Turning Municipal Wastewater into a Resource: How Innovation is Tackling Water Scarcity Across Europe
As cities grow and climate change continues to disrupt water availability, the need for sustainable water management has become critical. Municipal wastewater, once seen as waste, is now being repurposed as a valuable resource. Through advanced treatment technologies, water that would have been discarded is being reclaimed for industrial use, easing the strain on freshwater supplies. This approach offers a sustainable path forward for industries to maintain operations while protecting the environment.
Recycling Water, Reshaping Industry
In the Asturias region, the local government and industry leaders are joining forces to face water scarcity head-on. One groundbreaking initiative involves a public-private partnership that turns municipal wastewater into a valuable resource for industrial use. By 2027, this project aims to supply 100 % of the industrial water demand in the region through recycled wastewater. Initially, 40 % of the total annual industrial demand will be met by reclaimed water, but that’s only the beginning. DuPont was one of the first companies to embrace this initiative from the local government and proactively participated in several committees to help define the specific needs of the local industry. This is not only reducing the company’s reliance on freshwater but also creating a blueprint for other municipalities to follow.
The project is also relevant for other industries in the region, as it is expected to extend to Oviedo and then Gijon and Aviles, increasing the overall water resilience of industries in the area. For DuPont, the switch to reclaimed municipal wastewater means an 80 % reduction in its freshwater consumption. The impact does not stop at the borders of Asturias – this model is one that may be replicated across Europe, helping regions and industries to use water more efficiently while addressing the global water crisis.
Reusing Water to Save Billions of Litres
Sweden’s Perstorp is taking a similar approach with its cutting-edge wastewater reuse facility. By purifying municipal wastewater and reusing it for cooling processes at its Stenungsund plant, Perstorp can save up to 1.1 billion litres of freshwater annually. This initiative not only ensures a reliable water supply for the plant but also aligns with Perstorp’s sustainability goals to cut freshwater usage by 30 % by 2030.
The purified water will also play a crucial role in Perstorp’s production of renewable hydrogen, supporting the company’s Project Air. This transition project aims to reduce the carbon footprint of its operations and value chain via sustainable methanol, linking water conservation with broader sustainability goals.
Innovative Wastewater Treatment in Copenhagen
An example of Copenhagen’s innovative wastewater management can be seen at the BIOFOS wastewater treatment plants, where alternative uses of the wastewater process are generating increased biogas production. By partnering with Kemira, BIOFOS has optimized processes such as sludge management, turning wastewater into a valuable resource for energy generation. This collaboration has not only enhanced energy efficiency but also helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly nitrous oxide, which has a significant climate impact. Kemira’s smart water management technology has further contributed by managing fluctuating wastewater loads, extending the lifespan of the facilities and [thus?] supporting circular economy goals.
Cooling Innovation in Antwerp
At Evonik’s Antwerp site in Belgium, the company historically used canal water for cooling. However, growing production and environmental concerns prompted a more sustainable solution: reusing municipal wastewater.
In collaboration with several technologies companies, Antwerp’s municipal water utility is developing a facility to treat wastewater from 600,000 households – about 20 million cubic meters annually, converting it into cooling water. Using reverse osmosis technology, which removes impurities and salts, the plant will produce water even cleaner than drinking water, reducing Evonik’s reliance on freshwater by 2.5 million cubic meters annually.
The shift to using recycled municipal wastewater for cooling will reduce the site’s freshwater consumption by 10 %, easing the pressure on local water supplies. Moreover, this approach also reduces the need for chemical treatments that are often required to desalinate water used in industrial processes, making the system more sustainable overall and will further enable to save water due to a lower discharge from cooling towers (a part of the circulating cooling water needs to be replaced to avoid the accumulation of dissolved solids and impurities).
A Global Movement Toward Smarter Water Use
By investing in sustainable water management, chemical companies are leading the charge in rethinking how we use and conserve water. Through collaboration, technology, and a commitment to change, the journey toward smarter water use has begun – turning wastewater from a problem into a solution that benefits us all.
