Meet the team

KWR is the Dutch research institute for the drinking water sector, their current shareholders. Unique in the world, this collaboration of the Dutch water supply companies has resulted in a powerful knowledge base and an extensive collective memory (> 60 years) for the drinking water sector. We develop and unlock relevant knowledge about the small water cycle: from water systems to water technology and (clean) water quality. Our objective is to provide the water sector with the means to identify and effectively meet the challenges of our time: from climate change to the increasing amount of contaminants, and the growing pressure to use space intensively and for multiple purposes.

KWR is the Leader of Work Package 5: Developing risk treatment and adaptation strategies for extreme weather events. 

IWW is a private non-profit research and consultancy institute founded by German water companies and water associations. Six departments carry out basic and applied research covering the entire drinking water supply chain from water resources management, water technology, distribution networks and quality, applied microbiology, and economic and management issues. IWW has been carrying out research, development and innovation projects for the water sector for almost 30 years, based on either public funding or contract research for water utilities or industrial partners. Recent projects linked to climate change and risk management have been dedicated to integrated water resources management concepts, to flooding prevention for water supply infrastructure, and to the economic needs of adaptation processes.

IWW is the Leader of Work Package 3: Integrated analysis of the water cycle. 

Aquatec Urban Drainage Direction is the technical direction of Aquatec (Suez Water Advanced Solutions) with currently 25 professionals devoted to urban drainage management. Our main activity is focused on the transformation of the traditional urban drainage management of cities into a smart /advanced ones on the basis of knowledge and applied R+D+i. Our main research topics involve: smart and efficient management of urban drainage systems (real-time control, global and optimal control, coordination with WWTPs and receiving waters); reduction of impacts in receiving waters (CSO control, early warning systems, holistic analysis of pollutants behavior, etc.); advanced flooding management; resilience, mitigation and adaptation measures in a climate change context; Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (nature-based solutions) and rainwater harvesting for urban uses. The principles of this Advanced Urban Drainage Management has been implemented in important contexts around the world such as: Barcelona, Santiago de Chile, Murcia, Alicante or Oran. 

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), is a merger of the previous Norwegian Institute of Technology (NTH), established in 1910 and the University of Trondheim. Today the full range university NTNU encompasses 7 faculties and 53 departments. It has approximately 20.000 students, half of these are studying technology or the natural sciences.The Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering (IVM) is part of the Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology at NTNU. Research activity is structured within two groups; hydraulic engineering and water and wastewater engineering. Current research activities include urban rainfall/runoff and planning of network rehabilitation. The research group has a well-established infrastructure with research halls for pilot plant operation, field laboratory for urban runoff and a well-equipped analytical laboratory.

NTNU is the Leader of Work Package 6: Ensuring Excellence and Actionable Research

InterSus is a small environmental policy consultancy (SME) working for various national and international clients (including the European Commission, various UN agencies, the European Environment Agency, World Bank, OECD, WWF, Environment Ministries etc.). It is specialized in environmental economics and governance with a focus on impact assessment of policies, cost-benefit assessments, project monitoring and evaluation and capacity building/training, mainly in the fields of inland and marine water management and climate change adaptation. It has supported the development and implementation of European policies on a number of different topics with a focus on water policy and worked extensively in the European Union, especially the Mediterranean region and the Balkans, as well as in Africa and Central Asia. 

The Freie Universität Berlin (FUB) is one of the largest universities in Germany, awarded the status of excellence by the German Research Funding organization, DFG. The main research areas of the Institute of Meteorology (IfM) are weather forecasting, climate research, environmental impacts, remote sensing and the stratosphere. IfM is coordinating two modules of the German national initiative on decadal climate prediction (MiKlip). It has been and is also participating with several scientific projects on climate variability, anthropogenic climate change and extreme events. It has led an interdisciplinary project with hydrology on Large-Scale European Flooding under Climate Change, and is leading a project on the communication of probabilistic aspects of weather warnings. IfM has been a key partner in the German Collaborative Climate Community Data and Processing Grid projecs (C3Grid).  IfM has ample experience in the fields of global climate modelling (past climate, climate scenarios and decadal forecasting), dynamical and statistical downscaling, and forecast skill estimation. It has been cooperating with hydrology to provide suitable meteorological modelling data for the simulation of flooding events. 

FUB is the Leader of Work Package 2: Climate predictions and downscaling to extreme weather.

Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação was created in 1997 as an active centre of national and international networks connected to the innovation sector with a mission being the management of projects that foster innovation and promote international opportunities. In fulfilling its mission, SPI has created competences in several different areas which include: mapping of research and innovation systems, development of strategies and policy dialogue, dissemination, training and training needs assessment, and program and project evaluation provided through its permanent staff located in Portugal, Spain, Brussels, China and the United States, and with offices in Europe, USA, China and Singapore. In addition, SPI also works extensively with industry, helping them structure their R&D and Innovation activities and supporting their connections with potential research partners and funding opportunities. Furthermore it is an associated member of the European Business & Innovation Centre Network and has a wide network of contacts with different kinds of R&D and innovation actors across Europe and beyond. 

SPI is the Leader of Work package 7: Dissemination, communication and exploitation.

The Cyprus Institute (CyI) is a non-profit research and educational institution with a strong scientific and technological orientation, founded in 2005. It is an issue-orientated institution, emphasizing international collaborations and cross-disciplinary research and education. It has three interdisciplinary research centres: the Energy, Environment and Water Research Centre (EEWRC), the Science and Technology in Archaeology Research Centre (STARC), and the Computation-based Science and Technology Research Centre (CaSToRC). The Energy, Environment and Water Research Center (EEWRC) of the Institute, which was launched in 2007, is developed in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is guided by an international Scientific Advisory Committee. The Center has a PhD program in Environmental and Atmospheric Sciences. EEWRC is involved in various European and national funded projects related to water and natural resource management, environmental observations, and climate change modelling, impact assessments and adaptation. EEWRC cooperates with various government organizations and local enterprises on water, climate and environmental research. 

I.A.CO Environmental & Water Consultants Ltd (hereby referred to as I.A.CO) specializes in provision of consultation services in the sectors of environmental and water engineering and management. In particular, Ι.A.CO amongst others specializes in the provision of consultancy services in Water Resources and Wastewater Management; Hydrological, Hydraulic Studies – Hydrogeological and Geotechnical Studies; Natural habitats, wild fauna and flora management; Sustainable Development and Land Use Management; and Environmental Impact Assessments. I.A.CO has been very active since its establishment in 2004 on Water Framework Directive Implementation and the Water Scarcity and Droughts communication, and Flood Risk Management, through private, public or EU projects on issues such as dealing with water monitoring, supply/abstraction regulation and development, demand management, savings potential and options, ecological flows, non-conventional sources (desalination, recycled water), losses, pressures & impacts assessment, water treatment, water pricing and cost recovery mechanisms, and stakeholder and public participation campaigns. 

With 146 years of experience, EPAL is the largest and oldest water utility in Portugal, supplying drinking water to around three million people in 35 municipalities, including the city of Lisbon. Water is extracted from both surface and underground water sources, all of them located within the River Tagus basin, which covers approximately 1/3 of the national territory. In the last three years EPAL set out several initiatives to better deal with the challenges associated with climate change, namely the constitution of a working group dedicated to climate change studies; the launching of the research project Adaptaclima-EPAL, under which the scenarios and models were applied to the whole River Tagus basin, aiming at assessing EPAL’s water sources’ vulnerability to climate change and proposing adaptation measures; and the participation in the PREPARED – Enabled Change EC 7FP project. These initiatives allowed EPAL to improve its knowledge on the subject and, particularly, on the potential impacts of climate change in the quantity and quality of its water sources.

CIMLT is an association of 11 municipalities of the region ‘Lezíria do Tejo’, with over 20 years of existence: Almeirim, Alpiarça, Azambuja, Benavente, Cartaxo, Chamusca, Coruche, Golegã, Rio Maior, Salvaterra de Magos e Santarém. CIMLT’s territory has 4 267 km2 and a population of 247 453 according to the last Censos of 2011. Based on the saying “Competitiveness, Solidarity and Identity”, CIMLT has been a key partner for effective sustainable development of the region. Over the past years, the community has assumed an increasingly greater role in defining integrated strategies for development in all the associated municipalities, executing a series of projects and initiatives, whose advantages have been clear for the region.

Badalona is a city in eastern Catalonia (Spain) and is part of the Barcelona metropolitan area. The purpose of the city council is to promote a model city, with confidence and determination. A project to strengthen equal opportunities, entrepreneurship; economic dynamism, vitality of the institutions, culture, creators and of the trade. The Council is an organization dedicated to build a common future, ambitious city that extends quality of life and citizen welfare. Within the City Council, the Public Way Department shall ensure the maintenance of the streets and the different supply networks, as public goods and services that improve the quality of life of the city. It has direct responsibility with respect to maintenance service pavements, drainage and lighting, assuming the coordination of the implementation with respect to maintenance contracts. Control and monitoring of the implementation of the regulations on architectural barriers in public. Implementation of corrective maintenance (planned or not) paving, drainage and lighting. And finally, execution of the attacks on the public sewer (sinks) in particular. Maintenance of the pumping stations of the underground passages of the railway.

Aigües de Barcelona, Metropolitan Company of Water Integral Cycle Management was created in July 2013. This company manages the metropolitan public service of the water integral cycle, which includes the three branches referred above: water supply, sewerage and wastewater treatment and reclamation of treated water. At the moment, around 3,2 million people are served drinkable water in the Barcelona area. This area suffers periodically from drought periods and the flows of its rivers are not so important and steady to guarantee this supply. For this reason, an efficient management of the water integral cycle is required, taking into account environmental issues also. Not only is Aigües de Barcelona responsible for the management of the main sewers of the network, but also for the local sewerage of many municipalities included in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. The tasks included in the global management of these local sewers and urban drainage networks include both preventive and corrective tasks.

Vitens is the largest drinking water company in the Netherlands. Vitens serves 24/7 fresh drinking water to 5.4 million customers and companies. Fresh groundwater is the only source for producing the high quality drinking water. Vitens wants to produce drinking water sustainably in order to actively contribute to improving the living environment. Our environmental policy is intended to reduce our burden on the environment as much as possible and to prevent it completely where possible. A large drinking water company such as Vitens is continually working on knowledge development. Vitens also works closely together with knowledge institutes, government bodies and the business sector. Continuous innovation means we can keep the quality of the drinking water as high as possible, both now and in the future. Besides this, we continue to work on improvements related to water extraction, our treatment processes and distribution, so that our water retains this high standard.

The Wupperverband is a non-profit water association based on public law. It is responsible for the water management in the 813 km² catchment area of the river Wupper. It is responsible for the management and restoration of 2300 kilometers of running waters. Its members consist of all municipalities in the catchment area as well the district administrations, water supply companies, industry and trade. The task of the Wupperverband consists of: Provide water for drinking and industrial purposes as well as for hydroelectric power production; Regulate and balance water runoff; Maintenance and development of water bodies according to the EU-WFD; Secure flood water flow; Treat sewage; Dispose of and recycle residues from sewage treatment; and Analyse water management conditions. 

DGADR is a branch of the Ministry of Agriculture and Sea of the Government of Portugal which focuses on forestry and rural development. It consists of four main departments and eleven units. In particular, the Department of Irrigation focuses its activities on hydraulic infrastructures, rural engineering and irrigation. The Department of Irrigation is organized in three divisions, namely Hydraulic Infrastructures, Rural Engineering, and Irrigation. Its main and strategic goals include:  Planning, preparation and execution of irrigation projects for rural development; Improvement of living conditions in rural areas, fighting against desertification of the “inland”; Improving the production conditions of agriculture; and Preservation of natural resources: soil and water. The Department of Irrigation’s activities comprise providing facilities for irrigation including working on the design (water distribution, drainage and road networks, water supply structures), and construction and supervision of facilities (Large Dams; Lined Water Reservoires). 

The Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) is the public administration of the metropolitan area of Barcelona which includes 36 municipalities (Badalona also). The competences of the AMB are related with the territorial planning, transport and mobility, urban development and housing, environment and water cycle, economic and social development, and finally, social and territorial cohesion. Related with water cycle, the main responsibilities’ include all the water cycle, from household drinking, water supply and distribution, to waste water and reclaimed water treatments.The AMB is responsible of the exploitation and maintenance of urban drainage infrastructures and coordinate them with the sewer network and Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP). All drainage infrastructures are defined at the Barcelona metropolitan area rain water Master Plan. The Plan includes not only the analyses of sustainable urban drainage but also a list of infrastructures to be implemented in the territory including Badalona.

The main tasks of the province of Gelderland are related to environmental policy, environment, planning and the rural area. Furthermore, culture, cultural, and traffic and transport are areas of relevancy for the province. Under economy, employment and innovation, the province agrees its commitment to the economy, culture, cultural, and sports. This also includes the following themes: climate, energy and environmental policies. The eastern provinces in the Netherlands have built a strong knowledge and innovation position in the area of food, health, energy and environmental technology in the recent years. A position that has been created by the longstanding commitment of manpower and resources, and intensive cooperation between industry, knowledge and educational institutions and governments. Within the national Delta program, the province works with the national government and water boards to secure freshwater availability in the future. 

Bergen City Agency for Water and Sewerage Works is part of Department of Urban Development, Climate and Environmental Affairs in the City administration. We are responsible for the daily undertaking of the water supply and wastewater sector in the City of Bergen (270.000 inhabitants). We do the strategic and long term planning and carry out Renewal and investments in infrastructure and ordering operation and maintenance, Customer services and management. Operation and maintenance of the public water and wastewater systems is carried out by the Municipal Undertaking for Water Works on contract from the Agency for Water and Sewerage Works. The Sector is total public owned and controlled and is a non-profit business financed by separate taxes. Our responsibility includes urban storm water in the city. Yearly average precipitation in Bergen is about 2250 mm. Climate Change is a challenge to existing water supply, sanitation and drainage systems and we are focused on how to make our systems more robust towards future climate. This is a main objective for our interest of taking part in research and development of innovative solutions to deal with climate change in the total water sector.