Press questions COVID-19

Q&A on COVID-19 Sewage Surveillance
Press questions COVID-19

2023
QMRA of Ralstonia solanacearum in potato cultivation: Risks associated with irrigation water recycled through managed aquifer recharge
2024
Disruptive effects of sewage intrusion into drinking water: Microbial succession and organic transformation at molecular level
2024
Modeling the health impact of wastewater contamination events in drinking water networks
2024
Assessing environmental exposure to viruses in wastewater treatment plant and swine farm scenarios with next-generation sequencing and occupational risk approaches
2024
Bacterial communities of planktonic bacteria and mature biofilm in service lines and premise plumbing of a Megacity: Composition, Diversity, and influencing factors
2024
A new Bayesian approach for managing bathing water quality at river bathing locations vulnerable to short-term pollution
2024
Qualitative detection of E. coli in distributed drinking water using real-time reverse transcription PCR targeting 16S rRNA: Validation and practical experiences
2024
Navigating quality, health and environmental risk: A novel framework for wastewater resource recovery products

All publications

Projects

Joint Water Matchmaker

The Waterwijs exploratory research includes the development of a new methodology for designing optimised and future-resilient infrastructure. The aim is to achieve a better balance between water supply and demand at the regional level (across utility boundaries),…

Read more about Joint Water Matchmaker
The different drinking water customers

Drinking water utilities often direct their strategy and communication to the average customer, or to a small number of customer profiles. There is therefore a good chance that certain groups of individuals…

Read more about The different drinking water customers
Chemradar: high-risk contaminants on the radar?

New substances are developed and marketed every year. At the same time, our knowledge about existing substances continues to grow. For the drinking water sector, it is essential to closely monitor these…

Read more about Chemradar: high-risk contaminants on the radar?
WaterpatRoon: non-target screening to routine application

Non-target screening is already a powerful technology for monitoring up to thousands of known and unknown substances in a water sample. However, further improvements will be possible in…

Read more about WaterpatRoon: non-target screening to routine application
Decision-making under deep uncertainty in the drinking water sector – exploring (DAPP) Multirisk Pathways as a methodology

Climate change, technological developments, and population growth are examples of sources of deep uncertainty that can have a significant impact on the drinking water sector. The Dynamic Adaptive…

Read more about Decision-making under deep uncertainty in the drinking water sector – exploring (DAPP) Multirisk Pathways as a methodology
Protecting Drinking Water Under Different Regulations

Despite advancements in water treatment methods, pervasive water pollution and discussions about alternative sources of drinking water are eliciting stronger regulatory action and pressing the drinking water sector…

Read more about Protecting Drinking Water Under Different Regulations
Justice as a pillar for the water sector

In 2023, the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) advocated that justice, along with efficiency and legality, should also constitute an important pillar of climate policy and the related ongoing transitions.…

Read more about Justice as a pillar for the water sector
Role Performance and Stakeholder Strategies

A utility that does not behave as expected may create unclear situations or even lose credibility. It is therefore essential to examine how role performance is shaped in stakeholder processes and which…

Read more about Role Performance and Stakeholder Strategies
CIRSEAU – Building a water-smart economy and society

In a water-smart society, all available water resources—including surface water, groundwater, wastewater, and process water—are managed to prevent water scarcity and pollution, increase resilience to climate change, mitigate…

Read more about CIRSEAU – Building a water-smart economy and society
WATERVERSE

Data spaces are protected environments where participants can access, process and use data, amongst other things. With a focus on water data spaces, the EU-funded Waterverse project aims to develop a water data management ecosystem that will…

Read more about WATERVERSE
NATALIE

NATALIE addresses the risks posed by climate change and its impacts and proposes to advance the concepts of “ecosystem-based adaptation” in Europe combined with climate resilient development pathways. With the means for impact driven Nature-Based Solutions (NBS),…

Read more about NATALIE
The FRESHMAN-project

Drinking water companies worldwide have freshwater supply problems. The main freshwater source for the Dutch water utility company Dunea is the Maas River, together with the Lek. However, due to extreme drought and intrusion of salty water…

Read more about The FRESHMAN-project
Getting to grips with indirect discharges

Water authorities, environmental services and municipal authorities are increasingly seeing discharges of large quantities of chemical waste and other undesirable substances into the drains and therefore indirectly to surface water. That results…

Read more about Getting to grips with indirect discharges
Flexibility in water

This project addresses the question of how, and in which conditions, water utilities can use the flexibility in the management of their assets to be better placed in a changing energy system. That is important for several…

Read more about Flexibility in water
Water & Energy network group

Global efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions include switching to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. Water plays an essential role in this energy transition. In addition, drinking water utilities can contribute to the energy transition with…

Read more about Water & Energy network group
Investigating the options for low-temperature hot tap water in non-residential buildings

Low-temperature (LT) collective hot tapwater systems have a range of advantages over conventional higher-temperature systems. Legionella safety for hot tap water does represent a significant challenge here. Advantages…

Read more about Investigating the options for low-temperature hot tap water in non-residential buildings
Pesticides in Dutch drinking water sources

By 2027, the Netherlands must comply with the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the chemical quality of all designated groundwater and surface waters must be good. The latest WFD evaluation has shown…

Read more about Pesticides in Dutch drinking water sources
HPLC-UV screening project

HPLC-UV (high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection) has been used for over fifteen years by Rijkswaterstaat and Aqualab Zuid to monitor surface water quality. It is a robust, relatively simple technique for the early detection of…

Read more about HPLC-UV screening project
MOMENTUM – Study of the effects of micro- en nanoplastics on health

Micro- and nanoplastic particles (MNPs) have, as a result of plastic use and pollution, been found everywhere, both in the environment and in the human body. The Netherlands…

Read more about MOMENTUM – Study of the effects of micro- en nanoplastics on health
PyHarmony: Development and harmonization of pyrolysis GC-MS methods for the identification and quantification of micro- and nanoplastics

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNP) are a health and environmental concern but little is known about the extent of the problem. Current analytical techniques are unable to reliably quantify…

Read more about PyHarmony: Development and harmonization of pyrolysis GC-MS methods for the identification and quantification of micro- and nanoplastics
Knowledge file for the water transition and drinking water

The drinking water sector’s collective research programme Waterwijs has developed a lot of knowledge that is valuable and that can be used in work on the water transition.…

Read more about Knowledge file for the water transition and drinking water
IDEATION – Inland Waters in the Digital Twin Ocean

The European IDEATION project will deliver a comprehensive roadmap to the European Commission, including a reference architecture, use cases, and recommendations for designing a Digital Twin for Inland…

Read more about IDEATION – Inland Waters in the Digital Twin Ocean
Green energy for all: how hydrogen and electricity carry our future

In their book, Groene energie voor iedereen. Hoe waterstof en elektriciteit onze toekomst dragen, which is also published in English as Green energy for all. How hydrogen and…

Read more about Green energy for all: how hydrogen and electricity carry our future
Aarhus ReWater

The municipality of Aarhus (Denmark), because its population is growing annually by 5000 people, faces the challenge of both creating a cleaner harbour and bay and increasing the capacity of wastewater treatment plants. The current wastewater treatment…

Read more about Aarhus ReWater
Transformative Area-oriented Management

The drinking water sector is facing major challenges. Climate change, developments in society and institutional changes are forcing water utilities to seek more collaboration and coordination with other stakeholders so that they…

Read more about Transformative Area-oriented Management
RECREATE

Eleven European partners will be working together on using alternative sources and additional buffers to strengthen the resilience of water supplies to water scarcity. KWR is leading a work package with four varied regional case studies: in…

Read more about RECREATE
PCR methods for legal parameters

In determining the (hygienic) quality of drinking water, use is made of E. coli, intestinal enterococci and bacteria from the coli group (coliforms) as indicator organisms. Culture methods are the standard technique used to establish the presence…

Read more about PCR methods for legal parameters
Wiser with Metal

This practical study investigates how much aquafer can be reprocessed into iron powder of a known quality. If pure enough, the iron powder can be used for a range of high-grade applications, including as a carrier material…

Read more about Wiser with Metal
Rewarding: closing water and nitrate cycles in greenhouse horticulture

The greenhouse horticulture sector in the Netherlands is working on circular food production. On the road to achieving this goal, the sector must focus on, among other things,…

Read more about Rewarding: closing water and nitrate cycles in greenhouse horticulture
An absolute barrier to PFAS in RO concentrate – no PFAS discharge to the environment in the drinking water sector (PAH PFAS)

An inventory study (KWR 2021.040) has shown that drinking water utilities find PFAS in their sources. PFAS are removed effectively during treatment with reverse osmosis (RO) but this…

Read more about An absolute barrier to PFAS in RO concentrate – no PFAS discharge to the environment in the drinking water sector (PAH PFAS)
Value Case Development: a process methodology for sustainable decision-making

Drinking water utilities will have to make major investments in the coming decades in areas such as asset infrastructure in order to maintain their capacity to continue supplying…

Read more about Value Case Development: a process methodology for sustainable decision-making
Closing the Cycle of Nutrients from Wastewater and Process Water (KNAP)

In this cross-sectoral project within TKI Water Technology and TKI Agri & Food, research partners WUR/WENR, KWR and LeAF are working together with a wide range of public-…

Read more about Closing the Cycle of Nutrients from Wastewater and Process Water (KNAP)
Waterrotonde Eerbeek

A pilot project has been organised with a circular water management system at the Industriewater Eerbeek (IWE) site. Existing plants treat process water from paper and cardboard mills and recover residual products for use in agriculture. The…

Read more about Waterrotonde Eerbeek
Monitoring, modelling and reducing nitrous oxide emissions from WWTPs

Towards mitigation strategies for WWTPs through intensive monitoring and modelling of N2O emissions Industry and society are striving to reduce the carbon footprint in response to tackling climate…

Read more about Monitoring, modelling and reducing nitrous oxide emissions from WWTPs
Roadmap for Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) to monitor microbial drinking water quality

The Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) analysis method is suitable for investigating the composition of complex microbial populations. NGS is very valuable for identifying changes in the composition of microbial…

Read more about Roadmap for Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) to monitor microbial drinking water quality
From non-target screening to risk assessment

Non-target screening, bioassays and computer modelling can provide information about the structure, concentration and toxicity of unknown substances in water. Until now, these chemical, biological and computing methods have often been used…

Read more about From non-target screening to risk assessment
Towards a knowledge programme for PVC pipe systems

We are researching how drinking water utilities can collect sufficient information about their PVC pipe systems in the years ahead, with a view to further improving the management of existing and yet-to-be-installed…

Read more about Towards a knowledge programme for PVC pipe systems
Determining reliability of modelling of drinking water warming

Water utilities want to know at which locations in the distribution network, and during which periods, risks of excessively warm drinking water may occur, and what targeted measures…

Read more about Determining reliability of modelling of drinking water warming
Methods for decision-making under deep uncertainty

Progressing climate change, technological developments and population growth put our society and also the water sector in a situation of deep uncertainty. Deep uncertainty is a technical term for the unpredictability of…

Read more about Methods for decision-making under deep uncertainty
Digital twin as experience accelerator

In which situations can a digital twin of the distribution process play a valuable role in the training of new staff? This is the central question in the project entitled: ‘On the…

Read more about Digital twin as experience accelerator
System Knowledge and Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus

Land, food, energy, water and ecosystems are linked to each other (the WEFE nexus), and form interconnected socio-metabolisms at different scales. Within Public Design for Water, we work in…

Read more about System Knowledge and Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus
The ‘Integrated Area Plan’: designing and assessing integrated solutions in area processes

This project is exploring how professionals working in practice can arrive at well-considered ‘Integrated Area Plans’. An Integrated Area Plan focuses on multiple and integrated solutions for various…

Read more about The ‘Integrated Area Plan’: designing and assessing integrated solutions in area processes
Effect of temperature on the growth of opportunistic pathogens

This project is investigating how the heating up of drinking water affects the growth of opportunistic pathogens in the mains system. We are using a pilot array that…

Read more about Effect of temperature on the growth of opportunistic pathogens
The effects on biological stability and later growth of mixing treated water from alternative sources and conventionally produced drinking water

This project will determine the effect of mixing drinking water extracted from new sources (groundwater and surface water) with drinking water from conventional treatment on the biological stability…

Read more about The effects on biological stability and later growth of mixing treated water from alternative sources and conventionally produced drinking water
Sewage surveillance of drug use

Drug use is a recognised societal problem. It is damaging to public health and has negative (undermining) consequences for public security and the environment. An effective drug policy needs to be founded on reliable drug-use and -dealing…

Read more about Sewage surveillance of drug use
Reliable detection and control of Legionella pneumophila in wastewater

In recent years, the number of registered patients with a Legionella infection has increased in the Netherlands, with the majority of infections caused by Legionella pneumophila. L. pneumophila…

Read more about Reliable detection and control of Legionella pneumophila in wastewater
Customer Perspectives and Behavioural Research

In the transition to a more water-aware society, it is essential to listen to and fully understand drinking water customers. How do these customers view drinking water and water conservation? What do…

Read more about Customer Perspectives and Behavioural Research
Social Environment and Area Planning Processes

We live in a time of transitions and changes, both in organisations and in the physical environment. We have ambitions in the area of climate adaptation, the water transition, the energy transition…

Read more about Social Environment and Area Planning Processes
Futures Studies and Strategy Development

For the timely recognition of threats and opportunities, and, as a society, to react to them effectively, we need to explore the future. Within Public Design for Water, the Futures Studies and…

Read more about Futures Studies and Strategy Development
Water-kennis: an immersive media experience

Turn on your tap, shower or flush your toilet, and clean water flows out. But where does this water come from? The availability of enough clean water has become an issue for…

Read more about Water-kennis: an immersive media experience
Monitoring nutrient measures

In many areas of the Netherlands the surface-water quality still does not meet the WFD targets. In the present project two catchment areas in the provinces of North Brabant and Flevoland are being intensively monitored for nutrients,…

Read more about Monitoring nutrient measures
GRROW: an intergenerational lab for the drinking water sector

What does the future water sector look like? What needs to change and what do we want to maintain? The GRROW lab project wants to answer that question…

Read more about GRROW: an intergenerational lab for the drinking water sector
Customer Perspectives 2.0

In the Joint Research Programme (BTO) Customer theme group, four customer perspectives were developed which provide insight into the diversity of drinking water customers, with their different expectations, desires, concerns and needs. In 2018, the distribution and…

Read more about Customer Perspectives 2.0
Can’t escape the WaterScape: transforming water and governance systems for dealing with climate impacts in the Dutch Delta

With projected increase in floods and drought it is apparent that the Dutch water system needs to change. In WaterScape we explore large-scale spatial transitions in the physical…

Read more about Can’t escape the WaterScape: transforming water and governance systems for dealing with climate impacts in the Dutch Delta
AMVD Reference Document revision

Dutch drinking water utilities need to demonstrate that drinking water is safe and does not spread any infectious diseases. To this end, they establish for each drinking water treatment process an Analysis of Microbial Safety of Drinking…

Read more about AMVD Reference Document revision
Socio-technological legitimisation of water-related reuse

Institutional trust and legal and regulatory frameworks can contribute to the socio-technological legitimisation of new technologies for water-related reuse. In this study, twelve legitimisation strategies were identified (see…

Read more about Socio-technological legitimisation of water-related reuse
BTO/WiCE 2024-2029: current and urgent

The Onderzoeksvisie Gezamenlijk Wateronderzoek voor 2024-2029 voor BTO/WiCE (BTO/WiCE Research Vision of the Collective Water Research for 2024-2029) presents a varied and current programme with innovation, valuable knowledge development and a focus…

Read more about BTO/WiCE 2024-2029: current and urgent
Accelerate Energy Transition with Aquathermia 2.0

In its National Climate Agreement, the Dutch government has made commitments to reducing the emission of CO2. One of the sectors referred to in the agreement is the built environment. Heat demand…

Read more about Accelerate Energy Transition with Aquathermia 2.0
Effect of temperature on the growth of opportunistic pathogens

In this study we investigate how the increase in the temperature of drinking water influences the growth of particular pathogens, known as opportunistic pathogens, in the drinking water…

Read more about Effect of temperature on the growth of opportunistic pathogens
Alternative Drinking Water Sources

Safeguarding microbial safety in the use of alternative drinking water sources is an important subject of concern for the future. For this reason, drinking water utilities are researching the potential of new…

Read more about Alternative Drinking Water Sources
The Ultimate Water Plant

The Ultimate Water Plant is a collaborative project involving parties in the water sector who want to demonstrate how, and subject to which conditions, treated sewage can be made available as a supplementary source of drinking water.…

Read more about The Ultimate Water Plant
ProVe IT-LT: Proven Safe and Innovative Hot Tap Water at Low Temperature

A low temperature (LT; 50 °C) in heating networks offers various advantages, such as reduced heat loss during heat distribution. Moreover, a low supply temperature is also increasingly…

Read more about ProVe IT-LT: Proven Safe and Innovative Hot Tap Water at Low Temperature
Longitudinal customer research

Longitudinal customer research can help drinking water utilities better tailor their services to their customers. To enable the best possible design of these studies, an ‘ideal’ questionnaire has been developed, as a part of a larger whole.…

Read more about Longitudinal customer research
The customer as tourist

For the drinking water utilities customers are not only drinking water consumers. As tourists they also use the nature areas that these organisations manage. What is the perception of the customer as tourists? And to what extent…

Read more about The customer as tourist
The role of sludge in infiltration ponds in OMP removal during dune infiltration

Drinking water utilities that use dune infiltration or riverbank filtration employ infiltration ponds with a sludge layer. This project investigates the role played by the thickness and conditions…

Read more about The role of sludge in infiltration ponds in OMP removal during dune infiltration
ANCHOR: broad knowledge development about urban water reuse

In this project, we will study the application of water reuse in the built environment from technical, societal, governance and economic perspectives. The goal is to establish a…

Read more about ANCHOR: broad knowledge development about urban water reuse
Biological treatment of RO concentrate

Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water treatment technique that involves the use of semi-permeable membranes to remove unwanted molecules and particles. It is an effective way of extracting a wide variety of…

Read more about Biological treatment of RO concentrate
Risk of L. pneumophila with heating networks

In this project, a qualitative microbiological risk analysis is being conducted to determine the effect of using heating networks for domestic connections on the number of patients with L. pneumophila. In addition, we…

Read more about Risk of L. pneumophila with heating networks
VIPNL: Wetland crops on water-rich peat

This project is investigating how wetland agriculture on water-rich peat can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and land subsidence, and deliver improvements in water quality and biodiversity. The focus is on…

Read more about VIPNL: Wetland crops on water-rich peat
TUBES as a controlled test environment for low-threshold pilot projects

In this project, we are investigating the possibilities and limitations of distributed-optical-fibre detection techniques in a controlled test environment. This projectis being organised in a broad alliance of…

Read more about TUBES as a controlled test environment for low-threshold pilot projects
Lead from brass components – phase III

This project examines the Dutch drinking water sector’s sampling protocol to control lead concentrations at the tap. With a tightening of the lead standard, the performance of this protocol needs to be…

Read more about Lead from brass components – phase III
Insight into connecting pipes

There is still not enough attention being paid to connecting pipes in the transport and distribution network of the Dutch water utilities and De Watergroep in Flanders. Our understanding of the condition, failure probability and residual lifespan…

Read more about Insight into connecting pipes
Impact of internal factors on malfunctions

Can malfunctions and/or repair work and pump operations lead to new malfunctions in the mains? This project will investigate this question by determining whether there is a statistical relationship between these factors…

Read more about Impact of internal factors on malfunctions
Quantitative added value of digital water meters and other sensors at customer locations

What are the benefits for the distribution process of different versions of smart water meters and the additional sensors? In this project, quantitative descriptions and model studies will…

Read more about Quantitative added value of digital water meters and other sensors at customer locations
Improving the reliability and practicality of an AI-based tool for data validation and correction

Water companies are increasingly using sensor data for advanced process monitoring and control for key variables. They are therefore increasingly reliant on high-quality data. In this project, the…

Read more about Improving the reliability and practicality of an AI-based tool for data validation and correction
Reduction of pressure on groundwater through reuse of water from dairy plants in agriculture

Groundwater in the Netherlands is under pressure, both in terms of quantity and quality. Groundwater is used in several activities, including drinking water production, agriculture and industry. In…

Read more about Reduction of pressure on groundwater through reuse of water from dairy plants in agriculture
Digital water – building a conceptual cost-benefit framework based on the experiences of frontrunners

Several water companies at home and abroad have taken far-reaching steps in digitising their operations. In this project, we deepen our understanding of the drivers of frontrunners for…

Read more about Digital water – building a conceptual cost-benefit framework based on the experiences of frontrunners
Evaluation of Aeromonas legal standard

Since the 1980s Aeromonas in drinking water has been included as a microbiological parameter in the Dutch Drinking Water Decree. Currently, Aeromonas standard exceedances are generally tolerated, partly because it is unclear…

Read more about Evaluation of Aeromonas legal standard
Biomonitoring of atmospheric nitrogen deposition with mosses

It was expected that the emission of nitrogen during the COVID-19 crisis and the lockdowns would diminish because of the sharp reduction in human activities. This would apply…

Read more about Biomonitoring of atmospheric nitrogen deposition with mosses
Automatic water-quality control for good recirculation water in greenhouse horticulture

Greenhouse horticulture irrigation water, when recirculated, acquires a complex composition. The impact this has on crops is for the most part unknown. The possibility of determining whether the…

Read more about Automatic water-quality control for good recirculation water in greenhouse horticulture
Biological stability parameters in operational practice

New methods for determining and predicting biological stability developed since 2010 are applied less often in daily drinking water practice than are the previously existing older methods. This,…

Read more about Biological stability parameters in operational practice
Fast alternative for the heterotrophic plate count at 22°C (HPC22) following interventions in the drinking water distribution system

This project will determine which method is suitable for the detection of anomalies in the microbial water quality following maintenance activities or pipe breaks in the drinking water…

Read more about Fast alternative for the heterotrophic plate count at 22°C (HPC22) following interventions in the drinking water distribution system
PUSH-IT: demonstration and development of seasonal underground heat storage systems

The EU aims to become carbon neutral by 2050. Large-scale seasonal underground heat storage has an important part to play in meeting this objective, because heating and cooling…

Read more about PUSH-IT: demonstration and development of seasonal underground heat storage systems
Solar panels on water reservoirs

Drinking water reservoirs have a large water surface. The installation of floating solar panels on reservoirs can be an effective strategy to generate energy. However, the question is, if and what impacts do solar panels have on…

Read more about Solar panels on water reservoirs
Power-to-X Province of Utrecht

The Dutch energy system has to be clean and future-resilient in the future, but also reliable and affordable. The local production of renewable solar or wind energy plays a crucial role in this transition. The Power-to-X approach…

Read more about Power-to-X Province of Utrecht
Water Quality Knowledge Impulse

Over the past four years, work in the Water Quality Knowledge Impulse has focused on learning more about the quality of groundwater and surface water, and the factors that affect that quality. The aim of the Water…

Read more about Water Quality Knowledge Impulse
PARC: European partnership for the assessment of risks from chemicals

The EU-wide research and innovation programme PARC was established in order to improve the risk assessment and sustainability of chemicals. The PARC project will strengthen the scientific basis…

Read more about PARC: European partnership for the assessment of risks from chemicals
Chances for Concentrate

In this project, we are investigating how the circular processing of concentrated residual streams can contribute to future-resilient and socially responsible freshwater supplies. This involves recovering water and producing raw materials for which there is a market.…

Read more about Chances for Concentrate
Implementation of screening and NTS methods in practice

Drinking water laboratories have recently expressed a need for the further integration of screening methods, including non-target screening (NTS), in the methods used to monitor water quality. Technological…

Read more about Implementation of screening and NTS methods in practice
Environmental forensics: pollution signatures

The presence of anthropogenic substances in the drinking water chain poses challenges for the water sector, and specifically for drinking water companies. That presence is undesirable, and sometimes even problematic. Although treatment…

Read more about Environmental forensics: pollution signatures
Big data – analysis and integration of chemical and toxicological data

Monitoring the water quality of drinking water is challenging due to the presence of complex mixtures of mostly unknown substances that vary in concentration and composition. Over the…

Read more about Big data – analysis and integration of chemical and toxicological data
Effect-based monitoring of water quality in the circular economy

Freshwater from groundwater or surface water sources is becoming scarce in dry periods, driving a rise in interest in the use/re-use of rainwater and treated domestic and industrial…

Read more about Effect-based monitoring of water quality in the circular economy
Drugs production waste in groundwater: field research and action perspectives

Little is still known about the impact of the long-term or extensive discharge of chemical waste from the production of synthetic drugs (SYNDRU) on groundwater quality and therefore…

Read more about Drugs production waste in groundwater: field research and action perspectives
Toxicology on Target

The domain of toxicological risk assessment is constantly evolving and it is essential to follow these developments closely. It has been noted that an adequate response to water quality issues requires the ongoing development of knowledge and…

Read more about Toxicology on Target
Microplastics in water treatment

Plastics are a ubiquitous part of everyday life and they are found in fresh water throughout the Netherlands. In this project, we describe the nature and levels of microplastics (20 - 500 µm) at different stages of…

Read more about Microplastics in water treatment
Text mining for the early detection of relevant water pollutants

Long before substances are included in regulations and monitoring programmes, text sources such as reports, social media, press releases, regulatory agency websites or the scientific literature can provide…

Read more about Text mining for the early detection of relevant water pollutants
Are PMOCs less toxic?

Persistent mobile organic compounds (PMOC) accumulate in the water cycle and are hardly removed during water treatment. For a long time, these substances have been under-researched but recent studies show that they are present in worrying concentrations.…

Read more about Are PMOCs less toxic?
Nanoplastics in drinking water

It is becoming increasingly clear that plastic is everywhere. That has been demonstrated in numerous environmental compartments, including soil, sediment, surface water and air. Data about the presence of microplastic particles in surface water are sparse, and…

Read more about Nanoplastics in drinking water
Water-soluble polymers – Eyes and ears for Chemical Safety 2019-2020

Water-soluble polymers are often neglected because they are not covered by the definition of microplastics and are not visible. As a result, very little is still known about…

Read more about Water-soluble polymers – Eyes and ears for Chemical Safety 2019-2020
VO Eyes and ears for Chemical Safety 2019-2020 (LDIR and biofilm)

The regrowth and biofilm formation of micro-organisms on pipe material and membranes lead to problems in drinking water systems. To combat biofilm formation, a knowledge of the dynamics…

Read more about VO Eyes and ears for Chemical Safety 2019-2020 (LDIR and biofilm)

All projects ()

Collaboration

EU Environmental Technology Verification (ETV)

Read more
Water in the Circular Economy (WiCE)

Read more
World Health Organization (WHO)

Read more
Global Water Research Coalition (GWRC)

Read more
Water Europe

Read more
Aqua Research Collaboration (ARC)

Read more
Universities

Read more
Allied Waters

Read more
Watershare

Read more
TKI Water Technology

Read more
European research

Read more
Waterwijs

Read more
Dune water company joint research (DPWE)

Read more

All collaborations ()

Subjects

Wetland cultivation

Rewetting peatlands is a necessary measure to reduce land subsidence and CO2 emissions and to…

Read more about Wetland cultivation
Tools to measure circularity

Sustainability and circularity are societal objectives – but what is sustainable and how do you…

Read more about Tools to measure circularity
Reuse

What we used to see as a waste stream, we now consider a residual stream…

Read more about Reuse
Smart water solutions

The water sector faces significant challenges around water quantity and quality. Water utilities and Water…

Read more about Smart water solutions
Digital transformation journeys

The big challenge faced by water utilities and the water sector in a digital transformation…

Read more about Digital transformation journeys
Regional freshwater supply in collaboration

The competition for water requires coordinated decisions at the regional level. How much water can…

Read more about Regional freshwater supply in collaboration
Sewage research

Sewage water holds a mirror up to society: it contains all sorts of chemical and…

Read more about Sewage research
Reducing emissions or negative impact

An ideal circular system has no emissions and no negative impact on our living environment…

Read more about Reducing emissions or negative impact
Nature inclusive water resources management

Climate change and a rising demand for water are placing the supply of water for…

Read more about Nature inclusive water resources management
Groundwater of good quality

Thanks to its predominantly good and stable quality, groundwater is one of the most important…

Read more about Groundwater of good quality
Using microbes for better water quality

Most microorganisms present no risks to humans and nature. Some can actually help us reduce…

Read more about Using microbes for better water quality
Circular systems

In a circular economy, materials, energy and water are recycled and reused. The realisation of…

Read more about Circular systems
Alternative resources and water reuse

One way of being careful about the current freshwater resources – especially groundwater – is…

Read more about Alternative resources and water reuse
Urban ecohydrology

Climate change and urban densification are exerting growing pressure on the quality of life and…

Read more about Urban ecohydrology
Risks of microbial pathogens and contaminants

In order to provide sufficient protection for humans and nature, we need to know what…

Read more about Risks of microbial pathogens and contaminants
Integrated water and energy systems

The Dutch energy system must become clean and future-proof, but also remain reliable and affordable.…

Read more about Integrated water and energy systems
Restoration of ecosystems and biodiversity

In the Netherlands, 90% of the habitat types have a poor or bad conservation status.…

Read more about Restoration of ecosystems and biodiversity
To measure is to know

KWR develops methods for the whole water cycle to measure, identify, quantify and monitor microorganisms…

Read more about To measure is to know
Innovative water distribution

Water distribution systems ensure the transport of drinking water and other water to users. A…

Read more about Innovative water distribution
System knowledge about the water-energy-food-ecosystem nexus

Land, food, energy, water and ecosystems are linked together in the so-called WEFE (water-energy-food-ecosystem) nexus, and…

Read more about System knowledge about the water-energy-food-ecosystem nexus
Sustainable heating and cooling

About half of the energy consumed in the Netherlands is used for heating, so we…

Read more about Sustainable heating and cooling
Innovative water treatment

The treatment of drinking water and of wastewater are today carried out mostly independently of…

Read more about Innovative water treatment
Impact of the energy transition on water utilities

The energy transition impacts the operational management, role and assets of drinking water utilities in…

Read more about Impact of the energy transition on water utilities
Customer perspective and behavioural research

In the transition to a more water-aware society, it is essential to listen to and…

Read more about Customer perspective and behavioural research
Futures studies and strategy development

For the timely recognition of threats and opportunities, and, as a society, to react to…

Read more about Futures studies and strategy development
Sufficient water

The freshwater supply in the Netherlands is under pressure. We cannot count on having sufficient…

Read more about Sufficient water
Social environment and area planning processes

We live in a time of transitions and changes, both in organisations and in the…

Read more about Social environment and area planning processes
Water resource loop closure

KWR maps out the possibilities and opportunities available for closing the water cycle, locally or…

Read more about Water resource loop closure
Biological activity

Growth of microorganisms in (drinking) water can present risks to public health and lead to…

Read more about Biological activity
Health

Emerging contaminants

Emerging contaminants are a possible threat to the public health and environment. KWR develops smarter,…

Read more about Emerging contaminants
Health

Microbial safety

Water safety is vital. Citizens must be able to drink and swim in safe water,…

Read more about Microbial safety
Health

Safe innovation and the water sector

Technological innovations can involve risks to (drinking) water and public health. Greater public awareness, and…

Read more about Safe innovation and the water sector
Sustainability

Sustainable use of freshwater resources

Access to sufficient and clean freshwater is not a given. Globally, the water sector is…

Read more about Sustainable use of freshwater resources
Sustainability

Climate change and resilience

The water sector needs practice-oriented research to help it confront the wide-ranging consequences of climate…

Read more about Climate change and resilience
Sustainability

Sustainable energy

There is a worldwide drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shift to cleaner, more…

Read more about Sustainable energy
Sustainability

Sustainable resources

The circular economy is the alternative to the current – essentially linear – economy. While…

Read more about Sustainable resources
Society

Stakeholder involvement and governance

Stakeholder engagement is an effective means of connecting technical and social-governance issues. KWR has a…

Read more about Stakeholder involvement and governance
Society

Citizen science and public participation

Increased citizen engagement is confronting the water sector with steadily growing demands. A connection needs…

Read more about Citizen science and public participation
Society

Valorisation

Given the urgency of current water challenges, public authorities, utilities and industry feel a strong…

Read more about Valorisation
Looking ahead

Futures studies and response strategies

Futures research improves the resilience of the water sector by supporting anticipatory governance and by…

Read more about Futures studies and response strategies
Enabling technologies

Hydrogenomics

Genomic techniques are developing at a very rapid pace in health, life, forensic and environmental…

Read more about Hydrogenomics
Enabling technologies

Hydroinformatics

Hydroinformatics is the application of information technology in its broadest sense on water-cycle related issues,…

Read more about Hydroinformatics
Enabling technologies

Innovative water treatment technologies

Drinking water treatment is subject to many demands and, today, the challenges it faces are…

Read more about Innovative water treatment technologies
Enabling technologies

Future-proof networks

Even if the Netherlands has a superbly functioning drinking water network, parts of it are…

Read more about Future-proof networks
Enabling technologies

New materials and technologies

Detecting and removing emerging contaminants calls for advanced materials and technologies. KWR develops knowledge about…

Read more about New materials and technologies

All subjects ()

Tools

ESTAR

Read more about ESTAR
HomeWaterLab

Read more about HomeWaterLab
TUBES

Read more about TUBES
REWAB

Read more about REWAB
AquaPriori

Read more about AquaPriori
EDWARD

Read more about EDWARD
HydroMonitor 1.0

Read more about HydroMonitor 1.0
Governance Capacity Analysis

Read more about Governance Capacity Analysis
Contamination Source Toolkit

Read more about Contamination Source Toolkit
WaterVision Nature

Read more about WaterVision Nature
Comsima

Read more about Comsima
Gondwana

Read more about Gondwana
USTORE

Read more about USTORE
SIMDEUM

Read more about SIMDEUM
Self-Cleaning Networks

Read more about Self-Cleaning Networks
Network Flow Performance

Read more about Network Flow Performance
Mains Investment Planning

Read more about Mains Investment Planning
Water-Use Info

Read more about Water-Use Info
OptiValves

Read more about OptiValves
City Blueprint

Read more about City Blueprint
Clean Membrane

Read more about Clean Membrane

All tools & products ()

News

Article

PFAS research for the water sector: what are the issues?

01 July 2025 — Experts in water quality and water treatment talk about how KWR is helping the water sector with the…

Read more about PFAS research for the water sector: what are the issues?
News

Water Transition Knowledge File

24 June 2025 — The drinking water sector's collective research programme Waterwijs has developed a lot of knowledge that is valuable and…

Read more about Water Transition Knowledge File
Blog

‘Failures’ can be progress, too

17 June 2025 — When things don’t go as you expect, there can still be important lessons. So the word ‘failure’ shouldn’t…

Read more about ‘Failures’ can be progress, too
Blog

KWR at ISMAR12: 12th International Symposium on Managed Aquifer Recharge in Stellenbosch (South Africa)

28 May 2025 — Niels Hartog and Teun van Dooren had the opportunity to represent KWR at the 12th International Symposium on…

Read more about KWR at ISMAR12: 12th International Symposium on Managed Aquifer Recharge in Stellenbosch (South Africa)
News

The harms and health risks of substances are increasingly predictable

27 May 2025 — The smart use of bioassays allows for a more accurate estimate of the harmfulness and health risks of…

Read more about The harms and health risks of substances are increasingly predictable
News

Towards augmented intelligence and agentic AI, never forgetting the all-important human factor

22 May 2025 — This week Dragan Savic, KWR's former CEO and current Global Advisor Digital Sciences, received the 2025 Julian Hinds…

Read more about Towards augmented intelligence and agentic AI, never forgetting the all-important human factor
News

Water Matchmaker: smart tool for the non-compartmentalised matching of water supply and demand

21 May 2025 — The Water Matchmaker is a tool that allows drinking water utilities, water authorities, provincial authorities and policy-makers to…

Read more about Water Matchmaker: smart tool for the non-compartmentalised matching of water supply and demand
News

Water Technology TKI: a step-by-step approach to PFAS monitoring techniques provides a clearer view of blind spots

20 May 2025 — PFAS: the water sector is faced with numerous challenges relating to this large – and often harmful –…

Read more about Water Technology TKI: a step-by-step approach to PFAS monitoring techniques provides a clearer view of blind spots
News

Everyone gets a hearing at the VHP4Safety Designathon at KWR

08 May 2025 — The sixth Designathon of the Virtual Human Platform for Safety Assessment (VHP4Safety) was at KWR in early April.…

Read more about Everyone gets a hearing at the VHP4Safety Designathon at KWR
News

Joining forces for sustainable water use in industry: A successful TKI matchmaking event

07 May 2025 — The TKI Matchmaking Event 2025 took place on 23 April: a gathering of policymakers, technology providers, industrial end-users…

Read more about Joining forces for sustainable water use in industry: A successful TKI matchmaking event
Blog

EGU 2025: Understanding and Adapting under Deep Uncertainty

06 May 2025 — The 2025 EGU General Assembly is a rich and intense event covering Earth’s systems and their interactions. After…

Read more about EGU 2025: Understanding and Adapting under Deep Uncertainty
News

Year Review 2024: Balance

04 April 2025 — The Year Review of 2024, titled “Balance”, describes a year in which KWR’s commitment to a range of…

Read more about Year Review 2024: Balance
News

KWR granted European patent for the use of natural viruses to monitor treatment processes

04 April 2025 — After receiving a Dutch patent in 2019, KWR has now also been granted a European patent for an…

Read more about KWR granted European patent for the use of natural viruses to monitor treatment processes
Blog

KWR at the 14th IWA Water Reuse and Reclamation Conference in Cape Town

03 April 2025 — Four KWR representatives—Mariëlle van der Zouwen, Sandra Sikkema, Kees Roest and Johann Poinapen—had the privilege of participating in…

Read more about KWR at the 14th IWA Water Reuse and Reclamation Conference in Cape Town
News

Award-winning paper describes the ‘state of the science’ on wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2.

01 April 2025 — The 2024 Willem Koerselman Prize was awarded on 1 April to Gertjan Medema for his contribution to the…

Read more about Award-winning paper describes the ‘state of the science’ on wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2.
Blog

Prediction of pipe failure with Artificial Intelligence

01 April 2025 — Pipe failure causes loss of drinking water and damage to third parties. Knowing when or where it occurs…

Read more about Prediction of pipe failure with Artificial Intelligence
Blog

AquaNL Trade Fair: Day 3

27 March 2025 — On the last day of the AquaNL trade fair, several presentations were again scheduled. Below, Nienke Koeman-Stein and…

Read more about AquaNL Trade Fair: Day 3
Blog

AquaNL Trade Fair: Day 2

27 March 2025 — On Wednesday 19 March, the themes of ‘water purification & circularity’ took centre stage at the AquaNL trade…

Read more about AquaNL Trade Fair: Day 2