African Utility Week (AUW) has disclosed that this year’s event will focus strongly on water challenges on the continent, including investment needed in water solutions by the public and private sectors to enable universal access, water security and resilient societies.
According to a release by the organisation, the water conference will further showcase how partnerships, financial models and latest technological advances can make the greatest impact in meeting Africa’s water demand.
While speaking on the event, a water expert, Paul Yillia, said: “ The current water shortage in that is happening in Cape Town could happen anywhere,” A guest research scholar (Water Programme) at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria will chair the water conference track at African Utility Week.
He stressed further that “as populations in cities grow and economic activities increase, the demand for water will continue to increase. If we now factor in climate change and extreme weather events such as prolonged heat waves and droughts, all of this will put additional pressure on water availability both on the supply and demand side. This is not unique to Cape Town. Utilities worldwide should take the threats posed by climate change much more seriously and focus additional resources on adaptation measures to cope with water security challenges that will be exacerbated by climate change.”
Some of the topics that will be discussed at the event are: World Bank Report on latest status on water infrastructure projects; the impact of conflict and governance towards meeting Africa’s water demand; Exploring the impact of climate change on Africa’s water demand
A panel of discussion will examine how the City of Cape Town is working towards shifting cultural behaviour of water consumption?
Roundtable with country spotlight sessions, sharing investment opportunities and projects that are making the greatest difference to Africa’s water sector. Countries in focus will be Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Egypt, Botswana, Namibia, Ghana, Singapore, Dubai, Denmark, Singapore and Israel.
World Water Day: African Utility Week to focus on water solutions for continent
