The Middle East region is about to see a remarkable surge of investment into wastewater reuse, a recently published report by Global Water Intelligence on the Middle East Water market said. It is predicted that total capital expenditure on wastewater will grow from $5.3 billion in 2009 to $13.3 by 2016. This is good news for the private sector. It is forecasted that over the next eight years private operators will enjoy average growth rates of 20 percent per annum. Along with the opportunities on offer there are a number of legacy challenges being faced by the current wastewater infrastructure. In countries including Bahrain and Saudi Arabia less than 10 percent of the cost of water delivery and production are covered by tariffs. Maintenance has often been neglected and leakage rates are very high, and certain treatment facilities have ceased to operate as investment has been put into newer larger projects. IQPC, a global provider of tailored, industry-driven conferences, will be hosting a four-day WastewaterTech 2009 on June 14 - 17, 2009 that will focus on the development of effective and profitable wastewater infrastructure, as well as covering practical and policy issues in safe treatment and sustainable reuse. The event will be officially inaugurated by the UAE Minister for Environment & Water Dr. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad June 15, 2009. James Plotnek, Conference director for WastewaterTech 2009, said “this is a critical time for the key decision makers in the region to come together and examine the major issues faced by the wastewater sector. By understanding the opportunities for change it will help achieve a sustainable future for the Middle East water sector.” WastewaterTech 2009 will feature speakers from Abu Dhabi's Environment Agency, Regulation & Supervision Bureau and the Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company, as well as Dubai Municipality, the Govenment of Ajman and the Saudi Arabia Council of Engineers. They will be joined on the agenda by a host of international experts in wastewater from the private sector. For over 30 years, IQPC has helped the world's leading corporations solve their business challenges through the sharing of practical industry solutions and global best practice. In the process, the company has built a formidable reputation for quality and value. During this time, the Middle East's most progressive companies have benefited from IQPC's unrivalled global reach, which has connected international expertise with regional and local leaders.
