CHERISH2O is a collaborative project focused on circular water use in the chemical industry. It aims to enable the large‑scale reuse of treated industrial wastewater as reliable process water, reducing dependence on freshwater sources and lowering discharge volumes. The initiative addresses water security risks linked to drought and supports more efficient, resilient utility operations across chemical production sites.
Core activities include mapping participating facilities’ water demand and effluent profiles, identifying opportunities for shared solutions, and comparing purification trains (such as physico‑chemical, biological, membrane, and advanced oxidation steps). The project conducts pilot‑scale trials on representative waste streams and evaluates costs, environmental performance, and the potential recovery of useful substances from wastewater. It also examines regulatory requirements and viable business models for implementation at scale. CHERISH2O’s objective is to provide technically and economically robust pathways for industrial water reuse, supporting reduced use of drinking and groundwater while maintaining reliable process water supply for chemical producers.
