Room for the implementation of research methods

For all the theme groups, the primary aim of the BTO programme is to develop knowledge and technology related to drinking water to ensure that the water sector is ready for the future. Which is why the focus is on high-quality, practice-oriented research. The Biological Safety theme group works on the next step: how do you arrange for the statutory approval of an innovative method so that it can actually be implemented? Without that formal approval, you have to carry on working with the traditional, accepted, method. “The drinking water utilities regularly tell us how frustrating this can be,” says microbiologist Van der Zaan. “For example, if you know that microbiological contaminants can be detected much better and faster with DNA technology, why would you stick with the old culture method? So during the next BTO phase, we will be setting up projects to remedy this issue.”

DNA technologies from the medical world

Van der Zaan heard the call for implementation during his introductory tour of all the Dutch drinking water utilities and De Watergroep in Belgium. The researcher joined KWR more than a year ago. “It is important to understand the interests of the various drinking water utilities,” he believes, “so that you can accommodate those interests in the theme group and in projects. Knowledge sharing is the common denominator here. I see it as KWR’s job to keep our finger on the pulse of the wider scientific playing field, and not only the water sector. For example to see that DNA technologies from the medical world are quite useful. We need to be a beacon of knowledge, preparing drinking water utilities to deal with the problems of the future. They need a sound basis to move ahead. On the other hand, the specific operational knowledge of drinking water utilities is particularly relevant for KWR: it identifies the practical issues they run up against. Listening carefully in an open atmosphere brings all this together very nicely.”

BTO Implementation Award for RT-PCR method

Creating the conditions for sound collaboration is also the challenge facing the theme chair Marco Dignum, who works for Waternet. Dignum enjoys leading lively discussions, and there have been plenty of those recently. “With the lessons learned from the work we did to get the RT-PCR method for detecting E. coli legally approved, the question arose of how we can accelerate this process,” he says. The E. coli bacterium is an important indicator of contamination in the drinking water mains. In 2018, the RT-PCR project team (Biological Safety theme group) received the BTO Implementation Award for this innovative technology. “The drinking water utilities obviously want to include proven technologies in their operations as soon as possible. We wanted to see if we could also address this implementation issue in the BTO context. The question then is: what is the next step after scientific research? A scientific publication or implementation in practice? Both, as far as I am concerned. For drinking water utilities, it is important for the BTO to deliver cutting-edge research and for the results of that research to be published so that others can learn from it. But if you then fail to apply those results yourself, something isn’t right.”

Dynamics of micro-organisms in water systems

Van der Zaan is proud that the discussions produced a tangible result. “The focus on research mustn’t block the pathway to implementation,” he believes. “The fact that we were able to make a good decision gives me confidence that the members of the theme group want to work together and achieve results. Even so, more implementation does mean we can do less research. I will be keeping an eye on the full range of topics that are important for biological safety, not just the quick methods. For example, we want to use sequencing technologies to learn more about the dynamics of micro-organisms in water systems and what this tells us about quality. Or which microbiological risks need to be considered if the temperature of tap water gradually increases in the future.”

Working together towards validation

Dignum is hoping that, by the end of this BTO phase, he will have developed a fast method for all the indicator bacteria. Not just for E. coli: that milestone has already been achieved. Or for the enterococci, for which the validation report marked the final stage on the road to implementation. Dignum: “We are now looking at the coliform bacteria. This is really a sort of spin-off from the culture plate method, and it also tells us something about water quality. First of all, it will be a challenge to establish a shared picture of what that ‘something’ actually is.” That shared approach will certainly not be lacking in the time ahead, he believes, because the robust conversations in his theme group have produced an upbeat atmosphere. “We went through a process together and so we didn’t have to keep going back to matters we had discussed earlier. The strength of the BTO is that we can have good discussions about which research the water utilities need. It’s not only the researchers who make the decisions: this is a genuine collaboration.”

Marco Dignum (Waternet, chair of the Biological Safety theme group) is hoping that, by the end of this BTO phase, he will have developed a fast method for all the indicator bacteria. Right: theme coordinator Bas van der Zaan (KWR).

More information

Would you like to know more about how the BTO Biological Safety theme is contributing to a future-resilient water sector? Take a look at the Biological Safety projects or read more about the BTO/WiCE Research Vision 2024-2029.

This article is the first part of the interview series with the BTO theme groups at the outset of the new BTO/WiCE phase. The magazine, with an inspiring overview of the complete BTO 2024-2029, will be published in September 2024.