Dates are August 29-September 4, 2015 and the Congress will be held at the San Diego Convention Center. This will be the first time since 1999 that the IDA World Congress will take place in North America. The IDA adds that Southern California has a long and rich history in the development of desalination technology. Today, the region is home to numerous companies engaged in various aspects of the desalination industry as well as universities and research centres such as the UCLA Water Technology Research (WaTeR) Center. In addition, the Carlsbad Desalination Project, when completed, will be one of the largest SWRO plants in North America, providing San Diego County with a locally-controlled, drought-proof supply of high quality water that meets or exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards. “IDA has established a rigorous site selection process that includes visits to the bidding locations as well as evaluation according to a comprehensive set of criteria. Considerations include the availability of a venue with suitable size, layout, amenities and proximity to appropriate hotels; local support; good travel connections and customs/visa requirements; availability of plant tours and/or access to research centres; and regional interest in desalination,” said Patricia A. Burke, IDA Secretary General. Held every two years, the IDA World Congress is the premiere global event focused on desalination and water reuse. It features a four-day Technical Program, industry-leading Exhibition, plant tours, IDA Desalination Academy courses, an awards program, and extensive opportunities for networking throughout Congress week. Attendees include the world’s most prominent desalination industry players including end-users (utilities), manufacturers, suppliers, government officials, consulting engineers, project developers, financiers, researchers and scientists from around the globe. The 2013 IDA World Congress takes place October 20-25 in Tianjin, China.