SAFEWAT

Project

We are pleased to present to you an International project entitled „Cost-effective and safe drinking water for everyone – Development of a methodology for the improved protection and/or remediation of bank filtration water source zones“, which began implementation on January 1, 2023 under the leadership of prof. Dr Jasmina Agbaba.

The project is implemented through the cooperation of the University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, as the leading institution, and the public utility company "Vodovod i Kanalizacija", as an organization that is the implementing of the project results.

Foreign partners on the project are INNO-WATER Environmental Research and Services Inc. (Inno-Water Zrt.) and Duna-Kút Public Water Utility Construction and Service Limited Liability Company (DUNA-KÚT Kft.) from Budapest.

• The subject of the projectis the supply of drinking water based on bank filtration, with a special focus on the endangered sources, either due to a change in the quality of water in the river or due to anthropogenic influence from the hinterland of the source.

• The goal of the project is the development of innovative technology for the remediation of polluted sites, including groundwater, and the definition of a methodology for improving the protection and/or remediation of bank filtration drinking water source zones in urban areas, as well as increasing the competitiveness of bank filtration in relation to more conventional water treatment technologies from deep aquifers.

Activities

The project plan includes a total of 6 activities, through the implementation of which the defined goals of the project will be fulfilled.

Our Team

prof. dr Jasmina Agbaba

Project Manager

prof. dr Srđan Rončević

prof. dr Snežana Maletić

prof. dr Dejan Krčmar

prof. dr Aleksandra Tubić

prof. dr Marijana Kragulj Isakovski

PROF. DR MARIJANA KRAGULj ISAKOVSKI, full Professor at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad. Her scientific field is focused on investigating sorption and degradation processes in soil and aquatic systems, with a specific emphasis on the impact of carbon-based materials on the behavior of organic pollutants in these systems. She possesses expertise in the application of gas chromatography techniques, including GC/MSD and GC/µECD/FID. Dr. Marijana Kragulj Isakovski serves as an analyst in the Laboratory for Environmental Chemical Testing "Dr. Milena Dalmacija". She has participated in various international collaborations and exchange programs. As part of the IPA MATCROSS project, she visited the Applied & Environmental Chemistry Department at the University of Szeged. Additionally, she undertook a training program at the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Universita Politechnica delle Marche in Ancona, Italy, as part of the Erasmus+ KA1 Staff Exchange Program. Dr. Marijana Kragulj Isakovski also visited the JRC-EC Nanobiotechnology Laboratory under the "Open Access to JRC Research Infrastructures" initiative. In another collaboration, she stayed a month at the Instituto de la Grassa-CSIC in Seville, Spain, as part of a Twinning project. During her stay, she received training in solid-state NMR for the analysis of soil samples and organic soil amendments. Dr. Marijana Kragulj Isakovski has actively participated in numerous national and international projects. Over the past five years, she has contributed to three projects funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, as well as one project funded by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia. She has also been involved in four projects of importance for the science and technological development of AP Vojvodina. In addition to these national projects, Dr. Marijana Kragulj Isakovski has collaborated on a project funded by the Science Fund of RS (Cooperation between Serbian Researchers and Diaspora), the Innovation Fund RS (Proof of Concept), an ERASMUS+ project, a bilateral project between Serbia and Austria, a project from the Horizon 2020 program (PHY2CLIMATE), and a Twinning project (TwinSubDyn) from the Horizon Europe program. Furthermore, she has actively contributed to the realization of four research projects in the field of environmental protection that were financed by the City Administration for Environmental Protection in Novi Sad. Throughout her professional career, she has been an active participant in international projects funded by programs such as FP6, IPA, TEMPUS, as well as more than 50 projects and studies conducted for the economy. She is the author and co-author of 44 papers published in SCIe journals. She was an invited speaker at two conferences of international importance ICAPP 2022 (2nd International Conference on Advanced Production and Processing and 11th MSSS 2019 (Mass Spectrometry Summer School in Environmental and Food Safety Control). The citation (SCOPUS database) is 578, h-index: 14 (Scopus, ID: 57219673220; ORCID: orcid.org). She reviewed over 20 papers for 7 scientific journals and participated in the scientific committee and organization of three meetings (EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria; Conference "Docent Dr Milena Dalmacija" and Water Workshop-School for Environmental Protection). Second prize of the foundation "Docent Dr Milena Dalmacija" for the best doctoral dissertation in the field of Environmental Protection. He is a member of the Serbian Chemical Society, Sample Preparation Network, and EGU (European Geoscience Union).
For more information at the link.

prof. dr Jelena Molnar Jazić

prof. dr Uglješa Stankov

dr Malkom Vatson

dr Nataša Duduković

dr Jasmina Nikić

dr Miloš Dubovina

dr Tajana Simetić

dr Slaven Tenodi

Srđan Stanojev

The public utility company
"Water and Sewerage" Novi Sad

Tamara Nenezić

Ranko Vukićević

Nataša Ostojić

Gordana Aćimović

Borislav Božinović

Saša Živanović

INNOWAT PARTNER

Dr. Anita Szabó

PARTNERS

Faculti of Science
University of Novi Sad

The public utility company
"Water and Sewerage"
Novi Sad

INNO-WATER Environmental Research and Services Inc. (Inno-Water Zrt.)
Budapest

Duna-Kút Public Water Utility Construction
and Service Limited Liability Company
(DUNA-KÚT Kft.) Budapest

News

Our partners from Hungary have developed a hydrogeological model of river bank filtration zones on the Danube

December 20, 2024, Budapest

As part of the SAFEWAT project’s efforts to improve the protection of river bank filtration zones for drinking water sources, our colleagues from InnoWater Zrt and Duna-Kut Kft have successfully developed hydrogeological models of a filtation zone on the Danube. These models have been calibrated with operation monitoring data in the field.

Prof. Dr. Jelena Molnar Jazić and Prof. Dr. Marijana Kragulj Isakovski participated in the leading regional event Exhibition on Water/ Water Forum in Belgrade

December 4-6, 2024, Belgrade

The Exhibition on Water/Water Forum, was held between 4-6 th December (fifteenth in a row), bringing together key stakeholders from the fields of water supply and water management. This prestigious event provided an opportunity for networking and exchanging experiences among manufacturers and distributors of equipment, devices and chemicals, as well as representatives of scientific institutions, engineering and designing companies, and water management enterprises. The Exhibiton on Water/Water Forum offered a unique chance to exchange views on current challenges, new technologies, and future projects that will shape the development of water infrastructure.

At this year’s Exhibition on Water/Water Forum, Prof. Dr. Marijana Kragulj Isakovski participated as a moderator in the session titled “Water Supply and Climate Change”. During this session, Prof. Dr. Jelena Molnar Jazić presented a paper “Water Quality – A Challenge or a Priority in the World of Global Changes?” and introduced the international project “Safewat” from the EUREKA program.

Dr. Tajana Simetić participated in the 45th International Conference "Water Supply and Sewerage," held from October 8 to 11, 2024, in Brzeće, Kopaonik

October 8-11, 2024, Brzeće, Kopaonik

The 45th International Conference titled "WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE '24" was organized by the Union of Engineers and Technicians of Serbia, with the support of numerous co-organizers. The conference was held under the patronage of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, with the support of the Serbian Chamber of Engineers. More than 100 participants from Serbia and the region attended the event, including university professors, researchers from scientific and research institutions, representatives of public water supply and sewerage utility companies, engineers from consulting, design, and construction firms, representatives of water management enterprises and public administration bodies in the field of water management and utility services, as well as equipment manufacturers and providers of specialized services in the field of drinking water supply, sewage, and water treatment.

At the opening of the conference, the Union of Engineers and Technicians of Serbia awarded a certificate of appreciation to the Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, and to our project team member, Prof. Dr. Srđan Rončević, for his contribution to the popularization and successful realization of the International Conference "Water Supply and Sewerage."

Team member Dr. Tajana Simetić presented the results of study on the topic "Removal of Vinyl Chloride from Water Using Ozonation and Sorption on Granular Activated Carbon," which included part of the results achieved within the SafeWat project. During this presentation, Dr. Tajana Simetić also introduced the main objectives of the SafeWat project.

Members of the SafeWat team participated in the 27th Water Workshop, titled "WATER QUALITY," held at the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Sciences in Novi Sad

September 18 – 21, 2024., Faculty of Sciences, Novi Sad

The project leader, Prof. Dr. Jasmina Agbaba, along with team members Prof. Dr. Srđan Rončević, Prof. Dr. Snežana Maletić, Prof. Dr. Aleksandra Tubić, Prof. Dr. Dejan Krčmar, Prof. Dr. Marijana Kragulj Isakovski, Prof. Dr. Jelena Molnar Jazić and Prof. Dr Malcolm Watson participated in organization and implementation of the 27th Water Workshop, which was held at the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad. Additionally, Prof. Dr. Jasmina Agbaba and Prof. Dr. Aleksandra Tubić participated in the publication of the book for this year's Water Workshop titled “TECHNOLOGICAL AND RESOURCE ASPECTS OF THE CIRCULAR MODEL FOR SLUDGE MANAGEMENT FROM WATER TREATMENT”.

The main topics of Water Workshop 2024 included: sustainable management of sludge from drinking water treatment plants; Smart Water Summer Forum: technological and other aspects of circularity in sludge management after wastewater treatment; and safe water for everyone: water resource quality and sustainable approaches for arsenic removal. Additionally, discussions were held about the challenges and new approaches in the treatment of organic micropollutants in water, with a focus on the application of ozone and advanced oxidation processes. On this occasion, Prof. Dr. Jelena Molnar Jazić presented the most important research conducted in the field of advanced oxidation processes in water treatment, as part of the SafeWat project activities.

Participation of the project team in the workshop "2nd TwiNSol-CECs Workshop - Advanced Water Treatments in Emerging Contaminants Mitigation with Cutting-Edge Technologies"

June 6-7, 2024, Faculty of Technology, Novi Sad

Members of the SAFEWAT project team from the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Environmental Protection at the Faculty of Sciences in Novi Sad, Prof. Dr. Marijana Kragulj Isakovski, Prof. Dr. Jelena Molnar Jazić, and Dr. Jasmina Nikić, participated in the workshop "2nd TwiNSol-CECs Workshop - Advanced Water Treatments in Emerging Contaminants Mitigation with Cutting-Edge Technologies," organized at the Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, on June 6-7, 2024. On this occasion, they exchanged knowledge and experiences with colleagues from both domestic and international institutions in the field of contemporary methods for treating contaminants. Prof. Dr. Jelena Molnar Jazić presented research conducted in the application of advanced oxidation processes in water treatment, as part of the activities of the EUREKA project.

Participation of the SafeWat team at the conference "Water Supply and Sewerage Systems"

May 28-31, 2024, Banja Koviljača

Dr. Jasmina Agbaba, Dr. Aleksandra Tubić, Dr. Marijana Kragulj Isakovski, Dr. Malcolm Watson, Dr. Nataša Duduković, Dr. Jasmina Nikić, and Dr. Miloš Dubovina participated in the conference "Water Supply and Sewerage Systems," held from May 28-31, 2024, in Banja Koviljača. Dr. Jasmina Agbaba and Dr. Marijana Kragulj Isakovski were moderators of the session "Water Quality." During this session, Dr. Marijana Kragulj Isakovski presented a paper on "Assessment of the impact of Danube water quality on the quality of groundwater from the alluvium," which included some of the results achieved within the SafeWat project.

Prof. Dr. Jelena Molnar Jazić, a member of the SafeWat team, participated in the work of the 4th Regional Consultation "Surface, groundwater, wastewater treatment and sludge ", which was held in Vršac, 15-16. May 2024.

May 15 and 16, 2024

At the 4th Regional Consultation entitled "Surface, groundwater, wastewater treatment and sludge", which was held in the period from 15-16. May 2024 in Vršac, member of the team of prof. Dr. Jelena Molnar Jazić gave a lecture on the topic "Challenges in the field of treatment of organic micropollutants in water - application of ozone and advanced oxidation processes" and presented the international project "SAFEWAT" from the EUREKA program. On that occasion, the professor shared her experiences and research results that are carried out at the University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, Chair of Chemical Technology and Environmental Protection with representatives of the competent Ministry - Republic Directorate for Water, waterworks and public utility companies, industry and the academic community.

The participation of SafeWat team member, prof. dr Malcolm Watson at the meeting entitled "SUPREMS workshop - Innovative technologies in water treatment to remove contaminants of concern - examples of solutions for microcystins, drugs and PFAS" in Novi Sad

January 31 - February 1, 2024

At the meeting entitled "SUPREMES workshop - Innovative technologies in water treatment to remove contaminants of concern - examples of solutions for microcystins, drugs and PFAS", which was held in the period from January 31 to February 1, 2024 in Novi Sad, team member prof. dr Malcolm Watson had the opportunity to present the main goals of the SafeWat project and some of the achieved results. The meeting was also attended by the head of the project leader prof. dr Jasmina Agbaba and team member dr Jasmina Nikić.

This workshop is part of the project "Sustainable and profitable production of drinking water using a membrane hybrid process from eutrophic water polluted with micropollutants" (acronym SUPREMES). The project SUPREMES is bilateral scientific cooperation between University Duisburg-Essen, Depertment of Process Engineering/Water Technology and University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection and Department of Biology and Ecology.

Participation of the project team of the Faculty of Science at the leading regional event Exhibition on Water / Water Forum 2023 in Belgrade

December, 7-9 2023.

At this year's Water Forum << WATER SECTOR –LOOK INTO THE FUTURE >> held from 7-9. December 2023 in Belgrade discussed the necessary reforms in the Water Management Sector and opportunities for improving water services through the development and strengthening of capacities within the framework of regional and international cooperation, as well as the application of digital technologies and artificial intelligence.

Members of the project team of the Faculty of Science, prof. Jasmina Agababa, Ph.D., prof. Aleksandra Tubić, Ph.D., Tajana Simetić, Ph.D., and Miloš Dubovina, Ph.D., had the opportunity to participate in the Water Forum 2023, a unique event in the South East Europe region, that brings together experts from Water Management Sector. Dr. Tajana Simetić presented the goals and part of the achieved results of the SafeWat project within the session "Young Water Professionals IWA - YWP " The forum "Young experts in the field of water", as an integral part of the "Water Forum 2023", is organized by IWA YWP Srbija, a section of the Association for Water Technology and Sanitary Engineering, under the auspices of the World Water Association – IWA-e.

Visit of the project team from the Faculty of Science and the public utility company "Water and Sewerage" Novi Sad to the project partners in Budapest

November 15 and 16, 2023

Members of the project team from the University of Novi Sad, the Faculty of Science (Prof. Jasmina Agbaba, Ph.D., Prof. Aleksandra Tubić, Ph.D. and Prof. Malcolm Watson, Ph.D.) and the Public Utility Company "Water and Sewerage" Novi Sad (Gordana Aćimović, master chemist) visited project partners in Budapest from 15-16. November 2023. During the visit, the project activities of the partners carried out until then were analyzed, the results achieved and further tasks agreed upon. Also, as part of this visit, a tour of the distribution center of the Budapest water supply system and the spring on St. Andrew's Island (one of the three sources of drinking water in Budapest) was performed.