Tienen, together with other pilot sites in Europe, will be testing the drinking water supply of the future. In the newly approved project “NEW WATER,” Tiense Suikerraffinaderij, De Watergroep and KU Leuven will demonstrate how water from sugar production can be effectively converted into safe drinking water. This is necessary because traditional drinking water sources increasingly fall short during the summer months.
On 19 November, the European funding programme Interreg North-West Europe allocated nearly 4 million euros to NEW WATER. The project will investigate how we can produce drinking water from residual water, rainwater and polluted surface water. Due to increasing drought, we will need to rely more often on alternative drinking water sources.
In Tienen, NEW WATER will install a pilot facility that will purify water from the beet processing process to drinking-water quality. The project will allocate more than 1.3 million euros to this pilot installation.
Sustainable water management as an answer to drought
"To build a climate-resilient water supply, it is important that we invest in new circular water sources and innovative treatment technologies," says Hans Goossens, CEO of De Watergroep.
After scaling up, De Watergroep will supply around 10,000 households in Flemish Brabant with drinking water originating from this new source.
One billion litres of beet water as a source for drinking water
Sugar beets consist of 75% water. As a result, the Tiense Suikerraffinaderij produces one billion litres of beet water every year—enough to fill about 400 Olympic swimming pools.
"With this project, we are examining how the water extracted from the beets can be converted into a valuable raw material. We are fully committed to sustainable water management, based on a future-oriented vision of the entire water system," says Jan Ingels, CEO of the Tiense Suikerraffinaderij.
Previously, the European support programme EFRO Flanders and the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) had already approved more than 3 million euros to realise the drinking water initiative on the site in Tienen. VMM is financing the post-treatment of the refinery’s wastewater. EFRO Flanders enables the construction of a pumping station and the installation of a transport pipeline.
Flemish Brabant leads the way
The NEW WATER project is led by the province of Flemish Brabant and the Provincial Development Agency (POM Vlaams-Brabant). NEW WATER is a strategic initiative aimed at building a resilient water system to make the region more climate-proof.
The province is also heavily investing in the project with the needs of the local business community in mind.
"NEW WATER helps food companies to become more sustainable and to innovate. A project of this scale provides the necessary anchoring for our companies and improves the entrepreneurial climate," says Gunther Coppens, provincial deputy for the economy and chair of POM Vlaams-Brabant.
The project also puts Flemish Brabant firmly on the international map. "The pilot installation in Tienen is unique in Northwest Europe, and the Flemish Brabant partners will play a leading role in this prestigious European project," says Ann Schevenels, provincial deputy for European affairs.
NEW WATER also includes drinking water companies, research institutions and businesses from Flanders, the Netherlands, Germany and France. The Flemish Brabant partners will be able to learn a great deal from water innovation leader VITO and from other pilot sites, such as the one in Dendermonde where VERKO is implementing circular water solutions in practice, as well as sites in The Hague, Almelo, Enschede, Trier and Loudéac.
Added value for Tienen and its residents
NEW WATER will also develop training programmes for drinking water companies, industrial operators and public authorities that want to tap into new drinking water sources. Public-facing campaigns will help build support for these alternative sources.
"Ensuring a climate-resilient drinking water supply is also a major added value for Tienen and its residents," concludes Jonathan Holslag, mayor of Tienen.
