Birgit Fritz, graduated in 1995, started her career in a consultancy office as a hydrogeologist for groundwater modelling and application of geographical information systems. She also obtained her PhD in Hydrogeology at the Free University of Berlin with the thesis on the influence of water management, geology, geochemistry and hydraulics on bank filtration systems. After heading a research project in Thailand on groundwater pollution from landfill sites, she joined the KWB in 2002 as a project leader at the Berlin Centre of Competence for Water (KWB). Her research interests are in the field of management of aquifer recharge and integrated water resource management.

Francis Luck is the Managing Director of the Berlin Centre of Competence for Water (KWB). He obtained his Ph.D. from the University Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France in 1983 and worked in the chemical industry for development of catalytic processes related to oxidation, isomerization and pollution abatement. He joined Veolia Water/Anjou Recherche in 1993 as Programme Manager to develop new processes for water, wastewater and waste treatment. In 1998, he became Director of the Maisons-Laffitte Research Centre until April 2002 when he moved to Berlin. His development work includes catalytic ozonation for treatment of water and landfill leachate, catalytic wet oxidation of wastes, photocatalysis, adsorption on activated carbon, rinse water recycling processes involving advanced oxidation, and disinfection of drinking water with ozone or UV. He has been involved in several national and international research programmes as Task or Project Leader. He authored or co-authored more than 130 technical paper presentations, 30 publications and 13 patents.