Groundwater is the most crucial resource in meeting the worlds freshwater needs, and groundwater can provide a resilient component to water supplies challenged by crisis and change. But sustainable groundwater exploitation is a tricky thing. Groundwater cannot be seen with the naked eye, and it finds its own way through the labyrinths of the subsurface. We will never be able to achieve a complete understanding of the groundwater dynamics, and this lends a bit of mystery to the art of a groundwater-based water supply. This conundrum emphasizes the essential need of experience as well as the importance of continuous exchange of knowledge. The Groundwater Forum is organized by Danish Water Forum in cooperation with the Canadian Host Country Committee, and thus the topics of the forum are curated by professionals with extensive experience from countries with centuries of heavy reliance on groundwater.

In three sessions we explore the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of a groundwater-based water supply. We will be inspired by speakers from across the globe to engage in discussions, build networks and share the knowledge needed to navigate in times of change and crisis.

The organizers are proud to present one of the worlds most experienced groundwater experts Dr. John Cherry as the opening keynote speaker of the Groundwater Forum. Through decades of dedication John Cherry has built an impressive portfolio of important contributions to the knowledge of groundwater. He was awarded the 2016 Lee Kwan Yew Water Prize and the 2020 Stockholm Water Prize. Dr. John Cherry is now the lead of the The Groundwater Project which is a non-profit committed to the advancement of groundwater understanding and awareness.  

All congress participants are welcome to join the Groundwater Forum – no extra registration necessary.

 

Advanced Programme: 

10:30-12:00 PM

Session I: Strengths and Weaknesses of a Groundwater-Based Water Supply 

Session Chair: Ida Holm Olesen, Danish Water Forum, Denmark

Session Co-Chair:Simon Gautrey, WSP Canada

Official opening of Groundwater Forum by Jarl Frijs-Madsen, Ambassador, Royal Danish Embassy to Canada

Why Groundwater is Important to the Future of Humanity, Dr. John Cherry, University of Guelph, Canada

25% Groundwater and Increasing – A Growth Scenario from the Region of Peel, Canada, Luis Lasso, Region of Peel, Canada

Groundwater in a South African Perspective, Dr. Shafick Adams, Water Research Commission, South Africa

100% Groundwater – The Danish Experience, Dr. Martin Rygaard, HOFOR – Greater Copenhagen Utility

Interactive session facilitated by Water Valley Denmark, Pia Jacobsen, Water Valley Denmark

 

1:30-3:00 PM

Session II: Hidden Opportunities of a Groundwater-Based Water Supply  

Session Chair: Bjørn K. Jensen, Water4All, Denmark

Session Co-Chair: Hans-Martin Friis Møller, Kalundborg Utility, Denmark

Any Hidden Potentials of Groundwater Towards SDG6 and Beyond, Gustavo Saltiel, Global Lead for Water Supply and Sanitation, World Bank

The Transition from Surface-Water Based to Groundwater-Based Water Supply in Times of Conflict, Viktor Pisotskiy, Director for Strategic Planning, Mykolaiev, Vodokanal, Ukraine

How to Find the Hidden Treasure? Geophysical Techniques, Esben Auken, TEMcompany, Denmark

Sustainable Groundwater Management in Rural Areas in Developing Countries, Anise Sacranie, Grundfos, Denmark

Towards SDG6 in Developing Countries: The Potential of Groundwater, Ryan Phillips-Page, Operations Water, Canada

Interactive session facilitated by Water Valley Denmark, Pia Jacobsen, Water Valley Denmark

 

3:30-5:00 PM

Session III: Imminent Threats of a Groundwater-Based Water Supply 

Session Chair: Anders Bækgaard, IWA Congress President 2022, Denmark

Session Co-Chair: Julia Gathu, IWA GWM SG, Kenya

Groundwater Quality Threats from Mining for the Green Energy Transition, Professor Roger Beckie, University of British Columbia, Canada

Overview of Mining Practices and Regulation in Canada as They Relate to Groundwater, Simon Gautrey, WSP Canada

Climate Change Increases the Frequency of Forest Fires – How Does This Impact Groundwater Quality?, Professor Monica B. Emelko, University of Waterloo, Canada

Groundwater Vulnerability in the Face of Climate Change, Julia Gathu, Drilling for Life, Kenya

Untreated Effluents as a Threat to Groundwater Quality and Public Health, Dr. Pabel Cervantes-Avilés, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico

Interactive session facilitated by Water Valley Denmark, Pia Jacobsen, Water Valley Denmark

 

5:00-5:30 PM
Groundwater reception Hosted by Grundfos at booth nr. 400