\n
\n\n \t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
In an urban context<\/h2>\n
The urban context is creating increasing opportunities for local and collective cycles<\/strong>: rainwater recovery, greywater reuse, collective buffers, reuse of treated wastewater, beneficial use of dewatering water and smart connections between buildings, public space and infrastructure.<\/p>\n
The greatest gains are often found in combinations:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n
water buffered at district level is used locally;<\/li>\n
water collected in buildings reduces pressure on sewers;<\/li>\n
treated flows are given new applications that do not require drinking water.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Circular water concepts contribute to more robust cities, more efficient use of scarce resources and a more reliable water supply<\/strong> for residents, businesses and public functions.<\/p>\n
Sweco uses reuse as a design principle. <\/strong>
\nThis requires insight into water quality, flow rates, storage capacity, usage profiles, regulations, health, maintenance and operation. Considering these elements in an integrated way creates a system that works technically, is safe and remains manageable in the long term.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t $\"Vergroend$ <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
\n\n \t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
For safe recreation<\/h2>\n
Water is not only infrastructure. It is also an experience<\/strong>: in parks, on public squares, along quays, in recreational areas and sometimes even as bathing water.<\/p>\n
This creates opportunities for social interaction, relaxation, health and urban cooling. But it also requires a careful balance between ecology, safety, water quality and management<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
The bathing water project in Diest<\/a> illustrates how water can evolve from a technical precondition into high-quality public space. Recreational water requires more than attractive design. It requires insight into flow, water quality, sources of pollution, ecological carrying capacity, management, monitoring and risks to users.<\/p>\n
This is precisely where the added value of an integrated approach lies. Sweco combines hydrological, ecological, urban planning, technical and safety expertise<\/strong> to design water spaces that are not only attractive, but also function within the wider water system.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t $\"\"$ <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
\n\n \t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
At building level<\/h2>\n
Many water challenges come together in buildings: drinking water, domestic hot water, rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, buffering, infiltration, cooling, fire safety and comfort.<\/p>\n
\n
Rainwater can be used for toilet flushing, cleaning, irrigation or technical applications.<\/li>\n
Greywater from showers or washbasins can, with appropriate treatment and safety measures, be reused for applications that do not require drinking-water quality.<\/li>\n
The water cycle does not stop at the plot boundary: at site level, buildings can also contribute to collective buffers and delayed discharge.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
This calls for a different way of designing: integrating water technologies from the outset into architecture<\/a>, structural engineering, building services, outdoor space and operation<\/strong>. Space for storage, pipe networks, filtration, monitoring and maintenance must be provided in good time. Otherwise, reuse becomes complex, expensive or difficult to manage at a later stage.<\/p>\n
Our water consultants work together with our architects, landscape designers, soil experts and engineers to make water reuse<\/a> part of the daily lives of residents, employees and visitors \u2013 without compromising on comfort, safety or health<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t $\"Uitzicht$ <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
What can public and private organisations do?<\/h2>\n
The urgency is clear. Climate change is causing more intense peak rainfall and longer periods of drought. Water quality is under pressure. Societal expectations around health, liveability and sustainability<\/a> are increasing.
\nWaiting until problems arise is no longer a strategy.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Take the full water cycle into account<\/span><\/h5>\n
Only then do opportunities for buffering, treatment and reuse become visible.<\/p>\n
Use the following questions as a guide \u2014 Lansink\u2019s Ladder<\/span><\/h5>\n
\n
Where can you avoid water consumption?<\/li>\n
Where can you reduce demand?<\/li>\n
Where can you reuse suitable water flows?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Only then should discharge be considered.<\/p>\n
Combine source-based measures with reuse<\/span><\/h5>\n
Buffers, wadis, green roofs, rainwater tanks and water squares are more than temporary storage. Use captured water for green spaces, cleaning, sanitary facilities, recreation or technical applications.<\/p>\n
Reduce pressure on combined sewers and overflows<\/span><\/h5>\n
Retain rainwater locally, disconnect it and reuse it wherever possible.<\/p>\n
Let water quality guide reuse<\/span><\/h5>\n
Not every water flow is suitable for every application. Through monitoring and quality control, you can determine which water can be safely reused and which treatment or pre-treatment is required.<\/p>\n
Embed reuse across multiple scales<\/span><\/h5>\n
Do not look only at individual buildings, but also at sites, districts, public space and infrastructure. Collective solutions often make reuse more efficient and robust.<\/p>\n
Include operation and maintenance from the outset<\/span><\/h5>\n
Technology, ease of use and responsibilities must be clear from the start.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
Water solutions that connect different scales<\/h2>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Water determines how safe our streets are during peak rainfall, how healthy our living environment is, how resilient our drinking water supply remains and how attractive our public spaces become.<\/p>\n
Sweco develops water solutions<\/a> that connect different scales: from city to network, from watercourse to building, from source-control measure to end user<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
In this integrated vision, reuse is becoming increasingly important, in response to flooding, drought and pressure on drinking water sources<\/strong>. It makes public spaces more robust, buildings more efficient and cities more resilient. The future of water management<\/a> lies in smart design, timely intervention, local use and integrated collaboration<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
By combining hydrology, sewerage, water quality, ecology, infrastructure, public space, buildings and digital monitoring<\/a>, our water consultants, soil experts, environmental planners, urban planners, architects and engineers address these challenges in an integrated way.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Discuss your project challenges with our water consultants<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
Other news<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"photo$ \t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWater, Expert Talk, Liveable cities, Health & Wellbeing, Climate Adaptation & Resilience<\/span>17\/08\/2026<\/em>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Water management without reuse is no longer fit for purpose<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Read more<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"photo$ \t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIndustry Transition, Water, Expert Talk, Sweco Loket, Industrietransitie<\/span>10\/08\/2026<\/em>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Industry and water: permit certainty starts with demonstrable water quality<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Read more<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"group$ \t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGood Soil<\/span>05\/08\/2026<\/em>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Sweco Belgium welcomes All Soil Assistance and further strengthens its soil expertise<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Read more<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n
\n\t
\n\n
\n
\n
Sign up for our newsletter<\/h2> <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n \n
\n Receive updates on groundbreaking projects, sustainable solutions, and exclusive insights from Sweco. Subscribe now and be part of the future transformation.\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/div>\n\n
\n

Water management without reuse is no longer fit for purpose<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Read more<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t