The 10th International Conference on Water Resource and Environment (WRE 2024)

Abstract: Water quality is a fundamental issue for the survival of a city, especially on dry land. In ancient times, water availability determined the location and size of villages and cities. Water supply and treatment methods were developed and perfected along with the evolution of urbanization. In Europe, after the fall of the Roman Empire, water supply and sewage systems went through fundamental changes. However, in medieval times, the lack of proper sanitation and low water quality increased the spreading and effects of epidemics. The importance of potable water quality was established during modern times. In Greece, the significance of water filtration and disinfection was not understood until the beginning of the 20th century. Moreover, the beneficial effects of water quality and sanitation on human health and especially on life expectancy are considered. In Greece and other countries, a dramatic increase in life expectancy mainly after the 2nd World War is probably due to the improvement of potable water quality and hygiene conditions. However, since the mid-20th century, new water quality issues have emerged, such as eutrophication, the improvement of water treatment technologies, as well as chemical and microbiological water pollution problems. This study, in addition to the historical evolution of water quality, highlights and discusses the current issues and challenges with regard to the management and protection of water quality, including global changes in population and urbanization, lack of infrastructure, use of nonconventional water resources, spreading of emerging pollutants and contaminants (e.g., antibiotics and microplastics), and climatic variability impacts. Against these, a review of the main proposed strategies and measures is presented and discussed to protect water quality and maintain water supplies for the future. Understanding the practices and solutions of the past provides a lens with which to view the present and future.

Biography: Andreas N. Angelakis is an Adjunct Professor at the Technical University of Crete, Chania (1989 -2008), Technical Consultant of the Hellenic Association of Municipal Water and Sewerage Companies (EDEYA) (1991 -2018), and Water Reuse Consultant in FAO (1996-2018). His research interests include wastewater treatment and waste reuse, small and decentralized water management systems, and water resources technologies in ancient civilizations.

He was President of the European Federation of National Water and Wastewater Services Associations (EUREAU) (2008-2009) and a member of the Board of Directors for 16 years (1993-2009). He also chaired the EUREAU Working Group (WG) on Wastewater Reuse (2001-2007). He was originally a member of the International Water Pollution Research Association (IAWPR) and thereafter of the International Water Pollution Research Association (IAWPR) from 1980 to 1999. Finally, he was member of the International Association on Water Quality (IAWQ), WG for Water Recycling and Reuse from 1991 to 2005.

He has been a member of International Water Association (IWA) since 2000. He was president of the IWA Specialist Group (SG) for Water in Ancient Cultures (WAC) (2005 -2019). In October 2019, he was elected President of the new Joint IWA-IWHA (International Water History Association) SG in Water Resources in Ancient Civilizations (WAC). He was also a member of the IWA Strategic Council (2016 to 2019). 2

He has been honored and accepted awards including the awarding of Honorary Member, Fellow and Distinguished Fellow by IWA (2010, 2012 and 2015, respectively). He is an Honorary Member of the Hellenic Water Association (HWA, 2011). Also, Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (2018), Member of the French Academy of Water (2021), Honorary Professor of Hubei University, Wuhan, China (2019), and Honorary doctorate of the Agricultural University of Athens, Greece (2021).

Today he collaborates with international IWA members to highlight the timeless principles and practices of hydro-technology in ancient civilizations and to understand "what and how we could learn from the past". With a growing global awareness of the importance of water and wastewater management in ancient civilizations, IWA SG on WAC has organized more than a dozen international and regional symposia and workshops on hydro-technologies in ancient civilizations over the past decade.

He has authored or co-authored more than 550 publications, including articles in reputable international peer-reviewed journals, Greek and English books, book chapters and more, with more than 7,500 Google citations and i10-index 119. He has been invited / participated in more than 200 scientific events with corresponding lectures in Greece and abroad. Finally, he is the editor and member of the editorial boards of many international scientific journals.

More information, please see https://www.a-angelakis.gr/index.php