D-CLEAN Showcased Across Key International Water Events in 2026

The D‑CLEAN project continues to gain momentum across the Danube Region and beyond, with a series of presentations delivered by BOKU University at relevant events across the region. These contributions highlight the project’s innovative approach to sustainable wastewater and stormwater management, with a strong focus on nature-based solutions, capacity building, and digital planning tools.

Presenting D‑CLEAN to the International Water Community

So far in 2026, BOKU has actively contributed to raising awareness and sharing results from the D‑CLEAN project at several high-level platforms:

• Wetland Workshop (19–22 April 2026, Třeboň, Czechia)
  An oral presentation introduced D‑CLEAN’s capacity-building approach and the development of its GIS-based decision-support tool for sustainable water management.

• ICPDR PM EG Meeting (19–20 May 2026, Sofia, Bulgaria)
  D‑CLEAN was presented in the context of broader regional cooperation, highlighting its role in improving water quality across the Danube River Basin.

• 2026 Danube Water Forum (20–22 May 2026, Sofia, Bulgaria)
  During the Session on Wastewater and Sludge Management, D‑CLEAN attracted significant interest. The presentation emphasized the project’s contribution to supporting small settlements in transitioning towards climate-resilient and circular wastewater systems.

Looking ahead, further visibility is already secured:

• IWA Wetland Systems Conference (September 2026, Chania, Greece)
  Oral presentation confirmed, focusing on capacity building and the GIS tool.

• IWA World Water Congress (October 2026, Glasgow, UK)
  A proposal for a workshop on “Tools to support rural wastewater and stormwater management” has been submitted jointly with project partner UL and is currently on the reserve list.

Supporting Smarter Decisions: The GIS Tool

A key highlight across multiple presentations has been the GIS-based decision-support tool (ELAN) developed within D‑CLEAN. This tool is designed to support planners, utilities, and decision-makers in identifying the most appropriate wastewater and stormwater management solutions, particularly in small and rural settlements.

The tool enables users to:

• Compare centralized and decentralized treatment options

• Evaluate full life-cycle costs (investment, operation, maintenance, reinvestment)

• Integrate spatial data for scenario analysis

• Identify cost-efficient and sustainable solutions tailored to local conditions

By combining economic, environmental, and spatial considerations, ELAN supports evidence-based planning and helps address the increasing complexity of water infrastructure decisions under evolving EU requirements.

Contributing to the Transition Towards Circular Wastewater Systems

The strong engagement at events such as the 2026 Danube Water Forum underlined the growing importance of moving from a traditional, linear “treat-and-dispose” model to a circular, resource-oriented approach.

D‑CLEAN contributes to this transition by:

• Promoting nature-based and decentralized solutions

• Strengthening stakeholder capacity and knowledge exchange

• Providing practical tools for planning and implementation

• Supporting climate-resilient infrastructure development across the region

Building Momentum

The continued presence of D‑CLEAN at international events demonstrates the project’s relevance for addressing pressing challenges in the wastewater sector—from serving small communities to adapting to climate change and stricter regulatory frameworks.

With further presentations planned for 2026, D‑CLEAN will continue to:

👉 Share knowledge
👉 Engage stakeholders
👉 Promote innovative solutions for sustainable water management across the Danube Region