The Water System Is an Elephant: IWA Glasgow 2026

The latter theme was a common thread running through my own contributions to the congress.

Effective water reuse requires an integrated approach

Together with my colleagues Ruud Bartholomeus and Klaasjan Raat, I hosted the workshop Water Reuse in Relation to Groundwater Resources Management. The aim was to bring together experiences from different countries on the use of treated wastewater, stormwater runoff and industrial effluent for managed aquifer recharge and subsurface water storage. Four key themes were central to the discussions: the interactions between water supply and wastewater systems and the wider water system, legal and socioeconomic conditions, water quality requirements and public perception.

One particularly striking illustration introduced by Ruud during the workshop was the well-known parable of the blind men and the elephant. Just as each blind man perceives only one part of the elephant, specialists and policymakers often approach an issue from the perspective of their own expertise. A hydrologist sees something different from a water treatment specialist, just as a legal expert sees something different from an economist. The challenge lies in understanding the bigger picture.

During the workshop, experts from South Africa, Belgium and Spain shared their experiences, demonstrating how water reuse for aquifer recharge is already being widely applied. Around forty enthusiastic and inspiring participants from a range of countries contributed their own experiences during the interactive session. These discussions highlighted the considerable differences in regulatory frameworks for water reuse around the world. While some countries permit the infiltration of reclaimed water under certain conditions, others still prohibit it entirely. This also brought to light a key challenge facing many countries: how should we address water quality and contaminants of emerging concern, such as PFAS, while protecting the quality of our vital groundwater resources in the long term?

Exploring the water system through a serious game

Alongside the workshop, I organised a very different activity: the (not entirely serious) serious game Water System Suspense. This game, a prototype of a more comprehensive (and more serious) version being developed by Sija Stofberg as part of the European RECREATE project, offers an accessible and interactive way to explore complex water system challenges.

Participants were transported to a fictional Mediterranean coastal region where agriculture, tourism and local residents all depend on the same limited water resources and are increasingly affected by drought. Initially, the different stakeholder groups selected measures independently, focusing on what would benefit their own sector. They then had to make decisions collectively, balancing different interests and priorities.

This sparked lively discussions and generated plenty of energy in and around the KWR stand. And that was precisely where the strength of the game lay. Participants discovered that measures which appear attractive to one stakeholder can have unintended consequences for other users of the water system. It also became clear that effective solutions can only emerge when stakeholders look beyond their individual interests and collaborate based on a shared understanding of the system as a whole.

From Glasgow to practice

These insights are directly relevant to my research at KWR. Within the European RECREATE project, we are working with PWN and various stakeholders in North Holland to develop a better understanding of the interactions between the drinking water supply system and the wider water system. This helps us compare different strategies for responding to climate change and socioeconomic growth. Similar challenges are also central to the WiCE project Samen voor Balans II, in which we assess the effects of measures on both the wider water system and the water supply and wastewater infrastructure.

Above all, what I take away from Glasgow is a renewed recognition that just because a measure is technically feasible does not necessarily mean it can be implemented in practice, or that it represents the best solution for the system as a whole. Increasingly, the greatest challenge lies in connecting disciplines, interests and spatial scales. Whether we are dealing with water reuse, groundwater management or climate change adaptation, the future calls for systems thinking.

This approach helps us and our stakeholders learn to see the whole elephant, rather than just one small part of it. By learning together, experimenting and maintaining an open dialogue, we can develop solutions that remain sustainable and effective in the long term.