and the urgency of making cities more climate resilient.
At the same time the water professionals could visit the Aquatech Amsterdam trade exhibition to be updated on the latest's water treatment products and services.
The crowd pullers of the event, the two-day conference and the Aquatech Amsterdam trade fair, were well attended. The conference saw 1100 delegates. The trade fair was attended by 18,411 visitors from 139 countries.
The Amsterdam International Water Week took place from 1 to 6 November 2015.
The next edition will take place from 30 October till 3 November 2017.
Below a final look back in pictures.
From linear to circular economy
Chairman of the regional water authority of Amsterdam, Gerard van den Top, moderated the key session that kicked off the two-day international conference. President Andrew Steer of the World Resources Institute drew the bigger picture and told about the changing perspective. The economy has mainly focused on the demand side as resources such as metals, minerals, water and energy were considered infinitive. This is now changing, he noted and more attention will go to the supply side.
Biggest Dutch pavilion ever
The Holland business pavilion was by far the biggest ever. Some 40 companies had gathered in the pavilion that gave a good impression of the available Dutch water technology.
Impelling round table sessions
The conference ended with three leader forums on resilient cities, industry and utilities. The heart of the forums were the round-table sessions with impelling discussions on the best way forward.
Three bugs on the show floor
Water technology supplier Paques managed to attract attention with its three colorful bacteria. Each bacteria represented a treatment process that is supplied by Paques: Biopaq by black bacteria Andy, Thiopaq by green bacteria Theo and Anammox by red bacteria Ana.
Hand out Sarphati sanitation award
Mayor Eberhard van der Laan (left) handed over the Sarphati sanitation award for Young Entrepreneurs to Aart van den Beukel (middle) of Safi Sana. Dr Kamal Kar (right), founder of the CLTS Foundation, received the Sarphati Sanitation Award for Lifetime Achievement.
World championships pipe fitting
World's best pipe fitters had gathered in Amsterdam to participate in the 2015 world championships. Three teams from Mexico, UK and the Netherlands were challenged to complete a simulated house connection in the shortest possible time. It was close finish but in the end it was the Dutch team of the water company of Amsterdam that won the world championships.
Pitch talks everywhere
Throughout the week many pitch talks were delivered. Dutch water technology companies pitched their new products for the Water Alliance innovation stimulation award. Here seen is Margien Storm van Leeuwen of Bredenoord pitching their MD water power unit that produces purified water and reliable power.
Rain proof city
Participants of Amsterdam International Water Week were welcomed with a spectacular public pop-up park event on the Dam square in the heart of the old city. The event wanted to inspire cities to become rain proof. Here seen is alderman Udo Kock (left) presenting a fern plant to Dutch special water envoy Henk Ovink (right).
Tulips from Amsterdam
See you again in 2017!
Read also on this website
● AIWW Aquatech: Circular economy around the corner at Amsterdam International Water Week, 12 November 2015
● AIWW Aquatech: Cities are innovation hubs to build resilience against floods and droughts, 11 November 2015
● AIWW Aquatech: Water stewardship gets tough beyond perimeter of industrial site, 10 November 2015
● AIWW Aquatech: Exhibition floor shows plenty water treatment technology for recovery, 9 November 2015
● AIWW Aquatech: Young water professionals want less talking, more action, 6 November 2015
● AIWW Aquatech: VEI and World Resources Institute join forces on green utilities, 5 November 2015
● AIWW Aquatech 2015: Award winners Salttech and Safi Sana honoured during opening ceremony, 3 November 2015
● AIWW Aquatech 2015: Opening ceremony marks tremendous global water challenges ahead, 2 November 2015
● Meet the Dutch water sector at AIWW2015
More information
Amsterdam International Water Week
www.internationalwaterweek.com
Aquatech Amsterdam
www.aquatechtrade.com/amsterdam