What is the main focus of your Expert Group?
The key priorities of the Expert Group include facilitating the implementation of solar-powered zero liquid discharge desalination systems, promoting the use of desalination as a quaternary treatment step for wastewater reuse, and supporting small-scale desalination applications in island communities and decentralized settings. The Group also works to enhance the recognition of desalination as a sustainable water source within water footprint assessments and aims to improve public perception of desalination through targeted outreach and communication efforts.
What are the opportunities and challenges in your field that the Expert group is addressing?
The main challenges of desalination technologies are the high energy consumption and the generation of a residue (brine). To guarantee economic and environmental sustainability, we plan to promote technologies that incorporate solar energy for decarbonizing desalination, and zero liquid discharge desalination technologies to recover valuable resources and decrease waste.Moreover, water reuse is growing and to meet the requirements of the new EU regulations, quaternary treatments are required. Desalination is a big opportunity to treat wastewater for reuse. Another challenge identified is the need to improve social perception of desalination as a secure, sustainable, affordable and fit-for-purpose source of water.
Finally, many relevant stakeholders have pointed out that for implementing desalination as an alternative water source in industry and agriculture, the lack of recognition as a sustainable water source in the Water Footprint is a limitation, and this is one of the main challenges that we aim to address.
How does your Expert Group plan to achieve its goals, and how will it contribute to Water Europe’s Vision of a Water-Smart Society?
To contribute to Water Europe’s Vision of a Water-Smart Society, the Expert Group plans to promote best practices and knowledge-sharing through technical reports and workshops that highlight case studies and innovations in desalination technologies. The group will also support broader Water Europe initiatives by contributing to the upcoming technical report on Water Security and participating in the Skills and Human Resources Expert Group’s Capacity Building Programme. Through the Sustainable Desalination Water-Oriented Living Lab (WoLL), the group aims to actively engage stakeholders in shaping sustainable water governance. A key focus will be on partnering with the Water Footprint Network to advocate for the inclusion of desalination as a sustainable water source in water footprint assessments. By harnessing desalination—an alternative water source tapping into the 97% of Earth’s water found in oceans, the group promotes long-term water security and resilience. The technologies it supports, such as solar-powered desalination and zero liquid discharge systems, are designed to ensure environmental and economic sustainability. Additionally, using desalination as a quaternary treatment for wastewater reuse not only enhances water resilience but also reduces pollution. Overall, by championing circular economy principles and renewable energy, the Expert Group aligns its work with the goals of a climate-resilient, resource-efficient, and water-secure society.
