The 30th Indian Plumbing Conference, the largest ever gathering of the Plumbing industry comes to Hyderabad, to be held in November with a theme Water-The New Currency

Hyderabad, October 28, 2024: The 3-day, 30th Indian Plumbing Conference, India’s largest Plumbing Conference coming to Hyderabad after a gap of 9 years. It will be held in the city from November 21 to 23rd at Hitex with a theme of Water–the new currency. The theme emphasizes water’s vital role in sustainability and climate action, promoting initiatives like Green Credits and Water Credits to support India’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. By encouraging water-efficient technologies and aligning with national carbon reduction targets, this conference aims to enhance water management, inspire innovation, and foster economic resilience.

The conference will be organised by the 31-year-old Indian Plumbing Association (IPA), an NGO and an apex body of plumbing professionals in India, which has over 7000 members across India.

Shri Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, the Deputy CM, Government of Telangana; Shri D. Sridhar Babu, Minister for IT, Electronics & Communications, Industries & Commerce, Government of Telangana were invited as the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour respectively.

The Keynote Speaker will be Mr. Søren Nørrelund Kannik-Marquardsen, Commercial Counsellor, Head of the Trade Council New Delhi & Regional Coordinator for South Asia, Embassy of Denmark in India

1500 plus delegates from across India and abroad will participate. Eighty exhibitors to showcase their products and services. More than 5000 visitors are expected to visit the conference cum expo.

This year’s conference will be the largest gathering of plumbing, water, sanitation, and building industry experts from around the globe.

The conference will host engaging technical sessions and panel discussions, including Water—The New Currency; Moving Towards Net Zero Water in the Built Environment; Water—Revitalizing the Heritage; High Challenges for High-Rise Buildings; Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene and Water Scenario in the Hospitality Sector

The conference will feature distinguished speakers, including Dr. Rama Kant, Deputy Adviser (PHE), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs; Shri. Avinash Mishra, Chairman, Water Audit Council & Former Adviser, NITI Aayog; Prof. Srinivas Chary, CEO, WASH Innovation Hub and Centre Director, ASCI; Shri. Stanley Samuel, Founder, Eco Soft PTE, Singapore; Shri. Nitin Bassi, Senior Program Lead, CEEW; Shri. Rahul Sachdeva, Senior Program Manager, NIUA; Shri. Goutam Reddy, Vice Chairman, RE Sustainability Ltd; Smt. Charu Thapar, Executive Director-Property and Asset Management, Asia Pacific JLL; Shri. HC Vinayaka, Vice President, Technical EHS and Sustainability, ITC; Shri. Prem Thakur, VP Technical Services, IHCL (Taj Group); Sh. Valluri Srinivas, CEO, Synergy Infra Consultants

Speaking at Marigold Hotel at the Curtain Raiser Meeting on Friday night on the Water Economy, Gurmit Singh Arora, the National President of IPA said There is no life without water. Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans.”

“Water is not just a resource; it is the lifeblood of our communities and economies. As we gather for the 30th Indian Plumbing Conference in Hyderabad, we embrace the theme ‘Water—The New Currency’ to highlight the critical importance of sustainable water management and innovative plumbing practices. Together, we can pave the way for a future where water is respected, conserved, and utilized to its fullest potential.”, he said.

By 2030, India will have less than half of the total water demand. As per a NITI Aayog report, by then India will be able to supply 744 billion cubic meters of water against a demand for 1,498 billion cubic meters — a shortfall of over 50 per cent. In recent incidences, we have seen Bengaluru and Chennai experiencing Day 0, Gurmit Singh added.

“Day Zero” is the situation when a city’s water supply is almost completely depleted. When “Day Zero” is reached, taps run dry, and municipalities may enforce water restrictions and rations, Gurmeet Singh, who is also the National President of the Indian Green Building Council. He is an expert on water conservation. His domain knowledge includes water treatment, wastewater treatment, water refining, sewerage treatment, protection and preservation of water bodies, water audits, plumbing methods and practices.

In the domestic water sector, the loss of water on account of leakages in mains, communication and service pipes and valves is approximately 30 to 40%5 of the total flow in the distribution system, he added

Speaking further he said, the present utilisation of water can be estimated as about 750 BCM (billion cubic meters) whereas, for the year 2050, it is estimated to be 1180 BCM.6

He explained water-saving calculations in residential projects with 3-star rating plumbing products. He also explained how improving processes and technologies enhance water efficiency. He stressed the importance of Water Auditing (the process that measures and analyzes water usage to identify ways to reduce water consumption and improve water conservation).

The Water Audit establishes the quantity and the volume of water being used, wastage, leakages, excess use etc and identifies areas where consumption can be reduced.

Gurmit Singh conducted the I Save Water Pledge. He made 300-plus audience in the hall take the pledge by raising their right hand in the affirmative and repeating the following lines after him

“I Pledge that

from today onwards

I Will Save Water

and Spread the Message

to Save Water

To my Family, Friends and Neighbours.

I am a Goodwill Ambassador

to Save Water

I am a Champion

We Are the Champions”

Avinash Mishra, Chairman of Water Audit Council (WAC), (an initiative of the Indian Plumbing Association) spoke about Water Audit. The former Adviser to Niti Aayog, Government of India on Water, Land Resources, Environment, Forests; Climate Change, Panchayat Raj Verticals. There is no water measurement in our country.

The primary objective of WAC is promoting water sustainability throughout India through extensive water audits of built-up areas, Avinash Mishra said. WAC conducts online training programs designed to train people to develop a holistic understanding of water management practices and prepare them for real-world challenges in the field of water auditing and management Avinash Mishra shared

The theme of the conference resonates deeply with the current global conversation about sustainability, resource management, and the pivotal role that water plays in our communities and economies. Water is a natural wealth and it is now being traded at some stock exchanges. Green credits and water credits are now the buzzwords, said Sanjay Bhilare, Chairman of Hyderabad Chapter, IPA while welcoming the gathering.

The conference will have knowledge-sharing sessions on water management in built spaces such as Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and others.

Elaborating on how significant this conference is to Hyderabad and Telangana, Sanjay said that Hyderabad is at a juncture of development. It has blooming and robust real estate recording rapid growth. Infrastructure projects are flourishing, and there is a need for robust plumbing systems, water, waste management, recycling of treated water and rainwater harvesting. Good plumbing not only ensures the longevity of our buildings but also enhances the quality of life for residents and communities, he added.

We will launch the Telugu version of ‘A Guide to Good Plumbing Practices’. It will be a Plumbing Engineering handbook, he added.

A Panel Discussion was organised on “Water Economy”. P. Sravan Kumar, Vice Chairman of the Hyderabad chapter of IPA moderated the discussion. Y. Linga Reddy, Chief Engineer, R&B, Govt of Telangana; Ar. VVL Narasimham, Chairman, Telangana Chapter, IIA; Avinash Mishra; M. Vijaya Sai, President, NAREDCO Telangana Chapter; C. Sekhar Reddy, National Vice President, IGBC; M.K.R. Sai, Senior President, Projects, My Home Group and Linga Reddy, Chief Engineer – R&B, Government of Telangana were the panellists

The panel delved into the essential role of water reuse and recycling within building infrastructure, advocating for a strategic approach based on Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Replenish, and Respect. They highlighted how this framework can conserve water while optimizing economic resources.

Goutam Reddy, Vice Chairman, RE Sustainability Ltd; Prof. Srinivas Chary, CEO, WASH Innovation Hub and Centre Director, ASCI; Srinivas Valluri, President, National FSAI and many other industry veterans graced the curtain raiser meeting

Some of the supporters of the conference according to Sanjay include Sudhakar Pipes, Lubrizol, Kirloskar, CRI Pumps and others.