In view of this context, the Center for New Water Technologies (CENTA), with the support of United Nations, the Spanish Ministry of Environment, the Andalusian Water Agency and the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation, is organizing the 2nd International Conference SmallWat07 on Wastewater Treatment in Small Communities www.smallwat.org This meeting will be held in Seville (Spain) on November 11-15, 2007.

SmallWat07 intends to set itself as the prelude of the International Year of Sanitation (2008) since, on one hand, it will analyze the world sanitation and purification status at the small scale through regional experiences, and on the other hand, it will communicate the last scientific and technical advancements in the subject, with a special interest in non-conventional technologies which are the best to adjust to small communities, mainly due to its low costs and management simplicity.

The general approach of the congress agrees with some of the goals established in the first preparatory meeting of the International Year of Sanitation (2008), where the need to promote a greater dissemination of the aspects related to sanitation and hygiene at the local, national and international levels, was determined.

According to the recent Directives of the European Commission in favor of sustainable development and a thorough and more effective management of the resources, one of the goals of SmallWat07 is to make knowledge available to society, supporting the implementation of measures that promote equality and reduce the differences between developed and developing countries. In short, to compromise and give support to the compliance of the Millennium Goals, putting knowledge to the service of the most vulnerable communities.



From this point of view and taking into account the dual character of SmallWat07 analysis of regional views of sanitation in small communities and scientific-technical progress, our main objective is to offer an as complete as possible approach of the sanitation situation in small communities, putting our best effort to bring together science and society. Only by doing this will we be able to effectively use research results to support the Millennium Development Goals, which determine the year 2015 as the deadline to reduce in half the world poverty rates, being the lack of access to potable water and the scarce or deficient sanitation systems two of the causes that contribute to increase this extreme situation.

As a broad outline, the main objectives of this initiative could be summarized in the following aspects:

- To create a meeting point to make available to the public the latest scientific and technical advancements, as a prelude to the International Year of Sanitation 2008.
- To analyze the role and current situation of wastewater purification in small communities at a global level.
- To promote the establishment of a debate arena where managers, technicians and users can identify their main problems in this matter and outline possible solutions.
- To move forward in the accomplishment of the goals stated in European regulations regarding wastewater purification in small communities.
- To promote sustainable development through a series of measures that help to alleviate the differences between developed an developing countries, taking into account the parameters established by the United Nations in the Millennium Development Goals.

The program of SmallWat07 is structured around two main sections: the scientific-technical aspects (morning sessions) and the regional analysis ones (afternoon sessions).

After the deadlines, a selection was made from around 200 papers for oral presentations and posters. In total, seven simultaneous scientific sessions will take place on the mornings of the 13th and 14th of November; these ones will be grouped as following:

- Constructed wetlands (2 sessions).
- Panaerobic processes, sludge and sequential batch reactors.
- Tertiary treatment and reuse.
- Management in small communities.
- Extensive treatments (2 sessions).
- Membrane bioreactors and biofilm systems.

Given the amount and quality of the papers related with wetlands and management that have been presented, the Organizing Committee decided to increase the number of sessions for oral presentations. Each scientific session includes a key note presentation.

There is a poster session for those papers that, due to organization limitations, have not been included in the oral presentations. The participants will be able to meet the attendants and answer questions regarding their presentations a half hour before the afternoon sessions, from Monday to Wednesday.



On the other hand, since the Conference will be held in Spain, the program will also include the analysis of the situation in the Regional Governments (CCAA). Hence, we have organized a session on Tuesday morning with representatives from the different Spanish CCAA to discuss this matter.

In the afternoon, the attendants will be offered regional views on the current world situation regarding purification and sanitation in small communities, including a general approach of the region and an analysis of several countries. Thus, we count with the participation of members of the Honor and Organizing Committees as well as important representatives of international organizations (UNESCO, WHO, World Bank), General Directors of Water, University Professors of acknowledged prestige, etc.


The official opening act of SmallWat07 will take place on Monday morning, November 12th, and will be followed by several keynote presentations that will allow the attendants to learn about the world situation from different perspectives.

The closing ceremony will take place on Thursday 15th, with the presentation of the main conclusions of each day and a visit to the Experimental Plant of Carrión de los Céspedes (Seville).