Abstract Summary
Due to climate change, Flanders faces challenges of increasing droughts and water scarcity that call for smart circular solutions. In the Horizon 2020 project B-Watersmart, local partners and research organizations De Watergroep, Aquafin, Proefstation voor de Groenteteelt, VITO, the City of Mechelen and KWR collaborated in a community of practice to develop solutions to increase water security. The project aimed to accelerate the transformation to a water-smart economy and society by developing innovative solutions and facilitating a water-smart culture. It demonstrates how local solutions using alternative water sources can help improve the robustness of the regional water system. In the city of Mechelen, a smart rainwater buffering and subirrigation system was developed and built that makes stormwater available for nearby agricultural fields, thus reducing flood risks for the city while recharging ground water levels and increasing water availability for agriculture. The basins’ smart proactive controls based on local rainfall predictions, crop water demand and local groundwater levels allowed for a more optimal allocation of the water resources. Next to that, a pilot test explored the potential reuse of municipal effluent as a source of drinking water in comparison to enhance the robustness of the drinking water purification process using closed circuit reverse osmosis. Due to the improved treatment capacity, actual quality intake limitations for surface water are reduced. The experiences from the project were developed into a joint vision and strategic agenda for a water-smart region. This emphasized the potential of local circular solutions to improve robust water resource management, safeguard health and safety, protect the environment, and adapt to climate change. The community of practice established during the project enabled connections between sectors and fostered the collaboration between organizations such as drinking and wastewater utilities, municipalities and agriculture that is necessary for developing circular solutions.
