ABSTRACT. The evolution of water management, exploring the balance between economic considerations, the pursuit of innovative solutions and the pressing needs of local communities toward a sustainable water future, will be the central theme of the speech. Key facts about the Limassol District Local Government Organisation, especially its longstanding role in water management, will provide the basis for addressing global and local water challenges and highlight the critical issues affecting the sector. Drawing on over 30 years of personal experience in the field, a reflection on the lessons learnt, including successful approaches and areas for improvement will be outlined focusing on technological innovation, policy development, and active community involvement. As a concluding message, there will be a call to action, urging collaboration across sectors, governments, researchers, and communities to work together towards a sustainable and equitable water management system.

ABSTRACT. The aging water infrastructure in Italy, exacerbated by historical underinvestment, demands strategic asset management to ensure sustainable water resources. Leveraging the Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza (PNRR), this study examines a comprehensive methodology integrating physical inspections and AI-enhanced data analysis for ETRA SpA, a water utility in Northern Italy managing 5,400 km of network infrastructure. By combining diverse datasets with digital transformation tools, this approach improves risk assessment and investment prioritization.

Key components include network digitalization, enriched GIS and hydraulic models, soil characterization, high-frequency pressure monitoring, water quality analysis, and pipe inspections. These data sources inform AI-driven Likelihood of Failure (LoF) models, incorporating leak history, structural assessments, and soil-related vulnerabilities. Consequence of Failure (CoF) is assessed through participatory workshops and hydraulic criticality analysis, aligning risk assessments with ETRA’s operational context.

Preliminary results demonstrate enhanced resilience, optimized resource allocation, and improved decision-making for aging infrastructure. Integrating inspection data with AI refines risk models, targeting priority worksites and maximizing investment impact under budget constraints. While scalable, challenges such as economic models and stakeholder engagement persist. This methodology offers a replicable solution for modernizing asset management in water utilities worldwide.

ABSTRACT. In German sewer classification condition indicates the urgency and wear reserve indicate the expected extent or effort of a future rehabilitation of sewer object. With the rise of AI algorithms for evaluating sewer inspection videos, a change in the information generated from these evaluations can be observed when compared with the results of an evaluation by specialists - both qualitatively and quantitatively. The study analyzed possible consequences on the classification of sewer sections as part of an asset management process. The focus was on wear reserve as this is an important key figure for determining the potential rehabilitation needs respectively the future financial and HR budgeting plans.

ABSTRACT. Hydrants, a crucial component of water distribution networks, often exhibit significant redundancies due to historical design practices, short-sighted planning procedures, or changes in urban development. Reducing excessive redundancy while maintaining compliance with local firefighting codes and ensuring necessary coverage presents an untapped opportunity for cost savings and operational efficiency. This paper introduces a novel, GIS-based decision-support framework designed to minimize the total number of hydrants while ensuring compliance with legal and operational requirements. By integrating spatial analysis with the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), the framework provides a five-step approach to identify redundant hydrants, considering factors such as nearby buildings, road characteristics, and operational priorities set by the local utility. By reducing the number of redundant hydrants, this approach offers a practical tool to reduce recurring inspection and maintenance expenses, all without requiring new investment from the utility. The framework was validated using an operational water distribution network in Jūrmala, Latvia.

ABSTRACT. Currently, visual observation is the most popular method to assess infrastructure facility deterioration. Some facilities have areas where the water level is always high and workers cannot enter, or where the flow velocity is high, posing a high risk to human lives. To establish a method that improves work efficiency and safety, we have been considering the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and have been developing our own vehicle that can fly stably in enclosed spaces since 2017. However, as we have gained experience in inspecting infrastructure, several issues have become clear. Therefore, in 2020, we have developed a new Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) based on the core of the control and operation method of the UAV we have developed, making it possible to obtain the high-quality video data required for accurate inspections.

ABSTRACT. In response to climate and population changes, water utilities must enhance their resilience and service quality by optimizing network management and rehabilitation processes. This requires the implementation of intelligent solutions for efficient data collection, storage, and analysis, facilitating data-driven decision-making to improve processes and efficiency. Infrawise, a tool developed by AGS, supports both short-term operations and long-term strategies and is adaptable to any utility's maturity and local context. It allows analyses at multiple levels and employs machine learning models to predict the likelihood of failure of individual pipes. In collaboration with a major Southeast Asian utility, Infrawise was used to prioritize active leak detection activities. A database of geo-referenced leaks with 20+ years of data was analyzed, with missing data imputed using an in-house developed methodology. This enabled targeted inspections, resulting in the detection of 1,525 leaks over 756 km of network, during a period of five months, significantly improving efficiency of existing approaches, reducing costs, and having a direct impact in the utility’s performance indicators: the project achieved a reduction of over 7,000 m3/day in water loss. This presentation will detail the methodology, results, and integration of Infrawise into the utility's workflow, highlighting its impact on reducing non-revenue water.

ABSTRACT. Bodø Municipality’s vision is to become a sustainable, low-emission society and develop the city’s resilience to climate change. To assist Bodø to achieve its goal, a strategic goal-oriented assessment framework was developed in H2020 B-WaterSmart project. It supports strategic planning and decision-making towards the transition to a water-smart society that recognizes multiple values and facilitates the collaborative environment and active participation of a varied set of actors. Strategic planning to realize a water-smart society emphasizes societal well-being, cross-sector collaboration, continuous learning and long-term ecosystem conservation as well as infrastructure resilience. As any approaches that support strategic planning, the framework is characterized by its ability to support decision making that minimizes environmental impact while maximizing social and economic benefits. Successful implementation requires consideration of various aspects, including environmental, health, financial, organizational, and technical factors. Additionally, strategic planning must account for institutional capacity and public participation to ensure effective outcomes. By incorporating these elements, cities can work towards achieving water sustainability and creating resilient urban water systems.

ABSTRACT. With many countries and cities facing water scarcity, it is essential to find alternative sources of water to meet the increasing demand. Non-conventional water helps to alleviate the pressure on conventional water bodies such as rivers, lakes or aquifers, guaranteeing the availability of water for all users. Particularly, textile sector is concerned about the sustainability of the process since its production process has significant environmental impacts on water resources. To face this situation, the TRUST project aims to provide a sustainable wastewater treatment solution for challenging textile wastewater using a circular economy approach. In light of the profound importance of the SDGs, they will serve as a foundational framework in this ongoing investigation. Their primary role will be to facilitate the quantification of the myriad social, environmental, and economic advantages linked to the TRUST Project. To that end, the AMUVAM method has been selected as a socioeconomic and environmental analysis tool, allowing us to understand the importance of improving water quality and internalizing that value in the decision-making processes, quantifying both social and environmental benefits in economic terms.

ABSTRACT. Environmental issues and climate change (after the war in Ukraine and Irregular migration) are the third most emergent problems for EU citizens (Flash Eurobarometer, July 2024). However, these are ranked first in terms of what should be the priority of EU policy; 78% of surveyed EU citizens agree that the EU should propose additional measures to address water-related problems, particularly concerning pollution, overconsumption, and wasting water. Consumers’ water-saving practices can be influenced by many factors (Price, context, information, knowledge, metrological conditions, etc), and their effectiveness varies with a congregation of conditions such as the time horizon and the context. This paper reviews several policies on water-saving that have been applied in European countries most recently.

ABSTRACT. Access to affordable and quality water services has been established as a fundamental human right. On the other hand, water utilities are required to be socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable. Depending on factors such as orography, population density, and income level, the balance between affordability and cost recovery can be challenging. In Portugal, according to the latest data, almost 50% of the water utilities providing services to final consumers do not generate revenues to cover their costs. This paper explores both the supply and demand side of the market: (1) provides a detailed characterization of the situation of Portuguese water utilities in this respect; (2) explores consumers’ willingness to pay for water in different information scenarios aiming at comparing their preferences towards financing infrastructure maintenance cost with their willingness to pay for the maintenance of the environmental, social and economic value of water. Preliminary results from the survey reveal a statistically different willingness to pay for infrastructure maintenance relative to consumers’ willingness to pay for the environmental, social, and economic value of water.

ABSTRACT. Moldova faces significant economic challenges, including a high level of informal employment, low productivity, and a lack of diversification. The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine further exacerbated these issues, leading to a contraction in economic activity. The water utilities from Moldova are in a difficult position from financial and operational point of view. The current tariff methodology and existing legislative framework governing the water sector in Moldova are insufficient to ensure its sustainability. The pricing structure fails to adequately cover operational and maintenance costs, limiting the sector's ability to invest in infrastructure upgrades and adopt modern technologies. Additionally, the legislative environment does not provide the necessary support for effective resource management, stakeholder collaboration, or long-term financial stability. Without significant reforms in both tariff policies and regulatory measures, the water sector will remain vulnerable to inefficiencies, financial deficits, and declining service quality, undermining its capacity to meet the growing needs of the population and ensure sustainable water management.

ABSTRACT. One of the most important threats posed by climate change and over-stressing of natural resources is the depletion of available freshwater supply. In this context, this work aims to shed light on the public perception around this topic and employ a mixed-method approach for unravelling the most important opinions and topics related to the water crisis. More precisely, 7 videos hosted in the YouTube platform have been identified as the most influential and their comments have been extracted utilizing Python and Google’s YouTube APIv3. Our dataset includes 28.204 comments that were processed. This approach provides a preliminary overview of the examined field with diverse opinions ranging from 2019 to 2025. The main methods used for the analysis are the distilbert sentiment analysis model and the LDA topic modelling. We discovered a polarization towards the negative sentiment which is mainly related to the disbelief in the severity of water crisis, the insufficient policy-making and governmental actions, overconsuming of water resources, and lack in technological integration to the water treatment sector. On the other hand, the topics are heavily focused to desalination and brine, climate change, global warming, nuclear power, optimized use of resources, and people’s actions.

ABSTRACT. To ensure the sustainability of Porto's water utility and develop a well-structured intervention and rehabilitation plan for its supply and drainage systems, Águas e Energia do Porto has implemented an advanced Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) approach, that combines the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and PROMETHEE II to systematically evaluate asset conditions and risk factors. The Delphi method was employed to facilitate structured communication among decision-makers and water specialists, refining the criteria for the MCDM. AHP was used to determine the relative importance of each criterion, while PROMETHEE II compared alternatives for each criterion. Another feature of this approach is the development of a digital tool that integrates Geographic Information System (GIS) data and network layers. This tool enables the rapid visual identification of critical assets, supporting targeted decision-making and efficient planning. It includes a distribution graph and multiple Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), enhancing the analysis and management of assets. This methodology significantly enhances the management of Porto's water and drainage systems, ensuring the sustainability and reliability of utility services. Moreover, it is scalable and can be applied to other managing entities, regardless of their size.

ABSTRACT. Jordan, one of the world's most water-scarce countries, faces critical water management challenges. Amman's water supply relies on a complex system of 55 deep wells and a 365km conveyance pipeline. Key challenges include: Operation and maintenance of 11,000+ assets, Asset renewal and lifecycle cost (LCC) management, Overcoming geographical challenges in widespread assets, Efficient workforce management, Implementing effective safety practices. To address these challenges, a high-maturity asset management system was developed, underpinned by multi-certifications in ISO 55001, 14001, 9001, and 45001. To enhance environmental sustainability and operational resilience, solar hybrid systems were implemented at remote sites. This innovative approach reduces reliance on traditional diesel generators, minimizes the carbon footprint of operations, and ensures continuous power supply in challenging environments.Additionally a comprehensive lifecycle cost model for critical asset renewal developed (Utilizing the Group innovative Software). This model enables informed decision-making and proactive planning for asset replacement, refurbishment, or upgrade, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the water supply infrastructure.

ABSTRACT. Ashghal in Qatar serves as the leading government entity responsible for the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of public infrastructure projects including roads, drainage, and buildings. With a focus on enhancing the country's urban and transportation infrastructure, it plays a crucial role in supporting Qatar's development goals, including sustainable urbanization, economic diversification, and social welfare. With an estimated QR 100 billion invested in the last decade, we ensure that the public infrastructure is in line with QNV 2030. Our strategic focus centers upon 4 key aims (1) Deliver Excellence in O&M; (2) Fostering an innovative, sustainable, safe, and healthy environment for everyone; (3) Developing capabilities to support future service delivery; (4) Building trust and unprecedented customer experience. Comprising Foul Sewer, Surface & Ground Water and Treated Water Networks, our operations encompass three major Wastewater Treatment Plants and twenty-nine Package Treatment Plants, with a combined capacity of approximately 650,000m3/day. Additionally, we manage an extensive network spanning 8,000km of pressurized and gravity systems, along with 163 Pumping Stations. These facilities cater to a customer base totaling 3.2 million individuals. PWA assumes a crucial role in backing numerous sporting events, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, MotoGP, and Formula 1, among others.

ABSTRACT. Data-driven sewer asset management uses different technologies (the most used are the CCTV) to collect information and thus to support sewer asset management plans. The inspected data is used to assess the current condition of the sewer network, to support the prediction of sewer network for a future horizon, and thus developing sewer asset management plans. Usually, the inspection campaigns are addressed in a random way, when they are needed because of the intervention of other infrastructures (i.e. roadways), water tightness, or lack of information. They are not wrong addressed. However, the present study proposes and compares different inspection campaigns based on the forecasting of sewer network of a stablished sewer asset management plan to analyse which is the most sustainable to maintain an acceptable wear reserve and condition of sewer network along the time, reducing costs of inspection campaigns.

ABSTRACT. This paper presents the investment planning framework developed and used by Helsinki Region Environmental Services (HSY), Finland's largest water utility. In the core of the process, is the 20-year investment plan. Investment plan covers a vast asset base serving 1.2 million people and is crucial for long-term service reliability and sustainability.

Key elements of the framework include: -Data-driven decision-making: Integrating data from asset condition assessments, hydraulic models, population forecasts, and stakeholder engagement. -Portfolio-based prioritization: Categorizing investment needs into 18 portfolios and employing a strategy-based approach to prioritize projects within and across portfolios. -Dynamic and iterative planning: Conducting regular reviews and updates to the investment plan to adapt to changing conditions, technological advancements, and emerging challenges. The investment plan is reviewed and updated biennially, ensuring adaptability to changing circumstances. -Financial sustainability: Integrating financial modeling to ensure the long-term financial viability of the investment plan and optimize resource allocation.

This framework aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of investment planning, ensuring that limited resources are allocated to the most critical infrastructure needs while maintaining the long-term sustainability and resilience of the water service system.

ABSTRACT. This case study outlines a method for prioritizing network renovation investments at Helsinki Region Environmental Services, responsible for water and wastewater services in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The utility aimed to prioritize 600 identified renovation areas efficiently using a simple, transparent, and unbiased multi-criteria decision approach. Each project's total value was calculated based on scaled criteria attribute values and weights, using a weighted additive formula.

Criteria were scored from 0 to 100, with the most preferred value scoring 100 and the least preferred scoring 0. A "swing weights" method was used to elicit weights, comparing swings from least to most preferred values for each attribute. Criteria included water pipe leaks, water quality issues, condition survey results, sewer flushing problems, network disruption damages, and pipe condition risks. Attributes also considered the criticality of pipes and local areas with recurring leaks.

The method successfully prioritized renovation targets in the utility's long-term investment program, enhancing understanding of key investment factors and improving data management processes. Future applications will use the same criteria attributes to identify renovation needs and programmatically form renovation areas using spatial methods.

ABSTRACT. The City of Yokohama has a population of around 3.7 million, making it Japan’s second most populous city after the 23 special wards area of Tokyo Metropolis. This article presents a case study from Yokohama as a major city in Japan, a country that has evolved into a mature society following the rapid economic growth that occurred from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. After peaking in 1992, the volume of water supplied by Yokohama’s municipal waterworks has trended downward due to various factors, including wider use of water-saving equipment. Also, the city’s population peaked in 2021 and is expected to continue shrinking; this shift, along with other changes, suggests a turning point in social conditions. Against this backdrop, we forecasted water demand based on analysis of water consumption and other statistical data, with the aim of ensuring the sustainable management of waterworks operations.

ABSTRACT. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health threat, projected to cause nearly 40 million deaths annually by 2050. Its spread is due to inadequate management of AMR as a water pollution issue. The EU led mandatory AMR monitoring through the recast of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive adopted on November 5, 2024. Monitoring AMR in water can identify hotspots and point sources, leading to targeted risk management actions.

Resistomap Water Biosecurity Platform— an intelligence tool designed to track and analyze AMR levels over time and across various locations. A key feature of this platform is the comparative risk assessment of AMR in water, which generates risk scores based on quantified AMR gene levels, bacterial pathogens, and other microbial pollution markers in water samples, aiding in the effective management of health and environmental risks. The platform also includes the Antibiotic Resistance Gene Index, a standardised metric for comparing the abundance of environmental AMR genes, and the Gene Quantification, which shows how well treatment processes remove or select AMR genes.

Resistomap is piloting projects in WWTPs across Finland, Germany, France, Spain, and the UK. These pilots aim to establish annual baseline measurements of AMR gene levels through routine monitoring in urban WWTPs.

ABSTRACT. This article aims to study the water management of the nine concrete plants operating in the eastern suburbs of the Limassol district of Cyprus. To achieve this, data for 2023 were collected from all the plants. The article will present the total concrete production for the reference year and the tons of water required for the operation of the company. A total of ten scenarios will be created in which different quotas will be used from the three sources available to the plants (wells, water treatment, internal recycling - wastewater). These ten scenarios will be analyzed in terms of both costing and environmental impact in terms of the water source used.

ABSTRACT. Pressures on water resources are intensifying worldwide, particularly in urban areas where urbanization and climate change are reducing the efficiency of water management systems. In Quebec, outdated systems exacerbate these issues, leading to wastewater discharges during extreme weather events. Modernizing these systems is essential to prevent resource degradation and promote environmental, economic, and health benefits. Hybrid water management systems, which combine centralized and decentralized approaches, are a promising solution. However, challenges such as social acceptability and significant investment requirements limit the modernization of these systems. This study assesses residents' preferences for wastewater system modifications and their willingness to pay, focusing on spatial differences along the river. Using a Discrete Choice Experiment conducted via LimeSurvey, we analyzed preferences across 25 watershed cities and Laval, located on the opposite bank of the Mille-Îles River. Attributes include reduced river restrictions, system coverage, infrastructure impact and associated costs. We developed a Mixed Logit model to assess respondents' willingness to pay for hybrid management systems, while accounting for preference heterogeneity and analyzing spatial differences. Our main findings suggest that upstream respondents are more willing to pay for treatment plant modifications that better preserve river water quality than downstream respondents.

ABSTRACT. This paper addresses challenges in groundwater management in Jordan, focusing on the depletion of domestic wells due to increased demand from population growth and refugees. A baseline assessment conducted by BGR and MWI in 2022 evaluated the status of wells in seven governorates operated by Miyahuna Water Company, Aqaba Water Company, and Yarmouk Water Company. Based on this assessment, three Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were developed to improve wellfield management:

Operation and Maintenance of Domestic Wells: This SOP ensures optimal performance and longevity of wells through routine checks, monthly monitoring of meters and valves, and annual assessments of equipment and water abstraction.

Regular Monitoring of Domestic Wells: Established protocols for quarterly monitoring of key parameters such as water production, water levels, and energy consumption, with data accuracy verification.

Protection of Domestic Wells: Guidelines for safeguarding wells from contamination and physical damage to maintain water quality.

Implementing these SOPs will improve operational efficiency, reduce downtime, enhance data management, and support data-driven decision-making. Collaboration with the Ministry of Water and local utilities will strengthen stakeholder engagement, foster ownership, and contribute to sustainable groundwater management and water quality.

ABSTRACT. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals known for their stability and resistance to degradation, which have earned them the nickname "forever chemicals." While their chemical properties make them valuable in industrial applications, they also pose significant challenges to water suppliers due to their persistence in the environment and adverse effects on human health. PFAS contamination of drinking water sources is a growing concern worldwide, exacerbated by their complex remediation requirements and high treatment costs. This presentation will delve into the multifaceted challenges PFAS present to water suppliers, focusing on the financial and operational implications of treating contaminated water. Groundwater and surface water across Europe have shown alarmingly high contamination levels, with some regions already exceeding proposed limits under the EU Drinking Water Directive. For example, in Mittelbaden, Germany, extensive contamination has resulted in the treatment of millions of cubic meters of water to remove just a few kilograms of PFAS, highlighting the disproportionate effort and cost involved in addressing these pollutants

ABSTRACT. The unsatisfactory level of performance of the utilities translates into (i) high volumes of water collected from various water sources, that are subsequently treated and lost along the water distribution networks, thus not reaching customers; and (ii) high volumes of rainwater and other undue inflows that infiltrate in wastewater networks and reach WWTPs for treatment. In both cases, the utilities end up reflecting in their cost structures unnecessary expenses for water treatment and transportation, which are consequently reflected in the tariffs applied to costumers, thus supporting the latter, the inefficiencies of the service operators. ERSAR developed a model, at the municipality level, that allows the analysis of annual series of water volumes, and the consequent determination of the costs to be borne by the utilities with the treatment of water that ends up being lost and volumes of undue inflows to be treated at WWTP. The communication aims to (i) highlight the inefficient costs incurred by utilities in both services, in the last 5 years, from a regulator perspective, (ii) highlight the potential for savings in terms of expenses with water and wastewater treatment, and (iii) identify solutions for minimizing these expenses in the long run.