The Joint Danube Survey 5 (JDS5), the world’s most comprehensive investigative surface-water monitoring effort, was officially kicked-off on 1 July 2025 in Vienna. This large-scale scientific survey is bringing together experts from 14 countries to assess the health of the Danube River and its major tributaries.
Welcome to the the website of the 5th Joint Danube Survey (JDS5), the most comprehensive investigative surface-water monitoring effort in the world.
The year 2025 marks the 50th Anniversary of Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) and 60 years of water sciences at UNESCO since the International Hydrological Decade (1965-1975).
With the aim of obtaining a complex picture of the water quality in the Danube and its major tributaries, the annual assessment of water quality – published every year in the ICPDR TransNational Monitoring Network’s (TNMN) Yearbooks – has been supplemented by periodic investigations: the Joint Danube Surveys.
Public outreach and engagement have always been a cornerstone of the Joint Danube Surveys. JDS5 offers numerous ways to expand on the strong outreach approach previously established in JDS1-4 to make sure the public can join the mission.
The year 2025 marks the 50th Anniversary of IHP and 60 years of water sciences at UNESCO since the International Hydrological Decade (1965-1975).
The celebration of the 50th anniversary of the IHP will focus on “Science of Water: From Science to Application and Way Forward” and showcase successes of IHP for the past 50 years and onward, such as the Joint Danube Survey and the impact of IHP’s work across the world, including our Danube River Basin.
The Joint Research Centre (JRC), partly based in Ispra, Italy, operates as the Science Service of the European Commission. The JRC established “The Gems of Water,” a capacity-building project connecting local groups worldwide and putting advanced technology in their hands to monitor water quality. “The Gems of Water” harnesses the power of cutting-edge technology to better understand chemical contamination in surface and groundwaters. The innovative approach is bridging the gap between citizens and scientists, empowering communities to take charge of their water. By working with the UN Environment Programme and others, we are part of a global movement to protect our planet's most vital resource.
JDS5 would not be possible without the support of the ICPDR Contracting Parties, whose generous in-kind contributions make this initiative possible. Their commitment to protecting the Danube enables this groundbreaking survey to take place, fostering a deeper understanding of the river’s health and shaping its sustainable future.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude for their dedication to science — which is not just an aspiration but a necessity for progress.
