Introduction

Water Pollution 2012 is the 11th International Conference in the series on Modelling, Monitoring and Management of Water Pollution. The meeting, which started in 1991, has always been very successful and provides a forum for the discussion and exchange of information between scientists, managers and academics from different areas of water contamination. The conference creates an international venue for interdisciplinary discussion and dissemination of work related to water quality and environmental problems caused by the increase of pollutant loads and the inappropriate management of water resources.

A worldwide increase in water demand for communities, industries and agriculture has placed great importance on water science and management practice. The future development of most countries will depend decisively upon how the increased demand for water will be satisfied, and how the economic and environmental costs for the demand will be met.

The environmental problems caused by the increase of pollutant loads discharged into natural water bodies requires a framework based on scientific results for its regulation and control. The changes in water quality due to pollutant discharges allow for more efficient ways of controlling and treating waste loads.

Environmental problems are essentially multidisciplinary and require engineers, scientist and managers to work together on a wide variety of issues. Hence it is essential to promote the exchange of information between the different parties involved in water pollution problems.

The Water Pollution conference started in Southampton in 1991 and has been held in Milan, Italy, in 1993; Porto Carras, Greece, in 1995; Lake Bled, Slovenia, in 1997; Lemnos, Greece, in 1999; Rhodes, Greece, in 2001; Cadiz, Spain, in 2003; Bologna, Italy, in 2006; Alicante, Spain, in 2008; and Bucharest, Romania, in 2010.