Amsterdam Safety Planning and. Water and Sanitation. Extreme Weather Events. Pan-European Symposium on

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1 Amsterdam 2017 Pan-European Symposium on Water and Sanitation Safety Planning and Extreme Weather Events First Announcement 6-7 April 2017, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, This is a Protocol on Water and Health event supported by : Symposium organisation by: In cooperation with:

2 1 Introduction Floods, droughts and heavy precipitation, together known as extreme weather events, are becoming more frequent as a result of climate change. Between 1998 and 2007, in Europe alone, these events caused approximately 13.7 billion in terms of economic losses, which were largely uninsured. Over the same period the European Environment Agency reported that the average number of annual disastrous weather and climate-related events in Europe increased by approximately 65%. Floods and droughts are considered the most economically and socially destructive of all natural disasters accounting for about 90% of people affected by natural disasters. Globally, by 2030 the damage from floods and droughts may exceed 410 billion, primarily from floods. Extreme weather events can have major implications for the performance of water and waste water infrastructure and services and the availability of safe water for drinking water and domestic use). Related to sanitation, post-flood areas show a significant occurrence of water-related infectious diseases. Disease outbreaks following heavy precipitation or floods are often the result of contamination of the drinking-water supply systems due to increased run-off or inundation in the catchment area. During droughts drinking water availability and quality can be affected. Providing adequate services can be challenging. In response to extreme events, adaptation strategies are being developed and implemented at policy level but also by drinking water and sanitation service providers. Water safety plans (WSPs) and sanitation safety plans (SSPs), as recommended by the World Health Organization, offer comprehensive risk-based management tools to enhance these efforts focusing on preventive measures and emergency response and preparedness planning. During the pan-european Symposium Water and Sanitation Safety Planning and Extreme Weather Events, cross-cutting topics will be addressed by climate, health and water researchers and practitioners. Presentations and panel discussions will be organized with water and sanitation professionals and regulators, with experience in addressing extreme weather events, with a special focus on speakers and cases from the pan-european region (EU & EECA region). This event therefore presents a unique opportunity to share knowledge and experiences from within the region and to advance the topic of resilient planning for water supply and sanitation services. Working languages of the symposium are English and Russian.

3 2 Aim and scope The symposium aims to provide a platform for sharing information, presenting research and exchanging experiences on dealing with climate-change-induced extreme weather events and the effects on and options for water and waste water service providers in the pan-european Region on how to effectively manage systems in light of these pressures. The focus will be on the relation between extreme weather events and water services, and their affiliated health implications. Specifically, the following key topics will be covered. Regulatory requirements for effective preparedness planning in relation to extreme weather events: what do operators need from their governments in order to provide safe and efficient (extreme event resilient) water and sanitation services? Climate resilient Water Safety Planning in the Pan-European region Sanitation Safety Planning in the Pan-European region. Effects of heavy precipitation and flooding on water supply (source-to-tap) and sanitation systems (waste water sewerage, waste water treatment plants) and adaptation strategies Effects of droughts on water quality and availability, especially for drinking water purposes, and adaptation strategies Spatial planning and sustainable green infrastructure for resilient water and sanitation services and urban water system resilience Holistic risk assessment/ risk management approaches and tools; interactions of drinking water supply and sanitation sector with other sectors as part of the adaptation strategies (eg agriculture, industry, energy) Climate change and health, water-related emerging infectious diseases. Integrated asset management for water and sanitation services and extreme weather events Leapfrogging technologies for resilient water and sanitation services in transitioning countries Investment and financing for climate resilient water and sanitation services Cost versus benefits of adaptive planning to deal with droughts and floods The WHO/UNECE Protocol of Water and Health to the UNECE Water Convention This symposium is part of the programme of work of the WHO regional Office for Europe and UNECE Protocol on Water and Health. The Protocol aims to improve water, sanitation and health through better management and governance in the Pan-European region. In this region about 14 million people still lack access to basic drinking water sources and over 60 million lack access to basic sanitation. For more information on the Protocol see It is envisaged to present the symposium outcomes at the forthcoming Protocol on Water and Health meetings and to build future Protocol s activities on the symposium results and outcomes.

4 3 Keynote Paul Hunter Paul Hunter is Professor of Health Protection at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom. He has extensive experience of work in most fields of Health Protection. He has an honorary contract as Consultant Medical Microbiologist with the Norfolk and Norwich NHS Trust. His primary interests are in food and waterborne transmitted enteric infections and emerging infectious disease, especially those with a zoonotic origin. He has also a strong interest on climate and infectious disease, especially waterborne and vector borne disease.

5 4 Programme The programme will be constructed around papers that are submitted in relation to the conference topics. Scientific papers, as well as documented case studies and general review papers are all encouraged for submission. Workshops will be prepared with various discussions and goals. Goals could be to introduce an innovative management concept or to enable a place for discussion between industry and regulators on applications and impediments for large-scale introduction of new approaches. Discussions on future needs and road maps for science and application are also invited. A dedicated regulators forum is envisaged which allows regulators to discuss possibilities of uptake of some of the risk-based management approaches in their countries. Symposium languages In order to enable participation of all protocol affiliates and others who are interested in the symposium topics, within the pan-european region, both English and Russian will be working languages during the symposium. Planning July November 2016 December March April 2017 First Announcement and call for abstracts Deadline for abstracts of papers and posters for the conference Second Announcement and invitation to registrar Deadline submission full papers and posters Conference and workshops

6 5 Submission of papers and posters: All abstracts should be written in English or Russian. An international Programme Committee will review the abstracts. Only papers and posters presented in person by the author(s) will be accepted. Authors must be able to meet their own expenses and fee. When submitting your proposal online, you will find a more detailed list of key words that we will use to categorise your submission and match it with appropriate reviewers. Papers and posters within the scope of the conference are welcome. Authors should submit an abstract of about 1,000 words (2 pages) to the Conference Secretariat, before November 1st, The contributions should focus on the topics mentioned. Send also a photograph and a short text about yourself with your abstract. Once all abstracts have been reviewed and as the final programme for the symposium is developed, the selected papers, and posters will be grouped into appropriate sessions. The names of the themes, tracks and topics may change to reflect these groupings. Full instructions on how to prepare and submit your proposal are available online at Some limited funding will be available to support the participation of experts from South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Request for funding should be submitted together with the abstracts. Please contact the conference secretariat for more information on how to apply. Platform presentations Proposals for platform presentations on current issues or developments, regulatory issues and new water or wastewater technologies are especially welcomed. Submissions (platform and poster) must be in the form of an outline paper (two pages of text, plus maximum two additional pages of tables and figures). Poster presentations If you present a poster paper it will be on display for two days and eligible for a best poster award which will be announced at the symposium closing ceremony. Oral and poster presentations are accorded equal status. The difference from a platform presentation is that you should let your poster do the talking ; i.e. the material presented must convey your key points. If you prefer to present a poster please note this when you submit your abstract.

7 6 Selection criteria Language Presentations must be in English or Russian and clearly define the objectives, status, methodology, findings and significance of the review, investigation or study. Originality Does the subject matter fit the theme of the symposium? Is the work interesting and likely to prompt discussion? To be accepted for presentation a proposal needs to deal with breakthrough technology, new concepts or novel applications of established concepts. You can describe improvements to existing theories and present new data to support them. Status of project Are the conclusions and work reported correct and valid? A successful proposal needs to establish that the project or case study is well developed. If you can demonstrate concrete results that are supported by data or results your proposal is more likely to be accepted. Technical content Make sure that you state the objectives and scope of the project, the conditions under which the data was obtained, the procedures or methodology you used, and the conclusions. Benefits and significance What are the benefits of the project? What is its significance for your local area, country or other countries in the region? Quality Is the proposal clearly set out and understandable? The committee will consider the quality of the proposal as indicative of the quality of the final presentation. It is therefore in your interests to prepare your proposal with care, organise your material well, write clearly in plain English or Russian and prepare your graphics professionally and make sure your information is accurate and up-to-date.

8 Organizing Committee: Monique Bekkenutte Luuk Rietveld Johannes Boonstra Hans Aalderink Lieke Friederichs Steven Kruize KNW Royal Dutch Water Association Technical University Delft Wetsus Deltares Netherlands National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) International Water Conferences Programme committee Oliver Schmoll Fransesca Bernadini Pritha Hariram Zoran Vojinovic Jelka Appelman Josefina Maetsu Bettina Rickert Ana Maria de Roda Husman Harold van den Berg Lieke Friederichs WHO Regional Office for Europe UN Economic Commission for Europe International Water Association (IWA) UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment Spain Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente The German Environment Agency (UBA) RIVM RIVM RIVM Information: Conference secretariat IWC Koningskade AA Den Haag The Netherlands wssp@iwcconferences.com (latest news and registration)