“GREEN ENERGY EXPO & ROMENVIROTEC creates something truly important for the sector: it brings technology, engineering, water operators, authorities, investors and solution providers together in one place. This means innovation doesn’t remain just a concept — it can be seen, discussed and turned into real projects.”

“For ECOAPA DESIGN, participating in events like this means more than visibility. It means direct dialogue with water operators, authorities, designers, contractors and technology providers, exchanging expertise and identifying solutions and partnerships that can ultimately be turned into real projects.”

Interviewee

Dr. Eng. Ion Popa

ECOAPA Design

1

How does Green Energy Expo & Romenvirotec contribute to advancing innovative solutions for sustainable water management?

GREEN ENERGY EXPO & ROMENVIROTEC creates something truly important for the sector: it brings technology, engineering, water operators, authorities, investors and solution providers together in one place. This means innovation doesn’t remain just a concept — it can be seen, discussed and turned into real projects.

The ROMENVIROTEC WATER sector focuses on exactly the areas Romania needs to advance as it modernizes its water infrastructure: reducing water losses, smart metering and telemetry, water and wastewater treatment, hydraulic modelling, GIS, SCADA, automation and smart water management. Events like this accelerate the exchange of knowledge and, most importantly, bring real challenges from the field face to face with the solutions that can address them.

2

What value did your participation in previous editions bring, and what made you decide to return as an exhibitor at Green Energy Expo & Romenvirotec 2027?

For ECOAPA DESIGN, participating in events like this means more than visibility. It means direct dialogue with water operators, public authorities, designers, contractors and technology providers, an exchange of experience, and the opportunity to identify solutions and partnerships that can ultimately be turned into real projects.

We are returning in 2027 because we see a growing need to connect design and engineering with digitalization, technology and sustainability. Our experience is directly linked to the development and modernization of water and wastewater infrastructure, and ROMENVIROTEC WATER provides a valuable platform where we can both showcase our expertise and discover new technologies and partners.

The event brings together more than 750 brands and international participants from 21 countries, making it a relevant meeting point for the entire environmental and infrastructure ecosystem.

3

What is the biggest hidden problem facing Romania’s water infrastructure?

One of the biggest problems is what remains unseen: water losses from ageing networks, compounded by the lack of a comprehensive digital view of the existing infrastructure. It is not only about ageing pipes, but also about the difficulty of knowing, in real time, where water is being lost, how much is being lost, and why.

The OECD estimates that water losses due to leakage in Romania are approaching 40%, while investment in water supply and wastewater infrastructure per capita remains among the lowest in the EU.

From our perspective, modernization is not simply about replacing pipes. It is about understanding and intelligently managing the entire system: asset mapping, hydraulic modelling, monitoring, prioritizing investments, and taking action where it can have the greatest impact.

4

What major water-related risk should concern us over the next 10 years?

The most significant risk is declining water availability precisely when demand is increasing, driven by climate change. Droughts, rising temperatures, lower river flows and episodes of extreme rainfall will place simultaneous pressure on water supply, agriculture, industry and energy production.

The European Commission’s assessment for Romania indicates that, under the climate scenarios analysed, 9 out of 10 rivers studied could experience reduced flows. In certain regions of the Danube Basin, there is an estimated 20% probability of severe drought occurring over the next 10 years, potentially affecting around 50% of agricultural land.

That is why we need to move from crisis management to proactive water resource management.

5

What technology could have the greatest impact on the way we manage water resources?

We believe the biggest transformation will come from the integrated digitalization of water infrastructure: IoT sensors, smart metering, GIS, SCADA, hydraulic modelling, digital twins and artificial intelligence algorithms.

The real value emerges when these technologies are connected. They allow us to detect water losses faster, anticipate failures, optimize pressure and energy consumption, simulate drought or increased-demand scenarios, and make investment decisions based on real data rather than relying solely on reactive interventions.

Digitalization and artificial intelligence are, in fact, among the explicit directions outlined in the European Strategy for Water Resilience.

Solutions that are transforming the industry deserve to be seen.

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