World Water Summit and Global Recognition for Aqualia
Aqualia was honored as the “Best Water Company of the Year” at the Global Water Awards 2023, a prestigious accolade presented during the Global Water Summit. The award, described by Global Water Intelligence as the “Oscar of Water,” highlighted the company for making the most significant contribution to the international water industry in 2022. The selection process saw strong competition from notable global players, including Veolia, Aegea Saneamento, and Almar Water Solutions. This distinction reflects a sustained commitment to excellence across financial performance, commercial strategy, and sustainability initiatives that define Aqualia’s leadership in the sector.
The judging panel, composed of global subscribers to Global Water Intelligence, placed particular emphasis on the company’s achievements in 2022. Key factors included successful green financing arrangements led by CaixaBank and a comprehensive energy efficiency and emissions reduction plan valued at approximately 1.1 billion euros. The award also recognized progress in renewing a substantial portion of the company’s Strategic Sustainability Plan, alongside successful new contracts and acquisitions in diverse markets such as Georgia, France, Colombia, and Saudi Arabia. These milestones illustrate a robust expansion strategy coupled with a steadfast focus on sustainable operations and responsible governance in the water sector.
Another notable moment from Aqualia’s portfolio was the Abu Rawash wastewater treatment plant project in Cairo, Egypt. This project was a finalist in the category of Best Treatment Plant of the Year and represents a significant achievement in wastewater management. The plant treats around 1.6 million cubic meters of wastewater daily and serves more than 9 million people, contributing to the purification of the Nile River. This initiative underscores the company’s role as a catalyst for development in Africa, supporting critical infrastructure for one of the world’s most populous regions.
Global Water Summit Experience
The Global Water Awards 2023 were announced during the Global Water Summit gala dinner, a premier benchmarking event for the water industry. Berlin hosted this week-long gathering, which brought together about 850 leading water management professionals from around the world. Attendees included executives from major operators, representatives of public administrations, and leaders of various organizations involved in water stewardship. This forum serves as a convergence point for sharing insights, benchmarking performance, and exploring collaborative solutions across the global water sector.
The event also offered a platform for Aqualia to showcase its expertise in water management through active participation in the technical program. Notably, Guillermo Moya, head of the Europe Region, and José Enrique Bofill, head of the MENA-Asia Region, contributed to the general panel and the water leadership panel, respectively. They joined discussions focused on strategic issues and the financing of sustainable development goals related to water, facilitating dialogues on the future of integrated and resilient water systems. These sessions provided opportunities for knowledge exchange and highlighted Aqualia’s leadership in global water management.
In addition, Zouhair Arbib, who leads the Sustainability area of the Research and Development department, moderated a roundtable on wastewater treatment in small and medium-sized towns. Country managers Javier Sierra and Javier Díaz led discussions on job opportunities and local capacity-building in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, respectively, underscoring the company’s commitment to regional development and workforce growth as part of broader sustainability objectives.