Image credit: Melbourne Water*

WPAT2022 will provide a forum for the international research community, water utilities and water professionals to present and discuss the latest developments in the application of pond systems to wastewater treatment and the use of algae for resource recovery and production of added value products using wastewater as the growth medium. WPAT 2022 will also provide an opportunity for early career researchers and young water professionals to engage with international experts. The program will include the use of pond and photobioreactor systems for the removal of organic and inorganic contaminants and pathogens from wastewater, enabling water reuse. The potential to recover energy and chemical feedstocks from the photosynthetic organisms essential to the treatment process will be a unique focus of this conference.

This event follows the very successful IWALGAE 2019, which combined for the first time the 12th IWA Specialist conference on Wastewater Ponds and 2nd IWA Conference on Algal Technologies for Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery where we enjoyed the tapas and beautiful architecture in Valledolid, Spain.

Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, WPAT22 will be delivered in hybrid mode as we take advantage of the latest technological advances that have become mainstream due to our rapid switch to remote working. We hope our virtual option also benefits those who may not be able to travel for other reasons, like family responsibilities. Whichever option works for you, we will endeavour to bring you a schedule full of exciting innovations, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities.

For those able to be with us in Melbourne, there will also be the possibility to travel to Melbourne Water’s Western Treatment Plant, a 110 square kilometre sewage treatment plant treating 50% of Melbourne’s sewage and producing 40,000 ML of recycled water/year, while also recognised as a Ramsar site.