Event: IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2024

Date: August 2024

Location: Toronto, Canada

Type of CPD: International conference / global innovation leadership / environmental and digital transformation

Duration: Multi‑day event (attendee + contributor + bilateral meetings)

Summary of the Event

I attended the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2024 in Toronto, one of the world’s most influential gatherings for water professionals, researchers, utilities, technology innovators, policymakers and international organisations. The Congress provided a global platform to explore the future of water management, environmental protection, digital transformation and climate resilience.

The 2024 programme focused on nature‑positive water systems, advanced monitoring, AI‑enabled optimisation, climate adaptation, circular economy pathways, and utility transformation. The exhibition showcased cutting‑edge technologies across sensing, treatment, digital water, resource recovery and integrated environmental management.

Throughout the Congress, I engaged in technical sessions, innovation forums, bilateral meetings and international networking events, contributing insights on real‑time biological monitoring, microbial activity sensing, and the integration of biological data into digital platforms.

Key Themes Covered

• Climate resilience and adaptation Extreme weather, drought, flooding, infrastructure vulnerability and long‑term planning.
• Digital water and AI‑driven optimisation Digital twins, predictive analytics, automation and integrated data ecosystems.
• Advanced monitoring and sensing technologies Biological, chemical and physical sensors for real‑time operational and environmental insight.
• Nature‑positive and catchment‑scale approaches Biodiversity, ecological outcomes, integrated water management and community engagement.
• Circular economy and resource recovery Water reuse, nutrient recovery, biosolids valorisation and low‑carbon operations.
• Utility leadership and innovation culture Capability building, governance, risk management and scaling innovation.