Continuation of Dutch/Flemish research programme

In 2017, nine Dutch water companies, the Flemish water company De Watergroep, Vewin and KWR agreed on a new, six-year collaboration period within BTO, the joint water research programme of the water companies. The programme focuses on research that supports the drinking water provision from source to tap. What is new is the explicit attention directed at water in the circular economy, a theme that is the object of an own research programme: Water in the Circular Economy (WiCE). The Flemish universities Ghent University and KU Leuven also joined the collective research programme for the water companies last year. The Dutch/Flemish collaboration was further extended by the appointment of KWR researcher Emile Cornelissen as guest professor at Ghent University. Another 2017 highlight was the surge in citizen-science research within BTO. The year saw the kick-off of no less than three projects, in which water company customers assist in the collection of data on water hardness, and lead and lime in water.