Joint SWITCH/UNESCO-IHP Conference, 24-26 January 2011, Paris
The SWITCH Project is drawing to a close in early 2011. As such we are planning a final Scientific Conference to be held during 24-26 January 2011 in Paris. This Conference is a joint UNESCO-IHP and SWITCH event, and the conference will cover the theme of water management through oral and poster presentations from SWITCH and non-SWITCH participants.
This is the ideal learn about the wider experiences and outputs of the SWITCH project, and about a number of similarly themed projects-please see the attached flyer.
If you would like to know more pleaseuse the “Contact Us” box, and if you are interested in attending please complete and return the attached Registration_Form.
News from Birmingham’s Learning Alliance
IWA Congress-Montreal 19-24 September 2010
The IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition is a major event in the global water community and where IWA specialist groups showcase their work and plan for future activities. Kala Vairavamoorthy and Carol Howe will provide major inputs into Cities of the Future and climate change sessions, and Avner Adin, Nilo de Oliveira Nascimento, Jennifer Chlebek and Ian Smout will be presenting papers on various aspects of SWITCH research. SWITCH will also have an exhibition stand in the Development Corner and will be running sessions in the Development Dialogues to increase awareness of SWITCH’s key messages and products amongst decision makers in government, water utilities and major international agencies working in developing countries.
For more information about this event, visit the website: http://www.iwa2010montreal.org/.
5th and final Scientific Conference of SWITCH-Lodz, 2010
Members of the Birmingham LA will travel to Lodz later this year to share experiences and knowledge.
News from elsewhere
Welcome to the new SWITCH Associate City of Dunedin
SWITCH is very pleased to welcome Dunedin as a new SWITCH Associate City in recognition of its support of the SWITCH approach of more sustainable and integrated urban water management. This has been through collaboration between the University of Florida and the University of Birmingham, led by Daniel Yeh and Rae Mackay, to pilot the CityWater decision making framework with local Floridian stakeholders.
Located on the Gulf of Mexico, Dunedin faces challenges similar to many other coastal cities including protection of its urban well field from salt water intrusion, providing high quality water to its citizens and adapting to climate change.
Dunedin’s innovative approaches to urban water management are providing concrete examples of how cities around the world can act now to ensure a more sustainable future, particularly in relation to:
- Dunedin’s careful management of its urban well field system
- A ‘near closed loop’ urban water management approach, through the extensive use of recycled wastewater for irrigation and stormwater infiltration
- Innovative wireless metering for conservation and management of both drinking and reclaimed water systems
- A commitment to sustainability, through the Certified Green Local Government designation and other green initiatives.
Dunedin’s experiences and leadership in managing water resources can serve as a model for other coastal sites and can be a valuable input into the SWITCH Global Learning Alliance network.
