With the third cycle of the Utility Management Training (UMT) programme now well underway, participants recently gathered in Bulgaria to learn about Network Operations and Energy Efficiency (NOEE). Hosted by IAWD members Sofia Water and ViK Ruse, the module combined classroom sessions, practical site visits, and peer exchange to explore how utilities can better manage their networks and energy use.

The module welcomed 16 participants from utilities across the Danube region, while a small number of colleagues joined remotely via Zoom, ensuring that the group could still learn together despite travel constraints.

Presentation Skills & Module Kick-Off

The week began in Sofia at the Jazz Room Zh. with a presentation skills and public speaking training led by communication trainer Yordan Zhechev. Participants presented the NOEE functions within their own utilities, an exercise designed to strengthen both communication skills and peer learning across utilities.

Participants appreciated the practical advice offered during the session. As one attendee noted in the feedback survey:

“For me, personally, the presentation advice by Yordan was really helpful. I will try all of his advice.”

The day concluded with a networking exchange bringing together current participants as well as trainiers and alumni from the first two UMT cycles, offering a valuable opportunity for networking and exchanging experiences across generations of the programme.

Site Visits: Treatment Plants and NRW Strategies

The second day moved from the classroom into the field. Participants travelled to the Bistrica Potable Water Treatment Plant, operated by Sofia Water, followed by a visit to the utility’s control room.

The technical sessions focused on Non-Revenue Water (NRW) reduction strategies, presented by Walter Kling, IAWD President and former Deputy Managing Director of Vienna Water, together with Tsvetelina Draganska, Water Network Monitoring and Optimization Manager at Sofia Water. Their joint presentation offered a comparative perspective on different approaches, technologies, and practical experiences in tackling NRW.

Participants found the practical examples particularly valuable. As one reflected:

“I liked Sofia Water’s data management method a lot. I will definitely think in that direction in the future.”

In the afternoon, the group visited several project sites managed by IAWD member Hydrolia, a long-standing UMT Competence Partner. Among them was a decentralised wastewater treatment plant serving a residential area in Sofia. The day concluded at Hydrolia’s headquarters, where participants learned more about the company’s work on control room concepts, industrial water services, and NRW use cases, including a visit to their operational control room.

Proactive Network Operations and Monitoring Technologies

Wednesday’s sessions focused on proactive network management and monitoring technologies.

Dobromir Moldovanov from IAWD member and UMT Competence Partner Qubiqo led lectures covering network operations fundamentals, zoning, monitoring technologies, and strategies for reducing NRW. These sessions were complemented by Vladimir Pavlita, Regional Sales Manager at IAWD member Badger Meter Austria, who presented the company’s portfolio of solutions for online network monitoring, including technologies for flow measurement, water quality sensing, pressure monitoring, leak detection, and cloud-based data platforms.

Participants highlighted both sessions among the most appreciated parts of the week. In the afternoon, the group travelled onward to Ruse, where the final day of the module took place.

Energy Management and Pump Systems

The final day was hosted by ViK Ruse and focused on energy efficiency in water utilities.

Participants visited a pumping station, where they conducted hands-on field data capture, collecting flow, pressure, and electrical measurements. The data gathered during the visit was later used in a session on energy efficiency calculations, delivered by energy specialist Albert Williams.

The afternoon featured a presentation by ViK Ruse on the utility’s key developments and technologies. Participants singled out the energy efficiency component as one of the highlights of the module: 

“The part on energy efficiency was really interesting — especially how we can achieve energy savings through more efficient operations.”

The week concluded with a dinner on the Danube - thank you ViK Ruse for the great evening!

About the Programme

The Network Operations and Energy Efficiency module is part of the Utility Management Training programme, organised by the International Association of Water Service Companies in the Danube Region (IAWD) under the Danube Learning Partnership. Recruitement for the fourth cycle of the UMT, to be delivered in the course of 2027-2028 will start soon. Learn more about the UMT by following the website linked below.