ASEM Water Seminar in Helsinki

Today’s water challenges know no borders. Rapid urbanisation, climate change and growing water demand are creating complex pressures that can only be addressed through international cooperation.

This was the key message of the 7th ASEM Seminar on Urban Water Management, held in Helsinki on 27–28 May 2026. The event brought together more than 150 experts, decision-makers, researchers, financial institutions and industry leaders from across Asia and Europe to exchange knowledge, best practices and innovative solutions for sustainable urban water management.

The event focused on international cooperation, climate resilience and innovative technologies that contribute to safe and sustainable drinking water services.

We were particularly pleased to see arsenic removal and regenerable adsorbent-based water treatment among the topics highlighted during the professional programme.

Arsenic contamination of groundwater remains a significant challenge in many parts of the world, including Central and Eastern Europe as well as several regions in Asia. As utilities seek long-term solutions, increasing attention is being paid to technologies that combine high treatment efficiency with sustainability and cost-effectiveness.

In his presentation, Dr Károly Kovács, CEO of Puraset, president of the Hungarian Water Association (HWA) and the Hungarian Water Partnership (HWP) introduced our AsMET regenerable adsorbent technology addresses these challenges by enabling repeated regeneration of the filter media. This approach reduces waste generation, supports circular economy principles and delivers favourable life-cycle costs for water utilities and operators.

For us, it is particularly encouraging to see regenerable adsorbent-based arsenic removal becoming part of the global professional dialogue. We believe that the future of drinking water treatment lies in solutions that successfully balance technical performance, economic viability and environmental sustainability.

The Helsinki forum once again demonstrated that water challenges do not stop at national borders. Addressing them requires international cooperation, innovation and a long-term commitment to resilient water management.