1^st Technical Conference: Water Efficiency

 Introduction

 The Southern African Energy Efficiency Confederation (SAEEC) is pleased to announce its 1^st Technical Conference launching with the crucial topic of Water Efficiency. It will be held on Tuesday the 20th of May 2025 followed by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Certified Water Efficiency Professional (CWEP) training from 21-23 May 2025 with the option to write the voluntary 4-hour exam to become certified.  The combination of the two events promises to maximise delegates’ learning opportunity on the topic of water efficiency. Participants can expect to gain insights from expert speakers, peer reviewed papers, network with peers, and explore the latest developments in the water efficiency industry.

Background

The SAEEC has seen the gap in the industry and in South Africa where focus on water efficiency has been lacking. Therefore, the topic of Water Efficiency is seen as a priority topic which is in line with its commitment to providing credible competency development activities through our technical conferences on pertinent topics that relate to resource efficiency. The technical conference will be the knowledge sharing session where industry experts such as Certified Water Efficiency Professionals (CWEP) and other specialists who understand and implement strategies to enhance water efficiency in various settings will be invited to share best practices to use water efficiently. Their expertise is critical in addressing water scarcity, reducing costs, and promoting sustainable practices through this platform.

SAEECs technical conferences aim to contribute to the lifelong learning of energy and water professionals through providing peer-reviewed presentations. Any product or sales presentations will be marked as such to ensure quality information is shared that has been vetted. As a leading South African association in the energy efficiency industry, SAEEC aims to explore water efficiency due to its close ties to energy as the efficient use of any resource leads to reduced energy use.

 The Water Efficiency Technical Conference is typically a one-day conference focused on innovation, best practices, services, and technologies related to water efficiency. It brings together professionals, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss strategies for reducing water consumption, improving water management, and addressing challenges related to water scarcity through applying efficient and productive use of water.

The lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demands of water usage within a region can occur due to various factors, including:

• Overuse: Excessive extraction for agriculture, industry, or domestic use.
• Climate Change: Altered precipitation patterns and increased evaporation rates.
• Pollution: Contaminated water sources reducing usable supply.
• Population Growth: Increased demand for water in densely populated areas.

Water efficiency involves practices aimed at conserving water resources and ensuring sustainable usage. This can include:

• Efficient Usage: Implementing water-saving technologies in agriculture, industry, buildings and households.
• Alternative Water Resources: Rainwater harvesting and alternative supply opportunties.
• Recycling and Reusing: Treating and reusing wastewater.

Together, addressing water scarcity through water efficiency best practices are essential for ensuring that communities can sustainably access clean water now and in the future.

Dates, venues, costs

CWEP Training and Certification

See attached comprehensive brochure.

Discussion topics for invited papers

• Water efficiency best practices in domestic, commercial and industrial facilities
• Designing an efficient and sustainable water systems
• Implementing research findings into practical applications
• Policies, regulations and standards in water management and water efficiency
• Water efficient technologies and appliances
• Water efficiency services such as water efficiency audits, and water measurement & verification
• Water intensive user management for toilets, faucets, taps, appliances, pools, geysers, etc.
• Water treatment systems and alternative water supply options to support water efficiency measures such as filtration, reverse osmosis, etc.

Target audience

• Water Engineers
• Certified Water Efficiency Professionals
• Accountants and CFOs in the Energy & Water Industry
• Architects, Designers, & Consultants
• Boilers and combustion controls
• Building Owners & Managers
• Business Energy Professionals
• Building Commissioning Professionals
• Certified Energy Managers
• Commercial/Industrial Developers
• Corporate Directors
• Civil, Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
• Plumbing Contractors
• Emissions Managers
• Energy Engineers & Managers
• Facility & Maintenance Engineers
• Facility Managers
• Government Facility Managers & Engineers
• Integrated building automation & energy management.
• Plant Engineers & Managers
• Utility Professionals

Recognition

Subsequent to the event an email with a digital attendance certificate noting the renewal credits / ECSA credits obtained from attendance will be circulated to the conference attendees.

Peer reviewed papers/presentations will also be considered for publication in SAEEC’s Annual Technical Journal distributed to an ABC audited distribution list of over 6,000 subscribers.

Participation opportunities

• Submit a paper for review and presentation
• Have a lot of experience in water efficiency? Volunteer to peer review the submitted papers
• Attend the conference and/or training as a delegate
• Sponsor an item such as delegate bags, registration table, lanyards, books and pens, give aways, catering cost of a tea/coffee table, or lunch, and a number of other sponsorship and support opportunities. See Sponsorship heading below.

SPEAKER

Dr. Ulrich Averesch

Retired Water Expert

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