AWWA deepens global partnerships during Korea International Water Week

An American Water Works Association (AWWA) delegation – including Pat Kerr, president; Sally Mills-Wright, Standards Council chair; and Colin Chung, International Council member – recently visited South Korea to engage with local water sector leaders, expand international partnerships and attend the Korea International Water Week (KIWW) 2023.

KIWW is an annual event organized by Korea Water Forum and jointly hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Daegu Metropolitan City, K-Water, and Korea Environment Corporation. Presented Dec. 6-9 in Daegu, this year’s event focused on the themes, “Water Disaster Risk Management Resilient to Climate Crisis” and “Sustainable Water Management for Humans and Nature.” 

Kerr addressed the opening ceremony and participated in a Water Leaders’ Round Table with other global representatives to discuss climate-resilience solutions.

“Water issues know no bounds,” said Kerr, reflecting on his remarks from the conference. “From water scarcity to aging infrastructure to emerging contaminants, we need the world’s best minds united. Every community’s health depends on the quality of its water and sanitation. Together, through global innovation, we can make universal, affordable water access a reality.” 

Mills-Wright attended an International Workshop for Water Standards and Certification organized by the Ministry of Environment, Daegu Metropolitan City, and the Korea Institute for Water Technology Certification (KWTC). The event featured leading voices from around the world discussing the latest developments in water standards and certification. (Pictured above from left, Pat Kerr, Colin Chung and Sally Mills-Wright tour an exhibit at the Busan Smart City; Kerr addressing the KIWW opening ceremony; Kerr and Dr. Geonha Kim with KSWW.)

“Water management, especially with regard to utility resilience in response to climate change, was a key theme at the conference,” said Mills-Wright. “In addition to reducing contributing factors to climate change, discussions included changes to treatment and infrastructure design as well as best practices to prepare utilities to better accommodate ever-changing fluctuations in climate.”

Expanding AWWA’s collaboration in Korea

In addition to attending KIWW, AWWA furthered international efforts by signing two memorandums of understanding (MOUs).

On behalf of AWWA, Kerr signed agreements with the Korean Society of Water and Wastewater (KSWW) and the Korea Institute for Water Technology Certification (KWTC) to promote international cooperation in water management. 

“We very much look forward to these partnerships and moving water forward,” Kerr said. “South Korea and its neighbors are doing incredible research and developing solutions that we will see put to work the world over. The MOUs are but a first step in collaboration.”

Kerr also engaged with students at the University of Seoul, where he spoke about AWWA’s Water 2050 initiative and the future of global water.

“I was amazed by the energy of the students and by their interest in water,” he said. “The fact is it is students just like those whom I met at the University of Seoul who will be leaders in our industry in 2050 and beyond.”

The AWWA team also explored the future of water infrastructure by visiting the Smart City in Busan. The tour provided valuable insight into the potential of innovative technologies and digitalization in building water-resilient communities.

“Throughout the entire visit to South Korea, I was amazed by the knowledge and expertise of the many people I met,” Kerr said. “I was energized by the palpable energy I felt in every room I entered and by the willingness of everyone I spoke with to share issues, suggestions and, in many cases, solutions.”