Global Water Leaders: Industry Needs to Embrace Technology Innovation, Good Governance and Community Engagement

Two-hundred global water leaders from 48 countries met at the Singapore International Water Week’s Water Utilities Forum to discuss the challenges of the water sector and formulate solutions. According to the SIWW press release, the leaders during this two-day event — “Mapping Challenges & Solutions” — identified three areas of concern for the water industry: governance and leadership, technological innovation, and community engagement.

The group of experts from government, the utility sector, business practitioners and thought leaders recommended that utilities and private companies should embrace technology innovation and capilize on the quality improvements and cost effective solutions gained through mutually-beneficial private partnerships. The leaders put the onus on utilities to “take the lead in actively guiding water innovation to optimize operations.”

In reaction to the changing economic, technological and social landscape of water, a key component that would directly affect the status of the water industry was good government and leadership. According to the leaders, the global water environment needs “an enabling framework to drive change, aid water organizations in overcoming challenges and help the water industry to grow.”

Not surprisingly, the water leaders identified communication and community engagement as a pressing issue. Buy-in from communities and stakeholders can only happen when each are educated and there’s transparent engagement. “…(T)here is a strong need for public education and more transparent engagement with the communities on various water issues, including service delivery, water conservation, and taking ownership of water security.”

In my opinion, this is yet again another confirmation at the global scale that now and in the coming years, the most valuable partnership for the global water market will be between engineers and communication professionals. Each group can bring much to the table in a game where there is so much at stake. Communicators can facilitate more widespread awareness of the issues, create a broader understanding of the language of water, and most importantly, affect behavior change.

The next generation of water business leaders needs communicators at the table.

Communicators can be part of the solution to inform, consult, and involve the spectrum of stakeholders who rely on the success and services of water utilities.


About Singapore International Water Week 2014

The Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) is the global platform to share and co-create innovative water solutions. Stakeholders from the global water industry gather at SIWW to share business opportunities and showcase the latest water technologies. SIWW is part of the strategic programme of the Singapore Government to grow the water industry and develop water technologies.