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EMWIS Flash N°58, April 2008
| Released | 21/04/2008 |
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| | EMWIS Flash - April 2008 | |
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In this issue N°58 (http://www.emwis.net/thematicdirs/eflash/flash58)
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HEADLINE
1- 2nd MEDA Water Regional Event on Local Water Management, Marrakech (Morocco): 28-30 April 2008
IN BRIEF
2- Morocco: Accountability for Better Water Management Results
3- Algeria: Biwater wins US$115m Algerian reverse osmosis desalination contract
4- Algeria: Befesa wins contract to build Algerian desalination plant
5- Malta: Briny future for vulnerable Malta
6- Spain: Fusion of Ministries of Agriculture and Environment
7- Spain: The Ebro-Barcelona water transfer challenged by Murcia and Valencia
8- Israel: Water usage from natural sources down since 1967
9- Jordan will struggle for water this summer
10- Jordan: The Right to Water
11- Turkey: Hopes Fade for Turkish Water as a Strategic Asset
12- Turkey, Iraq, Syria to initiate water talks by establishing a water institute
13- Middle East: $120b to flow into water projects
14- Saudi Arabia: Expansion plans for water projects
15- Is this the beginning of water wars?
16- Does your country wish to host the next World Water Forum in March 2012?
17- Horizon 2020: Helping protect the Mediterranean Sea from pollution
18- Adapting to the impacts of global changes on river basins and aquifer systems
19- UN Human Rights Council creates Independent Expert on the human right to water and sanitation
20- LIFE project: Advancing wastewater treatment in rural areas
21- MEEDDAT-WWC: Towards the establishment of a worldwide water observation mechanism
22- A new INBO project on testing performance indicators of integrated water resources management
23- The Water-Energy-Climate Change Nexus
24- Scientists Predict More Floods, Droughts
25- Contract signed for ESA’s Sentinel-3 earth observation satellite
NOMINATIONS & VACANCIES
PUBLICATIONS
CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
CALL FOR PAPERS
TRAINING
EVENTS
BRIEF EMWIS SITE MAP
CONTACT US / COMMENTS
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HEADLINE
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1- The 2nd MEDA Water Regional Event on Local Water Management placed under the High Patronage of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI, will be held in Marrakech (Morocco), from 28 to 30 April 2008. This Second Event will be composed by the: 2nd MEDA Water Partners Workshop (28 and 29 April 2008) and 2nd MEDA Water Event (30 April 2008). The workshop will be organised around key sessions to discuss the results of the MEDA Water projects as well as a number of significant communications on themes such as irrigation water management, drought management, waste water reuse, rural water management, non conventional water resources, water information. The last day of the conference will be dedicated to presentations of EC water related programmes in the region, a discussion on the workshop recommandations and a review of the Mediterranean countries expectations for a potential follow-up of this program that could be proposed to the Euromed Ministerial conference on water planned in October 2008. Further information on EMWIS website.
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IN BRIEF (Full news)
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2- Many countries have made signifiant efforts in more rational management of water resources by decentralizing the decision making process to the lcoal level or as in the case of Morocco, by also developing public-private partnerships in the arenas of potable water and sanitation as well as in irrigation. From several viewpoints, Morocco is a ‘champion’ in the MENA region. It has distribution establishments for potable water in cities that are among the best managed in the region and has been able to attract the private sector to provide financing and the necessary expertise for managing these services. The disparition of the central government as the main financial entity in the water sector has produced some delays in the development of sanitation and the distribution of potable water services to marginalized populations, particularly in rural areas. Morocco has a law for water and modern institutions and more important, Moroccan officials are conscious of the need for a change in policy that would give priority to demand management. Further information on EMWIS website.
3- Biwater Construction Ltd has submitted the lowest bid for a Build, Own, Operate (BOO) contract for a new seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant to be constructed at Oued Sebt in the region of Tipaza, Algeria. The new plant will deliver 100,000m3 per day of high quality drinking water when completed. The plant is designed to desalinate raw seawater from the Mediterranean Sea, with approximately 38,800 mg/l of total dissolved solids, to meet the European Union drinking water quality standards. The new plant is one of a series of new seawater reverse osmosis plants currently being built in partnership with the Algerian Energy Company. This is part of an ambitious program intended to supply Algeria with 2.3 million cubic metres of desalinated water by 2011. Further information on EMWIS website.
4- Spain's Befesa has won the contract to build a desalination plant at Tenes, 200 kilometres west of Algiers. Construction of the 200,000-cubic-metre-a-day plant will begin in July 2008 and is due to be completed in 24 months. Befesa was the low bidder for the contract, submitting a price of $291.5m and a tariff of $0.58 a cubic metre of desalinated water. Befesa will form a joint venture with the Algerian Energy Company (AEC) to carry out the project. The Spanish company will take a 51 per cent stake in the project company, with AEC owning the remaining 49 per cent. Further information on EMWIS website.
5- Malta is one of the most crowded spaces in the world. It is also highly vulnerable to climate change. Rising sea levels in the Mediterranean over the next century caused by global warming threaten to submerge parts of the island. But there is another aspect to sea level rise that is already having a significant effect on Malta. It is the impact on the supply of drinking water. In the tourist season Malta's population trebles. All these extra people put great pressure on the island's water supply. Because the fresh water is less dense than salt water, this reserve effectively floats on the sea. Down the centuries, the Maltese have developed a clever system of underground tunnels, called galleries, to extract the water for human consumption. Because the rising sea is poisoning their ground water with salt, the authorities in Malta are investing in desalination to make the sea water drinkable. More than half the potable water on the island is now produced in this way. But desalination plants contribute significantly to global warming as they are powered by fossil fuels. As a member of the European Union, the Maltese are already facing sanctions for failing to co-operate on carbon cutbacks with Brussels. Further information on EMWIS website.
6- After last elections in Spain, a new Ministry has been created as a fusion of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA) and the Ministry of the Environment, and will take charge also of sea protection issue that belonged to the Ministry of Development. The name of this new ministry is "the Ministry of Rural, Marine and Natural Environment" under the responsibility of the Minister: Elena Espinosa. Further information on EMWIS website
7- Murcia and Valencia have threatened to place an appeal before the Constitutional Court against the Government’s plans to run a new 60km long pipeline from Tarragona to Barcelona to supply the city of Barcelona with drinking water. The planned pipe will be fed from an existing feed to Tarragona which takes water from the mouth of the Ebro river. Further information on EMWIS website. On the other hand, The Spanish Minister for the Environment, Elena Espinosa, has called representatives from the 17 mainland regions of Spain for a meeting where she plans to explain to them the Government’s decision to allow this so-called ‘mini water transfer’ to Barcelona. Further information on EMWIS website.
8- Contrary to established opinion, water consumption from natural sources in Israel has actually decreased since the Six-Day War, even though the population has more than doubled, a recent study found. The state Water Authority conducted the study, among other reasons, to refute a claim made by international water experts that Israel launched the 1967 war to increase its water pumping capacity. The main factor in the study's findings is the major increase in use of purified wastewater for agricultural irrigation. Half of the consumption in recent years has been met also through two large desalination plants. Despite this, Israel is in a severe crisis because several cycles of drought years over the past two decades created steep drops in the level of Lake Kinneret and groundwater reservoirs, even though overall water consumption did not go up. Further information on EMWIS website.
9- Jordan is this year facing a severe drought, the likes of which it has not witnessed in decades. The government is scrambling to find means of coping by reducing supplies to households and spearheading a nationwide campaign to encourage rationing. Rivers and lakes are a rare commodity in this desert kingdom, with most of the water supply coming from dams that collect water during the rainy winter season or from springs that have been siphoning off the kingdom's underground reserves. A disappointing rainy season has left most of the country's dams half empty. Precipitation registered during the rainy season constituted only 57 percent of the long-term annual average of 8.3 billion cubic meters. The poor rainfall has forced officials at the water authorities to cut the quantities of water pumped to farmers in the north and western regions. The available amount for irrigation is 130 million cubic meters (mcm), while actual needs are estimated at 180 mcm. Further information on EMWIS website.
10- The recent statement of the Jordanian Minister of Water and Irrigation caused havoc in the Jordanian society (see EMWIS Flash N°57, Brief 17). By declaring that the government is "discussing" the option of increasing the prices for domestic water, the Jordanian consumer was hit with fear of yet another increase in the price of basic commodities. Indeed the threat of increasing the price of water is linked to a possible reduction in the consumers' purchasing capacity for the most essential element for life. The global wave of liberalization of the water sector and de-regulation from the government has been such a drastic force in the past few years that has eroded the basic human rights to such commodities. The UN system acted swiftly to develop an international framework for protecting the human rights to water that can be applied in all countries and under various political, economic, social, environmental and cultural circumstances. Further information on EMWIS website.
11- A recent report in the business daily Referans suggests that as the result of a combination of population increase, poor resource management and decreased rainfall, Turkey is far from being a water-rich country but is now in danger of becoming a water-poor one, with barely enough water to meet its own needs. Further information on EMWIS website.
12- Turkey, Syria and Iraq have decided to bury the hatchet over water issues and cooperate by establishing a water institute that will consist of 18 water experts from each country to work toward the solution of water-related problems among the three. This institute will conduct its studies at the facilities of Turkey's Atatürk Dam, the biggest in the country, and plans to develop projects for the fair and effective use of trans-border water resources. This rapprochement among the three countries has led to acceleration of the construction of the Ilısu and Asi dams. Until several years ago, international strategists would argue that a war over water resources would inevitably erupt in the Middle East. But the recent agreement among Turkey, Syria and Iraq seems to discredit this thesis. Further information on EMWIS website.
13- The Middle East is set to spend $120 billion upgrading its water infrastructure over the next ten years, according to industry experts. The region is home to five per cent of the global population, but has just one per cent of the world's renewable fresh water. According to a World Energy Council estimate, investments in electricity production and water desalination projects in the region until 2012 will hit a staggering US$120 billion, representing around seven per cent of the Arab nations' Gross Domestic Product. Further information on EMWIS website.
14- Saudi Arabia is set to expand the privatisation of its desalination and wastewater treatment sector to cover more cities in the country. The move follows the creation of the National Water Company earlier this year to oversee the privatisation process, which aims to improve water services in Saudi Arabia and save dwindling supplies. The company will initially target the privatisation of water projects in four cities, including Jeddah, Madinah and Riyadh. Further information on EMWIS website.
15- As Barcelona runs out of water, Spain has been forced to consider importing water from France by boat (see EMWIS Flash N°57, Brief 23). It is the latest example of the growing struggle for water around the world – the "water wars". Barcelona and the surrounding region are suffering the worst drought in decades. There are several possible solutions, including diverting a river, and desalinating water. But the city looks like it will ship water from the French port of Marseilles. The proposal turns a local drought into an international situation. Climatologists predict that certain regions, the Mediterranean basin among them, will increasingly suffer from water shortages as global temperatures are pushed up by greenhouse gas emissions. Combined with reports that water scarcity can escalate conflicts, the forecasts have raised fears that climate change could bring about water wars. Further information on EMWIS website.
16- Does your country wish to host the 6th World Water Forum in March 2012? For the next edition of the World Water Forum, the government of any country, in collaboration with a city, is invited to demonstrate its capacity to organise such an important event. In order to be considered for the next steps in the bidding procedure, a preliminary expression of interest should be received by the World Water Council (WWC) Headquarters in Marseille by 1 June 2008 and must be presented or endorsed by a representative of the central Government of the country concerned, at the highest possible level. Further information on EMWIS website
17- The European Commission and the European Investment Bank presented the results of a study on potential investments addressing pollution hotspots in Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries. The study, undertaken as part of the Commission's Horizon 2020 Initiative designed to tackle the major sources of Mediterranean pollution by the year 2020, recognises the need for a programme to help the countries of the southern and eastern Mediterranean reduce the pollution they release into the sea. The proposed Mediterranean Hot Spot Investment Programme (MeHSIP) and the Horizon 2020 initiative are part of the European Union's cooperation with the southern and eastern Mediterranean countries involved in the Barcelona Process and covered by the EU's Neighbourhood Policy. The EIB will now proceed in finalising a list of projects based on the 44 projects already identified in seven Mediterranean countries. Further information on EMWIS website
18- On 8-9 September 2008, UNESCO will convene the workshop “Adapting to the impacts of global changes on river basins and aquifer systems”, which will aim to bring together scientists from different networks to: identify key research topics related to global change issues; identify common topics for synergy and coordination of research agendas for different projects and networking partners focusing on the major drivers related to global change and their impacts on hydrology and water resources; develop a background paper on global change issues which will be a contribution to the Global Change and Risk Management theme of the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul (March 2009). Further information on EMWIS website.
19- On 28 March 2008, the United Nations Council for Human Rights adopted by consensus a resolution sponsored by Germany and Spain, with over 40 co-sponsors, on ‘Human Rights and access to safe drinking water and sanitation.’ Through this resolution, the Council established a new ‘Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation.’ The Independent Expert will work for 3 years on two primary tasks. First, to identify, promote and exchange on best practices, and, in that regard, to prepare a compendium of best practices; and second, to carry out further clarification of the content of human rights obligations, including non-discrimination obligations, in relation to access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Further information on EMWIS website.
20- The LIFE-TCY project 'Sakhnin Centre' (LIFE03 TCY/IL/000035) improved wastewater treatment and environmental awareness among rural Arab communities in northern Israel. The beneficiary of the project was the Towns Association for Environmental Quality-Beit Natufa (TAEQ), an organisation based in lower Galilee that serves the local population of six Arab villages. Its goal is to increase public awareness and community involvement regarding environmental issues. This LIFE project tested the possibility of treating the wastewater to allow reuse for local irrigation. One additional benefit would be a dramatic reduction in freshwater consumption. Together with the Istanbul Technical University (ITU), TAEQ developed cheap and simple treatment methods such as wood shavings, cloth and plants. Further information on EMWIS website.
21- The French Minister of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Land signed an agreement with the World Water Council, which aims to contribute to : 1. the establishment of a worldwide mechanism for the observation of water (see "Mediterranean Water Information Mechanism") for better management of water resources and services and, 2. the reinforcement of the role of local authorities in the access to water and sanitation, by organizing and facilitating a constructive dialog between local authorities and central governments. This dialogue is an integral part of the 5th World Water Forum’s Political Process. Further information on EMWIS website.
22- The International Network of Basin Organisations (INBO) and its regional branch in Africa (the African Network of BO – ANBO) proposed to develop and field-test Performance Indicators adapted to the design and monitoring of the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) principles in African Transboundary basins. The activities have been proposed for the 3 years to pave the way for the use of Key Performance Indicators (KPI). Further information on EMWIS website.
23- There is increasing concern that rising energy demands resulting from climate change and economic development will impact negatively on global water resources. It is expected that there will be both winners and losers in the resulting ‘water footprint’. DHI Water Policy released a Draft Concept Note, March 2008, on the water-energy-climate change nexus - a connection of growing concern. In Europe, where the issue is only beginning to be recognised, water consumption for energy production is expected to be equivalent to the daily water needs of 90 million people by 2030. The note scopes policy dimensions, including water and energy footprints, and the complications resulting from climatic changes, and before outlines a roadmap to build ajoint policy response. Further information on EMWIS website.
24- Scientists predicted that climate change in coming decades will cause more flooding in the Northern Hemisphere and droughts in some southern and arid zones. In addition, they said that some areas around the Mediterranean, parts of southern Africa, northeastern Brazil and the western U.S. region will likely suffer water shortages. Further information on EMWIS website.
25- The European Space Agency and Thales Alenia Space today signed a €305 million contract to provide the first Sentinel-3 earth observation satellite, devoted to oceanography and land-vegetation monitoring, as part of the European GMES programme. As prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space is responsible for the satellite’s design, development and integration. Further information on EMWIS website.
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NOMINATIONS & VACANCIES
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26- Elena Espinosa has been nominated Minister of Rural, Marine and Natural Environment in the new Spanish government. Further information on EMWIS website
27- Mr. Martin Walshe has been selected to serve as the new Deputy Executive Secretary of GWP, starting 1 April 2008. A Senior Water Advisor in the Policy Division of DFID, he was recently on secondment to the Directorate General for the development of the European Commission. Further information on EMWIS website
28- Recruitment and assignment of Directors at the European Space Agency (ESA): The Council of the European Space Agency appointed the new Directors that will assist the Director General in the coming years, following a process of selection that started in November 2007. Further information on EMWIS website
29- Reuters IUCN Media Awards - Call for entries: Reuters Foundation and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has launched the 2008 Media Awards, a worldwide competition aimed at raising global awareness of environmental and sustainable development issues, by encouraging excellence in environmental reporting worldwide. The awards are co-funded by Reuters Foundation, IUCN and COM+ Alliance of Communicators for Sustainable Development. The deadline for entries is 15 June 2008. Further information on EMWIS website
30- Invitation and application for the Future Water Leaders Program: This is a professional development program under the framework of USAID's Advancing the Blue Revolution Initiative, consisting of seminars in the Middle East region. It includes five one-week modules taking place between August 2008 and January 2010. It is aimed at people between the ages of 30 - 45 currently involved in water supply and sanitation issues. Applications are due by 1 May 2008. The first module will be held in Cairo, Egypt from 3-7 August, 2008. The exact timing and location of subsequent modules may change, but are tentatively scheduled as follows: November 2008: Sanaa, Yemen, March 2009: Amman, Jordan, July 2009: Tunis, Tunisia, January 2010: Marrakech, Morocco. Further information on EMWIS website
31- 2008 Prizes for Excellencein Sustainable Urban Water Management: The International Water Association Specialist Group on Sustainability in the Water Sector is pleased to invite nominations for the 2008 Prizes for Excellence in Sustainable Urban Water Management. These awards, sponsored by CH2MHILL, recognise and celebrate distinctive contributions in the field of sustainableurban water resources management. The deadline for nominations is 1st June 2008. Winning entries will be showcased and prizes awarded during the IWA World Water Congress which will be held in Vienna, 7-12 September 2008. Further information on EMWIS website
32- Lecturer in Management and Organization of Sanitation, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, based in Delft, The Netherlands. Candidates must have an academic backgrounds and a proven interest in and experience with the management and organisation of piped and non-piped wastewater and sanitation systems by State and Non-State providers. Application deadline: 09 May 2008. Further information on EMWIS website
33- SwissRe invites applications for the International ReSource Award for Sustainable Watershed Management 2009: The Award worth USD 150 000 is an internationally recognized prize for leadership in implementing the principles of sustainability in watershed management, and is granted to one or several projects selected by an international jury. The prize money is open to NGOs, private, scientific and public institutions. As the world’s leading and most diversified global reinsurer, Swiss Re offers financial services products that enable risk taking essential to enterprise and progress. Deadline: 31 May 2009. Further information on EMWIS website
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PUBLICATIONS
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34- Euro-Mediterranean Statistic 2007 published - Mediterranean and EU countries coming closer: with their higher literacy levels, growing trade links and increasing tourism, according to the second annual Euro-Med statistical data bulletin published by the MEDSTAT II EU-funded Programme. The publication includes more than eighty tables and graphs on the latest statistical data. It is divided into nine distinct chapters: General profile of the countries, National Accounts, External Trade and Balance of Payments, Social statistics, Energy, Agriculture, Environment, Tourism and Transport. Further information on EMWIS website.
35- To promote a common understanding of technical terms related to health and environment issues WHO has created an on-line searchable database with multi-language terminology equivalence, called the Health and Environment Lexicon. Most terms currently have multi-language equivalents in French (2,300), Spanish (2,100), and Portuguese (1,700) with Arabic (1,300), Chinese (1,300), German (600), and Russian (800) being added progressively. Further information on EMWIS website.
36- "The Strategies for Water Demand Management in 50 Muslim countries": This book of Abdelhadi LAHLOU, hydraulic engineer and international expert is the fruit of 40 years of work and consultations on water resources in the Mediterranean basin and in the Arab-Muslim countries. To be able to win the challenges of the third millennium in the field of water, Muslim countries should establish a sustainable management of water resources through modern processes, with intensified efforts in the legal, organizational and technical aspects. Further information on EMWIS website. (Available only in French)
37- Remote Sensing Applications to Groundwater: This book is written for those who wish to become acquainted with the use of remote sensing for groundwater studies. It is written from the point of view of a hydrogeologist-practitioner. Emphasis is placed on the interpretation of images of diverse geologic terrain in warm climates, and on extraction of hydrogeologic information, for which knowledge of the basics of digital image processing techniques is required. This manual was devised as a contribution to the TIGER initiative of the European Space Agency. Further information on EMWIS website.
38- CAIWA conference on Adaptive and Integrated Water Management: Key Messages for Policy Makers and Practitioners. The NeWater Policy Brief No. 6 (www.newater.info) summarises for policy makers and practitioners the key messages of the CAIWA Conference on adaptive and integrative water management that took place in Basel in November 2007. The CAIWA key messages for policy makers and practitioners where elaborated during the conference and are accordingly supported by a large number of conference members. The aim of the key messages is to highlight policy implications of scientific findings on adaptive and integrated water resources management under the light of climate change. Further information on EMWIS website.
39- WWF's UN Freshwater Agreements Project News Update n.03, with information about the WWF’s United Nations Freshwater Agreements Project—a global initiative to improve freshwater governance, with focus on three UN international instruments: a) the UN Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses; b) the UN-ILC Draft Articles on the Law of Transboundary Aquifers and Aquifer Systems; and c) the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. Further information on EMWIS website.
40- World Water Council News Update n.34. Further information on EMWIS website.
41- DHI Water & Environment News Bulletin, April 2008: News and views on Integrated River Basin Management [IRBM] and water policy. A free information service from DHI Water Environment Health www.dhigroup.com. Further information on EMWIS website.
42- "GEWAMED= Mainstreaming Gender Dimensions Into Water Resources Development and Management in the Mediterranean Region" project has just published its 8th Newsletter issue. Further information on EMWIS website.
43- Water Reuse System Management Manual - AQUAREC", edited by Davide Bixio and Thomas Wintgens: The project AQUAREC “Integrated concepts for reuse of upgraded wastewater” was funded by the Fifth Framework Programme of the European Commission. Its major aim was to investigate and develop concepts and methodologies supporting rational and knowledge-based waste water reuse strategies. This publication presents practical information on waste water reuse concepts based on actual and proved management and operational practises. Further information on EMWIS website.
44- Rhine-Meuse (France) Water Information System: With new features and more than 6 million water data made freely available, the new water information system of the Rhine-Meuse opens its doors. Further information on EMWIS website.
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CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
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45- EU-FP7 Call for proposal - ERA-NET / ERA-NET PLUS Call 2008: Call identifier: FP7-ERANET-2008-RTD, Indicative budget: 29,3 M€. This call for Coordination and Support Actions covers a.o. Environment topics (including Climate Change). Deadline for application: August 12, 2008. Further information on EMWIS website.
46- eContentplus programme call for proposals for the year 2008 launched: The EC adopted the eContentplus 2008 Work Programme and call for proposals on 19 March 2008. The call with an overall budget of 42.5 M€ is now officially open and will close on 12 June 2008, 17:00 hrs Luxembourg local time. The call covers various actions in three target areas: Geographic Information, Educational Content, and Digital Libraries. Further information on EMWIS website.
47- Construction of sewer lines and lateral connections in Lebanon: Construction of additional sewer lines and lateral connections in Jdaidet Ech Chouf, Boqaata locality. Open to contractors who have carried out projects worth more than $5million. Closing date: 22 May 2008. Further information on EMWIS website.
48- Israel - The Sea-Water Desalination Tender: The Israelian Ministry of National Infrastructures, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Water Authority, through the Sea-Water Desalination Inter-Ministerial Tender Committee invites entities and consortia from the private sector in Israel and abroad, to participate in a pre-qualitication process of private sector entities for a tender for: the finance, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and transfer to the State of Israel, of a sea-water desalination facility at Sorek, with production capabilities of at least 100 million m3 per annum. Participants will submit their Pre-Qualification Submissions by no later than 12:00 on Sunday, June 15th, 2008. Further information on EMWIS website.
49- The Syrian Ministry of Irrigation in Damascus announced an external invitation of offers to implement the project of conveying water from Euphrates in Deir el –Zaor site to Palmyra and the phosphate mines. The deadline for offers submissions is: 20 May 2008 (before 15.00 PM local time). Further information on EMWIS website.
50- Mitigating Flood Risk in Flooded Areas in the GAP region in Turkey: The global objective of this assignment is to increase the efficiency and the effectiveness of the 'Mitigating flood risk in flooded areas in the GAP region' project. Closing date: 19 December 2008. Further information on EMWIS website.
51- Design and Build Construction of Infrastructure (96 hectares) and Waste Water Treatment Plant of Sanliurfa Organized Industrial Zone, Turkey: Deadline for submission of tenders: Friday, 6 June 2008 at 10:00 a.m. local time. Further information on EMWIS website.
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CALL FOR PAPERS
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52- First call for papers for the 3rd International Conference on Water Resources and Arid Environments (2008) and the 1st Arab Water Forum: This conference will take place in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) during the days 16-19 November 2008, and will be accompanied by an exhibition, which will be open to all parties who share a concern with water-related issues. Deadline for Submitting Abstracts: 30 April 2008. Further information on EMWIS website
53- Call for abstracts for the IV International Symposium on Transboundary Waters Management: The main topic of the IV International Symposium on Transboundary Water Management (TWM IV) that will be held in Thessaloniki (Greece) in 15-18/10/2008 is "Transboundary Surface Waters and Shared Aquifers". Extended abstracts up to 3 pages should be submitted by 30th May 2008. Further information on EMWIS website
54- First Announcement and Call for Papers for MELIA 2nd Workshop on Technological Perspectives for Rational Use of water resources in the Mediterranean region: The second workshop of MELIA project (Mediterranean Dialogue on Integrated Water Management, Contract FP6 517612) dedicated to technological perspectives for rational use of water resources in the Mediterranean region. Deadline for Submission of abstracts: 30 April 2008. Further information on EMWIS website
55- Organized by the International Secretariat for Water (ISW), the VidéEau Festival is an international competition for video clips. It is also part of a project titled ‘‘Celebration of Lakes and Rivers’’ which is a process aimed at raising awareness and involving young people in international citizenship and cooperation for water, both in Quebec and around the world. The 2008 edition invites young people from the ages of 17 to 30 to submit video clips on the theme ‘‘Water, People and Sustainable Development’’ before 15 June 2008. The winners of the competition will be automatically entered into The International Water and Film Events, organized in Istanbul in March 2009 during the 5th World Water Forum. Further information on EMWIS website
56- Call for papers for the 5th IWA Specialist Conference: Oxidation Technologies for Water & Wastewater Treatment: This conference will be held in Berlin (Germany) in the period 30 March - 03 April 2009. Abstract Deadline: May 31, 2008. Further information on EMWIS website
57- "Call for ideas: 25 operational projects for the Mediterranean!": The Platform for Mediterranean Economic Development (ANIMA) has launched, with the Diplomatie magazine, a call for ideas about '25 operational projects for the Mediterranean'. This call is open to all Mediterranean or non-Mediterranean people to imagine THEIR project FOR the Mediterranean basin. This call will be promoted by various web sites, medias or partners. Deadline: 30 April 2008. Further information on EMWIS website
58- Call for papers for the Conference: "Water in Africa: Hydro-Pessimism or Hydro-Optimism?" Authors are invited to submit an abstract of 250 words by the 30th April 2008. Further information on EMWIS website
59- SRO5 - First Call for Extended Abstracts: The 5th Conference on Scientific Research Outlook & Technology Development in the Arab World (SRO5): “Path to Innovation: Transforming Research into Value": 27-31 October, 2008 – Fez - Morocco. Discussions will focus both on core scientific topics in ICT, Energy & Water, Biotechnologies, and New Materials, as well as technicalities that can harness progress in those areas. Extended Abstract Submission: May 30, 2008. Further information on EMWIS website
61- The International Conference ‘Xenobiotics in the Urban Water Cycle – XENOWAC 2009’, that will be held in Paphos (Cyprus) in March 11-13, 2009, has published its first announcement. Deadline for abstracts submission: July 15, 2008. Further information on EMWIS website
62- A new electronic scientific Journal has just been launched: "Water Alternatives: An interdisciplinary Journal on water, Politics and Development": WaA is an interdisciplinary journal addressing the full range of issues that water raises in contemporary societies. The inaugural issue will be released on the 1st of June 2008. Submissions are welcome: you may already send your manuscripts to the editors and register in order to receive tables of contents when a new issue is published. Further information on EMWIS website
63-The association OCADD devoted to the theme of water, has announced the 1st Call for papers for the next issue of its publication: "Revue des Arts de l’Oralité", No. 2 - Focus: Water, Environment and imaginary. Deadline for submission of articles: April 30, 2008. Further information on EMWIS website
64- Call for papers for the International Colloquium: "Earth and Water 2008": In 2004, the symposium "Earth and Water" reported on the issues of soil resources, water pollution and various interactions. Earth & Water 2008, follow up treating these issues in the new context of exploration, exploitation and sustainable management. Deadline for submitting abstracts: May 30, 2008. Further information on EMWIS website
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TRAINING
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65- European Sustainable Water Goals, training 2008 - call for applications: The focus of this Marie Curie Conference Action is to provide the exchange of Ph.D. and M.Sc. in order to establish enduring cooperation relationship and to develop the topic of the European Water Frame perspectives and applications. It is totally founded by the EU, contract number 46161 – Marie Curie Conf. Programme. It is a unique opportunity to train 30 EU researchers (the deadline to apply and get a EU scholarship is set at 30th of April). The training week will be held in Venice, 7-11th September 2008. Further information on EMWIS website
66- International Specialized Course: Operation & Control of activated sludge processes by microscopic analysis. This Course is the 19th in this series offered by Environmental Study Center «Luigi Bazzucchi». The Course is designed for operators and designers of municipal and industrial biological wastewater treatment plants and researchers and graduate students studying the activated sludge process. It will be held in Perugia (Italy) in 16-20 June 2008. Further information on EMWIS website.
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EVENTS (Full Agenda) - 2nd Annual Middle East Waste & Water Congress: "Moving forward with the advances in waste and water technologies for a more secured future and environment" - Conference & Exhibition, Dubai, UAE, 26-27/05/2008
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[2008/05/28 - 2008/05/30] Second International Conference on Environmental Economics and Investment Assessment, Cadiz, Spain
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/28 - 2008/05/30] Water and Sanitation in International Development and Disaster Relief, Edinburgh, UK
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/28 - 2008/05/29] Confronting the Water Crisis in the Mediterranean Basin: What role for the European Union? Paris, France.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/27 - 2008/05/31] The Third International Scientific Conference BALWOIS 2008: Water Observation and Information Systems for Decision Support, Ohrid, Macedonia.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/27 - 2008/05/29] 5th International SedNet Conference, Oslo, Norway
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/26 - 2008/05/27] 2nd Annual Middle East Waste & Water Congress: "Moving forward with the advances in waste and water technologies for a more secured future and environment" - Conference & Exhibition, Dubai, UAE.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/25 - 2008/05/27] 3rd International Conference on Managing Shared Aquifer Resources in Africa, Tripoli, Libya.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/22 - 2008/05/22] International Office for Water Days: "Water Legislation Impacts on Administrative and Financial Management of Water & Sanitation Services", Paris, France.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/21 - 2008/05/23] As 2008 - 2nd International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment: Arsenic from Nature to Humans, Valencia, Spain
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/20 - 2008/05/25] The Euro-Mediterranean youth forum on Water and Cultures in Dialogue, Turin, Italy
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/20 - 2008/05/22] International Conference: Renewable Energy and Climate Change, Tripoli, Libya.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/19 - 2008/05/30] The Ninth Meeting Of The Conference of the Parties (COP 9), Bonn, Germany.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/19 - 2008/05/22] SIEE Pollutec 2008: International Exhibition of Equipment and services for Water, Algiers, Algeria
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/19 - 2008/05/22] 3rd GEWAMED Regional Workshop: "Mainstreaming Gender Dimensions in water management for rural development", Tunis, Tunisia
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/19 - 2008/05/21] Workshop "Math & Water", Zaragoza, Spain
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/19 - 2008/05/21] International Conference on New Sanitation Concepts and Models of Governance, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/15 - 2008/05/17] 2nd General Assembly of the RISKBASE project: "Common System Understanding for Risk-Based Management of River Basins" in combination with the 2nd Thematic Workshop of the RISKBASE WP 1b: “Bridging Science, Water Management and Practical Experiences in European River Basins”, Budapest, Hungary
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/15 - 2008/05/16] PRO EUROPE Congress: Green Dot 2008 - From waste to resource management, Prague, Czech Republic
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/15 - 2008/05/16] Workshop: "APPLICATION DE LA D.E.R.U. 1991, DIRECTIVE SUR LES EAUX RÉSIDUAIRES URBAINES", Paris, France.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/14 - 2008/05/16] Bridging the Gap: Responding to environmental change - from words to deeds, Portoroz, Slovenia
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/13 - 2008/05/14] International Office for Water Technical Days: « Water Economies », Lyon & Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/12 - 2008/05/14] Water safety plans: Global Experiences and Future Trends, Lisbon, Portugal
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/12 - 2008/05/16] 7th World Wide Workshop for Young Environmental Scientists -- WWW-YES 2008, Paris, France
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/12 - 2008/05/15] Water: Economics, Politics and Agriculture - Expo Internacional de Zaragoza 2008, Zaragoza, Spain.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/06 - 2008/05/06] Sanabel 5th Annual Conference, Tunis, Tunisia.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/05 - 2008/05/09] The 3rd joint conference "Sustainable Water Management in response to 21st century pressures": IFAT 2008, Munich, Germany
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/05 - 2008/05/09] IFAT 2008: Environmental Solutions, Munich, Germany
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/05 - 2008/05/16] UN Commission on Sustainable Development 16th Session (UN CSD-16), New York, USA
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/04 - 2008/05/08] ProMembrane Internationonal Conference, Sfax, Tunisia
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/05/03 - 2008/05/07] 6th European Ramsar Regional Meeting, Stockholm, Sweden
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/04/29 - 2008/05/01] Mediterranean Workshop on new technologies of recycling non conventional water in protected cultivation: Opportunities and new challenges for arid and semi-arid areas, Agadir, Morocco.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/04/29 - 2008/04/30] IPCC-OSS Outreach Event: Regional outreach workshop on the findings of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, Marrakech, Morocco.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/04/28 - 2008/04/30] Second MEDA Water Regional Event on Local Water Management, Marrakech, Morocco.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/04/28 - 2008/04/29] First Conference on Water Policy and Associated Technological Challenges in Arid Dynamic Environments, Kuwait, Kuwait
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/04/22 - 2008/04/22] IOWater- One day: "Energy sustainable management in water and sanitation services", Paris, France.
Further information on EMWIS website
[2008/04/21 - 2008/04/22] First Meeting of the Task Force on extreme weather events under the Protocol on Water and Health to the UNECE Water Convention, Rome, Italy
Further information on EMWIS website
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