Related Projects Driving Water Innovation

The safe and affordable supply of drinking water in the EU under the pressure of climate change is a key priority. With rising water temperatures and increasing heavy rainfall events, higher amounts of organic substances and microorganisms will also be present in raw water. Well-established processes that have so far guaranteed high drinking water quality will have to be changed and adapted, in particular processes for disinfection and for removal of organic substances. The EU-funded SafeCREW project will develop new methods for monitoring, quality assessment, treatment and distribution of drinking water. Moreover, it will derive guidelines for drinking water management and integrated risk assessment for water suppliers and authorities. One focus will be the investigation of previously unknown disinfection by-products and the further characterisation of already known ones and their formation.

What happens when disinfectants like chlorine interact with natural organic materials in water? It results in disinfection by-products (DBPs) such as chlorinated and bromated compounds. The EU-funded H2OforAll project will develop fast, cost-effective and accurate DBP sensor monitoring devices and model the spread and fate of these contaminants through drinking water distribution systems. It will also study DBP toxicity and environmental impact and propose measures to safeguard the drinking water chain. Furthermore, the project will develop innovative water treatment methods to remove DBPs or prevent their formation during water disinfection. H2OforAll will produce a central knowledge base with reliable data on the occurrence of DBPs in Europe and their effects.

When chlorine is used to disinfect water to prevent disease, disinfection by-products (DBPs) are formed. Innovative tools in water quality management in Europe can prove useful. The EU-funded intoDBP project will develop and apply innovative and cost-effective sensors along with analytical methods to expand knowledge on water quality and DBP precursors. intoDBP focuses on pollution and risks related to DBPs targeting catchment protection and forecasting, transformative drinking water treatment and real-time monitoring. Results will feed into numerical forecasting tools to predict source water changes and formulate climate change adaptation pathways at catchment and treatment scales. intoDBP will also engage society through surveys to analyse exposure to DBPs, collect data about catchment protection initiatives, create awareness and promote sustainable consumer behaviour.

Access to clean drinking water is a fundamental human right, yet it faces unprecedented challenges from climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure. ToDrinQ is an EU-funded project advancing water systems to ensure high-quality drinking water across Europe.

Implemented by a consortium of 16 organizations coordinated by Delft University of Technology, the project aims to strengthen the resilience and adaptability of drinking water systems by developing a toolkit of innovative technologies, real-time sensing, water quality monitoring, and interoperable decision tools.

ToDrinQ supports the implementation of the revised Drinking Water Directive, enhances scientific and technical knowledge, and minimizes micropollutants, pathogens, and disinfection by-products (DBPs) in water.

Key outcomes include implementing preventive and mitigating strategies against climate change impacts, effective risk assessment, and raising awareness about advanced water treatment processes. ToDrinQ also aims to boost the EU water sector's competitiveness and contribute to the EU Green Deal and the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6.