The 15th Pacific Water and Wastewater Conference & Exhibition was held at the National Auditorium in Rarotonga, Cook Islands from the 2nd September to 6th September 2024. The theme of the PWWA conference was “Water resilience in the Pasifika”. As they do every year, Moerk Water attended this important conference along with delegates from utilities, allied partners and stakeholders from all over the Pacific region.
Moerk Water talked to a range of different utilities and stakeholders about water resilience. Renewable energy powered water treatment is the best option to build resilience for many countries. Dr Mat Francis presented a technical talk focusing on ensuring that communities and the surrounding ecosystem (service network, supply chains, etc) are considered prior to treatment design. Dr Francis also delivered a workshop on different methods of chemical free water treatment methods for groundwater, surface water and seawater treatment where chemical based treatment methods are not an options.
During the conference Moerk Water also met a Young Water Professional from Uripiv in Vanuatu. Uripiv is an island community in northern Vanuatu which has a Moerk Water community seawater desalination system. She said she had drunk the water from the Moerk Water unit and that it was good. Positive feedback from the communities we work with is extremely rewarding.
Dr Francis was also invited to an event hosted by the Australian High Commissioner to the Cook Islands. Delegates from Australia along with the board of the PWWA were invited to a reception at a seaside kitchen. The event was a great opportunity to strengthen the strong links between Australia and other Pacific countries.
Moerk Water would like to thank everyone who helped make the PWWA conference a success. Particular thanks to the PWWA secretariat and To Tatou Vai. Looking forward to PWWC’25 and coming to the Solomon Islands!
