European Water4ALL projects move forward with Dutch-backed research to improve reuse, recovery and long-term water security

European Water4ALL projects move forward with Dutch-backed research to improve reuse, recovery and long-term water security

(IN BRIEF) The Water4ALL Partnership is launching its third funding round under Water for a Circular Economy, with NWO awarding nearly €3.4 million to Dutch-linked proposals. Twenty-seven international projects have been selected, including ten involving Dutch research teams, with work spanning advanced monitoring systems, aquifer recharge, pollutant recovery, saline wastewater treatment, bioplastic innovation, nature-based urban drainage, nutrient recycling, and digital-twin guided industrial reuse. These projects aim to strengthen long-term water security, reduce freshwater demand, promote circular resource use, and support European sustainability policy development. Full project details are available through Water4ALL.

(PRESS RELEASE) THE HAGUE, 1-Dec-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Water4ALL Partnership has confirmed that a new series of funded research initiatives under the theme Water for a Circular Economy will soon begin, marking the official launch of its third programme round. Nearly €3.4 million in support has been awarded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) to help accelerate work on long-term water security and sustainable resource use across agricultural, industrial, and urban sectors. The call emphasises the role of water as a limited yet critical resource—vital not only for drinking, but also for economic activity—and prioritises innovations in water reuse and circular management strategies.

A total of 27 projects have received approval through Water4ALL, with two proposals led by Dutch principal applicants and eight including Dutch co-applicants within wider international consortia. Research groups from several countries will collaborate on technological development, policy guidance, and practical implementation to strengthen resilience and reduce water waste. Examples include a Hanze University of Applied Sciences initiative focused on water efficiency in the built environment, and a TU Delft-supported project aiming to recover and reuse process water from the paper industry.

The full list of granted projects reveals the breadth of research supported, ranging from advanced monitoring technologies to circular wastewater recovery and nature-based solutions.

AQUAWISE – Advanced Pollutant Tracking and Resource Circularity in Water Systems

Dutch applicants: Dr. Huu Loc Ho (Wageningen University & Research), Dr. Gerald Corzo Perez (IHE Delft)
AQUAWISE addresses increasing strain on global water systems caused by pollution and resource loss. The project will develop an AI-enabled monitoring platform that integrates uncrewed vehicles (aerial, surface, and underwater), remote sensing, and economic modelling to detect pollutants and recover resources. Deployed initially in Greece, the system will identify contaminant sources, evaluate recovery potential, and assess economic feasibility. AQUAWISE aims to provide scalable, technology-driven circular water solutions transferable to other regions facing similar pollution challenges.

AquiCirc – Managed Aquifer Recharge for a Circular Water Future

Dutch main applicant: Dr. Reynold Chow (Wageningen University & Research)
AquiCirc advances Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) as a solution to water scarcity by reinjecting treated wastewater, rainwater, or stormwater back into aquifers. The project focuses on water-stressed regions across the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Tunisia, and South Africa. A major challenge lies in emerging contaminants—such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals—that traditional treatment cannot easily remove. AquiCirc will improve MAR safety through low-cost purification, monitoring tools, and predictive modelling, aiming to deliver scalable solutions for long-term aquifer health and circular water resource security.

C2C – From Contaminant to Commodity: Arsenic Recovery in Groundwater Systems

Dutch applicants: Dr. Annemerel Mol (Wageningen University & Research), Ir. Tim van Dijk (Brabant Water)
Europe continues to rely heavily on groundwater containing arsenic concentrations above WHO guidelines. Simultaneously, arsenic has become a critical raw material for high-tech components used in electronics and clean energy technologies. C2C repositions arsenic not only as a contaminant to remove, but as a valuable recoverable resource. The project will develop methods to extract, process, and repurpose arsenic from water treatment waste, supporting cleaner groundwater, improved sludge management, and a new domestic material supply pipeline that strengthens European semiconductor production.

CEPHAWA – Water Recovery and Biocomposite Production from Cellulose-Rich Industrial Effluents

Dutch applicant: Dr. Robbert Kleerebezem (TU Delft)
CEPHAWA tackles wastewater from pulp and paper industries by converting cellulose-rich effluents into biodegradable PHA-cellulose composite materials, reducing disposal needs while creating new manufacturing value streams. The programme aims to increase industrial water reuse and support circular production pathways, simultaneously lowering freshwater consumption and generating sustainable bio-materials. The project is expected to guide policy formation and help industries transition to more profitable, environmentally compatible operations.

CURE-Nbs – Circular Water Solutions for Urban Resilience Using Nature-Based Systems

Dutch main applicant: Dr. Floris Boogaard (Hanze University of Applied Sciences)
Urbanisation and climate change are intensifying water stress in cities. CURE-Nbs will develop nature-based urban systems—such as integrated drainage and reuse networks—to create climate-resilient water cycles. The project combines NbS engineering with urban planning frameworks to support widespread uptake of circular water solutions. Outcomes are expected to deliver scalable designs, improve water quality, reduce runoff and pollution, and strengthen long-term urban sustainability.

eLitre – Electrochemical Nitrogen Recovery for Sustainable Fertilizer Production

Dutch applicant: Dr. Ana Somoza-Tornos (TU Delft)
eLitre aims to convert nitrate-polluted wastewater into ammonia using electrochemical and photobiological processing pathways. By transforming excess agricultural runoff into raw materials for fertilizers, the system supports nutrient circularity, reduces eutrophication pressure, and lowers the carbon footprint of fertilizer production. The project includes economic and environmental modelling to evaluate implementation potential across farming, industrial and municipal water networks.

Green4Grey – Decentralised Greywater Reuse Systems for Urban Water Circularity

Dutch applicant: Prof. Bige Tunçer (Eindhoven University of Technology)
Green4Grey focuses on decentralised greywater treatment technologies to support urban water reuse. The initiative addresses regulatory, technical, and social barriers that limit adoption and seeks to build practical systems that reduce fresh water withdrawals and improve resilience. Expected results include scalable treatment methods, improved public acceptance, and strengthened policymaking for future urban circularity frameworks.

In.CYCLE – Adaptive Industrial Wastewater Valorisation Through Digital-Twin Assisted Treatment

Dutch applicant: Dr. Anne Corine IJzer (Saxion University of Applied Sciences)
In.CYCLE develops an innovative treatment chain for highly polluted industrial effluents, supported by a digital-twin monitoring system for real-time adaptive optimisation. The approach aims to recover water, energy, and salinity-tolerant materials directly from effluents—supporting industrial circularity, reducing waste, and aligning treatment with EU sustainability and resource-recovery goals.

SaltRec – Integrated Resource Extraction from Saline Wastewaters

Dutch applicant: Dr. Dainis Sudmalis (Wageningen University & Research)
SaltRec targets saline wastewater streams from food, aquaculture, oil-and-gas, pulp, and chemical sectors. The project will create a holistic recovery chain to extract clean water, minerals, and high-value organic compounds, enabling resource recovery where traditional treatment often fails. The solution supports sustainable industrial transition, reduces discharge impact, and advances European circular processing strategies.

VALORBIO – Agrifood Wastewater-to-Bioplastic Conversion for Sustainable Packaging

Dutch applicant: Dr. Yuemei Lin (TU Delft)
VALORBIO proposes a closed-loop system that transforms agrifood wastewater into biodegradable bioplastics for packaging. By linking treatment, manufacturing, and biodegradation into one process, the project creates a circular production pathway with potential to reshape the packaging industry. The initiative emphasises carbon-reduced materials, waste-to-product value creation, and secure irrigation-grade water for reuse.

About European Partnerships

The European co-funded partnerships are part of Horizon Europe, the European programme for research and innovation (2021-2027). The partnerships focus on complex societal challenges and aim at real impact. The calls resulting from the European partnerships lead to thematic research.

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SOURCE: NWO