June 29, 2009
We’re promoting the SIWW blog with door-hangers! These were given out at SIWW and the media conference as well as to the Singapore office.
They say, “Do not disturb. I’m reading www.SIWWDiary.com”. Equipped with a dry-erase marker, the door-hangers also come with magnets on the back (for those of us with cubicles sans doorknobs…).
I’ve seen them around the office, although one had crossed out “www.SIWWDiary.com” and wrote “RFP’s”. Hopefully they got to read the blog at some point!
If you happen to find yourself hanging out in Singapore, stop by the office to collect one.
Posted by: Jessica Lamb
June 28, 2009
The opportunity for reducing the energy consumed in converting sea water to drinking water by 50% is high. Research work currently under way is demonstrating this. Applying the lessons from other industries appears to play a significant role in this. I was also initially surprised (but as soon as it was explained to me I understood why) that RO membranes will not likely be part of the solution. This is interesting. Now though I need to familiarize myself with other more complex technologies and it’s taken me long enough to get my head around membranes.
I also learned though that demonstrating significant energy reduction to be feasible is one thing, but doing it so that the long term cost is comparable to to existing technologies is another. That will be quite a journey. Much will depend on a sensible approach by regulators and owners in understanding their treated water quality objectives and the effect ‘over specifying’ water quality objectives will have on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emmisions.
A big part of the energy/water ballance will be the need to treat only to the required quality – perhaps several different qualities. This, in my view, has been a failing so far and we can do so much better through (in the words of Dr Terry Johnson) putting a bigger box around any project.
Will we also be hindered by the interests of the membrane industry I wonder?…..
Posted by: Gerry O’Toole
June 26, 2009
SIWW may be winding down, but our blog isn’t.
Our siwwdiary blog will continue to be updated over the next couple of weeks as additional information becomes available about the conference sessions — and we have some more time to write. So please check back regularly and continue to let your colleagues know about the blog.
I just looked at the stats and we’re nearing 10,000 hits, not counting hits of those of us who are blogging on it. As this was our first blog, we’re not sure if that number is relatively good or not. But we had fun doing it and hope that all of you enjoyed hearing about the trends and topics we were tracking at the conference. Your feedback in the comments section here would be greatly appreciated. We’ll try to improve on our blog based on your input and suggestions.
We’re hoping to return to cover next year’s conference — in the meantime, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter throughout the year.
Thanks again to the New Media Team at PUB for their continued support!
SIWW New Media Sign
Posted by Constance Ward
June 26, 2009
Meanwhile, during a break between meetings…
Not to be outdone by tourists who have their photos taken “holding up” the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Gerry O’Toole and Jonathan Clement posed for photos hanging onto the Singapore Flyer for dear life.
Jonathan just hanging around
Gerry O'Toole just hanging around
And during another break in the meetings, Len Rodman grabbed a camera and shot a photo of the injured foot of fellow blogger Jim Howlett. Last year he took a cricket ball in the eye right before SIWW and this year he managed to take one on his foot the night before SIWW and has been hobbling around the vast venue all week.
Perhaps Len will lay down a new company rule for 2010 — no cricket games for at least a week before SIWW!
Jim Howlett puts his best foot forward at SIWW
Posted by Constance Ward
June 26, 2009
Collection of water bottles given out at the exhibition booths
Some bottled waters collected at booths
and a PUB giveaway of a Wally the Water Drop bag and two Wally stuffies for my grand-daughters, courtesy of Mr Kon Fo Yap from PUB.
Wally the Water Drop Bag
Posted by Constance Ward
June 25, 2009
What an SIWW this has been! …
Bigger and better than last year, SIWW has gained a reputation as a premium water conference and now attracts industry players and thought leaders from around the world . What has been most apparent to me (but not surprising) has been the recognition of and respect for the Black & Veatch brand. Particularly in the past few years our ‘water’ brand in Asia Pacific has benefitted as a result of groundbreaking projects such as the Bundamba AWTP, Changi NEWater Plant and the Tuas Sea Water Desalination Plant. Our brand is stronger than ever. Hard work is the reason for this – by all of our professionals.
Personally this week I have met up with many old friends at SIWW…. people I have worked with on some of our projects over the years and shared forgotten experiences with. The SARS epidemic in 2003 was a particularly interesting time I was reminded of by my old friend Kenneth Koh of United Group (formerly Thames Water projects), when he and I nearly caused a major international incident by allegedly allowing a SARS infected foreign worker to cross the border into Malaysia (not true!). It all ended happily but it wasn’t fun at the time. My friend Terry Matthews also reminded me of the Canadian Ten Dollar bill he framed and presented tome – the result of a foolish bet by him that we would not complete the commissioning of the Chestnut Avenue Waterworks extension by Christmas Eve 2003. Suffice it to say, it is on the wall of my office and he is 10 Dollars poorer.
This week I have accompanied several important clients to visit around the Black & Veatch designed and newly commissioned Sembcorp Changi NEWater Plant, including the press and clients from Australia east and west. I also cringed as I listened to and watched myself in a 30 second appearance in a promotional video for the plant commissioned by Sembcorp Industies.
It has been fun watching the various media interviewing Black & Veatch leaders….even if I was rudely jostled out of camera shot by Connie Ward when Dan McCarthy was being interviewed by CNBC. What a cheek! Connie and Jim Howlett have worked tirelessly on communications and deserve all credit.
And of course I have enjoyed blogging and reading comments posted by colleagues and clients. It has been fun and very well received. So from the Davos of Water bye for now….
Posted by: Gerry O’Toole
June 25, 2009
Peer Kamp is one of those easily recognisable fellows, I remember seeing him last year at SIWW. He always sports a bow tie and walks with a cane. He stands out. Peer is the Chief Technology Officer for PWN Technologies, a company that was launched at SIWW this week. For the last eight years he has been the director of the Research and Development department of PWN, the Water Supply Company North Holland. During his career he has developed break-through technologies in the field of Medium Pressure UV advanced oxidation, Ion Exchange and Ceramic Membrane filtration. After the PWN Technologies media conference yesterday I had a chance to briefly meet with Peer and ask him what his favourite quotes were. “We have two quotes in Holland that I like to use,” he explained. “First, is that in Holland every drop of water has passed through a German three times. The second is that every consequence leads to the devil.” (he spoke the second one in German – since it was long time ago that I studied German I have included the English tranlsation instead).
I managed to bump into Peer last night after the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize had finished. “I have a third favourite quote,” he was quick to tell me. ”Principally I’m against principles!”
June 25, 2009
Today was the Australian Business Forum, which B&V Water’s President and CEO Dan McCarthy moderated. He explained that progressive water utilities must consider old paradoxes and construct new paradigms. Ross Young, Executive Director, Water Services Association of Australia, pointed out Australia is a land of contrasts. Think of these contrasts – dynamic water cycles in both wet and dry regions, large agrarian and urban areas – and the challenge they have of balancing short-term and long-term demands. Australia has dealt with these issues by developing a robust water portfolio and focusing on new paradigms for a sustainable future, like partnering, regionalization and other collaborative approaches. This is a wake up call for other nations that may face similar challenges in the future. The Australian Water Association issued a news release in parallel to the forum. Click here to read it .
Squint and you might be able to read the agenda poster
Posted by Constance Ward
Gayle Leonard
Constance Ward
Gerry O'Toole
Jim Howlett
Cindy Wallis-Lage
Brandee Stephens
Jessica Lamb