We have been caring for the purity of nature since 2015.
Building a stronger water sector requires more than investment in infrastructure and new technologies. It also requires continuous investment in the people who manage water services, make strategic decisions, and turn technical expertise into sustainable results.
This is why Hydrolia continues its active involvement in Utility Management Training (UMT), the international capacity development programme of IAWD – International Association of Water Service Companies in the Danube Region.
The fourth cycle of Utility Management Training started in September, and once again Hydrolia is contributing from both sides of the learning process – with experts sharing their practical experience as trainers and colleagues joining the programme as participants.
At Hydrolia, we believe that professional knowledge creates even greater value when it is shared.
Our involvement in Utility Management Training reflects the way we see the development of the water sector: as a combination of technical expertise, strong management skills, practical experience, and continuous learning.
Two experts from our team contribute to the programme as trainers.
Nikolay Nikolov participates in the Effective Facility Operations module, sharing practical experience related to wastewater infrastructure management.
Radoslav Zlatkov contributes his expertise on topics related to budgeting and financing water utility operations.
Their participation provides an opportunity to bring experience gained through real projects into an international learning environment and to share it with water professionals from different countries and organisations.
Managing water and wastewater services is a complex task that goes far beyond technical operations.
The two-year Utility Management Training programme addresses this complexity through six core areas covering economics, finance and regulation; commercial management and customer service; asset management and investment planning; network operations and energy efficiency; effective facility operations; and water safety planning and business continuity management.
A particularly valuable aspect of the programme is its practical approach.
Alongside structured learning, participants work with real-world challenges, exchange professional experience, and visit facilities operated by partner organisations. This creates an environment where management concepts can be explored in the context of the everyday realities faced by water utilities.
One of the most valuable aspects of Hydrolia’s involvement in UMT is the two-way exchange of knowledge.
While our experts share their experience as trainers, other Hydrolia colleagues participate in the programme as learners. This gives our team the opportunity not only to contribute knowledge but also to gain new perspectives from professionals working in different organisations and countries.
Over the years, the UMT community has grown to include more than 100 water professionals from over 15 countries, creating a valuable network for professional exchange and cooperation across the Danube Region.
For Hydrolia, being part of this community means learning from different approaches, sharing practical experience, and building relationships with professionals facing many of the same challenges across the water sector.
Technology continues to evolve. Infrastructure is being modernised. Expectations for efficiency, resilience, sustainability, and quality of service continue to grow.
Yet behind every successful transformation are people who need to plan it, manage it, and turn it into everyday practice.
This is why Hydrolia considers professional and management development an essential part of building a stronger and more resilient water sector.
We are pleased to be part of another Utility Management Training cycle and to continue sharing experience, gaining knowledge, and building professional connections with colleagues from across the Danube Region.
For us, this is what meaningful professional development looks like: sharing what we know, learning from others, and moving the water sector forward together.
As a reminder, in May we welcomed an international delegation as part of the 2026 Danube Water Forum. The Forum was once again organised by IAWD, bringing together professionals and organisations committed to strengthening regional cooperation and developing practical solutions for the future of the water sector. You can read more about the visit in our article here.
For more on Hydrolia’s involvement in Utility Management Training, read the article published by Инженер.БГ.