DENVER, CO, Dec. 14, 2011 -- CH2M HILL announced that the first WaterMatch MeetUp was held during the 20th World Petroleum Congress in Doha, Qatar. Individuals representing the energy industry from around the world gathered at the CononcoPhillips-GE Global Water Sustainability Center to learn more about and get a demonstration of WaterMatch -- CH2M HILL's grassroots, goodwill initiative that harnesses the power of social networking to promote the beneficial reuse of municipal effluent for industrial and agricultural use -- and to network for potential reuse matches.
Water is a critical component of operations in the energy industry, making securing a reliable water supply imperative for successful business. As water reuse is a proven, effective way to help conserve and better manage the limited water resources on our planet, WaterMatch (www.ch2mhill.com/watermatch) was developed to help water generators and users connect at a local level to spur along progress. The WaterMatch website uses social networking and geospatial mapping to connect water generators with water users, such as those in the oil and gas industry. Once online, water users use the WaterMatch Map to find wastewater treatment plants close to their current and potential future operations and then use the social networking function to connect with the utilities operating those plants.
To foster "matchmaking" even further, WaterMatch MeetUps are being organized and held around the world to provide an informal setting to allow municipalities and businesses find reuse matches and discuss other common local interests. The WaterMatch MeetUp in Doha during the Congress was the first MeetUp held. Attendees from around the world gathered together at the Center to get a demonstration of WaterMatch and to network for potential reuse matches. For energy industry users, WaterMatch:
• enables access to information and creation of local relationships to enable the expansion of municipal effluent reuse in their operations;
• promotes public-private partnerships and the reduction of fresh water use around the world;
• and increases the water supply diversity and reliability for their operations, because municipal effluent offers a secure source of good quality water.
"Many of the MeetUp attendees were interested in using WaterMatch to help find water resources when siting new facilities, while others saw the benefit of potentially making modifications to existing facilities, especially those in water scarce areas," shared Jan Dell, CH2M HILL Vice President who organized and led the MeetUp. "The WaterMatch concept has been very well-received by the oil and gas industry in general, and many Doha MeetUp attendees signed up to get started using the tool and making matches immediately. As water reuse has such an important role to play in the water scarce Middle East, we are pleased that the Center is going to continue to show the WaterMatch video to visitors with the goal of educating more individuals about the need for water reuse and to help continue to grow the user database. The more completed profiles on the network, the more matches that can be made."
Headquartered near Denver, Colorado, USA, employee-owned CH2M HILL is a global leader in consulting, design, design-build, operations, and program management for government, civil, industrial and energy clients.
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