Continuous improvement, knowledge exchange, and operational resilience are the core elements IAWD wants to facilitate in the Danube region. On May 19–20, 2026, leading water professionals gathered in Sofia, Bulgaria, for the annual Utility Benchmarking Program (UBP) Danube Hub Workshop. This year’s event carried an extra special meaning as the UBP Danube Hub family celebrated its 10-Year Anniversary with a commemorative dinner, reflecting on a decade of shared data and peer-to-peer growth.

The Big Picture: Our Benchmarking Landscape

The Danube Learning Partnership features a tier of benchmarking programs tailored to different organizational scales. While IAWD supports national water assocations deliver highly focused programs on a their national level — such as active hubs in Kosovo & Albania, in Bulgaria, and a hub running until 2022 in Ukraine — the Danube Hub represents IAWD's regional initiative. As a truly regional Hub, it connects and compares performance data across nine different countries so far. Over the past decade, this collaborative network has broken down borders, allowing utilities to bench-test their metrics against regional peers, learn from each other's successes, and support one another through strategic performance improvements. At IAWD, we are proud of how far we have come, and we are always happy to welcome new participants to expand this vital knowledge-sharing ecosystem!

Highlights from the 2026 Workshop: "Doing More with Less"

The 2026 workshop program focused heavily on operational and financial resilience. Utility managers and benchmarking coordinators analyzed data patterns, shared lessons learned, and engaged in deep talk:

• Regional Benchmarking Insights: Led by Danube Hub Coordinator and Benchmarking Expert Aleksandar Krstic, attendees learned how resilience can be measured along 4 categories, and reviewed data trends exploring how resilient performance has been across the Danube region over the past cycle.
• Panel Discussion: Moderated by Katerina Schilling (IAWD General Secretary) and Aleksandar Krstic, the panel brought together diverse leadership perspectives. Speakers included Ilian Milev (Manager of Ruse Water, Bulgaria), Evis Gjebrea (Deputy General Director of Tirana Water, Albania), and Teodor Popa (former Manager of Brasov Water, Romania). They bluntly discussed balancing tight financial constraints with the rapid need for smart processes, digitalization, and data-driven infrastructure investments.
• A Masterclass in Long-Term Planning: IAWD President and former Deputy Manager of Vienna Water, Walter Kling, joined an interactive interview chat. He outlined Vienna's historic and future resilience strategies — from the past 30 years of successful water loss reduction to building one of Europe's largest water reservoirs by 2050.
• Resilience in the Loop: Veselin Dimitrov, Technical Director at Sofiyska Voda, delivered an excellent presentation on innovative sludge management and energy recovery, spotlighting the ecological and efficiency transformation of the Kubratovo Wastewater Treatment Plant in preparation of the field trip the next day.

Connecting Theory to the Ground: Day 2 Site Visit

On May 20, participants transitioned from the conference room to the field with a comprehensive site visit to the Kubratovo Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Attendees were given a guided look at the plant's newly established facilities - including a cutting-edge Thermal Hydrolysis Plant (THP) and ANITA MOX anaerobic ammonium oxidation systems designed to maximize energy efficiency. Experiencing these technologies firsthand showed exactly how management choices and benchmarking metrics materialize as tangible, self-sustaining green operations. As the workshop wrapped up and attendees transferred over to the broader 2026 Danube Water Forum. 

Looking Forward

Ten years of the Danube Hub have proven that water utilities are far stronger together than they are alone. Are you ready to optimize your utility's performance, protect your regional resources, and join a resilient network of water professionals? Get in touch with us today (office@iawd.at), new participants are always welcome!