The b2b premiere show for plumbing, sanitation, bathroom fitting and water management system, focused on water conservation and the need for sustainable and water efficient plumbing accessories and sanitation technologies. COVID-19 pandemic has brought the spotlight on hygiene and sanitation as key measures for healthy living with safe, smart, sustainable building technology solutions.
The digital event showcased products by industry leaders like Birla HIL, Aquaviva India, Sekisui Speciality Chemicals, Watertec (India), Wilo Mather & Platt, Ebara Machinery India, Bradford White Water Heaters, Kirloskar Brothers , Zoloto Valves, Brilloca Ltd (HSIL), and Astral Pipes, among others. It brought together the plumbing, real estate, architecture and design to discuss efficient usage of water conservation technologies in buildings of the future and was officiated by Avinash Mishra, Adviser, (Water & Land Resources, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Panchayati Raj, Tourism, Culture, Law & Justice, I&B) NITI Aayog, Government of India, together with the national presidents of the Indian Plumbing Association, CREDAI-MCHI, and the Institute of Indian Interior designers (IIID).
Avinash Mishra stated: “The recent pandemic of corona virus has taught us the prime role of water in maintaining hygienic practices. About 81% of rural households in India do not have individual piped water supply and about one billion people are living with water scarcity at least one part of the year. Through the Jal Jeevan Mission, the government is committed to ensure that 18 crore households across all villages in India will have potable water supply by 2024. It is high time that we resort to measures to address the crisis and adopt solutions for water conservation, water shed management, ground water recharge, rainwater harvesting, modern and efficient irrigation methods such as micro irrigation and precision farming, and water saving technology in sanitation.”
Elaborating on the steps taken in the real estate sector, Deepak Garodia, President CREDAI MCHI said: “Sewage treatment plants and recycling of water is our major concern. Every project above 20,000 sqft has a sewage treatment plant (STP) that recycles water to use in flushes, gardens, and for car washes. Although conservation of water is not easy, we are doing our bit by educating our consumers about the latest technologies available in the market to use water more efficiently.”
Highlighting the need for strong policies, Jabeen Zacharias, President, IIID stated: “Being an architect, we have to balance between customer demands and the need for water conservation. To make this a uniformed practise we need to institutionalise strong policies that highlight the importance of water as a resource. Once these policies are in place, builders, architects and associations can enforce them.”
Talking about the importance of right plumbing in any construction project, Gurmit Singh Arora, President, IPA, said: “The plumbing industry of India is pegged at Rs. 5 lakh crores. The corona virus onslaught has brought an increase in water demand with requirements of frequent hand washing, disinfection, and hygiene. With water supply already facing acute shortage, there is a need for the construction industry to focus on reduction in use of water resources and enhance water supply by methods like rainwater harvesting and waste water management. Right plumbing mechanisms not only supply fresh water but also take away wastewater in a hygienic way.”
Some of the key highlights displayed through the virtual platform include:
- E-Clenz by Hindware: An intelligent WM water closet that controls seat adjustment, water and dryer temperatures, water volume and nozzle position via a remote.
- CNX Water Management System by Watertec (India): An intelligent technical building system that can seamlessly control and analyse up to 150 drinking water installations via smart phones.
- SuperTube by Geberit: A revolutionary technology for India, the SuperTube is hydraulically optimised to deliver air ventilation and waste-water drainage through a single pipe system.
Washrooms 2.0
The two-day seminar hosted alongside the digital fair brought together industry experts and stakeholders from the architecture, design, realty, and technology sectors. A series of 6 knowledge sessions covering the fundamentals of design and materials used in buildings and its interiors, touched upon topics such as wastewater management and sustainability, attracting 532 attendees.
Design Materials and Classics
A session on Design Materials and Classics emphasised the need for green certification of products that are used in construction projects to increase their sustainability and improve the performance of the solutions used.
Building Architects and Beyond
Highlighting the need for synergy between architects and builders. Hari Eswaran, Vice President at Larsen & Toubro (Realty), stated: “Architects, builders and vendors form a supply chain for the building construction industry while the end customer is important to the entire value chain. The discussions at ISH India have been fruitful, and working together can certainly add great synergy to future projects.”
Concurred Sonali Bhagwati, President, DPA,: “The entire process of architectural development has gone through a quantum change. For the current projects, architects must be the composers that lead the team of vendors and consultants in ensuring that sustainable technologies are adopted.”
Waste-Water Management
The right treatment of waste water in residential and industrial areas can help recycle and re-use water. In India, people, communities and businesses are now getting sensitised over various crucial topics and this is the right time to encourage them to use water management systems. Crucial points like planning of water supply and storage to be considered in the initial stages of construction and architectural projects, the need for active initiative by corporates to make efficient use of water for flushing, gardening etc, as well as more women to lead projects regarding water conservation were the highlights of the seminar.
Simar Kohli Das, Founder Biomimicry / Lifetide, mentioned: “It is not just about the supply of adequate water but also about the right management of water as a resource. Treating water naturally and adding STPs for projects is essential for the efficient disposal and recycle of waste water in the country.”
Next Gen Washrooms
The panel discussion of Next Gen Washrooms highlighted the latest technologies for hygienic bathroom practices. Asutosh Shah, Managing Director, Duravit, sharing the latest trends in the segment, said: “Touchless is the future. With the current scenario making it even more important, sensor washrooms, toilets, urinals, faucets, basins, soap dispensers that can be used by apps on phones or voice control will be in major demand. Thermostatic technology will not only control the temperature but also the usage of water.”
Sustainable Luxury
At the session on Sustainable Luxury moderator Lipika Sud, President, The Guild of Designers and Artists, explained: “The perception of anything sustainable is that it is expensive. We, as designers, need to change this concept and explain the core reason of using materials and designs that are more sustainable in the long run, as these products are long lasting and better for people’s well-being.”
The busy digital market place enabled exhibitors and visitors to create a total of 4,650 contacts with 215 e-meetings scheduled and 175 business calls made. Although the current restrictions in the country have slowed down business sectors, the positive response received by ISH India powered by IPA Virtual Edition proves that industries are back to business and ready to network and continue trade conversations seriously.
Establishing itself as a focused b2b digital marketplace for buyers and sellers, the platform recorded 2,052 active attendees and serious business meeting. Commented Raj Manek, Executive Director and Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings: “The feedback from our customers has re-instilled confidence, both in the trade fair brand and the need for a virtual platform for business to continue in any given situation. We now aim to present our physical edition of ISH India powered by IPA exhibition from 20 – 22 May 2021 at the Bombay Exhibition Center in Mumbai.
