Knowledge for the drinking water challenges of tomorrow

KWR’s ambition is to equip drinking water utilities with the knowledge and practical tools required for a sustainable, safe and future-proof drinking water supply.

Our partners

Within KWR Waterwijs and WiCE, drinking water utilities and KWR work together to develop reliable scientific knowledge, innovations and technologies for the drinking water sector. We translate this knowledge into practice, enabling drinking water utilities and partner organisations to make well-informed decisions.

The research also generates valuable insights for knowledge professionals across the water sector, stakeholders of drinking water utilities, public authorities and society at large.

During the biennial Waterwijs Week, professionals from across the drinking water sector come together to share knowledge and work on the societal challenges of today and tomorrow.

Impact: safe and affordable drinking water for a healthy and sustainable society

The drinking water sector contributes to a healthy society, safe and affordable drinking water, a strong economy and responsible water use, supported by sustainable natural ecosystems — now and in the future.

Drinking water supply also drives technological innovation, informs policy, raises awareness and contributes to education and science, as well as to the development of the water professionals of the future.

Through the KWR Waterwijs and WiCE (Water in the Circular Economy) research programmes, we develop knowledge and practical tools that drinking water utilities can apply directly in strategic planning, daily operations and their wider contribution to society.

What we do

• Safe drinking water

The quality of drinking water sources is under increasing pressure from contaminants originating from agriculture, industry, households and other sources. We investigate the impact of emerging contaminants and determine what additional measures drinking water utilities may need to continue producing and supplying safe drinking water, now and in the future.
We also develop rapid measurement methods that enable utilities to quickly and reliably assess whether drinking water is safe.

• Responsible drinking water use

Climate change and urbanisation are increasingly creating an imbalance between water demand and water availability. This makes responsible water use more important than ever.
We investigate the role of drinking water within the overall water balance and how drinking water management can help restore balance within the water system. An important part of this is gaining a better understanding of the perspectives, choices and behaviour of water users.

• Smart and resilient drinking water infrastructure

The largest capital assets of drinking water utilities are largely hidden underground: drinking water mains, networks and reservoirs.
We investigate how urbanisation and the energy transition affect drinking water infrastructure and water quality. We develop computational models to optimise the design of drinking water networks and create digital twins that combine data, sensors, models and artificial intelligence to support more effective infrastructure management and better-informed decision-making.

• Transitions in water, climate, energy and the circular economy

A large part of the work carried out by drinking water utilities is influenced by societal developments, new technologies and other stakeholders. Within the WiCE (Water in the Circular Economy) research programme, we develop knowledge about systems, transitions and values to support drinking water utilities and partner organisations in addressing transition challenges related to water availability, climate, energy supply and the circular economy.
Through research into organisational and area-based processes, we develop knowledge and practical tools that help professionals respond effectively to these complex challenges.

Expertise and knowledge domains

The challenges facing drinking water utilities are complex and require close collaboration across disciplines, fields of expertise and stakeholder groups.
Within KWR Waterwijs and WiCE, we draw on KWR’s full range of knowledge domains to develop new knowledge, innovations and practical solutions. At the same time, we continue to strengthen the specialist expertise on which the drinking water sector depends.

Co-makership

KWR and drinking water utilities jointly develop reliable knowledge to address the challenges facing the drinking water sector.
Research questions are defined together, and drinking water utilities frequently take an active role in carrying out the research. This ensures that the results remain closely aligned with practice and that new knowledge can be applied effectively.