Providing the population of the Earth with safe drinking water is one of the biggest challenges of modern society. In recognition of this problem the United Nations Organization and UNESCO declared 2003 to be the International Year of Freshwater. On November 19-22, 2003, the NATO Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) on "Modern Tools and Methods of Water Treatment for Improving Living Standards" took place in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. Thirty-one participants from 15 countries including Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, UK, Ukraine, USA, and Uzbekistan attended the meeting. They discussed the scientific concepts and practical means for the solution of the complex social, economic and ecological problems associated with water purification, consumption, conservation, and protection. They also established a network of scientists and specialists to foster further collaboration and the exchange of ideas. The location of the ARW was chosen quite deliberately. The city of Dnepropetrovsk is located on the banks of the Dnieper River and it has a population of about 1. 3 million people. As it is one of the largest industrial centers, it shares all the environmental problems, which are found in the modern Ukraine. In 2001, one in seven of the water samples taken from Ukrainian industrial and drinking water supply systems did not meet sanitary-hygienic standards, and one in twelve did not meet microbiological standards.

"Water is a paramount determinant of quality of life. The WHO experts believe that the sickness and death rates of the world population could be reduced by 75% by maintaining good quality of drinking water. That is why thirty-one leading scientists and specialists from fifteen countries gathered in November 2003 at the NATO Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) on "Modern Tools and Methods of Water Treatment for Improving Living Standards" in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, to discuss the scientific concepts and practical means for the solution of the complex social, economic and ecological problems associated with water purification, consumption, conservation, and protection. All this is covered in this book of proceedings of the NATO ARW.

Recent Advances in Purification and Special Treatment of Water and Water Quality Monitoring.- Advances in Drinking Water Treatment in the United States.- Depositional Characteristics of Lake Sediments in Canada as Determined by Pb-210 and Cs-137.- Biosensors for Water Quality Monitoring.- Rapid Detection of Bacteria in Drinking Water.- Utilization of Mobile Analytical Tests in Wastewater Treatment Plant.- An Evaluation of the Efficacy of the Mixed-Oxidant Solutions Produced from "Activated Water" in Cooling Tower Biological Control.- Development of Modern Technologies of Special Water Treatment for Use in Various Areas of Science, Industry and Public Health.- Fibroid Sorbents for Water Purification.- Use of In-Situ Oxygen Curtain Technology in Enhanced Bioremediation of Groundwater.- Electrochemically-Stimulated Sorption and Sorption-Membrane Methods for Removal of Ionic Impurities from Water.- Innovative Water Purification Method and Devices.- Potentialities of Membrane Operations in Water Treatments.- Water Disinfection Using Silver and Copper Ions and Colloidal Gold.- Tools and Methods for Achievement of High Technological Parameters of Water Purification and Wastewater Treatment.- Water Savings and Reuse in the Textile Industry.- Biocide Polymers - New Opportunities in Water Treatment.- Optimization of Galvanic Wastewater Treatment Processes.- Efficiency of Nitrification and Denitrification Processes in Waste Water Treatment Plants.- Electrochemical Processes for Wastewater Purification Utilizing Fluidised Beds of Particles with Different Conductivity.- Cold Plasma as a New Tool for Purification of Wastewater.- Purification of Industrial Waters from Organic Compounds and Bacteria.- Management of Water Resources, Planning, Training and Education in WaterTreatment.- Industry University Cooperation for Postgraduate Education and Training in the Water Treatment Area.- Westcountry Rivers Trust United Kingdom: A Pioneering Programme for Restoration and Regeneration of Major River Basins.- Recent Developments in Wastewater Treatment in Constructed Wetlands in Poland.- Water and Public Health: Legislation as a Tool for Improving Living Standards.- The National Programme for Construction of Urban Wastewater Treatment Plants in the Republic of Bulgaria.- Water Pollution Prevention Actions in Romanian Industry.- Surface Lipid Composition of Two Emergent Water Plants Used in Constructed Wetlands.