The intoDBP project came together at the Final Conference in Girona on 22–23 September 2026, hosted by ICRA and attended by more than 80 participants from across Europe.
The event brought the project’s research into dialogue with a broad community of research organisations, water utilities, regulators, public health institutions, technology providers, industry representatives, water associations and European research projects.
Reflecting intoDBP’s integrated approach, discussions extended across the drinking water system, addressing source-water protection, dissolved organic matter, monitoring technologies, treatment solutions, predictive tools, climate resilience, public health and policy development.
Keynote contributions also placed the project’s work within a broader European and scientific context. Loïc Charpentier of Water Europe addressed recent developments in European water policy, while Sofia Pachini of the European Research Executive Agency discussed emerging research priorities. Rafa Marcé of CSIC considered future challenges linked to climate change, Michael Gonsior of ICRA explored advances in understanding the characteristics and fate of dissolved organic matter, and Domenico Santoro of the University of Western Ontario addressed opportunities associated with a One Water approach.
The conference provided an opportunity not only to present results, but also to examine what comes next. In his concluding remarks, intoDBP coordinator Wolfgang Gernjak highlighted remaining research gaps and the importance of collaboration across sectors, together with transparency and citizen engagement, in supporting more resilient water systems.
For intoDBP, the path forward increasingly lies in connecting different layers of knowledge rather than relying on a single technological solution. Forecasting changes in source water, strengthening real-time monitoring, adapting treatment and anticipating DBP behaviour within distribution networks can together provide utilities with a more comprehensive understanding of emerging risks and support a shift towards proactive drinking water management.
The project’s collaboration within the ZeroPollution4Water Cluster further connects intoDBP’s results with a wider European effort to protect water quality, reduce pollution and accelerate the uptake of innovative water solutions.
For more, check the project’s website.
