DARROW Project

We all need and use water every day and thereby produce wastewater. Around 380 trillion litres globally every year. Treating this wastewater is very energy intensive. How can we make the treatment of wastewater more sustainable?   In the DARROW project, we use artificial intelligence to improve the efficiency of wastewater treatment plants. Watch Ion Irizar, Klaas Bombeke, and Ruud Peeters explain how we plan to unlock the potential of wastewater, without neglecting the human aspects involved in using AI.   Learn more about the DARROW project on wastewater.ai.   We are excited to be working together in a fantastic and international consortium: Cobalt Water Global , ESCI - European Science Communication Institute , Royal HaskoningDHV, VITO, Universiteit Gent, Waterschap De Dommel, Ceit Research Center, imec.   #wastewater #AI #watersector #WastewaterTreatment #technologies #digitalisation

From sewage to solutions: Advanced wastewater monitoring with the help of AI   The wastewater sector is undergoing a digital transformation. With the increasing use of sensor technology, data are being collected at a larger scale, creating opportunities for operational improvements through predictive models.   At the Tilburg wastewater treatment plant in the Netherlands, which processes around 60,000 m³ of wastewater daily, we are leveraging cutting-edge AI technology to enhance operational efficiency.  Our partners at VITO have developed an influent prediction model to better manage the inflow and prevent system overloads, ensuring the plant operates smoothly and sustainably.   The model is based on a Long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network designed to recognise patterns in sequences of data. This innovative tool allows us to anticipate changes in inflow, optimize energy use, and avoid inefficiencies.   Read more about how #AI is transforming water management in this blog article by #TeamDARROW members Maarten Van Loo and Frie Van Bauwel 👇   https://lnkd.in/eEbqBMJ7 #wastewater #innovation #WaterManagement

🌍 Happy World Energy Day! 🌟   Today we celebrate the incredible advancements in energy innovation that have contributed to our world's progress. It is a moment to reflect on the pivotal role energy plays in our lives and the opportunities it presents for a sustainable future.   By integrating AI and data-driven techniques, the DARROW project stands as an example of how technology can improve the traditional and resource-intensive methods in wastewater treatment. We are working towards more sustainable energy use.   Speaking of AI: We asked the Canva AI image generator to draw a futuristic wastewater treatment plant. Marvel at the future!   #WorldEnergyDay #Sustainability #CleanEnergy #Innovation

Dive into the world of wastewater stats on World Statistics Day   From generating energy to offsetting pollution, wastewater is a powerful resource. Yet, its benefits are not fully harnessed.   On #WorldStatisticsDay, let’s shine a light on the untapped potential of wastewater and its role in building a more sustainable future.   Discover some intriguing statistics and fun facts about wastewater's potential below 👇

What if the water that flows down our drains could do more than just disappear?   Across Europe, various projects are turning industrial wastewater into valuable resources like biogas, fertiliser, and even ingredients for food and cosmetics.   In Spain, the Mahou San Miguel brewery is using wastewater filled with organic matter to generate biogas for power and heat. This innovation, part of the ULTIMATE Water EU project, turns leftover hops, grains, and beer into valuable energy for the site. The success has prompted plans to expand the bioreactor, with future projections covering up to 6% of the brewery’s energy needs.   Alongside ULTIMATE, the WIDER UPTAKE EU Project is focusing on tackling regulatory and social hurdles to wastewater recovery. In Prague, for example, the project is exploring the reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation, while in Norway, they are recovering fertilisers from industrial wastewater. The project is building a roadmap to promote water reuse and recovery on a global scale.   Both ULTIMATE and WIDER UPTAKE demonstrate how diverse industries can collaborate to turn waste into valuable resources, making strides towards a circular economy.   Learn more about these projects in this article from the Horizon Magazine 👉 https://lnkd.in/e6V-CjbQ     #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #EUResearch

Last week, we met in Antwerp to update each other on the latest developments and plan ahead for the next 6-12 months. Lots of exciting developments going on. Stay tuned for updates on our #AI tools for #wastewater treatment!   Many thanks to our hosts at VITO for the fantastic meeting organisation! 🙌   #TeamDARROW members: Beñat Elduayen Echave Itxaro Errandonea Aranibar Cristina Rodríguez García Luis Vitores Valcárcel García, PhD Ricardo Rodriguez Jorge Sofía Jaray Elena Torfs Kimberly Solon Janelcy Alferes Frie Van Bauwel Maarten Van Loo Stefan Weijers Ruud Peeters Steffen Buergers Ruud Kassing Otto Icke Omid Sobhani Thomas Huybrechts Klaas Bombeke Jose C. Porro Mihaela Bozukova Organisations involved in the DARROW project: Ceit Research Center BIOMATH - Ghent University VITO Waterschap De Dommel Royal HaskoningDHV imec Cobalt Water Global ESCI - European Science Communication Institute

Time to spend smarter: Investing in a water-secure future   With global water challenges growing more complex, governments need to rethink how they allocate public funds. According to The World Bank, ensuring water security requires not just more investment but smarter spending.   What does this mean exactly? The key lies in: 🔧 Infrastructure development 💻 Technology adoption 👥 Supporting vulnerable populations   By focusing on sustainable and equitable solutions, public investments can generate greater returns for communities and ecosystems.   A strategic approach to water management helps address long-term issues like water scarcity, sanitation, and climate resilience. However, more efficient public expenditure is critical to ensuring the effectiveness of these efforts, reducing waste, and maximising impact.   Find out more about the World Bank’s insights here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eTnzZ6ed

💡 What if wastewater could fuel a circular economy by recycling precious resources? In the quest for a sustainable future, recovering finite resources is key – and phosphorus is no exception. Phosphorus, a crucial nutrient for plans, is now being recovered from wastewater treatment plants, helping to close the nutrient cycle. The P-Net project, led by Technische Universität Braunschweig, is demonstrating how this works by recovering struvite, a phosphorous fertiliser, directly from sewage sludge. What’s more, this eco-friendly fertiliser is already approved for organic farming in the EU in accordance with the EU Organic Regulation. With new regulations in Germany mandating that wastewater treatment plants recover and recycle phosphorus from sewadge sludge by 2029, projects like P-Net are leading the way in transforming wastewater into a valuable resource. By enhancing struvite recovery techniques, the project aims to make phosphorus recycling not just a legal obligation, but a sustainable, economical solution for the future. Learn more about their innovative approach here and don’t miss the fascinating photo of struvite spheres under a polarisation microscope: https://lnkd.in/eFNbYYUe Efforts like the P-Net project are a prime example of how innovation can turn wastewater into valuable resources – an approach that resonates with our mission to rethink and optimize the potential of wastewater systems. #CircularEconomy #PhosphorusRecycling #WastewaterInnovation #Sustainability #OrganicFarming

Did you know that 80% of wastewater returns to nature untreated. 🤯   By improving wastewater treatment processes, we can significantly reduce the pollution burden on our rivers. Through innovation and collaboration, we are committed to improving water quality, protecting aquatic ecosystems, and ensuring the health of our rivers. Let’s strive for a future where every drop of water that flows back into our rivers reflects our dedication to responsible stewardship and environmental care. Happy World Rivers Day! 🌊🏞️💧 #WorldRiversDay

Embracing innovation on World Water Monitoring Day   Today, we celebrate the vital role of water in sustaining life and reflect on our duty to protect this precious resource. As we mark World Water Monitoring Day, we’re inspired by how Artificial Intelligence is transforming water management – from real-time quality monitoring to optimizing wastewater treatment. 💡💻   At DARROW, we are proud to contribute to this innovation. Our AI-driven solutions are designed to make wastewater treatment more energy-efficient and sustainable, directly supporting the goals of this important day.   To learn more about the AI tools we are developing, visit our website: https://www.wastewater.ai/   It’s exciting to see how collaborative efforts in water management are bringing us closer to sustainable solutions for global water challenges.   #WorldWaterMonitoringDay