TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition on water and wastewater, also known as Watex, opened in Iran's capital Tehran on Monday.
The 13th International Water and Wastewater Exhibition, which will run until Thursday, is hosting 258 domestic firms and 105 companies from Italy, Germany, Spain, France, Britain, Japan, China, South Korea and India.
The four-day exhibition is an opportunity to raise funds for a plethora of underdeveloped and new ventures in Iran's water and wastewater industry and a showcase for wide-ranging services and equipment, such as pipes, water filtration and sweetening systems, automation solutions and measuring equipment.
Grappling with increasingly dwindling water resources, persistent drought and high levels of consumption, the Iranian government is stepping up efforts to modernize the country's dilapidated water supply network, build new treatment facilities and employ cutting-edge irrigation systems to curb the excessive use of water.
Earlier this month, Sattar Mahmoudi, Iran's caretaker energy minister, said at least 30 percent of Iran's water and wastewater infrastructure require repairs, a tall order that will more than likely require billions of U.S. dollars in investment.
