March 19, 2014

The Drexel University School of Public Health is a co-sponsor and will host the "Urban Water Solutions in the Developing World: Sustainable Services and Just Policies for the Poor, 7th Annual Conference" on Thursday, April 10, 2014. Registration information at www.pgwi.org.

The Philadelphia Global Water Initiative invites engineers, public health practitioners, water resource managers, investors, academics and other interested individuals to participate in a conference tackling the challenges of water and sanitation in the world's poorest cities. Your ideas will be contributed to the United Nation's efforts. Attendees will collaborate with experts from the United Nations, the World Bank, the African Union Commission for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, leading Non-Government Organizations and corporate leaders.

More than 50 percent of the world population now lives in cities. This is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years. Water is often intermittent and of unknown quality in developing cities and thousands of children die each day from water and sanitation-related problems. Many major cities have little or no wastewater treatment.

Jeanine Cooper is Representative to the African Union, Economic Commission for Africa and Head of Liaison Office is the keynote speaker. The International Water Association's Women in Water 2012 Award Winner Kasum Athukarala, the Chair of NetWater and the Sri Lanka partnership will also participate. Mr. Hariprasad Hegde, Global Operations Head from Wipro, Ltd will provide a business perspective.

Experts will provide examples and policies that are working, and also the hurdles faced in creating equal access for impoverished communities within and surrounding these fast growing cities. The conference is a platform for people interested in environmental justice for water to talk to each other and build new partnerships. Attendees' ideas will be provided for the development of the UN's post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals.

The conference will tackle finance and economics for urban communities, technical solutions to serve growing populations, and leadership and management in the poorest cities.

The afternoon will be devoted to small group discussions with experts and participants focusing on specific solutions for specific places.

Philadelphia's Fairmount Water Works on the Schuylkill River will host a reception following the forum at Drexel. Transportation will be provided.

Registration:
Urban Water Solutions in the Developing World:
Sustainable Services and Just Policies for the Poor,
7th Annual Conference

WHEN:
April 10th, 2014, 8 AM - 4:30 PM
Reception 5PM to 7 PM

WHERE:
Behrakis Grand Hall
Drexel University
3210 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Reception to follow at:
Fairmount Water Works
640 Waterworks Drive
Philadelphia, PA

Online Registration
Students $10 -- General $60
Non-Government Organizations  $40
Visit www.pgwi.org to register

The Philadelphia Global Water Initiative is a network committed to helping meet the UN Millennium Development Goals for water and sanitation throughout the world. The non-profit organization increases global access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Members include Drexel University, the University of Pennsylvania, and technical experts and companies working in water and sanitation throughout the world.