We visited DTU Sustain to speak with Associate Professor Borja Valverde Pérez, who works daily on improving wastewater management systems around the world. For Borja, it is crucial that we begin rethinking how we manage wastewater in Denmark.
“One of our biggest challenges is population growth, which means we need to achieve more within less space. Therefore, wastewater systems in larger municipalities must become more compact. We should explore alternatives to relying solely on centralized treatment plants in order to improve the resilience of our water infrastructure.”
In the future, we will face more and stricter treatment requirements. Combined with constantly fluctuating water inflows, this makes it increasingly complicated to find one simple solution to our wastewater management challenges.
“We need to move away from the mindset that there is one solution to every problem. Centralized treatment plants work, but in many cases they do not make sense. There are countless factors at play, and we must consider different solutions depending on technical considerations as well as socio-economic and geographical contexts.”
At its core, the task of utility companies is to treat our water as efficiently as possible for the benefit of public health and safety. It may sound straightforward, but it is much easier said than done. We must understand how the entire system fits together, because reality calls for context-specific solutions.
“We need holistic thinking to develop context-specific solutions. Utilities should consider other parts of the water system when planning centralized treatment, as hidden costs may arise from sewer network expansions or unexpected environmental impacts. Decentralized treatment can also protect local treatment plants from new environmental pollutants regulated under the latest EU directive. For example, wastewater from hospitals can be treated more effectively onsite without placing a heavy burden on the central treatment plant.”
Read more about Watopi’s work to future-proof and optimize wastewater management here on the site.
About Watopi
Founded in Horsens, Denmark, in 2020 by Jakob Søholm (CEO) and Robert Byriel Riedel (Chairman of the Board), Watopi specializes in developing decentralized technologies and solutions to revolutionize wastewater management for hospitals, small communities, and households.
Using advanced membrane technologies, Watopi sets new standards for cost efficiency and treatment effectiveness, contributing to greater sustainability. By reducing reliance on extensive sewage networks, the solutions enable transformative changes in the sector.
With a strong focus on quality, innovation, and responsibility, Watopi is paving the way for the clean water environments of tomorrow.
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