- The CHERISH2O project at Antwerp's port will cost approximately €730,000.
- The project aims to purify and reuse industrial waste water, reducing water consumption.
- A pilot facility will be set up to test waste stream cleaning from different companies.
- The Flemish Climate Adaptation Plan aspires for companies to completely recycle water by 2040.
Project Overview
This month, the CHERISH2O (CHEmical industry water Reuse In a Sustainable Harbour) project starts at the port of Antwerp. Port of Antwerp-Bruges, VITO, essenscia, VMM, and Antea Group will investigate whether industrial waste water from chemical companies in the port can be purified on a large scale and reused as process water. By producing their own process water from waste water streams, the companies will reduce their water consumption and mitigate risks around water shortages during droughts, while helping safeguard the drinking water supply to citizens.
Participating Companies
Chemical companies such as Ashland, BASF, Bayer, Borealis, Envalior, Evonik, ExxonMobil, Ineos, Lanxess, 3M, Monument Chemical, and TotalEnergies are involved in the project. These companies rely heavily on water for their operations and are looking into long-term solutions to ensure a continuous water supply by switching to circular water use.
Project Steps
CHERISH2O will first assess how much water companies need and how much waste water they currently discharge. It will then identify which business clusters would benefit most from joint waste water reuse. The study will also evaluate the costs, benefits, and environmental impact of waste water reuse and compare the necessary purification technologies. A pilot facility will be set up to test the cleaning of waste streams from different companies. Additionally, the study will explore how certain substances in waste water can serve as raw materials for other processes and examine the legal framework and business models for large-scale implementation.
Funding and Goals
The project will cost approximately €730,000, funded by the project partners and participating companies, with financial support from the Flemish government's Blue Deal funds. The initiative aligns with the Flemish Climate Adaptation Plan, which aims for companies to completely recycle their water and minimize the use of drinking and groundwater by 2040.
