Water issues workshop convened in Washington

More than 40 representatives of ASME, water and energy companies, and other organizations gathered in Washington, D.C., in May for a two-day Water Management Technology Vision and Roadmap Workshop.

During the workshop, which was sponsored by ASME and held at the National Academy of Sciences, participants considered the technical, market, and social drivers influencing the water industry now and in the future, and articulated their vision of the desired role for ASME in the water management technology markets of the future. In attendance were ASME members and staff, and key leaders from water and energy industries, trade associations, academia, and federal government agencies.

Water management technology is a key area of interest to ASME members. According to Sen. Pete V. Domenici, R-N.M., in his welcome letter to workshop participants, more than 7 percent of ASME's members are directly or indirectly involved in the water management technology industry.

"Managing water in the United States is more complex than ever before," Domenici wrote. "As the population continues to grow, so do the competing demands for this finite resource. Water issues must be carefully balanced and managed to best accommodate residential, industrial, agricultural, power generation, environmental, and recreational needs. Recognizing the importance of water management to its membership, ASME seeks to define its appropriate role in this important area."

Workshop attendees participated in three breakout sessions covering the areas of research (including developing best practices and improving technology transfer or application); implementation (including employing best practices, developing codes and standards, overcoming financial and technical barriers, and developing partnerships); and education, outreach, and training (developing courses, distance learning, books, conference papers, periodicals, Internet communities, certification and licensure, continuing education, and other forms of communication).

The information generated during the workshop will be developed into a Water Management Technology Vision and Roadmap, used to provide a strategic approach for ASME to follow through 2012. The final report will include the following topics: trends shaping water management over the next five years; vision and goals for ASME to achieve in water management; current issues and gaps in water management technology; activities for ASME to implement that meet the needs of the water management community; and collaborative opportunities to accelerate the development and implementation of high-priority water-related projects.

ASME plans to use this information to identify new products and services such as publications, conferences, courses, codes and standards, and collaborative research and development projects that will benefit both ASME members and the nation at large.

For more information, call Michael Tinkleman, director, ASME Center for Research and Technology Development, at (202) 785-7394, or visit the CRTD page on ASME.ORG, http://crtd.asme.org.

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