Top projects in wastewater, which will identify key opportunities, will be the highlight of an upcoming conference wastewater in Abu Dhabi.

Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Conference 2009 will be open on December 8 and 9 at the Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort.

Edmund O’Sullivan, chairman of Meed Events, organisers of the event, said: “Governments in the Gulf are increasingly recycling treated water as a cost-effective solution to growing demand.

“According to our own research, more than 5.5 million cubic metres a day of new treatment capacity is expected to be added in the GCC alone, which presents a huge business potential for those providing equipment, services and finance to the region’s wastewater sector.”

“Meed’s Wastewater Treatment and Reuse 2009 conference reports on the most significant projects taking place across the region, identifying where the key opportunities exist. Meed Projects-CMI has identified that WWTP projects in the top 5 regional markets combined are worth in excess of $ 14 billion, with projects in the UAE market alone valued at over $ 5.5 billion.”

Already the most water scarce region in the world, the Gulf has had to contend with huge population growth in recent years and with it demand for potable water has soared.

Across the region, much of the existing sewage treatment infrastructure is over twenty years old and is incapable of meeting today's requirements, both in terms of handling volumes and treating effluent to international standards.

As such, taking the necessary action to ensure the region has adequate wastewater treatment capacity is now a priority for the region’s utility providers.

The 2009 conference features detailed analysis of case studies from across the region, including an examination of the regional strategies for private sector involvement from Saudi’s National Water Company.

Wastewater Treatment and Reuse 2009 will opportunities to meet the key stakeholders and influential decision-makers from the region and beyond, a statement said.

Through a series of panel sessions, presentations, armchair discussions and interactive debate, the 2009 conference will discuss how to capitalise on the future growth of the region's wastewater industry and help all attendees improve their understanding of the current status and predicted future opportunities of this expanding market. – TradeArabia News Service