The 2020 edition of Water Innovation Europe reached its final day. This year’s edition was held entirely virtually from the 22nd to the 26th of June. Over 400 registered participants attended sessions, meetings, and webinars.
Today’s session, A Water-Smart Society for excellent quality of water, was moderated by Cate Lamb, Global Director, Water Security at CDP. The panel had the participation of Anna-Stiina Heiskanen – President at EURAQUA; Olga Ferrer – Desalination and New Technologies Area Manager at ACCIONA Agua; and Giulio Mandruzzato – CTO Director R&D and Technical departments at SANTEX RIMAR GROUP.
Find the key messages from the session below:
Water quality is underestimated and its degradation is affecting society. It endangers economic growth, it harms public health, and it slows us down from reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
We need to encourage industries to use new technologies and circular processes. Assessment tools are also needed to evaluate the risks in the course of climate change. There is a need to show how the environment will change in the long run. We need better tools to reduce uncertainty brought by climate change.
We don’t have an innovation when it can’t be used, when it can’t make a difference in people’s lives. We need to keep an eye for what’s really needed out there and what are the market needs.
There is need to integrate new incentive mechanisms beyond the traditional. It’s not only about technological innovation but also about social innovation, policy, and financing.
It has never been a better moment to tackle water pollution. Technologies are better and regulation is favourable. The European parliament has approved a reuse regulation that is a real move towards a circular economy. Everybody should be part of this transition and for this social aspects need to be considered, too.
