BWWC
Ensuring uninterrupted and safe water management services (centralized water supply and wastewater disposal and treatment) is critical to public health and safety, as well as environmental protection worldwide. The moste important people in the cities are specialists in the water management sector. The cities cannot survive for more than 3 days without these specialists. Therefore, every representative and interested party of the water management sector must follow changes and challenges in the sector, innovations and possible solutions. Especially in today’s hectic life! We invite every member of society to appreciate the importance of drinking water and the sewage system in our everyday life. There is no life without water.
On May 29-31, the Baltic Water Works Conference 2024 took place in Palanga, Lithuania. Latvia Water and Wastewater Works Association (LWWWWA) in cooperation with The Estonian Waterworks Association (EVEL) and the Lithuanian Association of Water Suppliers (LVTA) gathered more than 200 participants from water management companies of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Ukraine, Great Britain, Finland, Austria, Switzerland and Denmark. The aim of the BWWC 2024 was to find innovative ideas in a complex world of water and take a look to sustainability, ecology and science insights in water sector.
At the beginning of the conference, all participants were welcomed by the Minister of the Environment of Lithuania Simonas Gentvilas. The conference was oficially opened by the Palanga city Vicemayor Rimantas Antanas Mikalkėnas, the CEO of the LWWWWA Sandis Dejus, the president of the LVTA Bronius Miežutavičius, and the president of the EVEL Andres Aruhein, as well as the representative of the Association of the Ukrainain Vodokanals Yurii Zherlitsyn.
After the opening ceremony, the 1st part of the conference “Finding innovative ideas in a complex world of water” begun.
- Green Deal priorities in Lithuania’s Water Management sector by Irmantas Valūnas, Senior advisor in Pollution Prevention Policy group, Minstry of the Environment of Lithuania.
- Recast of Urban wastewater treatment directive: implementation challenges in Latvia by Iveta Teibe, Head of Water Resources Division, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of Latvia.
- Challenges rising from new urban wastewater treatment directive in Estonia by Karin Kroon, Head of the Water Department of the Ministry of Climate of Estonia.
- Smart wastewater and sewer management equipment by Arnas Svaldenis, UAB Hidora.
The 2nd part of the conference was dedicated to opportunity insights.
- Wastewater management information system – what is is – by Leonard Vorobej, Product owner for the Wastewater treatment information system at Ministry of Environment of Lithuania.
- Sustainable stormwater management: one case in Vilnius – by Egidijus Kunevičius, Vice-President at Sweco Lithuania.
- Enhancing tap water quality through customer feedback – a GIS-centered approach – by Gints Daksa, SIA Jurmalas udens.
- AI on Finnish water sector – what is AI and how it can be used – by Jaana Pulkkinen, Department manager of Digital solutions and asset management, Sweco Finland OY.
- Digital twins of water and sewer networks by Mindaugas Rimeika, Vilnius Technical University.
- Global and local economic outlook by Nerijus Mačiluis, Swedbank Group deputy chief economist.
- WLM water network monitoring system – vital information for network modeling and leakage location – by Dieter Martinek, Martinek GmbH.
At the end of the conference, the audience was introduced to sustainability, ecology and science insights.
- Wastewater-based epidemiology in Latvia by Juris Laicans, Water Systems and Biotechnology Institute, Riga Technical University.
- INFRALINK = we will solve your piping problems – by Gints Perkons, SIA Infralink, and Kay Lugmayr, AGRU.
- Drinking groundwater resources in the Baltic countries by Robert Mokrik, Engineer, Geologist and Hydrogeologist, Vilnius University.
- Innovative process engineering – future challenges and solution concepts in wastewater treatment – by Andreas Gabriel, Head of VTA Institute.
- Solving the challenges of the upcoming EU directive with a digital twin by Marina Turunen, Baltics Sales Representative and Consultant to KRÜGER-Veolia Water Technologies.
- Specific features installed by Arginta within the Vilnius WWTP reconstruction project by Aleksejus Timofejevas, Arginta UAB.
Gold partners: Lokaator, infralink, KRÜGER-Veolia Water Technologies, HIDORA, VTA Austria GmBH
Silver partners: Alwark, AVK International, AUMA, FLOVAC, PROTE, Siemtecha
Bronze partners: Innovative Water Systems OU, Hidrogeologija, biotik, s can, Mativesi, AGRU, W filters, Van Tongeren Watertechnick, SnapTest.LV, NX Filtration, Juro-Clean AB, ekotakas, Gertuve LT, Air Plus 1 Technology.
Photo: Aldas Kazlauskas.
From left: Vaidotas Ramonas (LVTA CEO), Raili Kärmas (EVEL CEO), and Sandis Dejus (LWWWWA CEO).
More BWWC 2024 photos find here!
More information: Vaidotas Ramonas, vaidotas@lvta.lt.
On May 17-19, the Baltic Water Works Conference 2023 took place in Jurmala. Latvia Water and Wastewater Works Association (LWWWWA) in cooperation with The Estonian Waterworks Association (EVEL) and the Lithuanian Association of Water Suppliers (LVTA) gathered more than 200 participants from water management companies of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Ukraine, Great Britain, Finland, and Denmark. The aim of the BWWC 2023 was to learn about the current events and good practices in the sector, as well as to promote cooperation in solving problems.
The conference was opened by the Jurmala city mayor Rita Sproģe, the CEO of the LWWWWA Sandis Dejus, the president of the LVTA Bronius Miežutavičius, and the president of the EVEL Andres Aruhein, as well as the representative of the Association of the Ukrainain Vodokanals Yurii Zherlitsyn.
After the opening ceremony, the 1st part of the conference “Sewage sludge management” begun.
- Sewage sludge management in Estonia by Katri Kartau, Ministry of the Environment of Estonia.
- Sewage sludge management in Lithuania by Aistė Krinickaitė, Ministry of the Environment of Lithuania.
- Sewage sludge management strategy in Latvia by Jānis Zviedris, LWWWWA sewage sludge management expert.
- Solutions for optimal sludge treatment and energy management in WWTP by Linas Didrikas and Juergen Heinrichmeier, WTE Baltic.
- Our perspectives for quaternary wastewater treatment in the light of EU legislative changes by Taavo Tenno, University of Tartu.
The 2nd part of the conference was dedicated to continuity of water management services in emergencies.
- Current situation and work experience of Ukrainian enterprises during the year of the war by Oleksandr Kravchenko, expert of the “Ukrvodokanalekologia” Association, director of the “Institute of Communal Infrastructure” LLC.
- Existing situation in continuity of water management services in emergencies in Latvia by Artūrs Kazimiraitis, LWWWWA expert of water management in emergencies.
- Resilience in water companies, practical examples by Marius Kupper, Estonian Rescue Board.
- Water sector safety in Poland by Edyta Walczak and Łukasz Gryko, AQUANET SA.
At the end of the conference, the audience was introduced to the industry news.
- Characteristics of water and wastewater company employees by Jānis Rubulis, Riga Technical University, Water Research and Biotechnology Laboratory Water Systems and Biotechnology Institute.
- Implementation of Lithuanian law on driniking water supply and wastewater management by Irmantas Valūnas, senior advisor in Pollution prevention policy group, Minstry of the Environment of Lithuania.
- Challenges and problems after the entry into force of the new regulation of drinking water supply and wastewater management in Lithuania by Linas Vilys, LVTA lawyer.
- Pipeline IcePigging – our journey to better water quality by Sven Miller, Tallinna Vesti Ltd and Watercom.
- Experiences with remotely readable smart watermeters in Estonia by Rainer Spuul, Emajõe Waterworks Ltd.
- Digitalization of customer service and data collection by Žilvinas Pilipavičius, Center for Informatics and Cummunication Technologies.
In addition, throughout the day, conference participants had the opportunity to explore industry news at a special conference partner exhibition.
Gold partners: Evopipes, Alwark, KRÜGER-Veolia Water Technologies.
Silver partners: AVK International, Kamstrup, Juro-Clean AB.
Bronze partners: SnapTest.LV, Mativesi, Georg Fischer AB, Esri, Alfa Laval filialas, Lokaator, Trimble Solutions, Innovative Water Systems OU, Bill.me LTD Latvijas filiāle, Wawatech Wastewater Technology, VTA Austria GmBH, NX Filtration, Waterson un Diehl Metering.
Photo: Ilva Skreba.
From left: Sandis Dejus (LWWWWA CEO), Bronius Miežutavičius (LVTA president), Raili Kärmas (EVEL CEO), Vaidotas Ramonas (LVTA CEO), Guntars Dambenieks (LWWWWA president).
More BWWC 2023 photos find here!
More information: Ilze Karklina, ilze@lwwwwa.lv, +371 26486189
