Category: Events

On 25 and 26 June 2025, the H2OforAll project, in collaboration with Water Europe, organized its 4th workshop on the Prevention Measures and Management of Disinfection By-Products (DBPs). The two-day event took place in Brussels, Belgium, at Water Europe’s headquarters, combining a webinar session on the first day with an in-person workshop on the second.

The 25 June webinar attracted over 50 online participants, including policymakers, researchers, and water professionals from across Europe and beyond. The session focused on the preliminary findings of H2OforAll and the ZeroPollution4Water cluster, both of which aim to protect drinking water quality by preventing source pollution and groundwater contamination. Discussions centred on the challenge of DBPs, with a risk-based approach to identifying effective EU-level measures for ensuring safe, high-quality tap water. The agenda featured a video presentation summarizing current project results, a session on data and stakeholder integration, and an international perspective on DBPs from the United States. A forward-looking debate tackled the pressing question: how can we effectively face DBP challenges amid global threats like climate change?

On 26 June, the workshop continued in-person, bringing together over 20 partners and invited experts for a deeper dive into technical and strategic aspects of DBP management. Highlights included an overview of H2OforAll’s overall results, presentations on advanced sensing technologies, and recent findings on prevention measures. A panel discussion wrapped up the day, exploring various risk management strategies and the future of DBP monitoring and mitigation.

This workshop reinforced H2OforAll’s role as a key contributor to the European debate on safe drinking water, fostering collaboration across sectors to ensure resilient and pollution-free water systems.

The H2OforAll project made a notable appearance at the 7th IWA International Conference on eco-Technologies for Wastewater Treatment (ecoSTP-25), held from June 23–26, 2025, in Stockholm, Sweden. This prestigious scientific event gathered leading experts, researchers, and industry professionals to explore cutting-edge eco-technologies and sustainable strategies for wastewater treatment and water management.

This year’s edition of ecoSTP focused on emerging technologies and innovative practices in areas such as resource recovery, circular economy, nature-based solutions, and the mitigation of emerging contaminants. The conference served as a critical platform to exchange ideas on the future of water treatment in a climate-challenged world.

H2OforAll contributed to the scientific program with two panel presentations focused on advanced methods to address disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water. The first presentation highlighted the potential of silica-based materials in the removal of DBPs, showcasing promising adsorption results and surface functionalization strategies. The second session delved into the optimization of photocatalyst-assisted advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), with emphasis on efficiency, selectivity, and environmental impact in removing harmful DBP compounds.

By sharing these advances, H2OforAll continues to support the development of safer, more effective technologies to ensure clean drinking water across Europe and beyond.

25th of June – online event via Zoom – REGISTER here.

26th of June – in person event in Water Europe premises (B. August Reyers 80, 1030 Brussels) – REGISTER here.

The workshop aims to discuss preventive measures and practices to secure drinking water quality and mitigate drinking water challenges – such as the spread of DBPs – along the whole drinking water chain. The objective of this workshop is to draft practical recommendations for policymakers, industries and water-sector stakeholders.

Participation is limited and open until June 16th!

H2OforAll invites you to register for our 4th WORKSHOP on prevention measures and management of DBPs (Disinfection by-products) that will take place on June 26th in Brussels!

The workshop aims to discuss preventive measures and practices to secure drinking water quality and mitigate drinking water challenges – such as the spread of DBPs – along the whole drinking water chain. The objective of this workshop is to draft practical recommendations for policymakers, industries and water-sector stakeholders.

The workshop will take place in person in Water Europe premises (B. August Reyers 80, 1030 Brussels).

REGISTER for the event here.

Participation is limited!

The event titled:  «The Overview and the Inventory of 32 Case Studies in Drinking Water and Groundwater» will take place online on June 20^th at 10-00 – 12-00 CEST.

EU Green Week – organized by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment – has been Europe’s top environmental conference for 25 years. It’s a yearly event that raises awareness and explores current and future developments in EU environmental policy. The event brings together policymakers, businesses, environmental experts, and others from across Europe and beyond.

H2OforAll is part of the ZeroPollution4Water Cluster that comes from the collaboration of seven distinct projects funded through two calls in the Horizon Europe 2022 program. 

See more information about this event: https://green-week.event.europa.eu/partner-events-2025/unlocking-solutions-32-case-studies-zero-pollution-drinking-and-groundwater-2025-06-20_en

The H2OforAll project, in collaboration with SafeCREW, will host a crucial webinar on April 3, 2025, titled “Preparing Drinking Water Supply Systems for Climate Change – Case Study Insights” (register here). This online event will bring together leading researchers, regulators, and water supply operators to tackle the challenges posed by Disinfection By-Products (DBPs) in drinking water.

Moderated by Mathias Ernst (DVGW Research Centre, TUHH), the webinar will feature expert presentations on key topics such as sensor placement for DBP detection, strategies to prevent DBP formation, and insights from water quality monitoring initiatives and DBP detection in Ukraine and Ireland. Notable speakers include Aristotelis Magklis (CYENS Centre of Excellence), Andreu Fargas (Consorci d’Aigues de Tarragona), Serhii Martynov (National University of Water and Environmental Engineering), and Valerie McCarthy (Dublin City University).

With climate change affecting water systems globally, this event will highlight the importance of proactive water management strategies to minimize DBPs and enhance resilience. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in discussions and contribute to shaping future water safety solutions.

You can check the agenda here.

For more details and registration, click here.

On the weekend of February 8 and 9, 2025, H2oforAll participated in the “Water, an Unfiltered Exhibition” held at the Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona, as part of the H2OforAll communication and dissemination initiative. This event provided an excellent platform to engage with the public (especially younger children) and communicate the importance of access to high-quality, uncontaminated water. H2OforAll was present alongside other H2OforAll representatives from the Departamento de Engenharia Química (Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal), as well as a partner from the UPWater project (CSIC, Spain), reinforcing collaboration in water purification and sustainability research.

The H2OforAll project proudly participated in the Winter School on Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) and Disinfection By-Products (DBPs), held in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. As part of the event, several key members of the H2OforAll team—including Professor Rui Martins, Professor Luísa Durães, Evangelos Pournaras, and Daniela Meilmann—actively contributed to the Co-Creation Workshop: Future Challenges in the Drinking Water Sector – Public Engagement, Communication, and Raising Awareness.

During the round table, several thought-provoking questions were posed to the audience to better understand public perceptions and attitudes towards DBPs and water quality management. Questions ranged from assessing the severity of DBPs as a health and environmental issue to exploring preferred approaches for reducing their presence in drinking water. The discussion also delved into topics such as public confidence in local water safety, the importance of raising awareness, and effective ways to engage different societal groups in water conservation efforts.

These interactions provided valuable insights that will help shape the project’s ongoing research and strategies, fostering collaboration between experts, stakeholders, and the community.