Networking day brings young professionals in the drinking water sector closer together

The day was attended by more than eighty participants from the Dutch water companies and the Flemish De Watergroep. The programme began with two presentations. They looked at the Joint Research Programme, the collective research conducted by the water companies and KWR, and the sector’s major challenges.

Drinking water demand and water availability

Young colleagues from PWN and Waternet then gave a pitch about the increase in drinking water demand and reduced water availability and the implications for their organisations. Young KWR colleagues followed up with another pitch about how the collective research on drought, water quality, customer perspective and the energy transition helps to address these challenges. These pitches served as the basis for the lively discussions that followed.

The networking lunch was followed by an afternoon programme with different options. It included an excursion to the nearby water inlet point from the Lek Canal and a tour of the test hall and pilot projects at KWR. There was also a workshop for participants in the GRROW project, in which young drinking water professionals have discussions with the older generation.

Professional network

When the day ended, the participants expressed their enthusiasm about the opportunity it had afforded to discuss differences in approaches with colleagues from other water companies, to share challenges in their work, and to meet each other and build up a professional network. So this will not be the last networking day. Together with Royal Dutch Water Network (KNW), Jong Vitens intends to organise a meeting for young professionals in the entire water sector on 1 December 2022. Young drinking water professionals also expressed a need for exchanges and networking in the drinking water sector. KWR is therefore planning to organise a day specifically for young water professionals in 2023 as well.

The aim of the first Networking Day for young professionals in the drinking water sector was to bring together young professionals from the water companies and KWR.

The aim of the first Networking Day for young professionals in the drinking water sector was to bring together young professionals from the water companies and KWR.

The aim of the first Networking Day for young professionals in the drinking water sector was to bring together young professionals from the water companies and KWR.