THE IMPORTANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE TO COMPLETE THE VALUE CHAIN OF SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCES

By Mr. Imad Makhzoumi CEO, ENOIA

The discussions covered a wide range of important topics related to water infrastructure and sustainability. Here's a summary of the key points:

1. Challenges of Ailing Infrastructure and Non-Revenue Water (NRW): Apparent losses, which account for about 40% of NRW in developing and at times in developed countries were discussed as a major challenge. These losses vary by country, region, and economic considerations, highlighting the importance of addressing infrastructure issues.

2. Financial Implications: The financial implications of water infrastructure were examined, including the need for funding and investment in improving infrastructure to ensure sustainability.

3. Water Quality: Ensuring water quality was highlighted as a critical aspect of infrastructure projects, emphasizing the importance of maintaining and upgrading systems to deliver clean and safe water.

4. Best Practices and Country-Specific Experiences: Sharing best practices and experiences from different countries and regions can help inform and improve infrastructure projects globally.

5. Intelligent Systems and Technology Integration: The integration of intelligent systems and technology into water infrastructure projects was emphasized to enhance efficiency, monitoring, and maintenance. This includes real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and GIS-based systems.

6. Materials Selection: Consideration of materials for water infrastructure projects was discussed, with a focus on selecting materials that can safeguard against damage and deterioration over the long term.

7. Effective Policy Frameworks: Developing effective policy frameworks and sustainable investment models for infrastructure projects were identified as important steps toward a secure and sustainable future.

8. Community Engagement: Encouraging community participation and ownership in infrastructure projects can help mitigate investment risks and ensure that projects align with local needs and priorities.

9. Partnerships and Technology Adoption: Partnerships with technology providers and startups for innovative solutions were explored, along with incentivizing technology adoption through public-private partnerships.

10. Data Analytics and Real-Time Monitoring: The importance of data analytics and real-time monitoring for infrastructure operations was emphasized, with benefits such as proactive issue identification, resource optimization, improved water quality, and data-driven decision-making.

11. Building Resilient Infrastructure: The discussions aimed to build resilient, sustainable, and efficient water infrastructure systems to address current and future challenges.

Overall, the discussions at the summit demonstrated a comprehensive approach to building resilient, sustainable, and efficient water infrastructure systems that can address the challenges of today and the future. These insights are crucial in the global effort to ensure access to clean and safe water while minimizing environmental impact.