Ending 2024 on a High Note: Water Reuse Europe Conference Successfully Showcases Innovations in Water Reuse in Les Sables-d’olonne, France

The third Water Reuse Europe annual Conference and Exhibition on Innovation in Water Reuse took place in Les Sables-d’Olonne, on the 25th and 26th of September. 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.

Marie Raffin (WSP, UK) , chair of the Water Reuse Europe (WRE) Board of Directors, opened the event with an address that set the stage for dynamic discussions on groundbreaking water reuse practices and policies. She paved the way for an inspiring keynote by Christelle Pagotto (Veolia & Astee, France), Gaëlle Bulteau (CSTB, France), and Claire Forite (AMORCE, France), who explored the potential of non-traditional water sources in France, examining both opportunities and challenges. This keynote framed the critical issues around water recycling and reuse in France, spotlighting shared challenges that resonate across European institutions and industries. Adding a strategic perspective, Chloé Meyer from Bluefield Research shared insights into European trends, forward-looking forecasts, and innovative business models for municipal water reuse. The opening session also featured an unprecedented roundtable discussion with WRE directors Emmanuel van Houtte (Aquaduin, Belgium), Miquel Rovira Boixaderas (Eurecat, Spaons), and Marie Raffin, alongside member Charlotte Bockaert (Vito, Belgium). This panel tackled pressing regulatory topics in countries like Spain, France, and Belgium, with a focus on pollutant control—including PFAS—management of concentrate byproducts, and the vital role of research in establishing safe, effective reuse practices. In a follow-up session on agricultural applications, Frank Swartjes of National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (The Netherlands) shared an assessment framework for using treated urban wastewater in agriculture. Frank Swartjes was followed by presentations from Chrystelle Ayache (Veolia) on wastewater for vine irrigation and Bart Letterie (HZ University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands) on advancements in wastewater treatment for irrigation use.

Day 1 – Opening session featuring Marie Raffin (WSP, UK), Gaëlle Bulteau (CSTB, France) and a roundtable with WRE directors.

In the afternoon, the conference featured another standout session focused on the public health dimensions of water reuse. The session opened with a fantastic keynote by Kati Bell (Brown and Caldwell, USA), who explored California’s water reuse regulations and more specifically explained the state’s journey from indirect to direct potable reuse from a regulatory perspective. This was followed by a series of thought-provoking presentations, including Jean-François Loret (SUEZ, France) on health risk assessment in water reuse, Ulf Miehe (KWB, Germany) on class A validation monitoring and Windi Muziasari (Resistomap, Finland) who addressed the pressing issue of antimicrobial resistance in reused water.

Day 1 fFnisihing with networking  opportunities.

The first day of the conference concluded with a forward-thinking session on innovative water reuse solutions. Rémi Declercq (Ecofilae, France) opened with a keynote highlighting the transformative role of the circular economy in advancing water reuse practices. This was followed by industry-focused presentations, including Dirk Herold (Xylem, Germany) on the Xylem Activated Sludge Dynamic Filter, a new process for direct filtration of activated sludge for the production of high-quality effluent for reuse. Baptiste Mathon and Myriam Kellou (Treewater, France) then discussed emerging techniques such as electrochemical advanced oxidation for PFAS remediation, while Maria Lousada-Ferreira (KWR, The Netherlands) showcased pioneering technologies in resilient water reuse aimed at tackling climate change such as: digital tools for stakeholders’ engagement (Augmented Reality Apps); optimization of water and wastewater treatment technologies (real-time dashboards, with integrated advanced analytics); and more.

On the second day, the conference opened with a presentation by Denis Guilbert, Managing Director, and Julien Orsini, Project Manager at Vendée Eau, France, on the pioneering Jourdain Project for Indirect Potable Reuse. This four-year program, piloted and funded by WRE member Vendée Eau and public grants, aims to demonstrate the project’s effectiveness to all key stakeholders, including end-users, regulators, policymakers, and citizen groups. Following this, Mihaela Stefan of Trojan Technologies (Canada), Varsha Wylie of Southern Water (UK), and Jordi Molist from the Catalan Water Agency (Spain) showcased both the opportunities and challenges in water reuse for potable applications. Mihaela’s talk focused on UV/Chlorine Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP) for indirect potable reuse, tracing the evolution of this technology from theoretical groundwork to practical implementation. Varsha Wylie presented Southern Water’s new approach to augmenting the raw water supply in Hampshire—a water-stressed region facing potential shortages due to population growth and climate change. Jordi Molist concluded with an insightful presentation on the successful implementation of indirect potable reuse in Barcelona, which resulted from rigorous risk assessment and the early engagement of multiple stakeholders. Building on these lessons and advances in non-target screening techniques, the Catalan Water Agency has initiated two new indirect potable reuse projects near Barcelona, with additional projects planned or under consideration.

To wrap up a day and a half of insightful presentations, the spotlight turned to industrial water reuse, with Angela Lorena Pinzón Pardo (Nalco Water, The Netherlands) opening the session. Her talk, titled Shifting Focus to Sustainable Growth, reviewed essential perspectives on sustainable water management and the opportunities it presents for industry. The session continued with a presentation by Niclas Poertner on behalf of Robert Lutze (EnviroChemie, Germany), which examined the impact of pretreatment on membrane performance in industrial wastewater reuse and recycling—a crucial consideration for optimising reuse systems. Maëlle Fisselier, Water and Environment Engineer at Coorperl, France, concluded with a talk on water reuse in the French food industry, highlighting both the potential and the limitations of implementing reuse practices in this sector. This final session highlighted the importance of innovation and tailored solutions in advancing industrial water sustainability. The conference concluded on a high with a technical tour of the Jourdain Water Reclamation Scheme.

Day 2 Site visit- Jourdain Project.

Water Reuse Europe would like to express its gratitude for the knowledge shared by all delegates and exhibitors, and the support from sponsors like Resistomap and Kemira, all contributing to the event’s success in promoting advancements in water reuse innovation and policy.

Find out more about our conference speakers here.

Water Reuse members can access conference materials and proceedings in the members-only area of the website.