Hans Goossens, President’s Editorial, September 2023
Dear Water Europe members,
The summer break may already feel like a distant memory, given the numerous activities we’ve all embarked upon since the beginning of this September. Among them, the first to mention is the release of our Manifesto, which calls upon European policymakers to adopt a Water-Smart strategy with strong political accountability. This is especially timely, considering the upcoming European elections next year. As a Belgian, I also find this timing particularly good, with Belgium set to take over the presidency of the EU Council in 2024, following Spain.
Last month, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission delivered the 2023 State of the Union speech, in which she made reference on restoring the balance between industry, agriculture and nature. At the middle of this triangle, we found none other than water. It is the bridge that unites our activities in every domain of our society, showcasing the need to build a Water-Smart Society.
Speaking of the centrality of water, earlier this month, a group of Members of the European Union issued a letter with the European Economic and Social Committee to call for an EU Blue Deal. On 26 October 2023, the European Economic and Social Committee will present its Call for an EU Blue Deal to the EU institutions and stakeholders. Water Europe has already voiced its recommendations to the EU Blue Deal dossier, which can be found in this position paper.
In our efforts to promote the Water-Smart Society, Water Europe has also partnered with SIWI and other stakeholders to co-organize the Water and Climate Change Pavilion during COP28 this December. Meanwhile, we are fast approaching our Water Knowledge Europe event, scheduled to take place in Brussels in less than a month. Together with the networking sessions, B2B meetings and everything that Water Knowledge Europe has to offer, the info session on the Water KIC is also special opportunity to highlight the importance of the integrated water management and the impact that water has on our society, as a whole.
I look forward to meeting you in two weeks!
Read MoreInterview with Arthur Valkieser, Water Europe Board member & CEO and co-founder of Hydraloop Systems
You are a Water Europe board member of college D ‘Suppliers & SMEs’- Could you tell us what drives you personally to have this role at Water Europe? What do you want to achieve?
Twenty-three years ago, I wasn’t working in the water sector but was the CEO of a film and TV media company with over 450 employees. During the renovation of our family home, I modified the plumbing so that we could collect shower and bath water, treat it, and then reuse it for toilet flushing. I found it quite odd that we flushed our toilets with potable tap water. I’ll never forget the amazing experience of standing in the shower, watching the water flow down the drain, and knowing that this water wasn’t going to be wasted but would be used again. It was a liberating feeling, being able to enjoy our beautiful new shower without any guilt. That laid the foundation for a turn in my personal career, leading me to become actively involved in water sustainability. If the Romans were to see our linear water infrastructure, they’d say, ‘Look, that’s how we did it too…’
My goal is to help individuals and organisations adopt a wise approach to water management. That wise approach is a circular one. Waste is a resource.
Representing the solutions providers at Water Europe, which ones do you consider the key challenges and the most burning needs of this college and how do you contribute to addressing these in the context of Water Europe?
Water Europe is a unique organisation where all stakeholders from the water sector come together to combine and publish research and knowledge. This occurs at a more academic and abstract level. I see it as the role of the College D Solution Providers to translate this into practical applicability. Many national and local governments and organisations are faced with the consequences of increasing water scarcity. They have a strong need for practically applicable solutions. I see it as my duty to make these practical solutions clear and understandable, so they lead to actual implementation.
Encouraging innovation in the water sector is vital. How important do you consider the role of SMEs in this regard and what are the existing opportunities for the uptake of their innovations to the next level both inside and outside of Europe?
Innovation alone does not lead to change; it must go hand in hand with implementation. Larger organisations are conservative. This is also true in the water sector, where there’s almost a natural resistance to change. SMEs are, by definition, the flexible organisations that are the driving force behind the implementation of innovations. It is very important that the legislative framework encourages the implementation of sustainable technologies. And the role of politicians is to push in this direction. The success of the blue transition depends less on the development of new technologies, but rather on the creation of favourable conditions to increase the adoption of current solutions and benefit from their widespread implementation.
Based on our vision, Water Europe aims to build a Water-Smart Society. From your point of view, which actions shall we put forward to make this happen and how could the solution providers contribute to that?
The recent publications of “The Value of Water” and “Manifesto” are, in my opinion, tremendous steps forward in promoting Water Europe’s vision for a water-smart society. These publications can also be understood by non-academics. I believe it’s important, and I will make an effort within Water Europe, to release more publications that provide insight into practically applicable solutions for creating a water smart society.
Last March, I was involved in creating a movement: the Global Expert Group Circular Water, that published a “Blueprint for a Circular Water Smart Society”. This Blueprint, with tangible solutions for the practical implementation of circular water, was officially launched during the UN 2023 Water Conference in New York. Water Europe was one of several international organizations that endorsed and supported this publication and it was accepted into the official UN Water Action Agenda. Currently, we are working on the 2024 version of the Blueprint, that will have a successful follow up with an event at COP28 this December. If anything, it shows that actions like these, and collaborating together, enhances visibility of Water Europe’s vision and mission: to build a Water-Smart Society.
Read MoreOLLD23 – Water technology for a human centric green transition
The WATER-MINING project, in collaboration with the CIRSEAU cluster Living Labs, hosted a session titled “Water Technology for a Human-Centric Green Transition” at the World Trade Center Barcelona on the 22nd of September.
The event aimed to shed light on the innovative work done by CIRSEAU cluster Living Labs, focusing on sea-mining/water experimentation and regulatory aspects. It also set the stage for the co-creation of a water regulatory sandbox paper, aligning with the European Commission’s New Innovation Agenda.
The session featured “WoLL Pitches” that showcased cutting-edge technology readiness and citizen engagement in green transition efforts. Andrea Rubini, Water Europe Director of Operations delivered a presentation on the B-WaterSmart Living Labs and moderated the panel discussion that followed. The Living Labs from the projects WATER-MINING, Rewaise and Ultimate were also presented.
This workshop was an opportunity for experts from various sides to promote innovation and collaboration in the water sector, driving a green transition that prioritizes human well-being and environmental sustainability.
Read MoreImproving Environmental policy by improving ‘at source’ measures
The EC Chemicals Strategy under the European Green Deal is focusing on creating a toxic-free environment. Effective source control can only be successful if we understand the mass loads early in the supply chain. This requires banning harmful chemicals from consumer products and boosting the use of chemicals that are safe and sustainable by design. For further policy development we recommend that:
-registration processes should be extended to include the relevant uses and the pathways to the environment;
-different groups of chemicals need to be distinguished, based on their toxicity and use (the volume of chemicals should be related to specific purposes/end products);
-awareness should be raised about the presence of chemicals in (consumer) products, and incentives to limit the use to essential applications.
Read MoreImproving wastewater treatment by combining technological and nature-based solutions
Legislation is a significant driver. The recent publication of EU Regulation 2020/741 on the minimum requirements for the reuse of water in irrigation define values for target indicators. However, these mainly focus on physicochemical and microbial parameters, but specific attention must also be paid to the presence of a wider range of CECs and more polar, persistent compounds such as PFAS.
The current trend in urban wastewater tertiary or quarterly treatment for the removal of such contaminants and potentially harmful generated by-products is based on the combination/integration of technologies to maximise opportunities by exploiting advantages whilst overcoming their weaknesses. Currently the most commonly integrated/combined technical approaches for CEC abatement at full/commercial scale are: ozone and granular activated carbon; ozone/AOP and biological active filters (BAF) and membranes.
In addition, solutions using natural systems (like nature-based solutions) relying on concepts such as natural capital ecosystem services and green infrastructure are becoming increasingly popular among built-environment professionals, policymakers and researchers.
Still knowledge gaps must be tackled. Some of them are:
-what exactly occurs with CECs and PFAs within NBS systems? What is the evolution of their concentration in the biofilm and microbiota generated in roots?
-are contaminants metabolized or only adsorbed? Would a saturation/stationary state be achieved in such nature-based systems?
-potential benefits on NBS (such as wetlands) combination with pre- or post- advanced oxidation technologies for improving their efficiency.
Read MorePrincipal pathways of pollution into urban water bodies
Urban waterbodies are exposed via dry deposition, mobilisation, wash-off from impermeable surfaces and, to a lesser degree, permeable surfaces following rainfall and snowmelt events.
The EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive focuses on point sources discharging to and from wastewater treatment plants, but more attention should be paid to other sources, such as urban stormwater runoff, combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and unplanned discharges.
This requires a better insight in urban stormwater pollution concentrations and volumes. Data collection via smart modelling and online sensors can contribute strongly to an improved insight.
Read MoreNew Water Europe Manifesto: Making Water a Top Priority in 2024
Water Europe unveils today its new manifesto, calling upon European policymakers to adopt a Water-Smart strategy with a strong political accountability.
It’s not news that water is vital for all the strategic sectors in Europe but our continent keeps facing growing water challenges. The European elections will be a key moment for shaping EU policies for the next five years and ensuring secure, sustainable and resilient water. Will we seize this opportunity? This is the moment to make progress towards a more sustainable, secure, and resilient future for water management in Europe and beyond.
Water Europe calls upon policymakers to adopt an ambitious and holistic European Water-Smart Strategy with strategic political accountability within the European Commission for its the next term 2024-2029. To know more, read the full manifesto at this link.
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Nature found a solution & we mimicked it: Now, how can we apply biologically inspired grey-green solutions in different contexts?
Innovation processes in nature are very different from the industrial approach. Using local resources and in an ambient-conditions-driven manufacturing process mother nature produces millions of slightly adapted, locally attuned ‘solutions’ and waits for generations to find the stronger ones. Industrial innovation can effectively make use of these results by taking a close look on nature’s results and mimicking the conditions and processes. That is why Water Europe organised a webinar “Biologically Inspired Design for a Water Smart Technology”. Alessandro Bianciardi (Planet s.a.s. ) drove us into the fascinating and inspiring world of nature and human designs and how both can support Water-Smart Societies.
Water Europe’s Vision Leadership Team (VLT) Grey-Green Infrastructure has already explored some of these issues in the “White Paper on Hybrid Grey-Green Infrastructure” and the blog “Water Management turns green by blending blue, green, grey and smart communities”. But our examination on this topic could be deepened by looking into nature as a source of inspiration for Water-Smart Societies. The VLT reflects on the problems and demands of Europe’s water sector and its challenges of replacing old and building new, sustainable and resilient infrastructure. This is by mobilizing cross-sectoral stakeholders to develop, test and mainstream effective grey-green solutions, i.e. smart combinations of nature-based and water-technological solutions for water supply, sanitation, surface and groundwater management. The current problems in Europe with drought, flooding and pollution illustrate the need for a new approach to water management, including new solutions. The webinar was meant to trigger developments.
Innovation using Biomimicry
Bianciardi showed several examples of biomimicry for water-related issues. Two of these were:
Bio-domes for wastewater treatment: They sit on the floor of a lagoon and are completely submerged. The Bio‐Domes enhance the naturally occurring biological system by providing 2800 square feet of surface area per unit, a gas delivery mechanism capable of providing air or more specific gasses as necessary, an environment protected from UV light, and significant mixing action to ensure nutrient availability to the biology as it grows. When used in a wastewater lagoon, the enhanced biology is capable of accelerating nitrification of ammonium and the subsequent denitrification of nitrates and nitrites. Additionally, the gas delivery/aeration design helps reduce BOD levels. (https://wastewater-compliance-systems.com/products/bio-domes/)
Cocoon to cope with droughts: Trees can influence the micro-climate and create less arid conditions; however, it is difficult to create forest under dry conditions. The Cocoon is designed to support a seedling through its critical first year. By providing water and shelter, while stimulating the seedling to produce a healthy and deep root structure, tapping into the sub-surface water supply. The result is independent, healthy trees that are not reliant on external irrigation that can survive in harsh conditions. They need 25 liters only at planting, the cocoons are 100% biodegradable, and the survival rate is 75-95%. (A new way to fix the planet — Land Life Company).
These solutions are good examples of grey-green infrastructures in an innovative stage. Nature has found a solution, man mimicked it and the potential functioning has been shown. Now it needs to be picked up by early-adopters so that the functioning in other places can be examined.
Next development steps can be defined using the four components of the Symbiosis Readiness Level: technology level, ecological level, management level and business level. For example:
Technology | Ecology | Management | Business | |
Bio-domes | How would they react to algae blooms within the lagoon? | For what ecosystems it could have ecological value? | They need to be submersed year-round, how to deal with this in drier periods? | What is the business model of the application of Bio-domes? |
Cocoon | How to adapt to different trees and climate zones? | What is the impact on local soil life? | Maintenance needs? Refill options? | What is the business model of the application of the Cocoon? |
The true challenge is to apply biologically inspired grey-green solutions in different societal, cultural, governance and economic contexts, to deal with periods of extreme rainfall or drought and to achieve ‘zero pollution’. We need to start nexus thinking and bringing back together what we have been separating in the past. So, what needs to be done to involve cross-sectoral disciplines on the topic of grey-green infrastructures in highly dense urban populations? Or how can we achieve a shift in thinking around the integration of grey-green, central plus decentral technologies in the collective mind of our society? And, above all, how to become more aware of the responses of nature when playing with it?
Next Steps
A wide consensus on the potential of biologically inspired solutions for water issues has been observed among international to SME companies, NGOs, public organisations, and the scientific community. Examples already exist at various TRL (Technology Readiness Level) stages; examples like the Urban Waterbuffer and the Polder Roof® are ready for deployment. Adding the components Ecology, Management and Business, as introduced by the Symbiosis Readiness Level (SRL), is, however, essential to mainstream these and other innovations and transform inspiring concepts into the ‘normal’, every-day practice in our territories and cities. A multi-disciplinary approach is required. How can practitioners be trained to (1) innovate more like nature than by using mechanical and thermal ‘heat, beat & treat’ processes and (2) invite experts in governance, economic, ecological and social issues to co-create effective and attractive, feasible solutions.
The need for sustainable, circular and adaptable solutions in the fields of water supply, sanitation, drainage, surface and groundwater management is evident. Droughts, floods, pollution and aged water infrastructure will force us to action. Effective grey-green solutions can be found by taking a close look at nature and using it’s local resources, processes and strategies to solve problems. A successful introduction in the market is however not only a matter of more smart technologies, inspired by nature. It is about integrating these solutions in the policies, regulations, organization and financing structures; this all requires a multi-disciplinary approach. High time to start this process in and amongst our organizations.
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Fate and transport of nanoparticles, microplastics, cyanotoxins and anti-microbials: what do we know?
Our quality-of-life benefits from a wide range of materials, chemicals and micro-organisms. However, during several stages of their production and use, they end up in surface waters where they can have adverse effects for health of people, animals and ecosystems.
The WE White Paper on Zero Pollution concludes that regulations and environmental quality standards are required for prioritised contaminants of emerging concern in water. However, a better understanding of the effects of their presence in the environment is needed for a more reliable prioritisation. We critically need more information on transport, fate and toxicity of chemicals mixtures, cyanotoxins, but also nanoparticles and microplastics. This includes further understanding of the development of anti-microbial resistance. Monitoring and modelling are required to complete the lacking datasets and support the development of an integrated understanding.
Read our White Paper “Towards a zero-pollution strategy for contaminants of emerging concern in the urban water cycle” to find out the current gaps in knowledge and our recommendations for policy development.
Read MoreRegistrations are now open for Water Knowledge Europe 2023
Registrations for Water Knowledge Europe 2023 are officially open. The next Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025-2027 is coming up and we are excited to reveal to you all the exclusive opportunities. Join us on October 17-19 in Brussels for the Networking and Brokerage event (18/10), and two exciting side events: Future Water KIC (17/10) and Workshop on Horizon Europe priorities and “ZeroPollution4Water Cluster” (19/10).
Check the event agenda and register here.
5 Reasons to Join WKE2023
– Discover the opportunities presented by the Work Programme 2024 of Horizon Europe;
– Gain invaluable guidance for crafting winning project proposals;
-Engage and network during the B2B meetings with potential partners and coordinators;
– Have your say for the development of the next Work Programme of Horizon Europe;
– Discover the Action Plan of the ZeroPollution4Water Cluster.
On September 13th, from 10:00 to 11:00, we will host the Water Knowledge Europe 2023 pre-event webinar to offer you a sneak preview of the main event and explore what’s on the event agenda. Whether you’re curious to join WKE2023 or not, this webinar will help you decide!
Click here to sign up for the webinar.
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