International WASH Conference 2024 concludes at 8th India Water Week

The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, organized the International WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) Conference during the 8th India Water Week from 17th-19th September 2024 in New Delhi. The conference, with the theme ‘Sustaining Rural Water Supply’, focused on knowledge exchange, innovations, and best practices to tackle global WASH challenges, especially Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6).

The event saw significant participation from key officials, including Smt. Vini Mahajan, Secretary, DDWS, and others, and featured over 40 sessions, 143 paper presentations, and 5 panel discussions on water quality, greywater management, community engagement, and climate change adaptation.

Key Sessions and Highlights

Day 1: Focus on water disinfection technologies and community engagement in sustaining water supply schemes. The National Safe Water Dialogue reviewed the impact of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).

Day 2: Discussions on digital public infrastructure and the role of SCADA and IoT systems in water management. A concurrent session in Kolkata emphasized digital innovations in water management.

Day 3: A panel on achieving universal rural drinking water access discussed community participation and urban-rural water governance collaboration. A session on Behavior Change Communication (BCC) under JJM highlighted public trust in tap water.

Exhibition and Insights

The Swachh Sujal Gaon model village exhibition showcased India’s holistic WASH efforts. States/UTs displayed sustainable water and sanitation solutions, emphasizing India’s leadership in rural water management through the Jal Jeevan and Swachh Bharat Missions.

India Water Week Overview

The 8th India Water Week, held from 17th-20th September 2024, is a biannual event organized by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, inspired by Stockholm Water Week. With the theme “Partnerships and Cooperation for Inclusive Water Development and Management,” it brought together global experts, researchers, and decision-makers to discuss water resource management, fostering partnerships and technology-driven solutions for future water challenges.

Looking Ahead

The International WASH Conference 2024 emphasized the need for global collaboration, technology-driven innovations, and community-led solutions to ensure sustainable water resource management and address global water challenges.