12th October 2009

First Impressions

Well, having pondered my carbon footprint as I flew out from Gatwick to Orlando over the weekend, I started to think about how I can do my job effectively whilst also reduce  my impact on the environment. This is a difficult conundrum, especially for those of us who believe in a better environment. I share the same problem as all the people attending the various UNFCCC meetings, trying to reduce greenhouse emissions whilst at the same time flying to events and meetings, often for very valid reasons – this is the environmentalists dilemma. Perhaps the global environmental problems would be worse if we were not doing our jobs? That is the subject of another discussion or debate.

I am currently in Orlando at WEFTEC09 (see www.weftec.org) which is the annual technical exhibition and conference of the Water & Environment Federation (WEF). This is a massive event, a five day conference full of an excellent series of presentations and a huge exhibition. I’m not sure how many stands there but I will take a good walk around tomorrow. I am covering the stand of the European Water Association (EWA) whilst at the show, in addition to having a series of meetings.

Today I joined the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the Japan Sewage Works Association (JSWA) to discuss a seminar programme planned for 2011 in Japan focused on sustainable management of wastewater systems. The event will involve a lot of input from CIWEM who will be leading on the involvement of the EWA in the event. It was a fascinating meeting and, once again, proved to me that all of us involved in the water and environment fields face the same issues - we have common problems even if we do not have common solutions.

One interesting fact of the event being in Orlando (apart from Universal Studios and the near vicinity of NASA etc!) is the weather. It is hot with temperatures around 35 degrees and humidity levels into the 90s, way above the norm. It is impossible to say that this is ‘climate change’ but this is the type of event that will become a lot more common!

From a hot, humid Orlando,
bye for now,
Paul

14th October 2009

WEFTEC continues to surprise. Although most of my time the past couple of days has been spent on the stand of the European Water Association (EWA), as I’m ‘standing in’ for the injured Boryana Dimtrova, from EWA HQ. I have managed to meet a wide selection of people, from South America, the Caribbean, US, Canada, India, Europe, China, Africa etc. I even met with a few CIWEM members whilst here but not too many of them have come to Orlando. Next year WEFTEC will be in New Orleans for the first time since hurricane Katrina, which should be very interesting and hopefully more CIWEM members will be present allowing for a proper meeting of the USA group.

In addition I continue to hold meetings and yesterday had a long discussion with WEF (Water & Environment Federation) about holding a seminar next year for the attending professionals, looking at the Water Framework Directive implementation and comparing it to implementation of policy in the US, particularly in the Great Lakes area. WEF believe that the US compared to Europe comes up short in terms of water policy and such an event would bring a new way of thinking to the WEF attendees. Equally it ill be fascinating to discuss issues related to the Great Lakes management as this is a management issue that Europe could learn from. and on Monday evening I met with a representative of he Milwaukee Water Council to talk about closer links and the discussion centered around the Great Lakes management and how this is being achieved.

It continues to be hot but thankfully the humidity is easing and it is actually pleasant to go out in the evening, even though the mosquitos/midges are still a nuisance!! I have managed to try some good local fish dishes and I have eaten in a very local Caribbean restaurant, which was in the back of the shop but the food was great.

Tomorrow see the end of WEFTEC09, which will mean that my legs will start to recover from all that standing  and that will be time for a few parting thoughts from yours truly

Paul

15th October 2009

Well WEFTEC09 has now come to an end and it has been a very interesting experience. Although the aim of the event is to have a technical conference and exhibition, it is much more than this and the breadth of attendees in terms of geographical location is excellent. There must have been upwards of 18,000 people in attendance this year and that creates a great mix of people from different backgrounds. I have met people from over the Americas and had discussions about conference events involved WEF, EWA and the Japan Sewage Works Association, an event that will take place in Japan in 2011.

I have bumped into a few colleagues that I have not seen for several years too and some US CIWEM members, so hopefully done I have done a little for environmental education!! Next year the event will be in New Orleans and CIWEM will be helping the EWA to host a workshop looking at EU and US  Water Policy, which should bring another dimension to the delegates. It will also be interesting to see New Orleans several years after Hurricane Katrina.

I didn’t get a chance to look around much of Orlando which is a shame as I would like to have seen the local environmental issues for myself. But even if I had the time it has been unusually hot and humid, so I would not have been able to see much!! Is this a sign of the changing climate? That is a question that I will leave you with

Bye for now Paul