SPONSORS: Virgin Islands, Water Resources Research, Institute - UVI, Puerto Rico, Water Resources and Environmental Research Institute, U.S. Geological Survey

THE CONGRESS PROGRAM:

Water resources issues affecting the lives of the people living in the Caribbean and tropical countries are as diverse as their culture, history and politics. A major concern in one island may be that the lack of surface and ground water forces residents to use seawater desalination as the only source for satisfying potable water demands. Yet, a neighboring island might be interested in controlling flooding problems or the degradation of water quality produced by streams and rivers in steep watersheds. Additionally, some islands are of volcanic origin with mountainous terrain while others are of limestone origin with low relief and constantly in danger from ocean swells. With all their diversity, the islands do have many similarities. They all have distinct rainy seasons often punctuated with hurricanes; have national objectives that include preservation of coastal waters from land based contamination; have a need for waste water disposal with minimal environmental impact; and a need to better manage and conserve limited water resources. With all their peculiarities, how are the water resources policies in these countries responding to the accelerated changes taking place due to the globalization? How is the society preparing to deal with new water resources management that includes conservation, reuse, rehabilitation of water systems and increased costs of preserving and creating new infrastructure? These are some of the important issues to be addressed in this Congress.

The Congress program will be organized to facilitate presentation of papers on the wide range of topics that are relevant to the continually growing needs of the islands. There will be concurrent technical sessions on areas of particular interest, plenary sessions on topics of more general interest, and feature presentation by prominent persons well versed in subjects of interest to all. The program will provide (1) an exchange of ideas and information for water resources investigators, educators, consultants, and management professionals; (2) an update on the current water resources situation in the Tropics and the Caribbean; and (3) sharing and transfer of data, technology, and management practices.

For More information, contact the congress website at http://prwreri.uprm.edu/7CIWRC

Or:
HENRY H. SMITH - Congress General Chair Congress Technical Program Chair
Virgin Island Water Resources
Research Institute
(340) 693-1062
Fax: (340) 693-1065
E-Mail : hsmith@uvi.edu

SANGCHUL HWANG
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
(787) 832-4040 x3454
Fax: (787) 832-8260
E-Mail: shwang@uprm.edu