We have a date: 31 May – 2 June. We have a place: Vienna. Titled Navigating Changing Waters, the 2023 Danube Water Conference will focus on how to deal with the multiple challenges the water sector is facing – with ample elbow room available for celebrations, because the IAWD turns 30 this year, and the Danube Water Program turns ten. In short: This will be a conference to remember.

In 2013, the World Bank and IAWD, the International Association of Water Service Companies in the Danube River Catchment Area, launched the Danube Water Program (DWP) to support smart policies, strong utilities and sustainable water and wastewater services in the Danube region.

Building on an international network of water sector institutions and experts, the DWP has grown into a well-known resource for vitally needed capacity building, knowledge sharing, analytical and advisory services. In this context, the bi-annual Danube Water Conference (DWC) and Danube Water Forum (DWF) have become signature events for the Program and the Danube region.

While the DWC is traditionally hosted in Vienna (Austria), the DWF rotates through the region. Both events draw sector professionals from the Danube region and beyond to discuss the latest challenges and opportunities in the Danube region water sector, creating a platform for lively and fruitful exchange.

This year's Danube Water Conference will be special in more than one respect. The region's water sector is facing multiple challenges, struggling with the consequences of the recent global pandemic, energy price shocks and economic crises caused by the war in Ukraine, and the ever-increasing effects of climate change.

Operating in a dynamic environment, water and wastewater utilities work hard to maintain and improve the quality and level of service provision while dealing with rising energy costs and an aging workforce while investing in performance improvements. In short – the sector is navigating changing and sometimes troubled waters.

The 2023 Danube Water Conference will discuss the existing and emerging obstacles and explore best practice examples and innovative strategies to keep going and to keep getting better amidst a constantly changing environment.

It will also take a moment to celebrate two proud success stories – 30 years of IAWD, and 10 years of Danube Water Program. Which is reason enough for the organizers to open the Danube Water Conference to an even broader audience and encourage the submission of outline papers for platform or poster presentations in line with the conference agenda.

In this context, please note two important dates: If you intend to contribute a platform presentation or poster, 31 March is the deadline for submitting your outline paper for subsequent peer review. And to all who consider attending: Online registration opens on 15 March.

Find more information such as the Draft Agenda Outline and the Call for Submission under the link below.