Developing the application of Membrane Technology to water reuse appears from one part as an evidence but from other part this is a difficult and exciting task. An evidence due to the intrinsic properties of membrane technology and its unique ability to produce water at different levels of quality depending upon the choice of the membrane and the process. A difficult task due to the fact that agriculture is the first consumer of water and that farmers are not ready to pay for water.

Presently in most countries of the world, sewage and industrial effluents are treated for making acceptable the discharge of the treated water to rivers, lakes or sea. This concept could (should?) change in a next future with beneficial effects: why not treating sewage with the main purpose of making it acceptable and beneficial for agriculture and/or for the increasing needs of the “megalopolis”? Why not treating the industrial effluents for onsite reuse?

We are presently at the beginning of this important change that will result in a more diversified and more decentralized approach of wastewater treatment. Membrane Technology which is based on modular equipment is particularly suited for this scaling down of tailored processes. This change in concept is obviously in agreement with the need of a more sustainable management of water and should include too minimization of energy consumption and increased use of renewable energy: this is presently a hot topics amongst membrane technology researchers.

This is why this conference is arriving at the right moment. Turkey is not a critical country for water demand but most of its close or far neighbours have to face up to this issue.

I am convinced that this regional conference, organised jointly for the first time by Membrane Technology and Water Reuse groups of IWA, will be a founding event and the precursor of a series. As researchers, as engineers we all believe that our work will result in a positive change of the society: this conference will be a moment of discussion and thoughts for looking at the state of the art and new tracks.

See you at Istanbul next year!

Prof. Roger Ben Aim (Conference Chair)
Chairman of the Membrane Technology Group of IWA

It is my pleasure to invite you to the IWA Regional Conference and Exhibition on Membrane Technology and Water Reuse. The conference is joint event of membrane technology and water-reuse specialized groups of IWA.

This event will take place in Istanbul, Turkey from 18th to 22th of October, 2010, dedicated to theme membrane technology and water reuse. It is my great pleasure to host you in Istanbul, the cultural capital city of Europe.

It is hoped that this will be the first in a series of regional membrane technology and water reuse conferences. The common focus will be membrane technology, water reuse, industrial reuse, waste-water, desalination and cost. At present time when lack of utilizable water is continuously becoming a reality, it is the area whose value is rising. The objective of the workshop is to foster interaction, stimulate discussion and promote co-operation among the global water community.

The conference will provide an overview of the latest technological developments and current status of membrane technology and water reuse. The event will bring together research scientists, engineers from industries to academic areas around the world and will be a good chance for the people who are interested in this field to meet and discuss their achievement in recent years. I hope you enjoy the conference and that your participation contributes to your professional development and relationships.

Yours faithfully,

Prof. In S. Kim (Steering Committee Chair)
Chairman of the Water Reuse Group of IWA
Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea