The Caribbean Water and Sewerage Association (CAWASA) will host its sixth Water Operators Conference in Saint Lucia from June 26 to 28, 2019 in collaboration with the Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO).
Over 50 overseas participants from the Caribbean, USA, and France are expected to join WASCO colleagues in the three-day conference at the Bay Gardens Hotel at Rodney Bay, Gros Islet. Participants will include engineers, water and wastewater operators, water and wastewater laboratory analysts, and continuing education and certification providers as well as other water industry professionals.
The CAWASA Water Operators’ Conference is designed as a platform for water operators and partners to discuss real issues and share innovations to contemporary challenges. It is the only conference of its kind that targets water and sewerage operators in the Caribbean Region.
The theme for this year’s conference is “Teaming with Water Operators: Building Climate Resilient Water Utilities”. This is in partial fulfillment of CAWASA’s contribution to the implementation of Component 5: Capacity building and public education for climate resilience of the Regional Strategic Action Plan (RSAP) for Governance and Climate Resilience in the Water Sector in the Caribbean.
The effects of climate change are being felt by all water utilities across the Caribbean region, manifesting in insufficient water supply due to frequent extreme weather events such as droughts, hurricanes, flash flooding and resultant damage to infrastructure.
As climate change bears down on the Caribbean region, the situation is turning dangerous for public health and economic growth. Rapid learning and adoption of new resiliency and source water protection measures are essential.
Building resilience of utilities is more than investing in infrastructure. It also requires investing in the people in the utilities who are ultimately responsible for the efficient operations and maintenance of these assets. Training of the operators is a fundamental element in improving water utilities.
During the three days the participants will have opportunities to discuss and give feedback on the implementation of the Regional Strategic Action Plan (RSAP) and showcase best practices and experiences at their respective utilities.
A field study tour of WASCO’s facilities and on-going projects will be held on the third day of the conference.