Water management at the IFAT

The German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA) is represented at the IFAT from 14 to 18 May 2018 with a varied, informative and entertaining programme. This includes technical-scientific forums, university and professional competitions as well as flanking offers such as the DWA Bookstore, the DWA Jobcenter and the DWA associations and companies booth.

I. Technical-scientific forums

The DWA has reserved the event areas “Session Area Water” and “Science-Experience-Future” in Halls B 2 and B 4 for lectures, discussions and information exchange. The events are to be held with German-English simultaneous translation.

The offers in the Session Area Water in Hall B 2 include:

Day of Municipalities: Flood and Heavy Rain Provision in Urban Development and Planning Practice

The Day of Municipalities, which is organised by the DWA in cooperation with the central municipal organisations, deals with the issue of Flood and Heavy Rain Provision in Urban Development and Planning Practice. Among other things, the event addresses the question of which preventative measures should be taken by towns, districts and municipalities, and what risk prevention citizens and businesses are responsible for themselves. In addition, the DWA specialist planner for heavy rainfall prevention is to be presented.

14 May, 11.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.

UNU-Flores/DWA Forum: Water Reuse. A permanent Source?

Together with the University of the United Nations and the Technical University of Dresden, in this forum the DWA deals with water resource management. How is water recycled in Germany, but also internationally? What attitude does the United Nations take? The state of processing of the DWA-Topics edition “Wasserwiederverwendung” (Water Reuse) is also presented and discussed in this forum.

14 May, 2.00 to 3.30 p.m.

Forum Biogas: Changed Market Conditions and Requirements for Operators

The biogas forum, which the DWA organises together with the Deutsche Verein des Gas- und Wasserfaches (German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water - DVWG) and the Fachverband Biogas (Biogas Association), deals with the use of biogas in Germany. Experiences from damage cases, measures to avoid damage cases, and the resulting qualification requirements are discussed. News from the standardisation work of the associations is presented.

14 May, 4.00 to 5.30 p.m.

Innovation Forum Water Management

Under the maxim From Research to Practice, at the seventh Innovation Forum Water Management, experts from science, industry, administration and municipalities discuss current water management research topics and their implementation in practice. This year it’s about international innovations as well as efficiency and sustainability in water management. A separate lecture block addresses the issue “morphodynamics” of flowing waters

The Innovation Forum for Water Management is organised by the DWA in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the Deutschen Bundesstiftung Umwelt (German Federal Environmental Foundation - DBU) and the Deutsche Verein des Gas- und Wasserfaches (German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water - DVWG). The aim of the event is to promote the exchange between research and practice.

15 May, 9.30 to 12.45 a.m. and 1.30 to 3.00 p.m.

6th EWA/JSWA/WEF Joint Conference. The Resilience of the Water Sector

The sixth Joint Conference of the European Water Association (EWA) with the Japan Sewage Works Association (JSWA) and the Water Environment Federation (WEF) dedicates itself in six sessions to the social, economic and human resources challenges of water and waste management, improvement of the infrastructure, geo-environmental burdens, strategies and responses to floods and climate change, national and municipal approaches for a reliable water and wastewater area, and the planning of resilience and emergency management.

15 May, 3.30 to 5.30 p.m.

16 May, 9.30 to 11.10 a.m., 11.40 a.m. to 1.00 p.m., 2.00 to 3.30 p.m. and 4.00 to 5.30 p.m.

17 May, 9.30 to 11.10 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. to 1.10 p.m.

Forum Reservoirs and Flood Retention Basins. Strategies for Climate Change Adaptation

The reservoirs forum addresses strategies for adaptation to climate change and the effects of the climate changes on water power utilisation. Deepwater aeration in reservoirs for the optimised use of the water resources and the question of cost-effective flood retention at road and path dams are further contents of the event.

17 May, 2.00 to 3.30 p.m.

WASH Forum: Sustainable Water and Sanitation Services for all. Which new Partnerships, innovative Solutions and Capacities do we need to achieve the SDGs?

What can the trade associations do to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in the national and international water sector? Which cooperations and measures are necessary for this? The WASH initiative and the DWA discuss what the participants can contribute to this, also through better networking.

18 May, 9.30 to 12.00 a.m.

The offers of the Science-Experience-Future in Hall B 4 include:

International Forum. German Water Strategies in Reference to International Challenges

The implementation of the new sector strategy of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is the subject of the International Forum, which the DWA offers together with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (German Society for International Cooperation - GIZ) and the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (reconstruction loan corporation - KfW). In addition, the fight against causes of flight, and opportunities for the DWA to master international challenges are discussed.

14 May, 2.30 to 3.30 p.m.

University Forum: Research and Development

In this block, contributions from university research are presented. Scientists report on current research results and discuss future research requirements.

15 May, 9.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 to 6.00 p.m.

DWA/VKU Future Forum: Waste – Water – Women. Women in the Water and Waste Industry

For the second time, the DWA – this time together with the VKU – offers the women in water and waste management the opportunity to exchange professional experiences at the IFAT.

Women from various areas of water and waste management report on their work and their professional careers. After the forum, the participants can also get to know each other personally during the networking talk.

16 May, 10.45 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 3.00 p.m.

DWA Forum: Human Resources Development in the Water Industry

As an example for “learning in competition”, the DWA reports on the world championships of the professions and how to take part. In 2017, the water sector presented itself at the Worldskills in Abu Dhabi with the new discipline Water Technology. Another focus is on Germany as a study location from the perspective of foreign students, and the transfer services to their home countries based on the example of the Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics (ITT) in Cologne. In addition, the urban drainage department in Munich presents its personnel development measures. The DWA presents the Topics edition “Personalmanagement” (personnel management).

17 May, 2.30 to 4.00 p.m.

DWA Forum: Environmental Professions for the Future

The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) presents qualification opportunities in national and international water management. The state and prospects of vocational education in the international water sector are examined. The forum also deals with the planned reorganisation of the profession “specialists for wastewater technology” and the requirements put on water supply engineering technicians in Bavaria.

17 May, 4.15 to 5.45 p.m.

II. Competitions

University Competition: World University Challenge

The DWA is not only represented at the fair with technical-scientific information, it also carries out entertaining and sophisticated demonstrations on site. For the second time, the World University Challenge, an international university competition for budding academics, is to be held. Teams of German and international students compete against each other in various disciplines and demonstrate their skills in the development of strategies for the sustainable use of the resource water.

Preliminaries were held at the IFAT locations in Africa, China, India, Turkey and during the Arab Water Week in Jordan. The winning teams of the regional competitions are – supported by the Wilo Foundation – invited to the World University Challenge in Munich. German and international teams can also apply directly to the DWA to take part (www.dwa.de/hochschulwettbewerb).

With the World University Challenge, the DWA aims to promote young talent and draw the attention of companies to qualified young professionals.

The patron of the university competition is the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Hall B 4, Science-Experience-Future, 16/17 May 2018, 10.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

The award ceremony is to be held on 17 May at 17.00 p.m. at the DWA stand in the Entrance Hall West.

Professional Competitions: World Water Skills und Water Skills Germany

The professional competitions World Water Skills (WWS) for specialists for wastewater technology and Water Skills Germany (WSG) for apprentices in the industry are also a feast for the eyes. The former Open German Championship in Wastewater Technologies is now entering the fourth round with its new name.

In the operating staff competition, around 40 teams from different countries show the diversity of the work in wastewater technology and the resulting qualification requirements for this profession. The championships serve to raise the profile of the profession and the sector, to keep dedicated young professionals and to attract new talent. Teams from Egypt, Jordan and the USA are also expected.

The patronage of the competitions is held by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMBU). Atrium (outdoor area between halls A 1 and B 1), 14 to 17 May, 9.15 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., opening on Monday at 1.00 p.m. The award ceremonies of the individual disciplines are to be held each evening at 5.30 p.m. at the DWA stand in the Entrance Hall West. Information on the competitions: www.dwa.de/berufswettbewerbe.

III. Flanking offers

Introduction to the German Water Industry

The DWA offers an introduction to the German water industry for young professionals, lateral recruits and foreign guests. The lecture provides an overview of the German legislation and standards landscape, technical solutions, certifications, organisational forms and vocational education. The lecture language is English, but lecture dates in Spanish or German are also possible for larger groups.

Room B 21, above hall B 2

Young Water Professionals’ Programme

The DWA offers young staff from Germany and abroad the opportunity to visit the IFAT, to expand their network and meet potential employers.

Registration: Himani Karjala, karjala@dwa.de

DWA Jobcenter

Lateral entrants or job changers will find a wide range of job offers at both DWA stands. Engineers, senior specialists for wastewater technology and other technicians have the chance to find out about vacancies and explore career opportunities.

Current job advertisements can also be found on the DWA job market at www.dwa.de/jobs and in the DWAjobs app designed for Android and iOS. Entrance Hall West (DWA associations stand) and Hall B 2 (DWA companies stand), 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

DWA Association Booth

The associations booth provides information on the DWA and the sector. National and international associations present themselves in the immediate surroundings of the DWA. Delegations from universities, cooperation partners and institutions find dialogue partners. In the bookstore, the DWA rules and standards, specialist books, learning software and other software products as well as the latest DWA offer, the QR code wastewater technology, are presented. All the products can also be purchased there. Entrance Hall West, 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Presentation QR code wastewater technology: 17 May, 10.00 to 10.30 a.m. and 3.30 to 4.00 p.m.

DWA Joint Booth

The DWA and numerous DWA member companies present themselves at the joint booth. In addition, the DWA education programme is available for inspection or to take with you. Individual qualification consultations are possible. Hall B 2, 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Presentation QR code wastewater technology: 15 May, 11.00 to 11.30 a.m. and 2.30 to 3.00 p.m.

An overview of the DWA trade fair presence is also available at www.dwa.de/ifat.