International Desalination Association (IDA) has announced that it is a strategic partner in support of the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2016 to be held in Brisbane, Australia, from October 9 to 14. The IWA (International Water Association) and IDA have reportedly agreed on a cooperation plan for the event.

The Congress, said IDA, is focused on the subject of desalination, and the overall theme is “Water in the driest continent – new sources when weather and climate are changing”.

Given the interest in the subject of desalination globally, in the Asia Pacific region and Australia, it will be high on the agenda in both the Congress sessions, as well as the exhibition, IDA elaborated, and added that combining the strength of IWA programmes and the IDA desalination programmes would lead to a strong and focused attention on the subject. It listed the topics of discussion under the event’s broad theme: Desalination and renewable energy; Validation of water reuse technologies; Education and public perception for desalination and direct potable reuse; Membrane development; Appropriate technology for developing nations; Desalination and water reuse for agriculture; and Desalination and water reuse for mining, oil, gas and industry.

According to IDA, the subject of desalination will be developed in the coming period, with the following elements: Desalination & Water Reuse route on exhibit floor; Desalination & Water Reuse pavilion; Congress sessions; Business Forum sessions; and Pre/post Congress training programme.

The Desalination & Water Reuse route, said IDA, will highlight all active in the industry on a special floor plan, as well as via the Congress App and other ways of communication.

IWA, on its part, said that it aims to have a Desalination & Water Reuse Pavilion to cluster global companies and institutes active in the thematic area, which would include individual units, as well as a collective area for presentations and meetings.