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International Conference on Wastewater Treatment Technologies 2025 Successfully Concludes
9 December 2025
The International Conference on Wastewater Treatment Technologies 2025 was successfully held on 9 December 2025 at the Science Museum. Co-organised by the Drainage Services Department (DSD) and the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers – Civil Division, the conference convened under the theme "Hong Kong – International Confluence: Microbial Synergy for Green Wastewater Treatment Horizons".
The event featured a distinguished roster of speakers from around the world and attracted an exceptional turnout of over 300 attendees, filling the venue to capacity. Participants included government officials, leading academics, industry professionals and key stakeholders.
Before the start of the conference, all participants observed a moment of silence to mourn the victims of the Tai Po fire.
Keynote Address: A Blueprint from Hong Kong
In his keynote speech, Ir Ringo MOK Wing-cheong, JP, the Director of Drainage Services, presented the conference theme, Confluence and Synergy, as a practical blueprint for urban water management. He positioned Hong Kong as a definitive case study, demonstrating how the DSD operationalises these principles through the confluence of advanced technology, community needs and environmental goals to create transformative synergy. He concluded that this approach, as embodied in DSD's pioneering projects, offers a scalable model and a vital strategy for achieving urban water sustainability worldwide.
Global Exchange on Technical Frontiers
Building on this vision, the conference facilitated a robust exchange of global expertise through three focused technical sessions:
Session 1 explored the starting point for smarter treatment through Innovative Bioprocesses and Digital Modelling.
Session 2 focused on the path from Sludge to Sustainability by Advancing Digestion and Decarbonisation.
Session 3 shared strategies for Optimising Operations, Resource Recovery and Plant Performance.
Experts from the Netherlands, Australia, Ireland, the Chinese Mainland, Germany, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong shared cutting-edge insights and practical experiences.
Conclusion: A Foundation for Future Collaboration
True to its theme, the conference translated Confluence and Synergy into action, creating a dynamic forum for addressing critical frontiers in wastewater management. Hosting this dialogue in Hong Kong, a global meeting point that inspired the theme, provided a powerful context for collaboration. The discussions, partnerships and ideas exchanged here form a substantive foundation for advancing sustainable, resilient, and innovative wastewater solutions globally.
Ir Alice Chow, President of the HKIE, delivering the welcome address, framing the professional dialogue around the conference themes of "Confluence" and "Synergy".
Ir Ringo MOK Wing-cheong, JP, the Director of Drainage Services, delivering the keynote speech, elaborating that the principles of "Confluence" and "Synergy" embodied in the conference theme represent a practical blueprint for Hong Kong to integrate advanced technology, community needs and environmental goals for sustainable water management.
(From left) Prof YUAN Zhiguo of City University of Hong Kong moderated the first session, engaging with Prof Mark van LOOSDRECHT (Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands), Prof Damien BATSTONE (University of Queensland, Australia) and Dr Eoin SYRON (University College Dublin, Ireland) on leveraging innovative bioprocesses and digital modelling to drive the future of smarter wastewater treatment.
(From left) Prof POON Chi-sun of The HKIE (Civil Division) moderated the second session, facilitating in-depth exchange with Dr BAI Yu (Beijing Drainage Group Co., Ltd., China), Prof Max DOHMANN (RWTH Aachen University, Germany) and Mr Bart KRAAKMAN (Jacobs Consultant, the Netherlands) on technologies and strategies for sludge-to-resource conversion, advanced digestion, and decarbonisation.
(From left) Prof LI Xiangdong of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University moderated the final session, where Prof ZHOU Yan (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore), Ir Mohd Taufik SALLEH (Indah Water Konsortium, Malaysia) and Ir PUN Siu Kit, Suki (Drainage Services Department, Hong Kong) shared practical experiences and innovative solutions for optimising plant performance and enhancing resource recovery.