Water Reuse Europe Activities
Click on the pictures below to find out more about our activities.
Water Reuse Europe Second Knowledge Exchange Day | Brussels, October 2025
Water Reuse Europe (WRE) hosted its third Knowledge Exchange Day in Brussels, Belgium on 21st October 2025.
The event welcomed leaders of research projects on water reuse from across the continent, hence providing a great opportunity for participants to catch-up on the leading-edge research that is taking place across the continent. Research topics covered all aspects of water reuse, from agricultural and industrial application to indirect potable reuse.
- Read more about our 2025 Knowledge Exchange day in Brussels here.
- Members of Water Reuse Europe can access the event’s proceedings in the members area of our website.
Onsite Industrial Reuse | May 2025
On May 22, 2025, Water Reuse Europe organised jointly with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, a webinar on on-site industrial water reuse.
Water scarcity is an increasingly pressing global challenge, with industries accounting for approximately 20% of global freshwater consumption. As demand for water continues to rise—projected to increase by 55% by 2050 due to population growth, climate change and industrial expansion—businesses must adopt sustainable strategies for managing water use.
Industrial water reuse presents a practical solution, with advanced treatment technologies enabling up to 90% of wastewater to be recycled for manufacturing, cooling and other processes. This not only reduces reliance on freshwater sources but also minimises environmental impact and operational costs. Studies show that industries implementing water reuse can achieve cost savings of 30–60% on water procurement and disposal. Our webinar’s speakers included:If you want to know more about our speakers, see here.
Water Reuse Europe members can access the webinar recording and presentation files in our members area.
Third Conference and Exhibition on Innovations in Water Reuse | Les Sables d'Olonne, September 2024
The third Water Reuse Europe annual conference and exhibition on innovations in Water Reuse took place in Les Sables-d’Olonne, on the 25th and 26th of September 2024. Once again, what has now become a not-to-be-missed event on the water reuse agenda, provided a fantastic opportunity to get tup to speed with the latest advancements in water reuse across sectors but also across European countries and beyond. The conference brought together 100 participants and exhibitors for two days of knowledge exchange and collaboration. It showcased cutting-edge reuse applications while offering numerous networking opportunities, hence enabling delegates to connect with leaders, colleagues, sponsors, and exhibitors in the water reuse community.
- Read more about our 2024 Conference on Innovations in Water Reuse here.
- Members of Water Reuse Europe can access the event’s proceedings in the members area of our website.
Exploring Public Perception of Water Reuse | January 2025
As water scarcity and sustainability gain importance, understanding public attitudes toward water reuse is crucial for successful implementation.
On January 23, 2025, Water Reuse Europe hosted a webinar exploring public perceptions of water reuse. The event provided participants with an opportunity to learn from experts about the challenges associated with public acceptance and how perception influences water reuse initiatives worldwide. If you want to know more about our speakers, you can consult our speakers here. Our webinar’s speakers included:Read more here.
Water Reuse Europe members can access the webinar recording and presentation files in our members area.
What is the place of decentralised wastewater treatment for water reuse in Europe | February 2024
On the 7th February 2024, Water Reuse Europe brought together experts on decentralised treatment from across Europe and beyond to discuss drivers for considering this option, innovative strategies and technologies, benefits and challenges, regulatory issues, costs implications and overall shed some light on how decentralised treatment can play a role in the development of the European water reuse sector.
Our webinar’s speakers included:Read more here
Water Reuse Europe members can access the webinar recording and presentation files in our members area.
Water Reuse Europe Innovation Prize 2023
The Water Reuse Europe Innovation Prize 2023 was awarded at our Knowledge Exchange Day, which took place on the 20 Oct 2023, in Brussels, Belgium to The Catalan Water Agency (Spain) for their scheme “Indirect potable water reuse in the Llobregat river, Barcelona”.
Water Reuse Europe Second Knowledge Exchange Day | Brussels, October 2023
Water Reuse Europe (WRE) hosted its second Knowledge Exchange Day in Brussels, Belgium on 20th October 2023. The event welcomed leaders of research projects on water reuse from across the continent, hence providing a great opportunity for participants to catch-up on the leading-edge research that is taking place across the continent. Research topics covered all aspects of water reuse, from agricultural and industrial application to indirect potable reuse.
- Read more about our 2023 Knowledge Exchange day in Brussels here.
- Members of Water Reuse Europe can access the event’s proceedings in the members area of our website.
Webinar on Agricultural Water Resue in Europe | June 2023
On the 27th June 2023, Water Reuse Europe and Water Europe – through the expertise of its Working Group on Water and Sustainable Agrifood Systems – brought together experts in the agricultural water reuse sector from across Europe, to discuss the status of water reuse through examples of good practices, the challenges faced to comply with the EU Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2020/741) on minimum requirements for water reuse coming into force on the 23rd of June 2023, and opportunities to further encourage circular approaches in the agricultural sector
Our webinar’s speakers included:Read more here
Water Reuse Europe members can access the webinar recording and presentation files in our members area.
Second Conference on Innovations in Water Reuse | Girona, September 2022
Water Reuse Europe (WRE) hosted its second Conference and Exhibition in the historic and lively City of Girona, Spain, on 20 and 21 September 2022. Ninety-five participants and exhibitors from over ten countries attended WRE’s first in-person event since COVID-19 took over the world in March 2020. Three years in the making, WRE was finally able to bring together water reuse professionals in the exceptional city of three rivers, Girona. The two-day conference was a remarkable event which allowed participants to refresh their existing knowledge and also learn about leading edge applications from across the continent and further afield; catch-up on the latest innovations across science, technology and governance across Europe and beyond; and more importantly, offered plenty of networking opportunities to interact with leaders in the reuse community, friends and colleagues as well as sponsors and exhibitors, hence creating wider opportunities for water reuse across Europe.
- Read more about our 2022 conference in Girona here.
- Members of Water Reuse Europe can access the conference proceedings in the members area.
Webinar on Governance Models for Water Reuse In Europe | July 2022
On the 5th July 2022, Water Reuse Europe brought together speakers from across Europe involved in the development and implementation of water reuse schemes to discuss the governance models in place in their respective countries, the challenges associated with these, and how the concept of governance is decisive in success of any water reuse scheme.
Our webinar’s speakers included:Read more here
Water Reuse Europe members can access the webinar recording and presentation files in our members area.
Webinar on Industrial Reuse | January 2022
On the 28 JAN 2022, Water Reuse Europe organised a webinar on Industrial Reuse. The aim of this third webinar was to gauge the status of industrial reuse in Europe and discuss opportunities for further growth and challenges to address to further encourage circular approaches in the industrial sector.
Our webinar’s speakers included:The webinar also featured presentation from the three finalists of Water Reuse Europe’s Innovation Prize 2021 and the winner announcement, Águas do Tejo Atlântico for their VIRA – Turn concepts and minds.
For more information about this webinar, please click on the image.
Water Reuse Europe members can access the webinar recording and presentation files in our members area.
WRE Award 2021
Congratulations to Águas do Tejo Atlântico who won the Water Reuse Europe Innovation Prize 2021 for the their entry project VIRA – Turn Concept and minds, Portugal.
Congratulations also to our two other finalists. The online platform Reusodeagua.org, (Brazil/Portugal) and the EcoLoop Sustainable Showering technology developed by Flow Loop, Denmark.
WRE 2021 Webinar
On the 26th of June, Water Reuse Europe and the American WateReuse Association brought together speakers from the USA and Europe from the USA and Europe who are involved in implemented – or are planning – potable reuse schemes to learn from their respective experiences in the development of such schemes with a specific emphasis on regulatory approaches, risk management and communication; and to discuss what is needed to enable wider adoption of potable reuse across Europe’s territories.
The webinar, chaired by Water Reuse Europe director Emmanuel Van Houtte (Geologist, IWVA, BELGIUM) and WateReuse Board of Directors member Craig W. Lichty P.E. (Vice President, Client Director, Black & Veatch, USA), was a real success, bringing together more than 60 persons from around the world involved in water reuse and more specifically in the implementation – or are planning – of potable reuse schemes.More information on the webinar programme and our speakers are accessible here by clicking on the image.
Water Reuse Europe members can access the webinar recording and presentation files in our members area.
WRE 2020 Webinar
On the 5th of June 2020, the Official Journal of the European Commission published the first European Regulation on Water Reuse (Regulation (EU) 2020/741) on minimum requirements for water reuse. A few months after its implementation (in December 2020), Water Reuse Europe organised a webinar to gauge the impact of this new legislative tool on agriculture from end-users’ perspectives.
WRE Award 2019
Congratulations to the Mörbylånga Drinking Water Treatment Plant who won the Water Reuse Europe Innovation Prize 2019! Congratulations also to our two other finalists Hydraloop and FGWRS for their innovative greywater recycling solutions!
Knowledge Exchange Event 2019
Water Reuse Europe hosted its first knowledge exchange event in Lille (France) on Monday 21st October 2019. Forty delegates from 13 countries in Europe attended the event. Coming from various backgrounds including Universities/Research centres (9); Utilities (18); Private companies, solutions providers, SMEs (9), Associations (3) and municipalities (1), the participants had the opportunity to advance their awareness of leading-edge research around water reuse and resource recovery in Europe through presentations from 11 EU funded projects.
Water Reuse Europe Review 2018
Water Reuse Europe is very pleased to offer free access to its latest review of the water reuse sector in Europe. The review paints a picture of the current status of the water reuse sector in Europe, illustrating its growth over the past decade, its strengths and potential.
WRE Award 2017
The Water Reuse Europe “Most Innovative Water Reuse Scheme in Europe 2017" winner was announced as Aquabio Ltd for their water reuse solution at Bakkavor’s Cucina Sano site in Boston, Lincolnshire, UK. The installation, which became fully operative in December 2016, enables more than 80% of water used to be safely recycled. technical visits including to the world renowned Torreele Water Reclamation Scheme for indirect potable reuse.
WRE Conference and Exhibition on Innovations in Water Reuse 2017
WRE’s First Conference and Exhibition took place in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Bruges. Designated as a World Heritage Site by Unesco for its medieval heritage, the “Little Venice of the North” was the perfect location to bring together companies and organisations active in the water reuse sector for a two day event packed with presentations from prestigious speakers, discussions, and technical visits including to the world renowned Torreele Water Reclamation Scheme for indirect potable reuse.
