WQRA panel to debate 'Pathogen X'

'What's Bugging you? The Emergence of Pathogen X' will focus on pathogens of emerging concern to Australian water suppliers, regulators and the community, and look at how science can underpin regulation and drive new practices to help ensure safe water for Australians.

It is no secret that the water industry as a whole has made one of the greatest societal contributions to public health  through the management of water supplies, in particularly the separation of  waste streams from potable water sources. The continued provision of safe water provides challenges globally, with new threats emerging in the face of climate change, increasing urbanisation and new approaches to the supply of water.

The workshop will pose a hypothetical situation to debate the state of our knowledge and explores short and long-term responses to emerging threats to public health.  Do we really know everything there is to know about pathogens in water, or have we only just scratched the surface? Are existing management practices flexible enough to cope with new threats, or should we be adopting new approaches for management? What are the roles for government and industry in managing new threats and can existing arrangements cope with the potential variety of new threats?

A panel-style ‘great debate’, the workshop will feature leading experts from industry, regulatory bodies and universities, on microbial risk assessment. The debate and integrated discussion will examine the emergence of a hypothetical Pathogen X in Australian drinking water and what actions could be considered (and who should take them). The panel will explore both sides of the debate – for or against.

This workshop is targeted at anyone who wants to challenge their thinking in looking at microbial risk assessment and the response of industry, regulators and science. The target audience is key decision makers in risk mitigation for pathogens in water utilities, private industry, regulatory bodies and research organisations.

The key outcome for this workshop is to engender discussion for mitigating emerging public health risks for the water industry as it faces an ever-changing and increasingly complex operating environment. The workshop is facilitated by an expert chair, who will encourage a high level of audience participation and robust discussion.  This workshop will be fun, informative and, most of all, provocative. You can’t afford not to be there!

For more information, go to the Ozwater'12 website at www.ozwater.org. Ozwater'12 will be held from 8-12 May, 2012, at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darlin Harbour, NSW. The WQRA wrokshop will be held on Thursday 11 May.