On behalf of the Local Organising Committee and Chinese Taiwan Water Works Association, we are honoured and delighted to welcome you to the 9th IWA-ASPIRE Conference and Exhibition 2023 which will be held in the beautiful city of Kaohsiung from 22 to 26 October 2023. The biennial conference is a collaborative cross-sector platform playing a transformative role in providing an innovative and comprehensive overview of the latest developments and solutions for the sustainable management of water resources. The event aims to gather views and opinions from around the world with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

The central theme of the conference is “One Water for Smart Cities”. The world is urbanising at the fastest pace in history with over 6 billion people predicted to live in cities by 2050. The urban sprawl and densification of the cities are putting immense pressure on the availability of water. There is an emerging consensus among leaders and professionals for a visionary approach to integrating water management and urban planning. One water management strategy for cities across the globe to expand sustainably, to operate efficiently and maintain the high quality of water is of paramount importance.

The 5-day conference and exhibition will feature keynote addresses by world-renowned water technology experts from both academia and industries, who will share, discuss, and dissect significant latest developments and scientific advancements related to various water issues. Water professionals are invited to submit and present their latest findings in parallel sessions focused on specific themes related to broad areas of the One Water Management strategy.

The plenary keynotes, keynote sessions, IWA Young Water Professionals (YWP) Program, Utility Leaders Forum, parallel sessions, workshops, technical visits, and networking events will be organised to offer you opportunities for sharing ideas, research and networking with delegates. We hope that the conference strengthens the links between the scientific community and industries in order to identify and deliver common-ground, practical, and achievable solutions which will tackle our community’s water challenges.

The entire Organising Committee, together with the Chinese Taiwan Water Works Association, sincerely invite you to join the IWA-ASPIRE Conference and Exhibition 2023. We hope to make the 9th IWA-ASPIRE Conference and Exhibition 2023 an exciting and memorable event.

You will also have the opportunity to visit Kaohsiung, a beautiful ocean city located in Southern Taiwan. It is a hospitable and attractive city with rich culture, beautiful cityscapes, landscapes, and delicious food.

We look forward to welcoming you to Kaohsiung!