9:00 am-10:00 am

“Water Demand Management, Challenges and Opportunities”
Dr. Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, Minsiter of Water Resources and Irrigation, Egypt.
Grand Ballroom/Mövenpick
9:00 am-9:30 am

The world in general, and the Middle East region in particular, face tremendous challenges to satisfying current and future water demand for various development activities. There is a limited potential for developing new resources or increasing current ones. This presentation will discuss the need to shift the management from a supply-oriented approach to a demand-oriented one. Various methods will also be elaborated for incorporating the demand management approach into existing water policies and practices.

“Water Demand Management: Building on the IDRC Forums”
Dr. David B. Brooks, Friends of the Earth Canada
Grand Ballroom/Mövenpick
9:30 am-10:00 am

The work of the IDRC and its partners from the Forums, implemented during 2001-2003, demonstrate that water demand management is indeed advancing in the countries of MENA, but without the breadth or strength that is necessary given the current water crisis in the region. This presentation looks at the main conclusions from the Forums on wastewater reuse, water valuation, public private partnerships and decentralization to assess the gaps and lessons learned for future work on demand management in the region.

Tuesday, June 1

9:00 am-10:00 am
 

“Bridging the Gap in Water Demand and Supply in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia -Vision, Approach and Efforts”
Eng. Loay al Musallam Deputy Minister for Planning &Development Ministry of Water Electricity, Riyadh Saudi Arabia GrandBallromm/Movenpick
9:00am-9:30am

“Responding to Water Demands: Local Problems and Global Solutions”
Professor J. A. Allan, SOAS/King's College Water Research Group, University of London
Grand Ballroom/Mövenpick
9:30 am-10:00 am

The presentation will quantify international trends in water demand with special reference to the Middle East. It will also show how the growing water deficit in the Middle East has been met, both through local management initiatives and by resorting to the global trading system. There will be a discussion of the role of 'virtual water' in meeting the current and future food needs of the rising populations of the region. The political sensitivity of water policy-making will be addressed, along with the challenges of making and implementing water policy which is economically sound and environmentally considerate.

Wednesday, June 2

9:00 am-10:00 am
 

“Water Demand Management: Some Policy Lessons of Managing Groundwater Resources in Japan”
Professor Masahiro Murakami, Kochi University of Technology, Japan
9:00 am-9:30 am
Grand Ballroom-Mövenpick Hotel

Groundwater demand in industry has been significantly decreased since the Water Quality Conservation Law and the Factory Effluent Control Law were enacted in 1958 to solve land subsidence and seawater intrusion problems in and along the coastal alluvial plain in Japan. This decrease was accelerated in 1967 when the Basic Water Pollution Control Law was enacted to increase the rate of recycling of treated wastewater. This rate reached 78.6% in 2001. The water and environment laws are reviewed to decrease water demand as well as restore water quality in Japan.

“Humanity at the Tipping Point”
Prof Ervin Laszlo
Grand Ballroom-Mövenpick Hotel
9:30 am-10:00 am

"Humanity at the Tipping Point" is a presentation that gives a concise review of the current global situation in terms of evolutionary systems theory focusing on "tipping points. The presentation outlines two alternative scenarios of global development with special reference to the problem of water. One scenario leads to growing conflict, confrontation, polarization, violence, and chaos: the scenario of breakdown. The other scenario responds to conflict with openness to dialogue, catalyzing popular peace- and sustainability-movements.

Thursday, June 3

9:00 am-10:00 am

“Natural Synergy of Water and Energy”
Dr. Munther Hadaddin
Grand Ballroom-Mövenpick Hotel
9:00 am-9:30 am

Energy input is indispensable for the water generation, use and service; and water input is essential in energy generation, storage and enhancement of efficiency. To the living organisms, water is an energy generator and is an indispensable input for the production of food that is transformed into energy. Water equilibrium is attained by the equalization of supply and demand. Demand management is enhanced by conserving water in different ways. Soil water is a primary supply component. Shadow water is another major component for water short countries. Demand management for both is stressed.

“The Need for Water Culture to Manage Water Demand”
Mr. Walter Mazzitti, Chairman of the European Task Force on Water for the Peace Process European Commission GrandBallromm/Movenpick
 9:30am-10:00am

Water Demand management is the first important mean to give answers to a good part of the problems facing the water sector. At the core, we have to be convinced that demand management can have a successful future provided that all subjects involved in the process (be it institutions, public and private companies, farmers, and customers) must be made more aware of the value of the water and its use. But before that, of course, it is important that a culture of water demand management is first diffused among decision makers. It is therefore absolutely urgent to agree to launch a strong initiative to create an authentic "water culture" and move from formal declaration to implementation and action phase. The EU Task Force on Water of the Middle East Peace Process is currently implementing an important regional project to create a water culture involving all countries implicated in the peace process where it can be demonstrated that a water culture can strongly help better management of water demand.