The Future of Water – Access and Quality

Water is one of our most important resources—and using it in a sustainable way is one of the great challenges of our time. How do we adapt our use of water to climate change? How can we reuse water without sacrificing quality? And is climate-friendly hydrogen the path into the future? IFAT’s supporting program will provide the answers to these and other questions.

Climate change and water—an interdependence.

The effects of climate change such as increased heavy rainfalls, long periods of heat and drought, and sea-level rise can be observed worldwide—more and more often also in moderate climate zones. An example from a nearby area: in the summer of 2021, the German Ahr valley was hit by an extreme flood disaster.

Between 2001 and 2018 alone, about 74 percent of all natural disasters related to water; more than three billion people were affected by floods and droughts. Alarming figures that force us more than ever to modernize and adapt the existing water and sewage infrastructure. That is why the world’s leading trade fair for environmental technologies also concentrates on intelligent water management for industries and municipalities.

Going with the flow: treatment and reuse.

Water reuse refers to the recycling of water in industrial production processes and the use of treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation. Especially in the agricultural sector, wastewater treatment processes are of great importance, as municipal wastewater contains not only nutrients but also pathogens, metals, and chemical pollutants. Not removing these adequately implies hazards for humans, soil, groundwater, plants and animals.

Germs, sewage sludge and Co.

Find out at IFAT, for example, how multi-resistant microorganisms can be prevented in wastewater—or how microplastics can be safely separated using innovative technical solutions. Another topic: the recovery of valuable waste substances from sewage sludge. Because, in Germany, both the phase-out of the utilization of agricultural sewage sludge and the future obligation to recover phosphorus from sewage sludge or sewage sludge incineration ashes pose major challenges for operators of sewage treatment and recycling plants.

Hydrogen—fuel of the future?

Hydrogen produced in a climate-friendly way is considered a promising alternative to fossil fuels. Gigantic production capacities are being planned around the globe, which will entail a correspondingly high demand for water. While environmentalists fear massive interference in the water balance, particularly of water-scarce regions, many experts see seawater desalination as a solution to the lack of fresh water. Learn more about ‘green hydrogen’ in our specialist presentations.