Hydrolia is actively participating in the new cycle of IAWD’s UMT program, which trains water and wastewater utility managers for the Danube region

A lot of reports regarding the state of the water supply and sewage sector in the Danube region, and the opinions of different interested parties, confirm the need for support and improvement of the management culture. This is why the International Association of Water Service Companies in the Danube Region (IAWD) develops the Utility Management Training (UMT) program, which is part of the  Danube Learning Partnership (D-LeaP) – a regional initiative for developing capacity and creating partnerships for national water associations in the region.

"UMT was developed to provide current and future leaders in the water sector with practical tools and techniques for more effective management decision-making—combining technical expertise, financial knowledge, and sound asset and investment management with the ability to adapt to regulatory and market demands," explained Hydrolia to BalkanEngineer.com. Hydrolia is a leading company specializing in private-sector water and wastewater asset management and is one of the program's partners, participating with both trainers and trainees.

UMT is a two-year program, with every of the six modules being roughly four months in length and include a webinar, a one-week training sessions, and work on practical case studies, related to real situations. The schedule includes a demonstration and visits to the sites of organizations partnering with the program, which in turn fosters the exchange of experience among participants from various countries in the region.

On the 24^th of September this year, an official meeting and an informative session will kickstart the fourth cycle of the program. The sessions will reveal details regarding the structure, content and organization of the UMT, including the six training modules, the places for conducting international training, the final project and application process. Participants included program alumni, trainers, representatives from water and sanitation companies, and corporate partners, including Eng. Simidchiev from Hydrolia.

Photo source: Hydrolia, IAWD