HWA conference

WATER CRISIS or WATER REVOLUTION?

Awareness, Solutions, Technologies and Financing for a Water-Secure Economy

Annual professional conference of the Hungarian Water and Wastewater Association (MaSzeSz)

8 October 2026

Objective of the event:

This conference provides a platform for stakeholders involved in urban water management – municipalities, service providers, legislators, product and technology developers, design engineers, representatives of the water industry, and stakeholders from the scientific, industrial, association, professional and financial sectors – to jointly seek answers to water-related challenges that affect everyone.

Background and topics:

Water is one of our most important natural resources and economic assets, and its preservation and sustainable use require increasing attention.

Recognising the value of water is not solely a technical or water management issue. A change in mindset is also needed among decision-makers, municipalities, service providers, economic actors and the public.

The challenges facing urban water management are complex: renewing infrastructure, addressing operational challenges, introducing innovative technologies, securing financing, and developing the regulatory environment all require professional cooperation and strategic thinking.

At the same time, an increasing number of good practices, technological solutions and partnership models are emerging that can provide answers to these challenges.

The professional conference entitled “WATER CRISIS or WATER REVOLUTION?” provides a forum for stakeholders involved in urban water management to jointly consider the most important professional, economic and social issues related to water.

Representatives of municipalities, water utility service providers, legislators, developers, technology and water industry companies, scientific and financial stakeholders, as well as professional organisations, will jointly seek solutions that can contribute to the development of a sustainable, efficient and secure water management system for the long term.

The conference will focus on preserving the value of water, strengthening water awareness, developing urban water management, the future of water utility systems, as well as the innovative technologies, financing instruments and cooperation models that support their implementation.

Programme:

09:00–09:15
Registration

09:15–09:30
Welcome remarks
Dr. Károly Kovács, President, MaSzeSz
Dr. habil. Csaba Ágoston, President, KSZGYSZ

09:30–11:00
Session 1: Water Awareness?
“The climate crisis is a water crisis. The water crisis is a crisis of life.”

Introductory presentation:
Climate adaptation at landscape scale: integrating the groundwater dimension into water retention solutions – Dr. Judit Mádlné Szőnyi, Eötvös Loránd University, Professor

Panel discussion: Moderator: Dr. Károly Kovács, President, MaSzeSz
− Katalin Sipos, Ministry Responsible for the Living Environment, Deputy State Secretary for Nature Conservation
− Balázs Horváth, Ministry Responsible for the Living Environment, Deputy State Secretary for Water Affairs (invited)
− Géza Csörnyei, Budapest Waterworks Ltd., CEO
− Dr. Dóra Laky, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Associate Professor
− Dr. Gábor Maász, University of Pannonia, Senior Research Fellow
− Andrea Káli, Head of the MaSzeSz Water Value Communication Working Group

11:00–11:30
Coffee break and book presentation:
− Dr. Dóra Laky and Dr. István Licskó: Fundamentals of Drinking Water Treatment Technologies

11:30–13:00
Session 2: Solutions, Technologies and Tools
“If we remain idle, the future will die of thirst!”

Introductory presentation:
Technologies and innovations – Ferenc Gorján, Debrecen Waterworks Ltd., CEO

Reuse of treated wastewater – risk or opportunity – Dr. Adrienne Clement, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Associate Professor

Panel discussion: Moderator: Géza Csörnyei, Vice President, MaSzeSz, CEO, FV Zrt.
− Dr. Attila Nagy, University of Debrecen, Professor
− Ernő Domonkos, Mayor’s Office of Gödöllő, Engineering Office, Technical Group Leader
− Ádám Kriston, Hungarian Chamber of Engineers, Water Management and Hydraulic Engineering Section, President
− Péter Galambos, HAWLE Kft., Managing Director
− Pál Kiss, Thermowatt Kft., Managing Director
− Péter Dózsa, Pureco Idea Kft., Managing Director, Product Development Engineer
− Attila Kovács, Asio Hungária Kft., Managing Director
− Ildikó Galambos, University of Pannonia, Associate Professor

13:00–14:00
Lunch break, networking

14:00–15:30
Session 3: Financing, Regulatory and Incentive Instruments
“Water is the new currency. Yet we are squandering it?!”

Introductory presentation:
Financing issues of water-related investments – László Gajdos, Ministry Responsible for the Living Environment, Minister (invited)

Climate resilience: financing and regulatory framework – Zsófia Baloghné Gaál, Hungarian Chamber of Engineers, Environmental Protection Section, President

Panel discussion: Moderator: Gábor Lebovits, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, MaSzeSz, Deputy CEO for Economic Affairs, FV Zrt.
− Ágnes Kelemen, Ministry Responsible for the Living Environment, State Secretary for Water Affairs and Climate Policy (invited)
− Kata Tüttő, European Committee of the Regions, President
− Dr. Károly Kovács, President, MaSzeSz
− Ákos Schmidt, Credit Management Group, RSM ESG Solution, Partner
− Norbert Holczinger, Magyar Nemzeti Bank, Sustainable Finance Department, Head of Department
− Irén Márta, BCSDH, Managing Director
− Tibor Lehoczky, Goodwill Consulting, Strategic Director
− Mónika Mihácsi, BDL Kft., Managing Director

15:30–16:00
Q&A session

16:00–16:15
Closing remarks

16:15–17:45
B2B, networking