Researchers in the media

In 2025, KWR researchers regularly appeared in the media to comment on current and socially relevant water-related issues. From drinking water safety and the impact of misinformation to emerging substances such as PFAS, their insights contribute to interpretation, public debate, and decision-making. The examples below illustrate how KWR experts use their knowledge to make complex topics accessible to a broad audience, thereby contributing to a better-informed society.

Boil–water advisories in the Utrecht region

Since the morning of 1 November 2025, 125,000 households in the Utrecht region have been required to boil their drinking water because it may be contaminated with bacteria. This advisory creates various challenges for schools, offices, and other workplaces. What does this situation reveal about the vulnerability of our drinking water system? Roberta Hofman-Caris addressed this question on the NOS radio programa Met het Oog op Morgen [2 november 2025].

The battle against TikTok influencers

On NOS Nieuws [14 september 2025] , Roberta Hofman uses clear and direct language to firmly refute videos by influencers on social media (TikTok and YouTube). “We have excellent drinking water in the Netherlands, I believe the best in the world. The claims in these influencer videos—‘buy a water filter or your baby will get sick’—are truly misleading.” Misinformation on social media prompted drinking water companies to launch the ‘Gaan met die Kraan’ (‘Turn on the tap’) campaign.

PFAS in rainwater

KWR is conducting research, commissioned by the Province of Utrecht, into PFAS concentrations in rainwater. For this purpose, a rain gauge has been installed on our premises to collect rainwater. The amount of PFAS in the sample is determined in KWR’s chemical laboratory. Arnaut van Loon discussed this on regional television RTV Utrecht [24 november 2025].

Wastewater-based epidemiology

Showing courage and boldness—these are the qualities that drug researcher Thomas ter Laak attributes to municipal authorities when they ask KWR to monitor wastewater continuously (24/7) for a week for residues of consumed drugs and, not infrequently, drug waste. The public results of the wastewater studies conducted by KWR over the past 15 years have consistently had policy implications. In 2025, the Municipality of Dordrecht, among others, commissioned such a study, and the results were released in November. “Dordrecht not a drug Walhalla, but usage comparable to larger cities,” reported AD [20 november 2025].

AI in the water sector

“We learn every day,” says Siddharth Seshan, Portfolio Manager Digital Water. “The sector is searching for the right applications, but also for trust in its use. We approach AI from our water expertise. We are not an AI company; we are a water research institute. For us, AI is a tool to better understand and optimize water processes. Consider predicting water demand and identifying and classifying microplastics in water samples.” [H2O Actueel, 8 juli 2025].

Cleaning up PFAS

KWR researcher Johan van Leeuwen is also the scientific coordinator of the PFAS Living Lab at Utrecht University. His expertise lies in the remediation of PFAS-contaminated soil. He anticipates high costs for cleaning up PFAS contamination at Eerste Lelystadse Schroothandel (E.L.S.). “Unlike the situation in Doetinchem, it may be necessary at E.L.S. to remove surrounding buildings in order to fully remediate the PFAS.” According to Van Leeuwen, such sites should be remediated as quickly as possible: “I would like to see E.L.S. placed on a priority list for remediation” [Follow the Money, 15 december 2025].