In view of the upcoming retirement of Mr. Peter Dane, Managing Director of EBC, the Board of the Foundation has decided to appoint Ms. Viktoria Iskova, currently EBC's Programme Coordinator, as his successor.
Due to internal changes, EBC is looking for enthusiastic candidates for the position of Programme Coordinator.
The EBC Foundation is pleased to announce the opening of registration for the 19th edition of its benchmarking exercises for water services, IB2024 (2025), and invites water supply and wastewater utilities from across Europe and beyond to participate.
This year, the annual meeting of the EBC-programme participants was held from November 27 to 29 in Turin, former capital of Italy and city of Baroque. EBC’s annual event brought together more than 75 representatives from participating drinking water supply and sanitation utilities.
On May 14, 2024, the EBC team took part in the Tri-national (D/PL/UA) Workshop on standardization in the Water sector at IFAT Munich, the world's leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste and raw materials management.
We are pleased to inform you that the EBC Public Summary Report of the 2023 benchmarking exercise (IB2022) is now available to explore the key results.
EBC is preparing the 18th edition of its benchmarking exercises for water services (IB2023) and invites…
This year the annual benchmarking workshop of the EBC-programme took place on November 15-17 in the beautiful city of Porto, Portugal. Over 80 representatives from participating utilities attended the event.
On 16 May 2023 a group of experts from 11 frontrunner utilities from across Europe gathered in Hamburg for a Knowledge Picnic on Sustainability Reporting.
Based on active discussions and interest shown by participants in sustainability reporting during the workshop in Krakow, it was decided to hold a third Knowledge Picnic on Sustainability reporting: SDGs & CSRD on May 16, 2023 in Hamburg, Germany.
After three years of waiting, 71 representatives from 18 different countries in Europe and beyond, gathered on 17 & 18 November 2022 in Kraków, Poland for the IB2021 benchmarking workshop.
The 2022 benchmarking exercise (IB2021) so far has attracted 47 water utilities, which is about 15% more participants than in the year 2021. Data collection is in full swing.
In view of the Russian military aggression in Ukraine, EBC has decided to no longer admit Russian water companies to its European benchmarking programme. Existing participants have been disconnected from the programme with immediate effect.
Earlier this year, the European Union launched a Water Operator Partnership (WOP) Programme to leverage the demonstrated capacity of utilities to help one another reaching the SDGs.
On 29 June 2021 the Philippine Association of Water Districts (PAWD) virtually kicked off its benchmarking programme for water services.
Despite the COVID-19 challenges, so far 41 companies have registered for this year’s benchmarking exercise for European water- and wastewater utilities.
Continuous improvement is the key to water- and wastewater utilities to provide 24 hours a day safe, reliable and affordable services, now and in the future.
EBC offers water- & wastewater utilities in Europe and beyond a leading improvement- and knowledge exchange programme.
Soon the registration for the new benchmarking cycle (IB2020) will open! To introduced interested utilities to the programme, we will organise an online Orientation session on Thursday the 18th of February (10:00 - 11:00 CET).
At the end of 2020, water-and wastewater utilities participating in EBCs benchmarking programme received a pilot report on their performance in relation to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The report is an initiative of a number of frontrunner utilities and the result of extensive (ongoing) discussions. The SDGs can count on a great deal of enthusiasm among the programme participants, who are very motivated to contribute to the UN's Call for Action.
For the IB2019 edition EBCs knowledge exchange event went online! Instead of joining a two day workshop hosted by one of the participating utilities, colleagues could now login to 6 different online Knowledge Picnics.
On 11 March the WHO declared COVID-19 pandemic. According to renowned research institutes (treated) drinking water is well protected against viruses, including the Corona virus. Still extra measures are necessary to secure the continuous availability of safe water- and sanitation services for all.
On Friday 6 March, EBC together with Canal de Isabel II, Waternet and VA SYD organised a Knowledge Picnic.
Save the date for a new Knowledge Picnic! The Picnic with the aim to: Finding relevant indicators for water service related Sustainable Development Goals will take place on 6 March in Madrid. The Picnic is co-organized and hosted by Canal de Isabel II (Spain) together with VA SYD (Sweden), Waternet (The Netherlands) and EBC.
From 13 – 15 November 2019, participants in the IB2018 benchmarking exercise for Western Europe gathered in Helsinki, Finland for the 13th edition of the annual benchmarking workshop. 75 Representatives from across Europe and beyond, including guests of the European Investment Bank and the Finnish association FIWA, participated in a smooth workshop which was co-organised with host company HSY.
On Friday 13 September, EBC together with Va Syd and Waternet organized the second Knowledge Picnic in Malmö (Sweden). 17 participants from 7 different utilities gathered to discuss about sustainability. The UN Sustainable Development Goals formed a central part in this discussion and acted as a guidance.
A group of water- and wastewater utilities from 17 different countries already started with the data entry for this years’ International Benchmarking exercise (IB2018). They are on a quest to assess, learn and improve! Your utility can still join them!
On Friday 5 April, EBC together with MPWiK Wroclaw organized the very first knowledge picnic. The concept is simple: in short expert meetings (small groups of max. 10 to 15 people), hosted by one of the participating utilities, experiences/best practices around one specific process/theme are discussed.
In 2019 the European Benchmarking Co-operation organises its 13th annual benchmarking exercise for drinking water- & wastewater utilities in Western Europe. Joining the EBC-programme is a commitment to assess, learn and improve!
The IB2017 Public Report highlights the main results from the annual benchmarking exercise for water- and wastewaterservices in Western Europe, shares participants experiences from new utilties and showcases two best practices from the sector. Last year 44 utilities from 20 different countries participated. Together they serve millions of consumers across Europe and beyond.
During the annual benchmarking workshop for Western Europe, which took place from 14-16 November 2018 in Athens, the first ‘EBC benchmarking certificate’ was awarded to EYDAP. The certificate intends to acknowledge the organisations that are seriously working on improving their service.
From 14 – 16 November 2018, participants in the IB2017 benchmarking exercise for Western Europe gathered in Athens, Greece for the 12th edition of the annual benchmarking workshop. Almost 90 representatives from around Europe and beyond, including guests from regional benchmarking hubs in the Danube region, the EIB and Aqua Publica Europea participated in a lively, dynamic and inspirational atmosphere.
Registration for EBC’s 12th annual Benchmarking Workshop for participants in the Western European Programme is now open! The workshop takes place from 15 to 16 November in Athens, Greece with a welcome reception in the evening of the 14th.
A group of water- and wastewater utilities from 18 different countries already started with the data entry for this years’ International Benchmarking exercise (IB2017). They are on a quest to assess, learn and improve! Your utility can still join them!
EBC Foundation highly values privacy and transparency and wants to carefully process and thoroughly secure personal data which is collected in the framework of its benchmarking services, in compliance with the requirements from the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
EBC is happy to announce that the refreshed version of www.waterbenchmark.org is live!
This year EBC will organize a 2nd Orientation & training workshop on 26 April. Venue for the workshop is the office of EYDAP, the water & wastewater utility for the city of Athens.
The agenda of the Orientation & Training workshop for the Western Europe Programme, is now available! The Workshop will take place on 6 April in Copenhagen, Denmark.
In 2018 the European Benchmarking Co-operation organises its 12th annual benchmarking exercise for drinking water- & wastewater utilities in Western Europe (IB2017). Joining the EBC-programme enables you to assess, learn and improve!
On 13.02.2018 the Terms & Conditions for benchmarking- and improvement services provided by Stichting EBC Foundation were updated.
Last week, we have issued the final company reports for the IB2016 benchmarking exercise. With the final company reports, the current benchmarking has come to an end. Of course next year we will run a new exercise: IB2017 and we look forward to welcoming you (again) in the next cycle!
From 9 - 10 November 2017, participants in the IB2016 benchmarking exercise for Western Europe gathered in Hal Luqa, Malta for the 11th edition of the annual benchmarking workshop. Over 90 utility representatives from around Europe and beyond, including guests from regional benchmarking hubs in the Danube region participated in an inspirational, constructive and open atmosphere.
Over the last two weeks the EBC-project team received several question about the possibilities to still join IB2016. On the first of May the 11th edition of the International Benchmarking exercise for Western European water- and wastewater utilities started. With participants from 20 different countries it promises to be an interesting exercise again.
The agenda of the Orientation & Training workshop for the Western Europe Program, is now available. The Workshop will take place on 4 April in Copenhagen, Denmark and starts on 10:00 in the morning.
In 2017 the European Benchmarking Co-operation organises the 11th edition of its programme of annual benchmarking exercises for drinking water- & wastewater utilities in Western Europe (IB2016). Registration is now open.
Missed out the IB2015 Benchmarking workshop in Poznan, but would like to get an impression of it? Just check out the video below! At the beginning of next year some short interviews with participants will be available as well.
From 2 - 4 November 2016, participants in the IB2015 benchmarking exercise for Western Europe gathered in Poznan, Poland for the 10th edition of the annual benchmarking workshop. Over 84 utility representatives from around Europe and beyond, including delegations from regional benchmarking hubs in the Danube region participated in an open and constructive atmosphere, with a clear spirit of collaboration and taking lessons from colleagues.
The Western Europe benchmarking exercise (IB2015) has just finished so it is time to fully focus on next year again as Benchmarking is most effective if it is carried out repeatedly in a continuous plan-do-check-act cycle. Pre-registration for next years benchmarking exercise IB2016 is now open.
At the beginning of September, EBC has issued its second newsletter. The EBC newsletter is published and distributed on a quarterly basis.
Last June EBC was invited to present at an internal workshop of the European Investment Bank (EIB) in Luxemburg.
Utilities from 19 different countries already registered for the 10th edition of the International Benchmarking exercise (IB2015). Interested utilities can still register.
The agenda of the Orientation & Training workshop is now available. The Workshop will take place on 15 April in Copenhagen, Denmark and starts on 10:00 in the morning.
The IB2014 Public Report highlights the main results from the annual benchmarking exercise in Western Europe. 43 utilities from 17 countries participated. Key indicators are clustered around the performance areas distinguished within the EBC benchmarking methodology: Coverage, Water quality, Reliability, Service quality, Sustainability and Finance & Efficiency.
The Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) is planning to run a benchmarking project on Asset Management this year. In EBC-terminology, this project can be characterised as advanced level benchmarking. Participation is also open to European utilities.
Aqua Publica Europea (APE, www.aquapublica.eu) and EBC Foundation have decided to collaborate on benchmarking and the exchange of knowledge and good practices.
Responding to requests from utilities in Central- and Eastern Europe, in addition to the benchmarking reports in the English language EBC has also provided reports in local languages.
From 21 - 23 October 2015, participants in the IB2014 benchmarking exercise for Western Europe gathered in the ancient city of Jerez de la Frontera, in the most south-western part of Europe, for the annual benchmarking workshop. This year, the workshop attracted 88 utility representatives from around Europe and beyond, including delegations from the four regional benchmarking hubs in the Danube region.
By 15 October 2015, the national/regional benchmarking hubs for Albania & Kosovo, Bulgaria, Former Yugoslavia region and Ukraine have finished the second utility benchmarking cycle under the Danube Water Program. Via EBC’s benchmarking platform www.waterbenchmark.org the final company reports have been delivered to the 56 participating utilities.
EBC has sent out invitations for its next benchmarking exercise IB2014. Water- & wastewater utilities from (primarily) all over Europe are cordially invited to jointly assess and compare performance and find ways to improve the service.
The IB2013 Public Report highlights the main results from the annual benchmarking exercise in Western Europe. 48 utilities from 17 countries participated. Key indicators are clustered around the performance areas distinguished within the EBC benchmarking methodology: Water quality, Reliability, Service quality, Sustainability and Finance & Efficiency.
On 18 and 19 November 2014 a record number of 115 delegrates gathered in Antwerp, Belgium, for the annual benchmarking workshop. The workshop included dicussions on the preliminary results of the performance assessment, a site visit to Aquafin's R&D-centre and WWTP Antwerpen-Zuid and sessions to exchange good practices.
On 24 July 2014 EBC Foundation has been founded to develop a more independent, European profile, to strengthen the governance of the programme and to better focus on EBC's core business: benchmarking water services.
July 2014, EBC Foundation and IAWD (association of water companies in the Danube catchment area, on behalf of the Danube Water Program), signed an agreement for developing benchmarking programmes for water- & wastewater utilities in the Danube region.
July 2014, EBC has entered into a contract with the research company ABF Research in Delft, The Netherlands, to renew the existing benchmarking tools.
On 15 and 16 May 2014 the International Water Association organised a European Utility Conference in Oslo, Norway. At this event, EBC has presented an overview of 7 years of benchmarking European water services as well as the most recent developments of the programme.
EBC has sent out invitations for its next benchmarking exercise IB2013. Water- & wastewater utilities from (primarily) all over Europe are cordially invited to jointly assess and compare performance and find ways to improve the service.
The registration to participate in the 2014-round of the EBC programme is now available. The analysis will cover 2013-data.
In december 2013, the IB2012 benchmarking exercise ended. 40 Utilities from 18 different countries assessed and compared the performance of their water- & wastewater services and gathered in October 2013 in Madrid for a benchmarking workshop where they exchanged good practices.