Dutch water solutions for water challenges in Los Angeles

After a onsite trade mission to California in 2019, the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP), the Netherlands Business Support Office in Los Angeles (NBSO LA) and the Consulate General of the Netherlands in San Francisco (CGSF) joined forces to explore opportunities for Dutch water partners in Los Angeles. It was soon clear that the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, one of the largest metropoles in the world and larger than the Netherlands, provided a potentially huge opportunity for the Dutch water sector.

Water challenges and opportunities

On 23 June 2020, a first introductory webinar on the water sector in Los Angeles was organised. We learnt that Los Angeles faces major challenges when it comes to the quality, quantity and resiliency of water. Moreover, considering the warm climate and location, an originally dry scenery, Los Angeles is depending on imported water from the Northern part of California more than 60%. If we combine these circumstances with an increasing population (and therefore demand), climate change, water salination, outdated water infrastructures and systems, and other vulnerabilities, it is clear that Los Angeles needs to overcome enormous water challenges. 

On the bright side, the state, county and various cities have defined various measures, propositions and plans worth billions of dollars to address these challenges. These plans have been translated into several dozens of projects open for tendering and providing great opportunities for Dutch water solutions.

Gathered insights

After this webinar, a brainstorm session was organised on 1 September 2020. This session aimed at sharing ideas and knowledge on how to best reach and connect with the water sector in Los Angeles and all stakeholders associated to it. The brainstorm session led to the following conclusions:

• there is a need to work with local water partners, companies and organisations; 
• together we are better positioned to create opportunities and be a relevant partner; and,
• there is an intensive, challenging journey ahead that also offers a high reward for those willing and able to commit.

As a follow-up of the brainstorm session, a survey was shared with the participants and the broader NWP network to: verify the level of interest of Dutch partners in the market of Los Angeles; make an inventory of the different areas of expertise and experiences; and, determine the type of the desired support.

Upcoming webinar

On 10 May, the results of the survey will be shared as well as an opportunity report, based on the survey results, which will lead to a roadmap to success.

This event aims to enable Dutch water partners that are dedicated and committed to make the necessary investment (in terms of time and money) for concrete international collaboration in the long run.

Date: 10 May

Time: 19:00-20:30 CEST / 10:00-11:30 PDT

Platform: Zoom – link to be sent via mail to registered participants.

Programme:

• Presentation of the results of the survey.
• Launch of the 'Opportunity Report'.
• Presentation of a 'Roadmap to Success'.

Registration: the registration for this session has been closed.

Questions: for queries or further information, please contact Arjan Braamskamp, NWP Regional Manager Americas.