On 22-23 September 2026, ICRA hosted the final conference of the Horizon Europe project intoDBP (Grant Agreement No. 101081728) in Girona, bringing together more than 80 participants from across Europe.

The conference marked the culmination of four years of collaborative research and provided a platform to present the project’s main achievements while addressing future challenges in the management of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water systems. Reflecting the project’s catchment-to-tap approach, discussions covered source water protection, monitoring technologies, treatment solutions, predictive tools, climate resilience, public health and policy development.

The event brought together representatives from research organisations, water utilities, regulatory bodies, public health institutions, technology providers, industry, water associations and other European research projects, creating valuable opportunities for knowledge exchange and cross-sector collaboration.

Through keynote lectures, scientific presentations and panel discussions, participants explored how integrated strategies can contribute to safer and more resilient drinking water supplies in the face of growing environmental and climate-related pressures.

Conference highlights included keynote presentations by Loic Charpentier (Water Europe), who reviewed recent developments in European water policy; Sofia Pachini (EU Research Executive Agency), who discussed emerging research priorities at the European level; Rafa Marcé (CSIC), who addressed future climate change challenges affecting water resources; Michael Gonsior (ICRA), who presented recent advances in understanding the characteristics and fate of dissolved organic matter; and Domenico Santoro (University of Western Ontario), who explored the opportunities and challenges associated with implementing a One Water approach.

The conference concluded with remarks from Wolfgang Gernjak (ICRA), coordinator of the intoDBP project, who highlighted key research gaps, the importance of cross-sector and interdisciplinary collaboration, and the need for transparency and citizen engagement to support sustainable behaviours and resilient societies.

As the project comes to an end, the conference underscored the lasting legacy of intoDBP and the importance of continued cooperation among researchers, water utilities, industry stakeholders and policymakers to address current and future drinking water quality challenges.