EWA Strengthens Cooperation with Romania’s Water Community at EXPOAPA 2026

From 8 to 10 September 2026, Arthur Guischet, Secretary General of the European Water Association (EWA), visited Bucharest at the invitation of the Romanian Water Association (ARA) to participate in the 26th edition of EXPOAPA 2026. Held at ROMEXPO, the event brought together water utilities, public authorities, technology providers, researchers, professional organisations and other representatives of the European water community.

EXPOAPA 2026 welcomed nearly 90 exhibitors from Romania and 12 other European countries, with more than 4,000 participants expected during the three-day programme. Conferences, debates, technical exhibitions and operational demonstrations addressed subjects including investment, innovation, water-loss reduction, wastewater treatment, network monitoring, automation and the skills required by the water sector.

From pressure to resilience

During the opening ceremony, Arthur Guischet joined Ilie Vlaicu, President of the Romanian Water Association, Diana Anda Buzoianu, Romanian Minister of the Environment, Waters and Forests, and representatives of national authorities, regulators and water utilities. The discussions highlighted one of the sector’s defining challenges: preparing simultaneously for too much and too little water while continuing to provide reliable, affordable and resilient services.

In his keynote presentation, „The Future of Water in Europe: From Pressure to Resilience,” he addressed the interconnected pressures facing Europe’s water sector. These include a changing climate and increasingly frequent extreme events, deteriorating raw-water quality, ageing infrastructure, rising investment needs and a growing demand for qualified professionals.

The presentation also explored the opportunities offered by water reuse, circular resource recovery and digitalisation. The central message was clear: Europe’s water future cannot be secured simply by seeking more water. It will depend on smarter demand management, stronger and more adaptable systems, greater circularity and a shared sense of responsibility among policymakers, operators, businesses and citizens.

Water as a strategic investment

The event placed particular emphasis on water’s contribution to economic development. The Romanian Water Association used the opening conference to call for a national strategy that recognises water as a strategic priority and positions Romania as a regional centre for water-sector expertise and technology. Discussions underlined the importance of managing investments effectively and of connecting infrastructure development with wider benefits for health, the environment, productivity and economic resilience. This perspective closely reflects the European debate on water resilience. Investment in infrastructure must be combined with long-term planning, sound governance, innovation and the development of professional skills. Exchanges with Romanian utilities, technology providers, public authorities and researchers provided an opportunity to connect European policy objectives with the operational experience of those managing water services on the ground.

Strengthening European cooperation

Participation in EXPOAPA 2026 also provided an important opportunity to deepen cooperation between EWA, ARA and other national water associations. Bringing national experience into the European discussion is essential to developing solutions that are both ambitious and practically implementable.

The visit built on the longstanding relationship between the European and Romanian water communities. In 2025, EWA had already participated in the EXPOAPA Regional Water Forum “Danube – Eastern Europe”, contributing to exchanges on financing and the implementation of European wastewater requirements.

EWA warmly thanks Asociația Română a Apei (ARA) for the invitation, the excellent organisation and the opportunity to engage directly with Romania’s water professionals.

Through continued cooperation, knowledge exchange and stronger links between national associations, Europe’s water community can accelerate the transition from responding to individual pressures towards building genuinely resilient water systems.