Tag page

TKI

Projects

Society
Valorisation
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
Sustainability
Sustainable use of freshwater resources
Digital Twin for the development of data and model to support ASR management systems

Subsurface water storage, also known as Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR), of excess freshwater can play an important role in enhancing the sustainability of water use in the…

Read more about Digital Twin for the development of data and model to support ASR management systems
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
Power-to-Protein: efficient input of hydrogen (phase 3)

In recent years great progress has been achieved within the TKI Water Technology programme with the Power-to-Protein concept: the recovery of ammonium from the wastewater cycle for use…

Read more about Power-to-Protein: efficient input of hydrogen (phase 3)
Health
Safe innovation and the water sector
Polishing pellets

The production of drinking water results in sludge with a high level of iron oxide/iron hydroxide. That sludge can be used as an adsorbent for, among other things, phosphate and arsenic. The drawback is that the sludge…

Read more about Polishing pellets
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Assuring WWTP effluent for greenhouse horticultural sector

The provision of irrigation water for the greenhouse horticultural sector is under increasing pressure, in part as a consequence of climate change. Alternatives are therefore being sought. Moreover,…

Read more about Assuring WWTP effluent for greenhouse horticultural sector
Sustainability
Climate change and resilience
Climate adaptation in practice (KLIMAP)

In the four-year KLIMAP project, a consortium of 24 organisations is looking at which measures can contribute, and what joint process will be needed, to adapt Dutch sandy areas to climate change.…

Read more about Climate adaptation in practice (KLIMAP)
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Development of a virus sensor

Since the greenhouse horticultural sector aims to be practically emission-free by 2027, it is focusing great attention on water reuse. But a water discharge is sometimes necessary if companies cannot exclude the possibility that the water contains…

Read more about Development of a virus sensor
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
An integrated approach for the detection of undesirable perfluorinated substances in the water cycle

The presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment, and specifically in the water cycle, is considered a hazard for humans and the environment. The presence…

Read more about An integrated approach for the detection of undesirable perfluorinated substances in the water cycle
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Development of a water-quality sensor

Large volumes of water are used all over the world for a variety of processes which generate large waste streams. Before it can be discharged, this water has to be treated to…

Read more about Development of a water-quality sensor
Health
Microbial safety
Quick picture of microbial water quality

Microbial water quality is an important element in determining the safety of water for humans, animals, plants and the environment. Today’s methods only conclude afterwards whether the water quality was poor. This…

Read more about Quick picture of microbial water quality
Sustainability
Sustainable use of freshwater resources
Flushing-water discharge limitation and directed development in open-loop ATES systems

In 2050, when the Netherlands will no longer be using natural gas, approximately 25 percent of the buildings will have a thermal energy system. Following the installation, and…

Read more about Flushing-water discharge limitation and directed development in open-loop ATES systems
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
Micronutrients in the resource loop

This research is directed at closing the micronutrient resource loop of a number of essential micronutrients in the Dutch food system, within legal, environmental, economic and technological frameworks. The focus is on…

Read more about Micronutrients in the resource loop
Health
Safe innovation and the water sector
Application of electrocoagulation to water with low conductivity

The wastewater and drinking water sector in the Netherlands and Europe is committed to reducing its CO2 footprint. This also includes a desire to reduce the use of…

Read more about Application of electrocoagulation to water with low conductivity
Health
Safe innovation and the water sector
Nieuwegein Circular Water

In the TKI project, "Nieuwegein Circular Water", a water concept is being developed for an urban area (Nieuwegein city centre case) and implemented in practice through an interactive process with the stakeholders (municipality, Water Authority and project…

Read more about Nieuwegein Circular Water
Sustainability
Sustainable energy
Urban Photosynthesis; three functions on a single roof

Urban Photosynthesis involves research in the urban environment on an integrated solution, which closes as many water loops as possible at the building level, combined with the generation…

Read more about Urban Photosynthesis; three functions on a single roof
Enabling technologies
New materials and technologies
SARS-CoV-2 (RNA) in municipal wastewater: hazards and opportunities

This project couples the monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in the underground (sewage water) with above-ground testing, with the aim of evaluating the sensitivity, the predictive value for the incidence…

Read more about SARS-CoV-2 (RNA) in municipal wastewater: hazards and opportunities
Enabling technologies
New materials and technologies
Midas: Multiple Data Sources

Drinking water utilities and Water Authorities increasingly wish to support their decisions concerning the maintenance and rehabilitation of their pipes with detailed condition models. Recent applications of condition models however make it increasingly clear that the successful…

Read more about Midas: Multiple Data Sources
Health
Biological activity
Reuse of activated carbon for the removal of organic micropollutants

The use of personal care products, dietary supplements and medicines is constantly increasing. This is partly due to the ageing, and growing, population. A large fraction of personal…

Read more about Reuse of activated carbon for the removal of organic micropollutants
Enabling technologies
Hydroinformatics
AIR: autonomous inspection robots for drinking water pipes

Effective asset management results in the optimal performance of the drinking water network. Such management requires a good picture of the condition of the pipes. However, the inspection…

Read more about AIR: autonomous inspection robots for drinking water pipes
Enabling technologies
Future-proof networks
Test network for research on inspection tools and drinking water distribution

The most valuable and at the same time least known part of our drinking water supply system is the buried transport and distribution infrastructure. Once the pipes are…

Read more about Test network for research on inspection tools and drinking water distribution
Health
Safe innovation and the water sector
Explorations by KWR and the drinking water sector in innovative water technology

Water constitutes one of the economic top sectors designated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. In order to stimulate innovations and create economic value from…

Read more about Explorations by KWR and the drinking water sector in innovative water technology
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Adsorptive and biological removal of plant protection products

The horticultural sector is faced with a major challenge: it is obligated to remove at least 95% of the plant protection products from its discharge water. A solution…

Read more about Adsorptive and biological removal of plant protection products
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Natural viruses to monitor the integrity of membrane installations

Urbanisation, industrialisation, climate change and other phenomena are placing pressure on the sources used in the production of impeccable (drinking) water. For a variety of treatment objectives, membrane…

Read more about Natural viruses to monitor the integrity of membrane installations
Health
Biological activity
Circular Rain

With Circular Rain we are investigating the innovative storage, purification and use of rainwater. By buffering and simultaneously purifying harvested rainwater, a variety of useful applications can be envisaged for the water. Technology EWB has developed an…

Read more about Circular Rain
Sustainability
Sustainable use of freshwater resources
Smarter sprinkling using subsurface water storage, combined with iron removal

In the Netherlands groundwater is extracted for applications in the agricultural, industrial and drinking water sectors. At the same time there is an urgent need to render water…

Read more about Smarter sprinkling using subsurface water storage, combined with iron removal
Sustainability
Sustainable energy
Subsurface iron removal with ATES geothermal energy systems

Aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) is being increasingly employed in the Netherlands and elsewhere as a means of saving energy. The groundwater used in these systems often contains…

Read more about Subsurface iron removal with ATES geothermal energy systems
Health
Microbial safety
Rapid detection of faecal pollution in bathing water

When the weather’s good, the public increasingly looks to water for its bathing and recreation. This can involve massive numbers of people. Cities, municipalities, Water Authorities and Rijkswaterstaat…

Read more about Rapid detection of faecal pollution in bathing water
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Innovative technology for treating waste water from slaughterhouses

Waste water from slaughterhouses is difficult to treat because it contains high concentrations of solids and colloidal compounds such as blood, proteins and fats. The waste water is…

Read more about Innovative technology for treating waste water from slaughterhouses
Sustainability
Sustainable use of freshwater resources
DNA Diatom Biosensor

In order to attain and maintain the desired level of ecological quality in European waters, water management authorities need to implement comprehensive monitoring and measurement packages that enable them to comply with the European requirements set by…

Read more about DNA Diatom Biosensor
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Organic kitchen waste via the sewer

Within the framework of the circular economy, it is important for municipalities to make the best possible use of kitchen waste (fruit and vegetable waste, or ‘FVW’) through high-value, sustainable processing. In…

Read more about Organic kitchen waste via the sewer
Sustainability
Sustainable energy
WINDOW fase 1

The WINDOW project focuses on the subsurface storage of heat. The implementation of subsurface heat storage at temperatures above 40°C is however still very limited in the Netherlands. In the WINDOW programme we aim to remove technical,…

Read more about WINDOW fase 1
Health
Microbial safety
Online monitoring of Aeromonas in drinking-water distribution system without chlorine

The microbiological analyses currently used to monitor drinking-water quality are relatively time-consuming and they cannot be used for continuous monitoring. However, automated and online microbiological sensors have been…

Read more about Online monitoring of Aeromonas in drinking-water distribution system without chlorine
Health
Biological activity
Preventing and controlling emissions in greenhouse cultivation 2

This project is a re-launch of the earlier ‘Preventing and controlling emissions in greenhouse cultivation’ project. In the present project, knowledge will be further developed on optimising the…

Read more about Preventing and controlling emissions in greenhouse cultivation 2
Enabling technologies
Hydroinformatics
CALLISTO

Water losses in drinking water distribution systems are a globally recognised problem. Drinking water utilities have a number of reasons to address this challenge. In the Netherlands image considerations are of particular importance while, elsewhere in the…

Read more about CALLISTO
Sustainability
Climate change and resilience
CitySports – climate-adaptive artificial pitches

Challenges facing cities include urban densification and climate change. As a result, every location has to serve multiple functions so that cities will continue to be healthy and…

Read more about CitySports – climate-adaptive artificial pitches
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Anammox

Anammox, an acronym for ANaerobic AMMonium OXidation, is a microbial process of the nitrogen cycle; it is a process that occurs in many natural environments. There is a huge interest in the application of the anammox process…

Read more about Anammox
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
Quick picture of water quality

Because of the rapidly growing reuse of water in greenhouse horticulture, there is an increasing need to have quick access to information about the water quality, so that, whenever necessary, corrective measures can be quickly taken regarding…

Read more about Quick picture of water quality
Health
Emerging contaminants
Preventing the flow of microplastics via effluent into surface water

Microplastics are small (< 5mm), synthetic particles that can have a big impact if they flow into large surface water bodies. Larger pieces of plastic waste cause harm…

Read more about Preventing the flow of microplastics via effluent into surface water
Enabling technologies
New materials and technologies
Reliable and affordable backfilling of boreholes in closed thermal energy systems

Thermal energy is an important technique in the heat transition. Its use can therefore be expected to increase very rapidly in the decades ahead. The installation of closed…

Read more about Reliable and affordable backfilling of boreholes in closed thermal energy systems
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
CoRe Water – From WWTP to sustainable water factory

The transition to the way we’ll be handling our wastewater in the future is being shaped by several developments that aim at improving effluent quality, cutting greenhouse gas…

Read more about CoRe Water – From WWTP to sustainable water factory
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
Waterproof Flower-Bulb Cultivation

The bulb cultivation sector in the Netherlands is an intensive user of plant protection products and nutrients. As such, it contributes to the deterioration of surface water and groundwater quality, to the…

Read more about Waterproof Flower-Bulb Cultivation
Sustainability
Sustainable use of freshwater resources
Reuse of industrial residual water to meet agricultural water needs

Agricultural yields depend on the amount of moisture in the root zone. But in the summer soil moisture levels are often insufficient and result in reduced yields. In…

Read more about Reuse of industrial residual water to meet agricultural water needs
Health
Biological activity
Adsorptive and biological removal of plant protection products from jointly collected discharge water in greenhouse horticulture

The ‘Adsorptive and biological removal of plant protection products from jointly collected discharge water in greenhouse horticulture’ project was recently launched. The project involves the development of a…

Read more about Adsorptive and biological removal of plant protection products from jointly collected discharge water in greenhouse horticulture
Health
Emerging contaminants
‘Contaminants of Emerging Concern’ – a partnership in water technology

More and more chemical substances are being produced and used all over the world. At the same time, increasing volumes of water are being abstracted for domestic, industrial…

Read more about ‘Contaminants of Emerging Concern’ – a partnership in water technology
Sustainability
Sustainable energy
Increased density of geothermal energy systems for greater CO2 reduction

To limit the extent of climate change, the Dutch government has signed agreements to cut back CO2 emissions in the Netherlands (UN, 2015). Geothermal energy is one of…

Read more about Increased density of geothermal energy systems for greater CO2 reduction
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Closing the water cycle in North-Holland

After medicines are used, pharmaceutical residues end up, via the toilet and the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), in surface water. Today’s WWTPs do not specifically focus on the removal of micropollutants. Pharmaceuticals…

Read more about Closing the water cycle in North-Holland
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
TKI sewage fat solution

Deposits of fats, oils and grease (often referred to as FOG) clump together and settle in pumping stations for example. If this causes blockages or the failure of system components, it can entail high (societal) costs. Besides…

Read more about TKI sewage fat solution
Sustainability
Climate change and resilience
Heat transfer to drinking water mains

The warming of the soil around a drinking water main can make the temperature of the water in the main rise above 25 °C, which means that the water no longer satisfies…

Read more about Heat transfer to drinking water mains
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Transition to increased storage temperature at Koppert Cress open thermal energy system

Open-loop aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) is a technique in which groundwater in the subsurface is used for the temporary storage of heat and/or cold surpluses. Since about…

Read more about Transition to increased storage temperature at Koppert Cress open thermal energy system
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
Reuse of coagulant from aquafer (HerCauWer)

In the Netherlands drinking water treatment almost always generates aquafer as a residual. By treating this material with acid, we can again transform it into iron salts, which can then be applied…

Read more about Reuse of coagulant from aquafer (HerCauWer)
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Rapid, online detection of enterococci and of the total microbial activity in water

Current microbial analyses for the purpose of monitoring water quality are very time consuming. A technician is always required to conduct the sampling and, in most cases, the…

Read more about Rapid, online detection of enterococci and of the total microbial activity in water
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Legionella control in the tropics

Legionella pneumophila, the main cause of legionnaires’ disease, multiply primarily in aqueous environments at temperatures between 30 and 45°C. Under these conditions, in certain water systems with aerosolization, L. pneumophila can grow in the system and be…

Read more about Legionella control in the tropics
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
DNA fingerprinting in surface- and wastewater management

Situations arise in surface- and wastewater management in which it is often important to be able to determine the origin of the water and of the potentially problematic…

Read more about DNA fingerprinting in surface- and wastewater management
Enabling technologies
New materials and technologies
Smart sewers

Waterboards, as the managers of wastewater treatment processes, are increasingly confronted with waste discharges of hazardous substances and chemicals into sewage water. Since the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have not been designed to remove such (volumes) of…

Read more about Smart sewers
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Arsenic removal

Arsenic is one of the most poisonous substances on earth. Nevertheless, millions of people worldwide are exposed to it via their drinking water. In this project we are researching the possibility of removing arsenic to <1 μg…

Read more about Arsenic removal
Sustainability
Climate change and resilience
Power to X

In the future our energy supply will have to be renewable, but also reliable and affordable. In Nieuwegein we will be making a contribution to meeting this challenge through the realisation of a unique project: Power to…

Read more about Power to X
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
Remineralisation of RO permeate

Oasen is working on the full-stream treatment of, among others, river-bank filtrate using RO, which entails the complete removal of practically all substances, including minerals, from the water. A crucial aspect of this development is the conditioning…

Read more about Remineralisation of RO permeate
Sustainability
Sustainable energy
Preventing and controlling emissions in greenhouse cultivation

Starting in 2018, greenhouse horticulturalists will be required to treat their discharge water containing plant protection products (PPPs) (for collectives the requirement has to be met by 2021).…

Read more about Preventing and controlling emissions in greenhouse cultivation
Sustainability
Sustainable energy
Processing technology for horticultural discharge water

The horticultural sector is confronted with the challenge of reducing the emission of plant protection products in its production process, thus preventing the negative impact on surface water…

Read more about Processing technology for horticultural discharge water
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
Power-to-Protein: pilot (phase 2)

The supply of sufficient food, energy and water present huge challenges worldwide – among the causes are global population growth and the impact of climate change on crops. There is no obvious universal solution. Rather, what will…

Read more about Power-to-Protein: pilot (phase 2)
Health
Emerging contaminants
Affinity adsorption

The presence of pharmaceuticals and degradation products in surface water represents a threat to ecological water quality and drinking water sources. The removal of pharmaceuticals and organic micropollutants is also becoming more and more topical. Many pharmaceuticals…

Read more about Affinity adsorption
Health
Emerging contaminants
Big Data Epidemiology

The scientific literature reports on – sometimes contradictory – research results on the relationship between the quality of drinking water and public health. For example, the relationship between water hardness and the incidence of cardio-vascular disease, between…

Read more about Big Data Epidemiology
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Microbial profiling: short-circuit flows around water wells

Leakages from the casings and clay seals of water wells can cause short circuits between the aquifers. This applies in particular to small, unnoticed leakages resulting from the…

Read more about Microbial profiling: short-circuit flows around water wells
Health
Biological activity
Microbial profiling in dune infiltration

DNA sequencing has made enormous strides over the past few years. The technology has advanced to the point where is should be possible, on the basis of information from the DNA (and…

Read more about Microbial profiling in dune infiltration
Sustainability
Sustainable energy
Heat and Cold from drinking water (HCD)

‘Heat and Cold from Drinking water’, ‘HCD ’ for short, constitutes a unique combination of water and energy: the thermal energy, which the drinking water contains, is used to bring together the…

Read more about Heat and Cold from drinking water (HCD)
Enabling technologies
Hydroinformatics
Smartroof 2.0

Heat stress is a growing problem in the urban environment. In this TKI project, industry, real-estate managers, and government and research entities joined forces to optimise the cooling function of evaporation from blue-green roofs. The project produced…

Read more about Smartroof 2.0
Enabling technologies
Hydrogenomics
Monitoring fish migration through eDNA

To bring the ecological quality of European waters up to standard, water management entities have to implement extensive sets of measures. In this way they can satisfy the requirements laid out in…

Read more about Monitoring fish migration through eDNA
Sustainability
Sustainable use of freshwater resources
Water and Fire

The risk of the spread of wildfires is closely related to the water management. The flammability of the vegetation in particular is partly a function of the availability of water. The drier the soil, the drier the…

Read more about Water and Fire
Sustainability
Sustainable use of freshwater resources
The Urban Waterbuffer

Urban areas are increasingly faced with temporary flooding caused by heavy rainfall, or water shortages due to longer drought periods. The conventional solutions aim in particular at rapidly discharging the water and at supplying water from external…

Read more about The Urban Waterbuffer
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
Recovering metals from water, sludge and fly ash

The focus of water treatment is increasingly shifting to the recovery of raw materials, partly stimulated by the quest for a circular economy. In the same way as drinking water companies and…

Read more about Recovering metals from water, sludge and fly ash
Enabling technologies
Future-proof networks
Cooling water conditioning in the future

Open recirculating cooling water systems are employed on a large scale in industry for the dissipation of low-value, surplus heat into the ambient air. This involves the evaporation of part of the…

Read more about Cooling water conditioning in the future
Sustainability
Sustainable energy
Sustainable water cycle and geothermal energy at Lelystad Airport

At the beginning of 2015 the Airport Decree was ratified for Lelystad Airport, providing official authorisation for the airport’s expansion. Since the new work will take place on…

Read more about Sustainable water cycle and geothermal energy at Lelystad Airport
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Circular water provision in horticulture: Water to the greenhouse – Freshwater provision and well technology

Water supply is of crucial importance for greenhouse horticulture. An adequate supply of fresh (irrigation) water has to be available – during dry periods as well – and…

Read more about Circular water provision in horticulture: Water to the greenhouse – Freshwater provision and well technology
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Circular water provision for horticulture: Water in the greenhouse

Water supply is of crucial importance for greenhouse horticulture. An adequate supply of fresh (irrigation) water has to be available – during dry periods as well – and…

Read more about Circular water provision for horticulture: Water in the greenhouse
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Circular water provision in horticulture: Water from the greenhouse Water treatment and reuse

Water supply is of crucial importance for greenhouse horticulture. An adequate supply of fresh (irrigation) water has to be available – during dry periods as well – and…

Read more about Circular water provision in horticulture: Water from the greenhouse Water treatment and reuse
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Circular water provision for horticulture: Operate

Water supply is of crucial importance for greenhouse horticulture. An adequate supply of fresh (irrigation) water has to be available – during dry periods as well – and the water needs to…

Read more about Circular water provision for horticulture: Operate
Enabling technologies
Hydroinformatics
Smart rehabilitation of water mains

This project concerns the identification of promising, innovative, trenchless rehabilitation and replacement techniques, and the objective assessment of their practical implementation and implications. The Netherlands has almost 120,000 km of buried water…

Read more about Smart rehabilitation of water mains
Sustainability
Sustainable energy
ATES/UV: Energetic decontamination

All over the world, the groundwater in many central urban areas is contaminated, mostly as a result of (former) industrial activities. Regulatory stipulations and/or new uses of the areas might require that…

Read more about ATES/UV: Energetic decontamination
Sustainability
Climate change and resilience
A cost-effective system for measuring evapotranspiration

Evapotranspiration is nearly always the main source of moisture loss in water balance studies. Most of the precipitation in an area is actually evaporated by crops, trees, natural…

Read more about A cost-effective system for measuring evapotranspiration
Sustainability
Sustainable use of freshwater resources
Freshkeeper

The supply of fresh groundwater is limited in coastal areas all over the world, while the demand for freshwater in these areas is actually increasing because of population growth and economic development. One of the effects of…

Read more about Freshkeeper
Sustainability
Sustainable use of freshwater resources
HDDW Rodenhuis

The research, conducted in partnership with Oasen and Visser & Smit Hanab, aims to establish whether water can be abstracted more efficiently using HDDWs at the Rodenhuis wellfield in the Province of South Holland. Because the area…

Read more about HDDW Rodenhuis
Sustainability
Sustainable use of freshwater resources
HDDW Dunea

Over the past few years, intensive collaborations between drinking water companies, KWR Water Research Institute and various market players has led to great progress in the development of Horizontal Directional Drilled Wells (HDDWs), that is, horizontal well…

Read more about HDDW Dunea
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Multi-Source, Single-Stage, Full-Stream RO

The objective is a tested Multi-Source, Full-Stream RO concept, with minimal pre- and post-treatment (single stage), which uses flexible water sources and produces water of impeccable quality. The concept is researched in…

Read more about Multi-Source, Single-Stage, Full-Stream RO
Health
Emerging contaminants
Zero liquid discharge for greenhouse horticulture (phase 2)

The objective of this project is the development of a concept to achieve zero liquid discharge (ZLD) in greenhouse horticulture. In light of the fact that discharge standards…

Read more about Zero liquid discharge for greenhouse horticulture (phase 2)
Sustainability
Sustainable energy
Hydrodynamic cavitation for effective sludge disintegration

The fermentation of sludge from WWTPs releases biogas. But it is very difficult to destroy the sludge particles effectively, which means that a considerable amount of energy remains…

Read more about Hydrodynamic cavitation for effective sludge disintegration
Health
Emerging contaminants
Pharmaceuticals from effluent

Wastewater contains increasing amounts of pharmaceutical residues. Since the WWTPs are not designed to remove them from the water, the plants’ effluent frequently still contains pharmaceuticals. Many techniques for the removal of these pharmaceuticals, and other micropollutants,…

Read more about Pharmaceuticals from effluent
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Innovative drinking water treatment

At its new drinking water plant in Andijk, PWN is applying self-developed innovations based on ion exchange (Suspended Ion Exchange, or SIX®) and ceramic membrane filtration (CeraMac®). Combined with existing UV technologies…

Read more about Innovative drinking water treatment
Health
Emerging contaminants
Zero liquid discharge for greenhouse horticulture (phase 1)

The objective of this TKI project is the development of a concept to achieve zero liquid discharge (ZLD) in greenhouse horticulture. In light of the fact that discharge…

Read more about Zero liquid discharge for greenhouse horticulture (phase 1)
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Supplementary treatment for the removal of polar organic micropollutants

Earlier research showed that significant concentrations of pharmaceuticals and other organic micropollutants were present in the Limburg water cycle, and that these concentrations would increase in the future.…

Read more about Supplementary treatment for the removal of polar organic micropollutants
Sustainability
Sustainable use of freshwater resources
Groundwater for crops

The ‘Groundwater for Crops’ TKI project is the basis of a decision-support system (DSS) that helps agriculturalists and water managers take anticipatory water management measures at the land-parcel and regional levels. Technology The DSS provides early warnings…

Read more about Groundwater for crops
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
Innovative treatment technologies – Application of AiRO technology

In the first instance the focus is on ‘Innovative Desalination Technologies’, in which Dutch innovations and knowledge are applied to increase the efficiency of surface water and/or seawater…

Read more about Innovative treatment technologies – Application of AiRO technology
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
Eutectic Freeze Crystallisation

The objective of this project is to determine the feasibility of EFC for the treatment of regenerant from ion exchange – as applied in DOC removal/decolouration and softening (especially drinking water and water-related industrial applications) – through…

Read more about Eutectic Freeze Crystallisation
Sustainability
Climate change and resilience
Urban water management tools

Over the next decades cities will experience a number of megatrends. In order to render the sustainability of the urban water cycle visible, a great deal of effort has been invested over the past few years in…

Read more about Urban water management tools
Health
Safe innovation and the water sector
Rapid optical detection of enterococci

Faecal contamination is the main health threat related to water worldwide. The principal monitoring parameters for the microbial safety of drinking and bathing water quality are Escherichia coli and enterococci. These parameters…

Read more about Rapid optical detection of enterococci
Enabling technologies
Hydrogenomics
DNA Water system Scan & Reference Tool

The identification of aquatic organisms through DNA barcode information has accelerated greatly over the past few years. Worldwide, DNA barcodes of a multiplicity of species have been collected and made available via…

Read more about DNA Water system Scan & Reference Tool
Health
Emerging contaminants
From big water data to smart water grids

Due to far-reaching computerisation, smart metering, the use of (online) sensor systems in drinking water production companies and distribution networks, and automation, the quantity of ‘water’ data will grow inexorably into the…

Read more about From big water data to smart water grids
Enabling technologies
Future-proof networks
INTEREST – Investment in, and returns from, sensor networks

The current monitoring of our drinking water quality is done on the pure water as it leaves the production location and as it flows from the customer’s tap.…

Read more about INTEREST – Investment in, and returns from, sensor networks
Health
Emerging contaminants
AquaPriori

Studies into the effectiveness of water treatment techniques for priority substances involve high costs and are closely related to very specific conditions: treatment technique type, water type, substances present, and process conditions, such as residential times (distribution)…

Read more about AquaPriori
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
Loop-Closure Cleantech Playground Amsterdam

The Cleantech Playground (CTP) is a testbed for clean, innovative technologies in the heart of the city of Amsterdam. The concept, which aims at closing the (biological) loop, is set up in…

Read more about Loop-Closure Cleantech Playground Amsterdam
Enabling technologies
Hydrogenomics
Identifying eDNA to understand aquatic biodiversity

Preserving biodiversity is high on the (political) agenda worldwide. The theme has been given quite high priority at both the European level (EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020) and…

Read more about Identifying eDNA to understand aquatic biodiversity
Enabling technologies
Future-proof networks
Design guidelines for sewer systems for domestic wastewater

In the urban context there are two key water discharge streams: the dry-weather stream and the stormwater stream. The volume flows of domestic wastewater are essentially a function…

Read more about Design guidelines for sewer systems for domestic wastewater
Enabling technologies
Future-proof networks
Soil mechanics & dynamics

Information about the soil is available from a number of sources. This information is important in the estimation of the aging subsurface infrastructure. Waternet needs to structure these information sources and combine them with existing information systems…

Read more about Soil mechanics & dynamics
Enabling technologies
Future-proof networks
On-site sensoring & monitoring

Determining nutrient concentrations with electronic finger prints and an algorithm based on an artificial neural network. Technology Within TKI Water Technology’s Smart Water Systems theme, a method has been developed which processes…

Read more about On-site sensoring & monitoring
Enabling technologies
Hydrogenomics
Protecting bathing water by detecting blue-green algae using DNA techniques

Every summer in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe, bathing is forbidden or advised against in outdoor bathing locations because of the excessive growth of cyanobacteria. The reason…

Read more about Protecting bathing water by detecting blue-green algae using DNA techniques
Sustainability
Sustainable energy
Energy-efficient and sustainable Tergooi hospital

Tergooi is developing a new hospital as part of the redevelopment of the Monnikenberg country estate to the east of Hilversum. The hospital is part of the supraregional health-care park that is…

Read more about Energy-efficient and sustainable Tergooi hospital
Enabling technologies
Future-proof networks
Calorics

The temperature of water in the distribution network is influenced by the weather, the surroundings and the soil. Climate change and urbanisation will also in the future possibly lead to excessive warming of the drinking water. Water…

Read more about Calorics
Enabling technologies
Innovative water treatment technologies
NOMixed

In 2014, PWN designed, built and put into operation a new water treatment process (Andijk III), which makes use of SIX® [an innovative anion exchange (AIX) process] and CeraMac® (an innovative ceramic ultrafiltration membrane process). The removal…

Read more about NOMixed
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
Application of drinking water sludge to phosphorus-rich soils to favour nature development

Species rich vegetation generally develops on nutrient poor soils. On former agricultural land, in which phosphorus availability levels are high because of years of fertilisation, the development of…

Read more about Application of drinking water sludge to phosphorus-rich soils to favour nature development
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
Application of granular ferric (hydr)oxide for arsenic and phosphorus removal

The production of drinking water generates iron sludge as a residual. The iron sludge contains ferric (hydr)oxides, which are able to adsorb substances such as arsenic and phosphorus.…

Read more about Application of granular ferric (hydr)oxide for arsenic and phosphorus removal
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
Power-to-Protein: desk study (phase 1)

The supply of sufficient food, energy and water present huge challenges worldwide. There is no obvious universal solution. Rather, what will be needed are local, situation-oriented tailored solutions, based in part on…

Read more about Power-to-Protein: desk study (phase 1)
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
High-value reuse of lime pellets from drinking water production

About half of the drinking water in the Netherlands is softened in pellet reactors. This technology generates a residual in the form of lime pellets, which consist of…

Read more about High-value reuse of lime pellets from drinking water production
Enabling technologies
Hydrogenomics
Exploring the potential of the qPCR technique in biological wastewater treatment

Technology Within today’s wastewater treatment practice most attention is focused on achieving extensive and stable biological nutrient removal in the activated sludge process, including a stable biological phosphorus…

Read more about Exploring the potential of the qPCR technique in biological wastewater treatment
Health
Biological activity
Biological sulphate reduction in wastewater treatment

The sludge line accounts for about one-quarter of total wastewater treatment costs. Minimising the volume of excess sludge would therefore lead to considerable cost savings. Sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB)…

Read more about Biological sulphate reduction in wastewater treatment
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
Removing H2S from biogas using granular iron(hydr)oxide

Aquafer is a sludge consisting of ferric oxide/ferric hydroxide, which is a residual of drinking water treatment processes. Reststoffenunie (now AquaMinerals) looks after the disposals of the aquafer…

Read more about Removing H2S from biogas using granular iron(hydr)oxide
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
Sustainable airport cities

This TKI project is meant to showcase how different sectors can strengthen each other in the process of increasing the sustainability of their own sector – a win-win concept – through the application of innovative technologies originating…

Read more about Sustainable airport cities
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
Production and application of granular aquafer

Every year in the Netherlands about 95,000 tons of aquafer is generated (62,000 tons of liquid aquafer and 33,000 tons of dewatered aquafer). Reststoffenunie (now AquaMinerals) disposes of this water company residual…

Read more about Production and application of granular aquafer
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
Effluent reuse – Harnaschpolder

Technology The greenhouse horticultural sector in the Netherlands requires large quantities of high-quality irrigation water at an attractive rate. This project examined the possibilities of storing treated effluent in the subsurface, and then using it for greenhouse…

Read more about Effluent reuse – Harnaschpolder
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
Effluent reuse – TOM Dinteloord

The successful realisation of the greenhouse horticulture area of Nieuw Prinsenland (Dinteloord) requires that the supply of irrigation water be made sustainable. There is insufficient rainwater to meet the needs of the greenhouse horticulturalists, and there are…

Read more about Effluent reuse – TOM Dinteloord
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
Effluent reuse – MDR in the water cycle

In the ‘Effluent reuse – MDR in de waterketen’ (Effluent reuse – MDR in the water cycle) study the potential contribution of Modular Sustainable WWTP (MDR) to the optimisation of the water…

Read more about Effluent reuse – MDR in the water cycle
Sustainability
Sustainable resources
IWA – KWR Collaboratory on Resource Recovery

The quest for a circular economy is becoming an increasingly important underlying principle in government policy. Resource recovery in the water cycle has a contribution to make: the recovery and useful application…

Read more about IWA – KWR Collaboratory on Resource Recovery

All projects ()

Experts

Geertje Pronk PhD
Scientific researcher Project manager
view profile
Geertje Pronk PhD

Scientific researcher Project manager

Geertje Pronk is an internationally minded soil scientist and biogeochemist with research experience in the Netherlands, Germany, Australia and Canada. At KWR she works as a programme manager and researcher.…

030-6069634

geertje.pronk@kwrwater.nl

06-15183016

view profile
Tim van der Mast
Communications consultant
view profile
Tim van der Mast

Communications consultant

As communications advisor, Tim van der Mast is responsible for KWR's online communications. KWR's corporate website but also various project websites have been developed and are maintained under Tim's leadership.…

030-6069561

tim.van.der.mast@kwrwater.nl

view profile
Kees Roest PhD BSc
Senior scientific researcher Programme coordinator TKI Water technology
view profile
Kees Roest PhD BSc

Senior scientific researcher Programme coordinator TKI Water technology

Kees Roest has worked at KWR since 2008 and was among the pioneers in KWR's wastewater research. On the Energy and Circular Systems team, he works on sustainable transitions, with…

030-6069531

Kees.Roest@kwrwater.nl

06-53197741

view profile

News

Blog

Circular Economy at IWA Copenhagen: experiences and reflections

08 November 2022 — IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition: a mouthful, but what a crazy experience! Full of enthusiasm, and curious…

Read more about Circular Economy at IWA Copenhagen: experiences and reflections
Water Sector

Limit for cold extraction from drinking water can be raised

24 October 2022 — Waternet applies aquathermia to recover cold from drinking water. With a view to the drinking water quality, the…

Read more about Limit for cold extraction from drinking water can be raised
Water Sector

Conclusive business case for circular application of powdered carbon

24 October 2022 — The high-value powdered carbon that Dunea uses in drinking water production can perfectly well be given a second…

Read more about Conclusive business case for circular application of powdered carbon
Blog

Presenting blue-green roofs in Bolzano

08 August 2022 — My first in-person conference in two years was the Smart and Sustainable Planning for Cities and Regions Conference…

Read more about Presenting blue-green roofs in Bolzano
Water Sector

Treatment sludge offers opportunities for the reuse or recycling of micronutrients

08 June 2022 — Zuiveringsslib biedt in het agro-voedsel-afvalsysteem de beste mogelijkheden om hergebruik of recycling van micronutriënten te verhogen. Dit staat…

Read more about Treatment sludge offers opportunities for the reuse or recycling of micronutrients
News

Financing earmarked from National Growth Fund to secure Dutch water availability

14 April 2022 — The Blue Motor consortium wants to invest heavily for ten years in the availability of water in the…

Read more about Financing earmarked from National Growth Fund to secure Dutch water availability
Blog

Data-acquisition for HT-ATES design combined with geothermal drilling

24 February 2022 — 15 months in, the first data-acquisition drilling was performed to research the potential of the underground for subsurface…

Read more about Data-acquisition for HT-ATES design combined with geothermal drilling
Blog

The water sector as a reliable supplier of commodities recovered from the water cycle

20 July 2021 — Water is probably the most circular resource on earth. So it’s hardly surprising that the water sector has…

Read more about The water sector as a reliable supplier of commodities recovered from the water cycle
News

Pilot starts with innovative technology for treating slaughterhouse wastewater

15 July 2021 — After successful bench-scale tests with an innovative anaerobic SBR (sequencing batch reactor) technology (AnSBR) for complex wastewater streams,…

Read more about Pilot starts with innovative technology for treating slaughterhouse wastewater
News

Tips for flower bulb cultivation to prepare for zero emissions

09 July 2021 — Emissions of pesticides from agriculture and horticulture will have to be virtually eliminated by 2030. The TKI project…

Read more about Tips for flower bulb cultivation to prepare for zero emissions
News

CoRe technology pilot in Roermond now processes 2 m3 of wastewater per hour

29 June 2021 — In Roermond a CoRe pilot installation is now producing a stream of very clean water from 2 m3…

Read more about CoRe technology pilot in Roermond now processes 2 m3 of wastewater per hour
Blog

Arsenate removal from drinking water by application of pelletized iron(hydr)oxides

10 June 2021 — The aim of the TKI Polishing Pellets project is to convert liquid iron sludge into granular pellets suitable…

Read more about Arsenate removal from drinking water by application of pelletized iron(hydr)oxides
News

It can be done: processing organic kitchen waste from multi-storey buildings sustainably using the sewer system

04 June 2021 — Municipal authorities want to process kitchen waste in sustainable, high-grade, ways in order to contribute to the circular…

Read more about It can be done: processing organic kitchen waste from multi-storey buildings sustainably using the sewer system
News

Learning together in the fight against microplastics

04 June 2021 — Even if research cannot immediately demonstrate that a technology works in practice, the TKI approach pays off. This…

Read more about Learning together in the fight against microplastics
News

Successful fat elimination with no adverse effects on wastewater treatment

11 March 2021 — Households, businesses and horeca in the Netherlands are still flushing too much fat into the sewer system. Even…

Read more about Successful fat elimination with no adverse effects on wastewater treatment
News

Four water technology projects honoured within PPP call for Agriculture, Water and Food

23 November 2020 — De PPP (Public-Private Partnership) call for Agriculture, Water and Food has resulted in four projects in which TKI…

Read more about Four water technology projects honoured within PPP call for Agriculture, Water and Food
Water Sector

CoRe pilot underway in Roermond: the next generation of wastewater treatment

05 October 2020 — Following successful clean-water tests at the KWR Water Research Institute in Nieuwegein, on 29 September the new CoRe…

Read more about CoRe pilot underway in Roermond: the next generation of wastewater treatment
News

Advanced research on smart handling of water in City Nieuwegein

22 September 2020 — On 17 September, the governance kick-off meeting for TKI Circular Water in the City took place in Nieuwegein.…

Read more about Advanced research on smart handling of water in City Nieuwegein
News

Jantienne van der Meij and Anne Mathilde Hummelen, joint directors TKI Water Technology

03 February 2020 — Since 1 January 2020, Jantienne van der Meij-Kranendonk (WaterCampus) and Anne Mathilde Hummelen (KWR) have, as a duo,…

Read more about Jantienne van der Meij and Anne Mathilde Hummelen, joint directors TKI Water Technology
Water Sector

Consortium researches impact of ‘Bubble Barrier’ on microplastics in treated wastewater

06 May 2019 — A research consortium, comprising the water utility PWN, Hollands Noorderkwartier Water Authority (HHNK), The Great Bubble Barrier and…

Read more about Consortium researches impact of ‘Bubble Barrier’ on microplastics in treated wastewater
Water Sector

CatchAmed binds pharmaceuticals in the toilet

01 April 2019 — Increasing attention is being paid to methods for the removal of pharmaceuticals from wastewater. In the TKI programme’s…

Read more about CatchAmed binds pharmaceuticals in the toilet
News

Bulb cultivation sector targets zero farmyard emissions

22 January 2019 — In the Waterproof Flower-Bulb Cultivation project, bulb cultivation stakeholders are working together on the development and testing of…

Read more about Bulb cultivation sector targets zero farmyard emissions
News

Cool heads and dry feet thanks to blue-green roof

01 November 2018 — At the annual National Delta Congress, outgoing Delta Programme Commissioner, Wim Kuijken, shined the spotlight on Smartroof 2.0.…

Read more about Cool heads and dry feet thanks to blue-green roof
News

Bernard Voortman earns doctorate on invisible water loss

21 September 2018 — Former KWR researcher Bernard Voortman has earned his doctorate from VU University Amsterdam for his thesis on ‘Evaporation…

Read more about Bernard Voortman earns doctorate on invisible water loss
News

‘Power to X’ project brings residential districts that run on sunshine and rain a step closer

24 July 2018 — A residential district can use solar power to meet enough of its residents’ energy, heating and mobility needs.…

Read more about ‘Power to X’ project brings residential districts that run on sunshine and rain a step closer
News

Call on Indonesian attendees for cooperation

24 July 2018 — Jakarta recently played host to the seminar ‘Legionella risk, regulations & analysis’, which aimed to get its Indonesian…

Read more about Call on Indonesian attendees for cooperation
News

NL-Fish Population Scan determines species composition of fish populations

14 June 2018 — The presence or absence of fish species provides information about the quality of the water. Within the ‘Monitoring…

Read more about NL-Fish Population Scan determines species composition of fish populations
News

Research into metals in the water cycle

05 June 2018 — The focus of water treatment is increasingly shifting to the recovery of raw materials, partly stimulated by the…

Read more about Research into metals in the water cycle
Blog

Synchrotron-light elucidating structure of iron & manganese oxides

24 May 2018 — After celebrating the news that our extensive research proposal was accepted, the rewarded 96 hours of sample analysis…

Read more about Synchrotron-light elucidating structure of iron & manganese oxides
News

Better reuse of salt and water from waste flows

18 December 2017 — Converting salty waste flows from ion exchangers regenerate into new products and saving energy at the same time…

Read more about Better reuse of salt and water from waste flows
Blog

Kees Roest speaks at Fosfaatspagaat Symposium

22 November 2017 — On Sunday, 19 November the Fosfaatspagaat Symposium was held in the Metaal Kathedraal in Utrecht. The event was…

Read more about Kees Roest speaks at Fosfaatspagaat Symposium
News

TKI Water Technology Executive Renewal

14 November 2017 — Within the Top Sector Alliance for Knowledge and Innovation (TKI) Water Technology programme, businesses, knowledge institutions – including…

Read more about TKI Water Technology Executive Renewal
News

Sulphate-reducing bacteria also work in WWTP

17 October 2017 — KWR, Paques and Delfluent Services BV have conducted a pilot test with sulphate-reducing bacteria under winter conditions at…

Read more about Sulphate-reducing bacteria also work in WWTP
News

Evaluation of completed TKI Water Technology projects

09 October 2017 — What have the TKI Water Technology projects achieved so far? What impression do the participants have about…

Read more about Evaluation of completed TKI Water Technology projects
News

Innovative blue-green roof cools the city and prevents flooding

08 September 2017 — On Friday, 8 September, the innovative, blue-green SmartRoof 2.0 was opened at the Marineterrein in Amsterdam. The hot,…

Read more about Innovative blue-green roof cools the city and prevents flooding
Blog

Ruud, Martin and Jan Jaap @ European Geoscience Union

01 May 2017 — KWR gave one oral presentation, presented several posters and organized a session at the European Geosciences Union in…

Read more about Ruud, Martin and Jan Jaap @ European Geoscience Union
News

Water and Horticulture Top Sectors sign ‘Circular Netherlands’ collaboration agreement

21 March 2017 — Loek Hermans, the standard bearer of the Horticulture & Propagation Materials Top Sector, and Hans Huis in ’t…

Read more about Water and Horticulture Top Sectors sign ‘Circular Netherlands’ collaboration agreement
News

The connecting role of water in the circular economy

24 February 2017 — As of 21 March 2017, the TKI Water Technology partners will be present at the Aqua Trade Fair Netherlands…

Read more about The connecting role of water in the circular economy
Water Sector

Nature4Life: National knowledge agenda for research into biodiversity, ecology and evolution

06 February 2017 — On 1 February, State Secretary Sander Dekker was handed the first copy of the national ‘Nature4Life Biodiversity Knowledge…

Read more about Nature4Life: National knowledge agenda for research into biodiversity, ecology and evolution
News

Unique Power-to-Protein pilot begins at Enschede WWTP

17 January 2017 — The TKI Water Technology Power-to-Protein project involves the fixation of ammonium and carbon dioxide in the form of…

Read more about Unique Power-to-Protein pilot begins at Enschede WWTP
News

Kamp wants to extend successful TKI premium scheme another five years

26 October 2016 — The TKI premiums have led to a much larger than expected private contribution from the business community to…

Read more about Kamp wants to extend successful TKI premium scheme another five years
News

INTEREST: rules of thumb for costs and returns of sensor networks in drinking water distribution

10 October 2016 — Sensor networks allow us to monitor drinking water more comprehensively and detect contaminants more effectively. However, we need…

Read more about INTEREST: rules of thumb for costs and returns of sensor networks in drinking water distribution
News

Rapid optical detection of enterococci in surface water possible

23 September 2016 — A rapid method for enterococci detection in surface water has been developed which could contribute to more efficient…

Read more about Rapid optical detection of enterococci in surface water possible
News

Data-analysis useful complement to physical investigation

05 April 2016 — Within TKI Water Technology’s Smart Water Systems theme, the drinking water company Brabant Water, working with three knowledge…

Read more about Data-analysis useful complement to physical investigation
News

Monitoring fish populations, migration and water quality through environmental DNA

02 March 2016 — This spring research gets underway into an innovative manner, through ‘fish DNA’ in the water, of monitoring the…

Read more about Monitoring fish populations, migration and water quality through environmental DNA
News

TKI Water Technology and engineering consultancies discuss market potential of innovations

15 January 2016 — How can we make sure that as many of the innovations as possible produced by TKI Water Technology, part…

Read more about TKI Water Technology and engineering consultancies discuss market potential of innovations
Article

KWR, Vitens and Haitjema develop new drilling technique

17 December 2015 — Soil drilling company Haitjema, water company Vitens and KWR have together, within TKI Water Technology, developed a drilling…

Read more about KWR, Vitens and Haitjema develop new drilling technique
Article

TKI Water Technology knowledge partners intensify collaboration

28 September 2015 — In 2015, the TKI Water Technology knowledge partners intensified their collaboration. They launched a new, joint website and…

Read more about TKI Water Technology knowledge partners intensify collaboration
Article

Iron and lime sludge applied to test plots in Bloemkampen nature area

03 September 2015 — Since 27 August 2015, a Natuurmonumenten information board at the Bloemkampen nature area (municipality of Nunspeet) tells visitors…

Read more about Iron and lime sludge applied to test plots in Bloemkampen nature area

All news items ()

Our expertises

Innovation & Valorisation

Collaboration

TKI Water Technology

Read more