On Friday, June 20th, during its official EU Green Week online event, the ZeroPollution4Water Cluster showcased cutting-edge solutions for achieving zero pollution in drinking and groundwater resources. A highlight of the session was the presentation of the ToDrinQ tool by Dirk Vries, a leading expert from KWR Water Research, aimed at revolutionising the design of Drinking Water Treatment Plants (DWTPs).
The session, titled “Bringing technologies to market uptake,” addressed the urgent need for innovative, flexible, and resilient water treatment infrastructure in the face of climate change and increasing pollution. Mr. Vries introduced ToDrinQ, a web-based Design Support Tool (DST) created to empower water utilities and system designers.
The ToDrinQ tool provides a comprehensive framework for designing optimal DWTPs by:
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Analysing diverse water sources, including both groundwater and surface water.
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Allowing users to define key criteria, such as treatment technologies, operational costs, and CO₂ footprint.
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Generating a detailed comparison of different treatment options, including their respective pros, cons, uncertainties, and environmental impact.
The goal of ToDrinQ is to put powerful, data-driven decision-making into the hands of those who manage our most precious resource. By considering everything from source water quality to carbon footprint, we can help design the flexible and sustainable water treatment plants of the future.
Crucially, the roadmap for the tool emphasizes market uptake through accessibility. The ToDrinQ tool is planned to be made publicly available as an open-source project on GitHub. This strategy aims to promote widespread adoption, encourage further collaboration, and integrate the tool with other emerging technologies in the water sector.
This initiative represents a significant step forward in the mission to achieve the EU’s zero-pollution goals and ensure the safety and security of drinking water for all citizens. You can watch the full event on YouTube.
