UrbanM2O Project Launches to Transform Urban Water Quality Monitoring Across Europe
A bold new initiative to revolutionise urban water quality management was officially launched on June 11–12 in Copenhagen. The UrbanM2O Project, a four-year, €5 million effort funded by the Horizon Europe programme, aims to tackle growing concerns around urban water pollution through cutting-edge digital innovation, artificial intelligence, and cross-sector collaboration.
The project is coordinated by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and brings together 20 expert partners from 10 countries, forming a robust, multidisciplinary consortium. This team will address a critical and escalating challenge: the pollution of urban water systems by microplastics, microbial contaminants, and other pollutants.
UrbanM2O is more than a research project—it’s a collaborative mission to reshape how cities across Europe understand, manage, and ultimately improve water quality,” said the project coordinators during the launch event in Copenhagen.
UrbanM2O will develop and implement a suite of innovations to enhance how cities monitor and respond to water quality issues. Key objectives include:
- Developing AI-powered, resource-efficient monitoring technologies
- Creating integrated water quality models and harmonised data systems
- Building open-access Digital Twins to identify pollution hotspots in real time
- Designing actionable guidance for urban water managers across Europe
These innovations will be tested and validated in three European pilot cities, each facing distinct water-related challenges:
- Barcelona, Spain – Focused on water reuse and scarcity mitigation
- Copenhagen, Denmark – Integrating blue-green infrastructure for climate resilience
- Zürich, Switzerland – Advancing AI-driven monitoring and treatment technologies
UrbanM2O aligns with the EU’s Green Deal and Water Framework Directive, supporting more sustainable, data-driven approaches to urban water governance. The project’s interdisciplinary approach ensures that scientific excellence is paired with practical, city-level implementation strategies.
As the project progresses, stakeholders and citizens alike will benefit from open-access tools, data platforms, and engagement activities designed to enhance awareness and foster collaborative action in urban water management.
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