JULY 2025

REUSE REFLECTIONS
INTERNATIONAL WATER ASSOCIATION
WATER REUSE SPECIALIST GROUP

INSIDE THIS WRSG - A RENEWED FOCUS ON

ISSUE: ENGAGEMENT & COLLABORATION
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PAST A NOTE FROM THE CHAIR:
CHAIR - JOSEF
LAHNSTEINER MELISSA L. MEEKER
It seems like it was just yesterday that we were in the
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: THE
WATER HUB PROJECT, beautiful city of Cape Town for the 14 th IWA International
SOUTH AFRICA Conference on Water Reclamation and Reuse... but it has been
several months and the management committee has been
2025 CONFERENCE RECAP
hard at work developing a plan to increase SG participation
MICROPOLUTANTS and collaboration. First, with the leadership of our new
WEBINAR RECAP
newsletter editor, Olivier, we have freshened the newsletter
IMPLEMENTATION and are committed to sharing innovative research and new
SPOTLIGHT: PURE WATER projects being implemented across the globe. The newsletter
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
will continue to highlight rising WRSG YWPs and our next
WRSG’S YWP SPOTLIGHT: newsletter will highlight Shalongo Angula’s plan to increase
WELLINGTON ARTHUR engagement among and with WRSG YWPs. And of course we
15 T H IWA INTERNATIONAL will track progress on our next conference in November 2027,
CONFERENCE ON WATER to be held in Sydney. Of specific note, we have created a
RECLAMATION AND REUSE - LinkedIn Group for the WRSG to facilitate more regular
SYDNEY AUSTRALIA 2027
connections and increase membership. Please join here:
UPDATES FROM IWA [Link]
HEADQUARTERS AND
PUBLISHING
We have much to do to further enable water reuse
implementation and I look forward to collaborating with you
on the journey!

Editor: Olivier Patrick Lefebvre

For submissions, please email: ceelop@[Link]
 MESSAGE FROM THE PAST-CHAIR
At the 14th IWA International Conference on
Water Reclamation and Reuse held in Cape
Town from March 16th to 20th this year, I
handed over the Chair of the Water Reuse
Specialist Group to Melissa Meeker, and on
this occasion, I would like to provide you
with a brief summary of my term of office.

In September 2019, the members of the

JOSEF
Water Reuse Specialist Group (WRSG)
elected me through an open online vote,
LAHNSTEINER
which was initiated by Jörg Drewes (the
then Chair of the WRSG) and conducted via Moreover, last year, we published an
the IWA headquarters (by Kambiri Cox, the attractive “Special Chennai Conference
then Manager Member Engagement). Issue” of the IWA Journal of Water Reuse.

Subsequent initial activities included a Following a conference call in September

reshuffle of the WRSG Management 2022 and an intensive evaluation process
Committee, the preparation of an Induction during the final quarter of 2022, at our
Pack for (potential) new members and/or Chennai Conference (in January 2023) we
Young Water Professionals and the announced the beautiful City of Cape
publication of a Newsletter in January 2020 Town and the South African Water
(all in all fifteen Newsletters were published Research Commission as the venue and
under my auspices). host of our 14th IWA International
Conference on Water Reclamation and
At our 12th IWA International Conference on Reuse planned for 2025.
Water Reclamation and Reuse, which took
place in Berlin in June 2019, we selected the The date of the Conference was set for
southern Indian City of Chennai as the March 16th to 20th 2025, and with 735
venue for the 13th IWA International participants from over fifty countries also
Conference on Water Reclamation and proved most successful. The exciting and
Reuse to be held in 2021 and the Federation outstanding program included 120 oral
of Indian Chambers of Commerce and presentations, six plenary keynotes, nine
Industry (FICCI) as the host. Owing to the workshops and 33 posters. The three best
pandemic, which impacted India severely, posters received awards on March 19th
the event had to be postponed from 2021 to and five technical tours rounded off the
2022 and then again from 2022 to 2023. program on March 20th. In addition, it is
Finally, the Conference was held in January worthy of note that the number of
2023, and despite the negative impacts of conference participants was the highest
the pandemic proved to be a highly ever.
successful event with over 200 participants
and excellent contributions from around
the world. continued next page
We were delighted to be back in Southern Sydney, represented by the Australian
Africa, twelve years after our 9th Conference Water Association (the Australian IWA
in Windhoek, Namibia and were more than Governing Member), was thus the winner
pleased to have two conferences (Chennai, of the competition, and we announced
India, 2023 and Cape Town, South Africa, the result during our Open WRSG Meeting
2025) within the space of two years in the on Tuesday, March 18th and in the course
Global South. of the Closing Ceremony on Wednesday,
March 19th. The Australian Water
In September 2024, we issued a call for the Association will host the Conference in Q.4
15th IWA International Conference on Water 2027 and my heartfelt congratulations go
Reclamation and Reuse, to be held in 2027, to the Sydney Team!
and received six proposals in the following
November: Almeria/Spain, Barcelona/Spain, Within this context, it should also be
Daegu/South Korea, Singapore/Singapore, mentioned that this was the first time that
Sydney/ Australia and Tehran/Iran. In January six conference applications were put
of this year, we held a prequalification and forward. As far as I know, this number of
the venues below were shortlisted: submissions was neither received in the
Daegu/South Korea, Singapore/Singapore case of other IWA Specialist Group
and Sydney/Australia. During February, we Conferences nor for both the IWA World
then conducted an online “pre-conference Water and IWA Development Congresses.
ballot” via the IWA headquarters (by Rachna In order to exchange experience and
Sarkari, SG Membership Engagement Officer) promote our international Conferences,
for those Management Committee (MC) especially during the pandemic, between
Members, who were unable to participate in January 2022 and January 2025 we
the Conference. Eleven colleagues voted and organized seven webinars in cooperation
the result was: Daegu 1, Singapore 5 and with other IWA Specialist Groups and
Sydney 5. The candidates' pitches and the external organizations. The recordings can
(secret) “onsite vote” took place on Monday, be found on the IWA website. In addition,
March 17th 2025 (in Cape Town). Prior to the we held Open WRSG Meetings at both the
ballot, the MC agreed to use “Instant Run-off Copenhagen and Toronto IWA World
Voting” and the result of the combined “pre- Water Congresses in September 2022 and
conference” and “onsite” votes was: Daegu: 3, August 2024. We also actively participated
Singapore: 8 and Sydney: 9. The final result in the IWA Development Congresses held
after the application of “Instant Run-off in Colombo, Srilanka and Kigali, Rwanda
Voting” was: Singapore: 9, Sydney: 11. during December 2019 and December
The final result after the application of 2023. At these events we promoted our
“Instant Run-off Voting” was: Singapore: 9, Specialist Group (SG), and in particular
Sydney: 11. The overall turnout was 87% and I engaged in discussions with Young Water
would like to thank the WRSG Management Professionals.
Committee for the high participation.
continued next page
Other activities included the selection Dear Friends and Colleagues, thank you
processes for the Chair-Elect (Melissa for both your endeavors aimed at
Meeker) and our new Young Water Reuse promoting water reuse and your support
Professional (Shalongo Angula) in Q.4 during my term of office. I look forward to
2022 and Q.2 2024. Moreover, in Q.2 2024, seeing you during one of the next IWA
we partially reorganized the Management conferences, however at the very latest in
Committee and in June 2023 updated our Sydney.
constitution, which other SGs have also
used as a basis for their statutes. Yours sincerely,
In accordance with our constitution, the Josef Lahnsteiner
Chairperson passes the baton on to the
Chair-elect at the end of his/her second
biannual conference. Accordingly, the
term in office is normally four years.
However, owing to the pandemic-related
postponements of the 13th IWA
International Conference on Water
Reclamation and Reuse in Chennai, India
from 2021 to 2022 and then from 2022 to
2023, I served for a longer period (five and
a half years). As a consequence, my tasks
sometimes proved somewhat
challenging, but I constantly derived
pleasure from being able to serve the
water reuse community and lead the
Water Reuse Specialist Group.

As mentioned, I handed over to Melissa in

Cape Town, where I passed on a real
baton, which is made of Namibian
rosewood and was carved in Windhoek,
the cradle of direct potable reuse. In turn,
Melissa will confer it upon her successor J o s e f L a h n s t e i n e r w i t h M s . P e m my
M a j o d i n a , t h e H o n o ra b l e M i n i s t e r fo r
after her second biannual conference in
Wa t e r a n d S a n i t a t i o n , w h o h a s
what I hope will become a lasting
h o n o r e d u s t w i ce w i t h h e r a t t e n d a n ce
tradition. - both at the opening and closing
ce r e m o ny.
I would like to thank Melissa for assuming
the responsibilities of leadership, and
wish her a highly successful term as the
IWA Water Reuse Specialist Group
Chairperson.
THE WATER-HUB PROJECT
A NATURE-BASED WATER
RECLAMATION TREATMENT
SYSTEM WITHIN AN INTEGRATED
WATER-ENERGY-FOOD-ECOSYSTEM
(WEFE) NEXUS APPROACH IN
URBAN SOUTH AFRICA
Pascal 2Finkbeiner 1 , Daphne Gondhalekar 1 , Kevin
Winter , Jörg E. Drewes 1
1 Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering,
Technical University of Munich, Am
Coulombwall 3, 85748 Garching, Germany, depletion the oxygen concentrations, which
jdrewes@[Link]. compromises ecosystem health and the safe
2 Environmental & Geographical Science use for downstream irrigation (Figure 1) ​
Building, South Lane, Upper Campus, University
of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa (Armitage et al., 2009; Winter et al., 2023)​.

Challenges to provide water security are At the Water-Hub, a research site located in
increasing, particularly in the developing Franschhoek, South Africa, research is
economies in Africa, due to climate tackling this water quality issue. A small river,
change and growing urbanization with the Stiebeuel river, that originates from the
key issues such water pollution ​( Armitage surrounding mountains, flows through an
et al., 2009; Intergovernmental Panel on informal settlement where it receives
Climate Change (IPCC), 2022)​. Untreated contaminants mainly due to limited or
grey- and blackwater, especially in dysfunctional sanitation. A portion of the
underserviced urban and peri-urban river water is redirected to a treatment
areas, e.g. informal settlements, as well as system at the Water-Hub, before the
surface run-off contaminate close-by Stiebeuel river merges into the Franschhoek
water bodies leading to high levels of river. The river water quality at the Water-Hub
pathogens, nutrients, organic carbon, resembles diluted raw sewage and is
trace organic chemicals and characterized by high concentrations of the
aforementioned contaminants and low levels
of oxygen.

A feasibility study conducted at the Water-

Hub investigates suitable nature-based
technologies that promote resource recovery,
including water reuse from this highly
polluted surface water and subsequent
beneficial use.

continued next page

Figure 1: Effluent of greywater (likely mixed with

blackwater) from a misused stormwater drain in the
informal settlement as one example of point-source
pollution of the Stiebeuel river (Photo: Pascal Finkbeiner,
TUM)
The Bavarian State Ministry of the
Environment and Consumer Protection in
Germany is funding a collaborative project
between the Technical University of Munich
(TUM), the University of Cape Town and the
Western Cape Government, in which a
combination of horizonal-subsurface wetland
and a subsequent sequential managed aquifer
recharge technology (SMART) was chosen to
facilitate water reuse for irrigation of crops
eaten raw. The treatment system is designed
based on the original concept of the SMART
system that was developed at the Chair of
Urban Water System Engineering at TUM, Figure 2: SMART system at the Water-Hub and
which exploited specific microbial activity by informal settlement in the background (Photo:
changing environmental conditions, such as Pascal Finkbeiner)
carbon availability and redox conditions. In
short, an initial treatment using porous media Due to the high removal efficiency of the
bioreactors, where predominantly anoxic SMART system, it does not require a final
processes take place, is followed by re-aeration chemical treatment step for pathogen
and re-infiltration into a subsequent porous inactivation (Figure 3).
media reactor to shift to an oxygen-rich
environment with limited biologically available While water treatment is at the heart of the
organic carbon. An adaptation of this two- project, interlinkages between the sectors
staged infiltration system has been deployed water, energy, food and ecosystem are being
at the Water-Hub, as follows: a series of three considered for sustainable implementation of
horizontal subsurface constructed wetland technologies and practices. Hence the project
cells, containing a range of filter media (gravel, follows an integrated Water-Energy-Food-
biochar and fine gravel), represent the first Ecosystem Nexus (WEFE) approach ​( Hoff, 2011)​,
treatment stage. In this anoxic zone, organic considering the interdependencies, trade-offs
carbon, nutrients and to some extend and synergies of the selected solutions. As
pathogens, are removed. Subsequently, the such, the entire operation at the Water-Hub is
effluent of the initial biofilter is oxygenated by
powered by an autonomous renewable energy
percolation over rocks and infiltrated into a
supply system (newly installed PV-system
horizontally operated porous media filter,
including battery storage).
which was constructed with homogenous
highly-sorted technical sand media. This Treated high quality water is diverted back
allows for oxic and carbon-depleted into the river, contributing to a restoration of
conditions, which enable effective the aquatic ecosystem. At the same time, the
biotransformation of trace organic chemicals reclaimed water facilitates agricultural
and reduction of pathogens ​( Hellauer et al., irrigation which improves food security in the
2018; Karakurt-Fischer et al., 2020, 2021)​. The region. Resource recovery opportunities from
system was upscaled from a pilot-scale reactor agricultural waste that accrues in the process,
​( Karakurt-Fischer et al., 2020)​ to in combination with other organic waste
demonstration-scale resulting in a 16-m long streams from households and local businesses
treatment cell (16 m x 3 m x 1.1 m (LxBxD)) with such as restaurants, were explored in the
a treatment capacity of 1 m³/h (Figure 2). project.

continued next page

 Figure 3: Schematic of the water treatment system including bio filtration and SMART to
provide benefits for the aquatic environment and water for irrigation.

A s u r vey o f t h e b u s i n e s s e s a n d h o u s e h o l d s
i n F ra n s c h h o e k a s s e s s e d t h e o r g a n i c wa s t e I n co n c l u s i o n , t h i s p r o j e c t
quantity and estimated the potential biogas i nv e s t i g a t e d w a t e r r e c l a m a t i o n
r e cove r y p o t e n t i a l u s i n g a n a n a e r o b i c using a nature-based technology
d i g e s t e r . E s t i m a t i o n s h ave s h ow n a f r o m a h i g h l y i m p a i r e d s u r fa ce
b i o m e t h a n e p o t e n t i a l o f 4 7 m ³ / d ay , w h i c h w a t e r s o u r ce a n d f u r t h e r
co u l d s u b s t i t u t e , fo r exa m p l e wo o d - p owe r e d
r e s o u r ce r e co v e r y o p p o r t u n i t i e s ,
h e a t i n g o r s u p p l y s u f f i c i e n t g a s t o p owe r
s t ove t o p co o ke r s fo r u p t o 2 3 6 h , e m p l o y i n g a n i n t e g ra t e d Wa t e r -
d e m o n s t ra t i n g a co n s i d e ra b l e u n t a p p e d E n e r g y - F o o d - E co s y s t e m N ex u s
e n e r g y s o u r ce ​( B a cca l a r o , 2 0 2 5 ) ​. ( W E F E ) a p p r o a c h . S u cce s s f u l
Ad d i t i o n a l l y , t h e p r o d u ce d d i g e s t a t e o f fe r s i m p l e m e n t a t i o n ca n i m p r o v e
o p p o r t u n i t y fo r n u t r i e n t r e cove r y fo r o r g a n i c water, energy, and food security
fe r t i l i z e r , co n t r i b u t i n g t o a c i r c u l a r e co n o my
i n t h e w a t e r - s ca r ce We s t e r n C a p e
a n d a r e d u c t i o n o f G H G e m i s s i o n s , by
r e d u c i n g t h e u s e o f e n e r g y - i n t e n s i ve
p r o v i n ce , w h i l e p r o t e c t i n g t h e
c h e m i ca l fe r t i l i z e r s . e nv i r o n m e n t a n d r e g e n e ra t i n g
e co s y s t e m s e r v i ce s , t h u s
Ag r i c u l t u ra l a c t i v i t i e s a s we l l a s r e s o u r ce co n t r i b u t i n g t o t h e a c h i e v e m e n t
r e cove r y p r ov i d e b u s i n e s s o p p o r t u n i t i e s fo r of the UN Sustainable
t h e l o ca l co m m u n i t y w i t h l a r g e p o t e n t i a l fo r
Development Goals.
va l u e c r e a t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e h i g h - e n d
g a s t r o n o my l o ca t e d i n t h e s t u d y a r e a .

REFERENCES
A r m i t a g e , N . P. , W i n t e r , K . , S p i e g e l , A . , & K r u g e r , E . ( 2 0 0 9 ) . Co m m u n i t y - f o c u s e d g r ey wa t e r m a n a g e m e n t i n t wo i n f o r m a l s e t t l e m e n t s i n
S o u t h A f r i ca . Wa t e r S c i e n ce a n d Te c h n o l o g y , 5 9 ( 1 2 ) , 2 3 4 1 – 2 3 5 0 . h t t p s : / / d o i . o r g / 1 0 . 2 1 6 6 / w s t . 2 0 0 9 . 2 9 4
​B a cca l a r o , D. ( 2 0 2 5 ) . Th e s i s : I nve s t i g a t i n g B i o g a s P o t e n t i a l a n d R e s o u r ce R e cove r y O p p o r t u n i t i e s i n F ra n s c h h o e k , S o u t h A f r i ca .
Te c h n i ca l U n i ve r s i t y o f M u n i c h .
​H e l l a u e r , K . , K a ra k u r t , S . , S p e r l i c h , A . , B u r ke , V . , M a s s m a n n , G . , H ü b n e r , U. , & D r ewe s , J . E . ( 2 0 1 8 ) . E s t a b l i s h i n g s e q u e n t i a l m a n a g e d
a q u i f e r r e c h a r g e t e c h n o l o g y ( S M A R T ) f o r e n h a n ce d r e m ova l o f t ra ce o r g a n i c c h e m i ca l s : E x p e r i e n ce s f r o m f i e l d s t u d i e s i n B e r l i n ,
G e r m a ny. J o u r n a l o f H yd r o l o g y , 5 6 3 , 1 1 6 1 – 1 1 6 8 . h t t p s : / / d o i . o r g / 1 0 . 1 0 1 6 / j . j hyd r o l . 2 0 1 7. 0 9 . 0 4 4
​H o f f , H . ( 2 0 1 1 ) . U n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e N ex u s . B a c kg r o u n d P a p e r f o r t h e B o n n 2 0 1 1 Co n f e r e n ce : Th e Wa t e r , E n e r g y a n d F o o d S e c u r i t y
N ex u s .
​I n t e r g ove r n m e n t a l P a n e l o n C l i m a t e C h a n g e ( I P CC ) . ( 2 0 2 2 ) . Co n t r i b u t o r s t o t h e Wo r k i n g G r o u p I I Co n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e I P CC S i x t h
A s s e s s m e n t R e p o r t . I n C l i m a t e C h a n g e 2 0 2 2 – I m p a c t s , Ad a p t a t i o n a n d Vu l n e ra b i l i t y ( p p . 2 9 3 9 – 2 9 6 4 ) . C a m b r i d g e U n i ve r s i t y P r e s s .
h t t p s : / / d o i . o r g / 1 0 . 1 0 1 7 /9 7 8 1 0 0 9 3 2 5 8 4 4 . 0 3 1
​K a ra k u r t - F i s c h e r , S . , R i e n , C . , S a nz - P ra t , A . , S z ew z y k , R . , H ü b n e r , U. , D r ewe s , J . E . , & S e l i n ka , H . C . ( 2 0 2 1 ) . F a t e a n d Tra n s p o r t o f V i r u s e s
w i t h i n a H i g h - R a t e P l u g - F l ow B i o f i l t e r D e s i g n e d f o r N o n - M e m b ra n e - B a s e d I n d i r e c t P o t a b l e R e u s e A p p l i ca t i o n s . AC S E S T Wa t e r , 1 ( 5 ) ,
1 2 2 9 – 1 2 3 9 . h t t p s : / / d o i . o r g / 1 0 . 1 0 2 1 /a c s e s t wa t e r . 0 c 0 0 3 0 5
​K a ra k u r t - F i s c h e r , S . , S a nz - P ra t , A . , G r e s kow i a k , J . , E r g h , M . , G e r d e s , H . , M a s s m a n n , G . , E d e r e r , J . , R e g n e r y , J . , H ü b n e r , U. , & D r ewe s , J . E .
( 2 0 2 0 ) . D eve l o p i n g a n ove l b i o f i l t ra t i o n t r e a t m e n t s y s t e m by co u p l i n g h i g h - ra t e i n f i l t ra t i o n t r e n c h t e c h n o l o g y w i t h a p l u g - f l ow
p o r o u s - m e d i a b i o r e a c t o r . S c i e n ce o f t h e To t a l E nv i r o n m e n t , 7 2 2 . h t t p s : / / d o i . o r g / 1 0 . 1 0 1 6 / j . s c i t o t e nv. 2 0 2 0 . 1 3 7 8 9 0
​W i n t e r , K . , M g e s e , S . , N i c k l i n , E . , & M a ra j , K . ( 2 0 2 3 ) . Tr e a t i n g a n d r e u s i n g p o l l u t e d r u n o f f f r o m a n i n f o r m a l s e t t l e m e n t , S o u t h A f r i ca .
Wa t e r P ra c t i ce a n d Te c h n o l o g y , 1 8 ( 4 ) , 7 9 6 – 8 0 9 . h t t p s : / / d o i . o r g / 1 0 . 2 1 6 6 / w p t . 2 0 2 3 . 0 4 5
 CONFERENCE RECAP: 14TH IWA INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE ON WATER RECLAMATION AND REUSE
WRITTEN BY MEIBO HE
Cape Town, South Africa | 16-20 March 2025
Theme: “Water Reuse: Building Water Supply Resilience”

The 14th IWA International Conference on Water Reclamation and Reuse received 735
registrations from around the world in Cape Town, South Africa, for a rich exchange of knowledge,
innovation, and policy on water reuse. The event underscored the urgency and promise of reuse as
a key strategy for water security, sustainability, and climate resilience.

Hosted in Cape Town: A Fitting Venue with Strong Local Support

Cape Town proved to be an ideal setting for this important global conversation. With its lived
experience of water scarcity, the city offered a powerful backdrop for addressing water resilience
through reuse. The conference was made possible through the dedicated support of local
partners, Water Research Commission, as well as the City of Cape Town, Department of
Water and Sanitation, Water Partnerships Office. Their involvement demonstrated the vital
role of government leadership in advancing sustainable water strategies.

Special thanks go to the local organizing team for delivering a professional, engaging, and
welcoming event. The Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) served as an
outstanding venue, providing world-class facilities, an excellent location, and seamless logistics.

Key Themes and Programme Highlights

P O ST- CO N F E R E N C E F E E D B AC K
F E E D B AC K F R O M O V E R 2 2 0
The five-day programme covered both cutting-edge
PA R T I C I PA N T S WA S O V E R W H E L M I N G L Y
research and applied innovations in water reuse. Core
POSITIVE:
themes included:
Water reuse adoption
Category Very Satisfied (%)
Water reuse implementation
Removal of water reuse bottlenecks
Overall conference
70%
Programme at a glance: experience

226 abstracts submitted, 162 accepted, with 120 oral Keynote & plenary
75%
presentations, 33 posters, and 9 workshops, sessions
Various plenary sessions with speakers from
institutions such as World Bank, European Commission, Standard of
68%
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Water presentations
Research Foundation, Technical University of Munich,
and Rand Water Venue 86%

The programme reflected a balance between academic Registration & 79%

insight, policy engagement, and practical case studies— organization
highlighting how theory and application are converging in
the reuse sector.

The 14th Water Reuse Conference reaffirmed the critical importance of water reuse in shaping a
resilient and inclusive water future. It highlighted growing global interest in reuse from both the public
and private sectors, and the need for continued investment in research, capacity building, and
international cooperation.
MICROPOLLUTANTS REMOVAL IN WATER RECLAMATION
A REPORT BY JIANGYONG HU AND JOSEF LAHNSTEINER

E m e r g i n g o r g a n i c p o l l u t a n t s ( E OC s )
h ave b e co m e a s e r i o u s co n ce r n i n wa t e r
m a n a g e m e n t a s t h ey p o s e p o t e n t i a l
h e a l t h r i s k s a n d h ave a t t ra c t e d m u c h
a t t e n t i o n f r o m t h e s c i e n t i f i c co m m u n i t y
wo r l d w i d e .

Th e we b i n a r “ M i c r o p o l l u t a n t s R e m ova l i n
Wa t e r R e c l a m a t i o n ” i n t r o d u ce d t h e
o cc u r r e n ce a n d b e h av i o r o f E OC s , t h e i r
co n t r o l m e a s u r e s , a n d t h e i r p ra c t i ca l
a p p l i ca t i o n i n wa t e r r e c l a m a t i o n . I t
p r ov i d e d wa t e r p r o fe s s i o n a l s w i t h t h e
n e ce s s a r y k n ow l e d g e a n d s k i l l s t o t a c k l e
t h e c h a l l e n g e s p o s e d by E OC s i n wa t e r
reclamation. Presenters:
J i a n g yo n g H u , N a t i o n a l U n i ve r s i t y o f
I t wa s j o i n t l y o r g a n i z e d by t h e S i n g a p o r e ( co - M o d e ra t o r ) , S i n g a p o r e
A s s e s s m e n t a n d Co n t r o l o f H aza r d o u s J o s e f L a h n s t e i n e r ( co - M o d e ra t o r ) ,
S u b s t a n ce s i n Wa t e r & Wa t e r R e u s e WA B AG , Au s t r i a
Specialist Groups on January 23, 2025, L i We nwe i , C h i n a U n i ve r s i t y o f
a n d b r o u g h t t o g e t h e r g l o b a l ex p e r t s S c i e n ce a n d Te c h n o l o g y , C h i n a
from East Asia, South-East Asia, Europe H a r u ka T a ke u c h i , K yo t o U n i ve r s i t y ,
a n d S o u t h e r n A f r i ca t o s h a r e i n s i g h t s Japan
into cutting-edge research and best S h ayo k G h o s h , A E CO M , S i n g a p o r e
p ra c t i ce s fo r E OC s r e m ova l i n wa t e r Th o m a s H o n e r , W I N G OC , N a m i b i a
reclamation.
Th e h i g h n u m b e r o f p a r t i c i p a n t s
i n d i ca t e s t h a t t h e t o p i c i s o f g r e a t
i n t e r e s t . W i t h 1 0 9 1 r e g i s t ra t i o n s a n d 5 3 1
u n i q u e v i ewe r s , t h e eve n t i s a m o n g t h e
I WA we b i n a r s w i t h h i g h e s t a t t e n d a n ce .

Th e we b i n a r ca n b e v i ewe d o n t h e I WA
we b s i t e :
h t t p s : / / i wa - n e t wo r k . o r g / l e a r n / m i c r o -
p o l l u t a n t s - r e m ova l - i n - wa t e r -
reclamation/
PURE WATER YWP CONTRIBUTION:
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WELLINGTON ARTHUR
HEATHER COLLINS, CHIEF OF BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING,
WATER TREATMENT AUBURN UNIVERSITY, UNITED
OPERATIONS, METROPOLITAN STATES
WATER DISTRICT Ph.D. Thesis Description: Assessing Nutrient
Cycling and Food Safety of Poultry Processing
The Metropolitan Water District of
Wastewater for Irrigation in Controlled-
Southern California has partnered with the
Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts on Environment Agriculture
a regional water recycling program that
As the global demand for water and fertilizers
will purify and reuse cleaned wastewater
intensifies, recovering resources from agro-
that currently flows into the ocean in
industrial waste streams has emerged as a critical
order to provide a new, climate-resilience
pathway toward sustainable food and water
supply of locally available water.
systems. The poultry industry generates hundreds

The project will produce up to 150 million of billions of liters of wastewater annually, most of
gallons of water per day and will be one of which is treated for disposal rather than resource
the largest recycling programs of its kind recovery. My Ph.D. research centers on
in the world. The proposed project transforming poultry processing wastewater
includes the construction of new (PPW) a high-strength effluent rich in nitrogen,
infrastructure, specifically an advanced phosphorus, and organic matter into safe
water purification facility with Membrane irrigation water for hydroponic agriculture. This
Bioreactors, Reverse Osmosis and project challenges that status quo by reimagining
Ultraviolet Light/Advanced Oxidation. PPW as a valuable agricultural resource and
developing a scalable model for its reuse in food
The Draft Environmental Impact Report is production systems.
available for public review and comment.
If approved, construction could begin in This novel bioponic concept termed
2026 and be operational in 2033. "poultryponics", integrates biological wastewater
treatment with controlled-environment crop
For more information on the project, production. The treatment train consists of
please visit: MWD | Pure Water Southern bioreactors inoculated with algal-bacterial
California or reach out to Heather Collins, consortia, clarifiers, bag filtration, UV disinfection
at HCollins@[Link]. and a deep-water hydroponic system for lettuce
production. Over two years continuous pilot-
scale operation, the systems has demonstrated
robust performance in nutrient recovery (>65%
retention of total nitrogen), organic matter
removal (>80% sCOD reduction), and pathogen
removal while supporting lettuce growth, all
without reliance on expensive membrane
technologies.
continued next page
These findings support a decentralized, energy-efficient model for water reuse in agriculture,
particularly relevant to regions facing water scarcity and fertilizer insecurity.

To evaluate food safety, a pathogen challenge study was conducted using three serotypes of
Salmonella enterica, introduced into the treatment system at concentrations several orders of
magnitude higher than those typically found in PPW. Despite this stress test, the system
consistently removed up to 99% of Salmonella prior to UV disinfection, with no detectable
pathogens (Salmonella, Escherichia coli and Campylobacter) in the treated effluents or in the
harvested lettuce. This work provides critical evidence that wastewater reuse for edible crop
production can be done safely.

Overall, this research bridges critical gaps in wastewater reuse, nutrient recovery, and food
safety. It directly supports UN SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) through safe reuse
strategies, SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by linking water recovery to food production, and SDG 12
(Responsible Consumption and Production) by reducing waste and closing nutrient loops. The
poultryponics model offers a blueprint that advances circular economy principles within the
water and agricultural sectors.

Publications:
[Link], W., Akplah, C. K., Drabold, E., Manjankattil, S. R., Smith, J., Wells, D. E., Bourassa, D. V., & Higgins, B.
T. (2025). Dosing Salmonella into poultryponics: Fate of Salmonella during treatment of poultry
processing wastewater and irrigation of hydroponic lettuce. Journal of Environmental Management, 377,
124559. [Link]
[Link], W., Morgan, Z., Inskeep, A. E., Browne, C., Wells, D. E., Bourassa, D. V., & Higgins, B. T. (2025).
Assessing nitrogen recovery in poultryponics for hydroponic lettuce production using treated poultry
processing wastewater for increased nitrogen neutrality. Bioresource Technology, 422, 132227.
[Link]
[Link], W., Morgan, Z., Reina Antillon, M., Drabold, E., Wells, D. E., Bourassa, D. V., Wang, Q., & Higgins, B. T.
(2024). Pilot-Scale Evaluation of Poultryponics: Insights into Nitrogen Utilization and Food Pathogen
Dynamics. ACS ES&T Water, 4(9), 3964–3975. [Link]

Q&A WITH
WELLINGTON ARTHUR
What is your motivation for working in the field of Water Reuse?
Water reuse is a strategic imperative in a world facing growing water scarcity, pollution, and food
insecurity. My motivation stems from the urgent need to rethink how we manage waste and
resources. Water reuse offers an opportunity to challenge linear models of waste disposal and
replace them with circular strategies that are resource-efficient. In my case, the focus on poultry
processing wastewater is deliberate. It is a high-volume, high-impact stream that exemplifies both
the problem and the opportunity. By turning that effluent into a resource for food production, I get to
work on practical solutions that are measurable, and scalable.

Can you tell us a bit more about your job description and daily duties?
As a Ph.D. candidate, my work includes experimental design, system operation, microbiology, and
process modeling. On a typical day, I might be collecting water samples from the pilot-scale system,
analyzing nutrient concentrations or pathogen dynamics, troubleshooting sensors or bioreactors, or
running simulations to model nutrient transformations. I manage multi-week lettuce production
cycles and prepare data for presentations and publications.

continued next page

How do you envision the future of water reuse and what role do you see yourself playing as a water
professional?
I envision a landscape where reuse systems are embedded directly in food production, where waste
streams are tailored to crops and climates, and wastewater is no longer viewed as a liability. In that future,
I want to help shape reuse strategies that are economically viable, and socially acceptable whether
through academic research, technology development, or advising organizations on sustainable
infrastructure. My long-term goal is to bridge science and policy to help cities and industries adopt
circular water strategies.

How interesting do you think the water reuse sector is for YWPs today and how could it be promoted?
It’s one of the most exciting and meaningful areas for young professionals today. It encompasses
sustainability, innovation, and equity, offering a chance to make real impact. To better promote it, we need
to showcase its success stories, support interdisciplinary research, community-driven pilots and create
more platforms where early-career voices can shape the future of water policy and technology, and spark
more engagement.

Do you think that the educational sector gives enough attention to forming future water reuse
professionals?
Not yet, but we are getting closer. Most programs still treat water reuse as a subtopic within wastewater
engineering or environmental science. What we need are integrated curricula that bring together water
treatment, agriculture, public health, and circular economy principles. Aside contaminant removal, we
need to teach students but how to build systems that recover value (nutrients, energy, food, bioproducts
etc.) and do so safely. Education should also include more partnerships with industry, municipalities, and
food systems to expose students to real-world complexities.

Join us in
Sydney!

The 15th IWA International Conference on Water

Reuse and Reclamation will be held in Australia
in November 2027. Details will be coming soon -
including ways you can get involved!
 IWA News
The IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition is
scheduled to take place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 8-12
December 2025. This event will focus on "Water,
sanitation, and innovation – pathways to progress and a
resilient future.
Key Details:
Dates: 8-12 December 2025
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Theme: Water, sanitation, and innovation – pathways
to progress and a resilient future

Program Highlights:
The Congress will feature five thematic tracks:
1. Ensure Safe Drinking Water: Innovative approaches for treatment and supply.
2. Advancing Wastewater Treatment and Sanitation Services: Sustainable solutions for all.
3. Smart Water Management: Integrated approaches for effective water management and planning.
4. Enhancing Utility Management and Operations for Sustainable Growth.
5. Strengthening Governance and Financial Systems for Long-Term Development.
Why Attend?
Major Development-Focused Event: Unite with experts to tackle pressing water and sanitation
challenges, driving action toward the 2030 SDG targets.
Spotlight on Asia: Delve into the Asian water sector’s unique opportunities and engage with top
regional stakeholders.
Cutting-Edge Insights: Access global research, policy advancements, and practical solutions for
water and sanitation.
Networking Opportunities: Strengthen connections and form new partnerships with professionals
worldwide.
Discover Bangkok: Immerse yourself in Bangkok’s vibrant culture and explore Thailand’s natural
and urban attractions.

For more information and updates, visit the official website: Water and Development Congress

Call for Content for the World Water Congress and Exhibition 2026 now open!

The International Water Association is pleased to announce that the call for content for the
2026 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition is now open! We invite you to submit and share
your ideas, research, and expertise at the next edition of this flagship global event to be held
in Glasgow, UK. Proposals can be submitted online for papers, workshops, and training
offerings.
Call for Content for the World Water Congress and Exhibition 2026 now open! - IWA Network
News from IWA Publishing
Journal Articles
Long-term performance of low-cost free chlorine sensors to monitor on-site water reuse
Gaétan Herold, Francesca Rodino, Antonin Prévoteau, Sandro Carrara, Eva Reynaert
A critical assessment of the applicability of EU regulation 2020/741 for the development of a
risk management plan for hydroponic water reuse
Marc Beckett, Marius Mohr, Martina Winker, Michaela Rohrbach, Antje Schwarzer, Tim
Gebhardt;
Direct water reuse: a hydraulic economic analysis of connecting the wastewater treatment
effluent to water treatment influent
Brian D. Barkdoll, Amber G. Strutz
Demonstrating pathogen reduction in coagulation/flocculation/sedimentation, ozone, and
biofiltration indirect potable water reuse treatment trains
Samantha Hogard, Kathleen Yetka, Robert Pearce, Hannah Thompson, Kyle Curtis, Raul
Gonzalez, Charles Bott

Books
Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Sustainability
Edited by Piet N.L. Lens & Xuan-Thanh Bui
Nature-Based Technologies for Wastewater Treatment and Bioenergy Production
Edited by Imran Ahmad & Norhayati Abdullah
Engineering Field Testing of Non-Sewered Sanitation Systems: Compendium of Lessons
Learned
By Sonia Grego, Ruth Cottingham, Thammarat Koottatep, Atitaya Panuvatvanich, Susan
Mercer & Sarah Hennessy

Open Special Issues

Potable Water Reuse: Progress, Challenges, and Implementation
Deadline for submission: 1 November 2025
Advanced Wastewater-Based Epidemiology Through Multi-Biomarker Integration and Smart
Environmental Monitoring
Deadline for submission: 1 November 2025
Flooding: Causes, Consequences, and Responses
Deadline for submission: 1 December 2025

IWA Learn
IWA Learn - IWA Network

DISCLAIMER:THIS IS NOT A JOURNAL, BUT A NEWSLETTER ISSUED BY THE IWASPECIALIST GROUP ON WATER [Link] IN
THIS NEWSLETTER DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE SPECIALIST GROUP OR THOSE OF THE IWA. THE USE
OFINFORMATION SUPPLIED IN THE NEWSLETTER IS AT THE SOLE RISK OF THE USER, AS THEIWASPECIALISTGROUP ON WATER
REUSEANDTHE IWA DO NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY.