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The Leading Utilities of the World Network Welcomes Five New Members in Amsterdam

Parul Dubey on November 27, 2017 - in News, People

AMSTERDAM, NLThe Leading Utilities of the World (LUOW) Network inaugurated five new members during the Utilities Leaders Forum at the Amsterdam International Water Week (AIWW) conference 2017. The new members will help drive the network’s goal of assembling the world’s most successful and innovative water and wastewater utilities, to help drive performance across the sector through achievement, idea sharing, and inspiring others to improve.

The inauguration took place during the 2nd half of the Utilities Leaders Forum, with support from CH2M, the network’s Foundation Partner. The five utilities accepted for LUOW membership were:

  • Evides Waterbedrijf, The Netherlands (represented by Annette Ottolini, Managing Director)
  • HAMBURG WASSER, Germany (represented by Michael Beckereit, CEO)
  • HOFOR (Copenhagen), Denmark (represented by Brian Hansen, Planning Director)
  • New York City Department of Environmental Protection, USA (represented by Vincent Sapienza, Commissioner)
  • Scottish Water, UK (represented by Geoff Aitkenhead, Chairman of Scottish Water International)

Representatives from each of the utilities presented their three innovation successes required to join the Leading Utilities of the World. These utility innovations ranged from ‘network operations’ to ‘response to floods and stormwater management’ and more.

Speaking about floods and stormwater management, HOFOR’s Brian Hansen remarked that while traditionally utilities have worked underground, the need to manage these risks has meant they are now involved in overground infrastructure as well, revolutionising how utilities work.

The five new member utilities were approved and accepted into the network by the LUOW Advisory Board. The Advisory Board is led by Howard Neukrug, Senior Advisor to the Global Water Leaders Group and former CEO of the Philadelphia Water Department. The Board also includes representatives from DC Water (USA), Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (USA), PUB Singapore, Water Corporation (Western Australia), Waternet (The Netherlands) and the Waterworks Bureau of Kitakyushu (Japan).

Waternet (The Netherlands) was also formally inaugurated into the network during the AIWW Utilities Leaders Forum and the CEO, Roelof Kruize, received the Golden Tap trophy to commemorate the membership.

Another new member inaugurated during AIWW was New York City Department of Environmental Protection. Commissioner, Vincent Sapienza said, “DEP is honoured to join the Leading Utilities of the World network, where success is celebrated regularly, and ideas are freely shared. We are excited about the opportunity to participate in future LUOW events and for the continued opportunities to learn from the innovations of other gold-standard utilities around the world.”

The LUOW network will next come together at The American Water Summit in Austin, TX on 28-30 November 2017. The Summit will feature an inauguration ceremony, where five utilities will present their successes in the network’s innovation areas, and be accepted for LUOW membership.

The five utilities being inaugurated at the American Water Summit will be:

  • Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority, USA
  • Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, USA
  • Environmental Services, The Regional Municipality of York, Canada
  • San Antonio Water System, USA
  • Watercare Services Limited, New Zealand

Find out more about the Leading Utilities of the World Network and its activities: https://www.leadingutilities.org/

 

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