MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY GENERAL

Dear Members and Colleagues,

4 The Spring 2020 Issue of Global Connections marks the two-year anniversary of IDA’s quarterly publication, a resource that contains an abundance of insightful articles from experts and thought-leaders, as well as spotlighting some of the industry’s most interesting events, including the new IDA Academy Webinar Series and the IDA Water Reuse & Recycling Conference happening this September. We are very honored to feature a special interview with Daniel R Simmons, Assistant Secretary for the office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, at the US Department of Energy. The interview focuses on supporting R&D to advance cost-competitive desalination technologies, touching on one of the key questions in today’s market. We hope you enjoy learning more about the dynamic vision of the DOE. Opening on April 15 is our new series of IDA Academy webinars moderated by the IDA YLP. This webinar series tackles questions of renewable energy that are critical to the future of sustainable water solutions. Following the Academy Webinar series, the flagship event for Fall 2020 is IDA’s third International Water Reuse & Recycling Conference. Held in Rome, Italy from September 28-30, the conference event preparations are already well underway. IDA extends a thank you to His Excellency, Spanish Ambassador Alfonso Dastis, who will graciously host the conference’s welcome reception at his residence, the marvellous 17th century Palazzo Montorio. We also send wholehearted thanks to our sponsors, DuPont Water Solutions and Toray Industries, for their generous support of our efforts to enact sustainable water solutions. The Association will accept abstracts for the technical program until May 15, and is actively calling for sponsors and strategic partners, with requests sent to sponsorships@idadesal.org.

We are also delighted to spotlight two committees of the IDA governance: The Term 19 YLP Committee and the Industry Advisory Committee. The Industry Advisory Committee is one of the special advisory committees, established in 2019, lending expertise and guidance to IDA as the water sector embarks on a period of growth and development. This committee establishes IDA as a resource to industrial sectors about water policy, economics, and technology solutions. The Term 19 YLP Committee is also featured in this issue. The Term co-chairs, Dr. Giancarlo Barassi, FEDCO, and Ms. Alessandra Piaia, TORAY, have outlined a number of new and exciting initiatives for the Program in the coming year, including a professionalization webinar series, a revitalized mentorship program, and a partnership with IDA’s sister organization, the Sustainable Water Resource Foundation (SWRF). To become involved with the YLP, we welcome you to and get in touch with your regional coordinator or contact info@idadesal.org. In addition to these exciting updates, enclosed in these pages are wonderful pieces containing thought-leadership and insights about the industry and market. Contributions include two executive insight pieces, one from Ms. Jessica Jones of Poseidon Water on the need for desalination, the other from Mr. Matt Ries of DC Water, on the eternal question of defining sustainability. I’m also pleased to note the Women of Our Industry contribution for this issue, from Ms. Eva Steinle-Darling, VP at Carollo Engineers, who details not only the evolution of water reuse, but also, her own career as a woman in the workplace and the unconventional solutions she’s seen in play. We’re also pleased to include Ms. Heike Doerr’s piece on InvestorOwned Water Utilities in California in our Analyst Corner; Mr. Tim Lam Shing’s Public Utility Leader Insight Feature; a piece from the NREL / DOE Office on the coming of age of wave energy; a note from the President of our Chinese Affiliate, Mr. Zheng from MIAC; an Academic Viewpoint piece from our 2019 Fellowship Winner, Dr. Jaichander Swaminathan; and the first of a two feature piece on the “IDA Genealogy,” provided by IDA Honorary Council Member and Past President, Dr. Jim Birkett. I am confident these contributions will satisfy the curiosity of every reader. I encourage each and every one of you to read, enjoy, and keep an eye out for the exciting agenda of IDA programs and events this year! On behalf of the IDA Board of Directors and IDA Team, I wish you and your loved ones good health. Sincerely,

Shannon K. McCarthy Secretary General