Developments in our professional field are moving ahead at a lightening pace, the stakes are high and so too are the investments. All of which calls for a sound long-term vision. That’s why AquaMinerals together with the drinking water companies drew up a so-called Roadmap. On 15 June the first projects got underway.
This is the collective vision of the Drinking Water Residuals Roadmap 2030: ‘In 2030 all drinking water production residuals are recycled for high-value applications. The residuals are of equal value to the primary raw materials they replace. Thanks to efficient logistics and high returns, the residuals do not cost the drinking water companies anything. AquaMinerals and its participants remain at the forefront in Europe in the valorisation of residuals and constantly discover new applications.’ The Roadmap encompasses our collective ambitions in the areas of sustainability, financing, disposal and image, framed over time periods of 3, 5 and 7 years.
Making progress
To progress towards this future vision, we jointly selected five acceleration projects which affect the entire chain, from treatment process to the client: (1) reuse of own materials, (2) on-site monitoring and systematic increase of aquafer dry-matter, (3) production of coagulant from aquafer, (4) resource recovery from brine, and (5) a residuals knowledge platform.
Pressure cooker
These are extra projects on top of the usual activities of AquaMinerals and the drinking water companies. Over a pressure-cooker period of three months, we selected the projects, elaborated the project plans, and arranged the budget and scheduling to carry them out. On 15 June all the plans were approved and we could actually begin. ‘Fantastic! I never expected we’d be able to achieve so much in so little time,’ exclaimed one of the participants after it was over. ‘Now we can really get down to work!’