Water Reuse Europe Innovation Prize 2021

The Water Reuse Europe Innovation Prize 2021 was awarded at our webinar on Industrial Reuse to Águas do Tejo Atlântico for their project “VIRA – Turn Concept and minds“, Portugal.

“VIRA” beer (VIRA means TURN), produced with recycled water, was created to influence the society towards the necessary (and circular) water reuse.
According to a recent study* 95.8% of the Portuguese population is willing to accept “Recycled Water” for non-potable uses such as streets’ washing, gardens’ irrigation and other urban, agricultural, and industrial uses. In fact, the majority of the population show a willingness to pay the treatment of recycled water, revealing the growing Portuguese socio-environmental awareness.

These trends highlight the importance of using recycled water for non-potable purposes as one of the main measures to fight water scarcity.

To contribute to the awareness of using recycled water, Águas do Tejo Atlântico developed VIRA/TURN. This beer is the first sustainable Portuguese beer, produced with recycled water, with additional treatment through ozonation and reverse osmosis. VIRA intends to inform the society about an alternative and sustainable source of water.
Tejo Atlântico Water Factories (WWTP) treat around 194 million m³ of treated wastewater per year. A part of this water can have an adequate treatment for compatible future uses.
The VIRA project aims to attract “fans”, in a creative approach, disseminating information and supporting the population and decision-makers in changing mentalities, implementing environmental practices and a rational use of water. Through the production of a high-quality craft beer, Águas do Tejo Atlântico demonstrates that it is possible to use recycled water in various applications, fine-tuning its quality according to its intended use, namely uses that do not require drinking water. If today’s technology makes possible to turn wastewater into potable water, it also makes possible to give a properly treatment for various other purposes, such as washing streets, watering green spaces or even air-conditioning systems in large industrial areas.

The Circular Economy promotes the reduction, the recovery, and the reuse. This circular path, of which VIRA is a clear example, will help to reduce the pressure on water resources. Climate change, long and intense droughts and water scarcity bring up the need to urgently TURN mindsets, TURN concepts and TURN habits, in order to contribute to the necessary change in the population’s perception and behaviour.

 Marcos Batista, Águas do Tejo Atlântico, Portugal presenting the project VIRA on the 28 JAN 2022

The Water Reuse Europe Innovation Prize 2021awarded to VIRA reflects Águas do Tejo Atlântico’s strategic commitment to foster circular economy in the urban water cycle. This is the first time that such an award is given to a Portuguese project.

Developed in partnership with a beer productor “Cervejeira Cerlinx” and “Moinhos Água e Ambiente”, a technological company responsible for the inverse-osmosis used to treate the wastewater, VIRA is produced with 100% recycled and 100% safe water. A sustainable beer! VIRA / TURN.

For more infornation about VIRA, please visit Águas do Tejo Atlântico’s website

The finalists of the Water Reuse Europe 2021 Innovation Prize were:

• VIRA- Turn Concepts and Minds by Águas do Tejo Atlântico, Portugal.
• The online platform Reusodeagua.org,(i.e.“reuso de água” meaning “water reuse”), Brazil/Portugal.
• The EcoLoop Sustainable Showering technology developed by Flow Loop, Danemark

To learn more about our 2021 finalists on our 2021 Innovation Prize page here.

About The Water Reuse Europe Innovation Prize:

The aim of the Water Reuse Europe Innovation Prize is to reward the professionals who are breaking new ground in the design and delivery of water reuse projects and showcase projects and initiatives which are at the forefront of reuse practice in Europe.

Entries are judged by the directors of Water Reuse Europe based on three criteria: (i) innovation (ii) collaboration and (iii) impact.

For more information about our innovation prize, contact us at: info@water-reuse-europe.org.

Past winners:

• 2017 – Aquabio for the Bakkavor Cucina Sano WWRP Scheme, Boston, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom – Elevating Water Reuse to New Heights in the Food Processing Industry.
• 2019 – The Indirect potable reuse scheme of Mörbylånga, Sweden.

* Market study carried out by the Marketing Research Institute, in March 2018, and available in “Portal da Água”, here: PowerPoint Presentation (portaldaagua.pt)