A NEW YORK STATE OF MIND...

HARRO BRONS (WATER ALLIANCE) AFTER A WEEK OF NETWORKING IN NEW YORK: ‘WATER IS ON THE MAP; PEOPLE WANT TO GET STARTED’

From 18 to 24 March, New York hosted the New York Water Week. At the same time, the Big Apple was also the setting for the UN Water Conference. Combined, the two events ensured a good turnout of administrators, dignitaries and even royalty. Many water technology companies and organizations were also in attendance. Reason enough, then, for Water Alliance Director Hein Molenkamp and Business Development Manager Harro Brons to travel to the US. We interviewed Harro Brons about his impressions of the week.

harro, why were you in new york, exactly?

It is important for the Water Alliance to represent the Dutch water technology sector at the UN Water Conference and the New York Water Week. Promoting Water Alliance as an organization to the stakeholders these events attract is also essential. For me, as Business Development Manager, it was also about being able to link up with international programmes put in place by multinationals such as Procter&Gamble or the 100+ Accelerator [collaborative programme by Us-based multinationals aimed at accelerating sustainability using training, pilots and funding, ed.]. Our ultimate goal is to link water tech companies to the challenges these multinationals face.

what do you do in a week like that?

I presented the Netherlands as a water-tech hotspot, together with The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) during a session at the Water House [a popup event venue, co-hosted by the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in New York, ed.].

I also participated in several events—in addition to substantive and networking sessions, I attended the reception where His Royal Highness King Willem Alexander and Dutch ministers Harbers (Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management) and Schreinemacher (Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) were present. During the New York Water Week, I also had several matchmaking appointments through EEN, The Enterprise Europe Network [EU organization that helps small and medium-sized companies with their international ambitions, ed.]. how did you experience the week? the world is begging for solutions and the time for action is upon us. what gains do you think were made in new york?

It was packed with events, which made it challenging to keep track of everything and know where you wanted to connect. Regarding water technology, I see it as a great challenge to maintain the overview and facilitate synergy with everything going on. I’m looking for ways to combine all the initiatives wherever it makes sense. The goal is to have more impact collectively than each initiative would have individually. During such a week, you become very aware of the many initiatives, some of which involve reinventing the wheel. The question is: how do we connect and how do we turn one plus one into three?

The positive that stuck with me is that there is certainly a sense of urgency that does justice to the issues surrounding water, although there is also a level of ‘preaching to the choir’ at the UN Water Conference and the New York Water Week. Water is on the agenda, and people want to continue working on it; the challenge for us as a water community is to reach everyone and implement plans. As the Water Alliance, we want to play our part in solving global water problems and have Dutch water technology companies facilitate that. In the urgency now being felt lies an opportunity.

BLUEPRINT FOR A CIRCULAR, WATERSMART SOCIETY

Water Alliance Presents Roadmap In New York To Combat Global Desiccation

On World Water Day (22 March), Water Alliance presented the ‘Blueprint for a circular water smart society’ at the UN Water Conference in New York. Presented to His Royal Highness King Willem Alexander and Infrastructure and Water Management Minister Harbers in New York, the document outlines a route in combating desiccation through drinking water conservation and water reuse. It is an interesting route, as demonstrated by the wide support the blueprint received from countries such as Belgium, Australia, the United States and China. It is now up to governments to encourage water reuse and adjust regulations.

on technology and households is of particular note here. According to the two initiators, the safe use of circular water, such as greywater and rainwater, can play an important role. In the Netherlands, about 73% of the country’s drinking water is supplied to households. The safe application of new technologies can reduce drinking water consumption. It is important that—in addition to the goals—regulations are changed to encourage reuse.

International Support

The initiative by Water Alliance received global support in New York. The organization seized the opportunity to establish a new global expert group on circular water in the built environment. The new Global Expert Group Circular Water aims to share the technical knowledge of circular water organizations worldwide. “Together, we can create social impact and forever change how we use, manage and allocate water on this planet”, says Arthur Valkieser. “Many technologies can be implemented quickly if governments around the world encourage water reuse and adjust regulations accordingly.”

Desiccation

The UN adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. One such specific goal concerns the availability of clean drinking water and adequate sanitation for all. According to the latest figures, 25% of the world’s population lacks adequate access to clean drinking water. These are mainly countries in the global south.

However, clean drinking water is under pressure all over the world. It is telling that this issue has been raised from the Netherlands. The Netherlands became known for Hansje Brinker, the Delta Works and the battle against water. But even in the Netherlands, the government has recently set goals for drinking water conservation. The water system is reaching its limits due to desiccation, excessive runoff, salinization and increasing water demand from a growing population and economy. In large parts of the Netherlands, drinking water companies are already struggling with supply obligations, preventing companies from establishing themselves. The Dutch government had to take action and recently set targets for conserving drinking water.

Initiative

The initiative for the blueprint was taken by Hein Molenkamp (Director of Water Alliance) and Arthur Valkieser (co-founder of Hydraloop and co-chair of the Water Alliance’s circular water expert group). The specific focus for the full text of the blueprint and the list of partners, visit globalcircularwater.org justnimbus developed smart rainwater system