With freshwater supplies dwindling and the world’s population set to reach 10 billion by 2050, water recycling is vital for the future. The EU-funded ULTIMATE project is exploring innovative ways to turn wastewater into a resource for agriculture and industry. In Italy, a pilot project is tackling saltwater intrusion by using reverse osmosis to recycle wastewater for reuse. Meanwhile, in Greece, researchers are extracting valuable polyphenols from wastewater, creating opportunities in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. These pilot projects demonstrate how wastewater can be turned into a sustainable resource, paving the way for large-scale water recycling solutions across Europe.
The ULTIMATE project runs until October 2024, but all technologies are available in the Technology Evidence Base via the Water Europe Marketplace.
