Unlocking NEW WATER sources to ensure climate proof drinking water supply in North-West Europe

SUMMARY

Climate change puts pressure on the availability of our current drinking water sources. Unlocking new and sustainable drinkable water sources for households and industry is fundamental for climate resilience. NEW WATER addresses this challenge. Partners in Belgium, The Netherlands, France and Germany are joining forces to unlock 3 alternative sources: wastewater, rainwater and polluted surface water.

7 NEW WATER pilot locations

The NEW WATER consortium will deploy both centralised and decentralised pilot installations. These will generate valuable insights into technological, regulatory, and communication aspects (social acceptance), as well as financial and organisational considerations related to viable business cases.

Large scale centralised drinking water production

  • Belgium – De Watergroep & Raffinerie Tirlemontoise (RT)
    Source: wastewater from sugar beet processing
  • The Netherlands – Dunea
    Source: polluted surface water
  • France – Loudéac Communauté Bretagne Centre
    Source: wastewater from food industry

Decentralised drinking water production 

  • The Netherlands – NX Filtration
    Source: municipal wastewater
  • The Netherlands – Saxion & Intewa
    Source: rainwater
  • Germany – Trier University of Applied Sciences
    Source: greywater from student dorms
  • Belgium – United compost companies (VERKO)
    Source: digestate from a composting installation

Outputs Unlocking Alternative Sources For Drinking Water Supply

The NEW WATER project and its outputs will guide and accelerate the transition towards more alternative sources for drinking water supply by providing practical support for implementation. A comprehensive implementation handbook will help producers and decision-makers across North-West Europe tackle legislative impediments, technological challenges, economic feasibility, safety demands, carbon footprint and social acceptance.

To foster public trust, a targeted communication campaign and supporting materials will be developed to build citizen acceptance of these new water sources.

The uptake of the handbook will be further strengthened through dedicated training schemes for drinking water producers, companies with substantial wastewater streams and/or high drinkable needs and for policy makers (drinking water authorities, public health authorities, local and regional authorities deciding on policies and permits).

In addition, a matchmaking and coaching programme will connect water owners with technology providers, encouraging practical implementation and scaling of solutions.

By the end of the project, three alternative water sources: wastewater, rainwater, and polluted surface water will be successfully implemented by pioneering drinking water producers in France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium.

Through the adoption of the implementation handbook and related activities, the availability of drinking water in North-West Europe will start to increase. This will enhance resilience to climate change, ensuring a more sustainable and reliable water supply for both citizens and industry, even during periods of extreme drought.

16 Partners

  • Provincie Vlaams-Brabant (BE) (Lead Partner)
  • Provinciale Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Vlaams-Brabant (BE)
  • De Watergroep (BE)
  • Raffinerie Tirlemontoise (RT) (BE)
  • Dunea (NL)
  • Loudéac Communauté Bretagne Centre (FR)
  • Verenigde kompostbedrijven (BE)
  • NX Filtration BV (NL)
  • Stichting Saxion (NL)
  • Hochschule Trier (DE)
  • KU Leuven (BE)
  • DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser (DE)
  • Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Oost-Nederland NV (NL)
  • Water Alliance (NL)
  • figawa e.V. (DE)
  • Vlaams Instituut voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO) (BE)

Contact:

Sarah Doumen, project manager
Tel: +32 478 20 40 33
eb.tnabarbsmaalvmop@nemuod.haras

Project duration:19 November 2025 – June 2029 (43 months)
Budget:6.650.266 €
ERDF fund:3.990.159,30 €

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