On June 11-12, 2025, the UrbanM20 project officially held its kick-off meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark marking the beginning of a four-year journey. UrbanM2O has been launched to transform how cities monitor and manage water quality. Funded under Horizon Europe with €5 million in support, the four-year project aims to deliver smarter, data-driven solutions to tackle urban water pollution across Europe.
From microplastics to microbial contaminants, urban water pollution is a growing threat to health and ecosystems. UrbanM2O will address this by:
- Developing and benchmarking AI-enhanced, resource-efficient monitoring technologies
- Designing fit-for-purpose water quality models and harmonized data systems
- Demonstrating digital twins of urban water systems to identify pollution hotspots and guide interventions under climate scenarios
- Providing tailored guidance for implementing effective monitoring and management strategies
Led by Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU), the project brings together 19 partners from across 9 countries, uniting research institutions, municipalities, SMEs, and water authorities. Together, they aim to create actionable knowledge and tools to support risk-based urban water quality management plans that safeguard public health and the environment.
