To catch up with events the News appear renewed so those earlier loaded are replaced. In particular, be informed about recent studies we keep doing outdoor. And, then your entries - the great exhibition ECWATECH-2002 and congress for water science and technology which took place in Moscow 4-7 June. It was an impressive event that many of us have never seen before. Firstly, the venue place, the "Guest Yard", that is uniquely located, just a footstep from the Red Square and the Moscow Kremlin. This essay is to provide only personal impression since the general outlook everybody may have by looking at http://www.sibico.com that company which so well organized both the meeting and expo or directly at http://www.ecwatech.ru.

Of special sessions the following three were of particular interest to a hydrologist:

• Water resources (surface water and ground water as separately),
• Emergencies related to floods and waste water releases,
• Environmental monitoring and water quality analysis.

I participated in the first of the above sessions with our studies for support engineering. Generally, all the reports submitted were published either briefly or in full on a CD-ROM and as a soft-covered book prior to the congress. Oral presentations and, respectively, full papers were of those works and study results which are assumed the most important to be used in industry, development and planning. Although, many of posters and brief papers were useful and specially attractive. I would like to note the most interesting (several reports I supplied with comments) as they demonstrate unprecedented variety of the research and development that, I believe, would draw attention and get a response.

Trade fair was placed in a huge hall covered of glass-made ceilings. There were about 1500 exhibitors from all over the world. It may be enough to say on such prominent in water works, operated world-wide, as the Halcrow Group (UK), NORIT (the Netherlands), Jaakko Poyry Infra (Finland), Hanna Instruments (Germany), Ondeo Nalco (headquartered in USA) and many others.

What was there of special interest to me? I did not know about how many peoples and companies are dedicated to water, consequently, how the water science can be versatile to support them (as well as to be supported). For an example, the Severn-Trent Water International Ltd. from Birmingham, UK on which (exactly on the Water Authority) I heard that they commissioned HYSIM, the model used in water resources management. They become a great company and, that is quite a new, provided a technical assistance for environmental policy in Novgorod, Russia.

There is a home company quite alike, the "HydroStroyInvest" Consortium (Moscow, Russia) which is the organization comprising a number (five more) companies specializing in solutions of water supply and water sewerage problems. Scientifically, the Consortium activity is headed by VODGEO, the leading institute dealing with the problem of protection and efficient use of water resources. It is gladly to see and talk that such companies being independent stock-holders, are able to promote our science to revive.

Of scientifically oriented products, I must mention on the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) Software (www.dhisoftware.com) hydrological modeling system, a GIS-based, extensively developed variance of the Systeme Hydrologique Europeen (SHI). The DHI Software products are applicable to most of the water-related issues: from purely scientific assessment of the climate change influence to water and soil management, urban drainage and sewer system design.

I certainly have to say about Russian companies operated in water economy. There are such firms as the "National Water Resources" (www.nwr.ru) which offers a full range of services on design, development, manufacturing, delivery, installation, start-up and maintenance in water treatment for residential and industry, waste water treatment and sewer pump stations. Also, "Potok", the engineering company providing software for the water supply and sewage operation, flexible GIS, graphics, network technology, the special software for hydraulic calculations, modeling and analysis. Overall, the exhibited was provided with booklets and clearly expounded by well informed specialists speaking Russian as well as English.

I hope to attend the next ECWATECH-2004 in Moscow which is announces to be 1-4 June, 2004. If anybody are thinking about where to exhibit their achievements this year, I could advise to make submittals to the following venues within our Commonwealth:

Minsk (Belorussia) - "Energy, Ecology, Economy", October, 8-11, mail to: energia@t-and-c.com.by
Chisinau (Moldova) - "Ecological Chemistry", October, 11-12, look at http://www.mrda.md/EcoChem02
Saint-Petersburg (Russia) - "AQUATERRA", November, 12-15, mail to: minerals@restec.ru

There would be a fall, and I look forward to see you at my web-site again!

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