According to the United Nations 2030 Water Resources Group, the global demand for water will surpass supply by 40% by 2030 unless there are significant gains in efficiency (Water for Life Decade, 2014). Addressing this problem will require investments in infrastructure, water-policy reform and the development of new technology (UNEP, 2011). However, some technologies aimed at conserving water, such as low-flow fixtures, water reuse practices and high-volume water storage, can contribute to Legionella growth due to high water age, degraded water quality, weakened residuals of protective disinfectants, and a failure to adequately flush out biofilms and other particulates (Berkelman, 2017). As such, sustainability efforts that include water conservation must consider the public health aspects of any new technology, practice or process.
Legionella Conference 2019
From September 11 to 13, 2019, NSF International and National Environmental Health Association will host Legionella Conference 2019 in Los Angeles, CA. This year’s theme, “Building Water Systems: The Sustainability and Public Health Nexus,” encourages speakers and participants to seek solutions that align water and energy sustainability and public health goals.
Working in collaboration with diverse stakeholders
This event will bring together thought leaders from across the sustainability, public health, water management, water utility and academic communities. Working in collaboration with diverse stakeholders, we can develop systems to prevent illness associated with building water systems while meeting our sustainability goals.
TIPS is the Strategic Sponsor for Legionella 2019
TIPS is pleased to be the Strategic Sponsor once again for this informative and engaging conference. Meet me and my team in LA this September as we focus collectively on Legionella.
Call for Abstracts
The conference organizers are looking for experts to give oral presentations or posters on the broad theme of aligning water and energy sustainability interests with public health goals. Topic ideas include:
- Creating a successful water management program
- Advancing water reuse opportunities
- Monitoring a successful water management program
- Intersection of sustainability and public health for cooling towers
- Water conservation goals and public health – responding to unintended consequences
- Strategies for benchmarking building water systems for sustainability and public health outcomes
- Legionella outbreak surveillance and response strategies – identifying best practices
- Domestic hot water systems – safely and efficiently managing water temperatures
- Plumbing design
Abstracts are due April 1, 2019 for presentations and May 1, 2019 for posters.
Contact [email protected] for more information
You can also submit your abstract or poster directly here: http://www.legionellaconference.org/call-for-abstracts/
References
Berkelman, R. L., & Pruden, A. (2017). Prevention of Legionnaires’ Disease in the 21st Century by Advancing Science and Public Health Practice. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 23(11), 1905-1907. doi:10.3201/eid2311.171429
Water for Life Decade. (2014). Water and Energy Report. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2011). Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication. www.unep.org/greeneconomy
