Unlocking new water sources to ensure a climate-resilient drinking water supply in North-West Europe

Project duration: 19 November 2025 – June 2029

The drinking water sector is under increasing pressure due to longer periods of drought and growing water demand. Climate change is putting the availability of our current drinking water sources under strain. Unlocking new and sustainable sources of drinking water for households and industry is essential for climate resilience. NEW WATER addresses this challenge. Partners in Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany are joining forces to unlock three alternative sources: wastewater, rainwater and polluted surface water.

The project focuses on producing high-quality drinking water safely, affordably and at scale from these alternative sources.

7 pilot sites

The NEW WATER consortium is deploying both centralised and decentralised pilot installations. These provide valuable insights into technological, regulatory and communication-related aspects (public acceptance), as well as financial and organisational issues surrounding viable business cases.
At seven demonstration sites, practical solutions are being tested which, once scaled up, could provide tens of thousands of people with reliable drinking water.

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 the food industry

Decentralised drinking water production

• The Netherlands – NX Filtration
  Source: municipal wastewater
• The Netherlands – Saxion & Intewa
  Source: rainwater
• Germany – Hochschule Trier
  Source: greywater from student accommodation
• Belgium – Verenigde Compostbedrijven (VERKO)
  Source: digestate from a composting facility

Results and impact

The NEW WATER project and its results will support and accelerate the transition to alternative drinking water sources by providing practical support for implementation.

• A comprehensive implementation guide will help producers and policymakers in North-West Europe address legislative barriers, technological challenges, economic feasibility, safety requirements, carbon footprint and public acceptance.
• To build public confidence, a targeted communication campaign will be developed, including supporting materials.
• The use of the guide will be further strengthened through training programmes for drinking water producers, companies with large wastewater streams and/or high water demand, and policymakers.
• In addition, a matchmaking and coaching programme will be set up to connect water owners and technology providers, with the aim of encouraging practical implementation and the scaling up of solutions.

Within these activities, the focus will be on innovative purification techniques, continuous monitoring, energy efficiency, new business models and strengthening public support.By the end of the project, three alternative water sources (wastewater, rainwater and polluted surface water) will have been successfully applied by leading drinking water producers in France, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.

Through the use of the implementation guide and the associated activities, the availability of drinking water in North-West Europe will increase. This will strengthen resilience to climate change and ensure a more sustainable and reliable water supply for both citizens and industry, including during periods of extreme drought.

Who is this relevant for?

NEW WATER is relevant for:

• Water technology companies (treatment, monitoring, membrane technology, sensors, decentralised systems)
• Drinking water companies and water authorities
• Industries with large water flows (such as food, agri-food and chemicals)
• Governments and regional development organisations
• Knowledge institutions and testing facilities

How can I get involved?

For organisations and technology companies, NEW WATER offers opportunities to get involved through:

• Participation in pilots and demonstrations
• Matchmaking with partners and technology providers
• Contributing to knowledge development and training programmes
• Scaling up and applying solutions across North-West Europe

Who can I contact?

Partners