Where the World of Dewatering Came Together:
A First-of-Its-Kind Conference “Navigating the Future of Groundwater Control” The Dewatering Institute Conference 2025, Amsterdam
For the first time in TDI’s five-year history, the global dewatering and groundwater community gathered in person. Where better to gather than Amsterdam? A city built on water management in the most literal sense, in a country that has made the relationship between people and water its defining story for centuries. The culture of openness, collaboration, and pragmatic problem-solving that Amsterdam embodies felt entirely in keeping with the spirit of TDI, and for international delegates arriving for the first time, it made for an unforgettable backdrop.
And the result was an experience that brought the global dewatering community to life: the energy, the spontaneity, and the sheer depth of connection that comes from being in the same room as the people who share your professional world.
Contractors, consultants, academics, regulators, young professionals, and seasoned veterans — they came from Europe, North America, the Middle East, and beyond. Over two days in Amsterdam, they presented, debated, learned, challenged one another, and, perhaps most importantly, simply talked. The conversations that happened in the corridors and over coffee were just as valuable as those that happened on stage. The programme also took delegates beyond the conference room: a site visit to Bronbemaling’s Hyde Park Project in Hoofddorp gave attendees a first-hand look at dewatering in action, grounding the technical discussions of the two days in real-world practice.
A Community made Visible
One of the most striking things about the TDI Conference 2025 was the breadth of the people in the room. This is an industry that spans continents and disciplines, and seeing that represented in a single venue gave the event an atmosphere that was both professional and genuinely moving for those who have been part of TDI’s journey from the beginning.
For Guido van Tongeren from Bronbemaling.com, the significance wasn’t lost. “It’s the first time ever that the same people from the same industry across the world meet each other physically in one place,” he said.
“Most of the colleagues I only know from LinkedIn.”
It was great to meet with people at all stages of their careers, from Europe, North America and the Middle East who are interested and passionate about the professional world that I have inhabited for the last 40 years.”
That sense of shared passion, across generations, geographies, and roles, was the invisible thread that ran through the entire event.
The Presentations: Technical Depth, Real-World Relevance
The conference programme delivered on the promise of substantive, industry-relevant content, spanning cutting-edge technology, project case studies, regulation, sustainability, and the future of the profession.
Attendee feedback reflected the quality: the conference scored 97.6% overall satisfaction, with particularly strong ratings for networking (95.6%) and logistics (94.2%).
Young professionals were a particular highlight. Their contributions, both as presenters and as participants in discussion, brought fresh perspectives and a confidence that bodes extremely well for the next generation of the industry. Bas Davies, a 29-year-old project leader at Bronbemaling.com, captured the spirit with refreshing directness: “In this world where everything is rapidly changing, it’s not good to be conservative. We need to take a step forward.”
Claire Howarth, Technical Principal of Groundwater at Mott MacDonald and a hydrogeologist, described the experience as a genuine shift in perspective:
“Bringing together a real interesting community of experienced dewatering experts to actually challenge ourselves to the future of the world’s problems.”
“It’s really been an amazing collaboration to start thinking differently about how we become the groundwater managers of our future.”
Panel Discussion from the left, Claire Howarth – Technical Principal (Groundwater) at Mott MacDonald, Bronson Gerken – Vice President and Technical Services at Griffin Fluid Management and David Beniston – Managing Director at Andam International/Professional Hydrogeologist.
The Big Conversations: Innovation and Technology Transfer
A recurring theme across sessions was the role of innovation, and where it is most likely to come from. There was broad agreement that many of the most significant advances will arrive through technology transfer from other sectors: electrically driven drilling rigs, more sophisticated real-time monitoring systems, and the evolving capabilities of data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) among them.
The conversation around AI was nuanced and honest. The potential for large language models and autonomous systems to reshape elements of dewatering design is real. The consensus was clear: active engagement is the only credible response.
A World of Different Regulations
One of the most eye-opening aspects of the conference for many attendees was the stark contrast in regulatory environments across different regions.
Mohamed Kasim Ossama, General Manager of Hydroserv Qatar, offered a vivid illustration: “In Europe or North America, the quantity of water you pump from dewatering is a lot less. In the Middle East we pump a lot of water — it’s an extreme difference.”
Francois Gous of Project Dewatering Limited offered a measured view: “The future of groundwater control, especially in the UK, is going to be where regulations rule at the end of the day.”
A theme that recurred across multiple sessions was the critical importance of early contractor involvement — not just for design, but for navigating regulation before construction begins.
