Every, really everybody was there, and everybody had a fantastic time: The 2024 Danube Water Forum "Riding the wave: Water Sector Innovations for a new Climate Reality" was a roaring success in every respect. Time to say “Thank you!” to the many who made this possible.

A huge “Thank you!” goes out to the Romanian Water Association and Compania Apa Brasov for excelling as local hosts in Brasov. Another huge “Thank you for your invaluable support!” is directed at our generous supporters, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance and Corporate Partners Klarwin, Wabag, Xylem, Hach Lange, NewIBNET, Diehl, and Sommer Messtechnik.

But the biggest, all-encompassing “Thank you!” is reserved for the record-breaking crowd of over 300 participants who made their way to lovely, but somewhat remote Brasov: Representatives from 28 IAWD members attended, including a respectable number of Board members.

Twelve Young Water Professionals supported by the Austrian Federal Minstry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management took up the invitation to support the organizers, present posters and join panels.

And please let us not forget the speakers: A full sixty experts took the stage during a compressed two day, two-track Forum that threw light into every corner of the water business, its crises and chances. Their presentations, interventions and contributions gave lots of food for thought and many valuable takeaways over the full spectrum of current hot topics: Climate change-related challenges, trends in wastewater treatment, water reuse and circular economy, proactive water resources management, climate-resilient water service strategies, creative human resource management,innovative approaches and technologies for sustainable utility management, and effective communication for water services.

For those who were not there, the Danube Water Program, main organizer in cooperation with the Utility of the Future – Center of Excellence, is currently preparing a compressed conference report and will make videos of the sessions available shortly.

Success like this is encouraging in times when encouragement is more necessary than ever. Thank you everybody – it was amazing, and so were you!