Future-oriented Technologies and Concepts to Increase Water Availability by Water Reuse and Desalination – WavE

Sufficient supply of water of adequate quality is essential for human physical wellbeing as well as for sustainable regional development and for an intact environment. Excessive use and pollution on the one hand and the still growing water demand on the other hand represent major challenges concerning the availability of water resources. With water stress rising, achieving an increase in water availability through reuse and desalination is not only crucial for classical arid regions but also for densely populated industrial areas.

The funding measure WavE is financed by the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education (BMBF) within the focal topic “Sustainable Water Management” as part of the framework programme “Research on Sustainable Development” and the research agenda on Green Economy.

WavE is aiming at developing innovative technologies and management concepts to realize a sustainable increase in water availability. Three topic areas are addressed in the funding measure: (I) water reuse of municipal wastewater, (II) reuse of water in industry, (III) use of saline ground- and surface water. The aim is to provide sustainable solutions for national and international applications.

13 joint research projects with in total more than 80 partners are funded in WavE. In an interdisciplinary cooperation of research and practice, i.e. water supply and wastewater disposal companies and water users, they are joining forces by using their different expertise and viewpoints to reach the goals of the 13 projects. WavE is complemented by a scientific support action.