Rethinking water resilience: Insights from the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition
Sweco joined water professionals from around the world at the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition in Glasgow to explore how collaboration, innovation and smarter long-term investment can strengthen water resilience. Discussions focused on the growing pressures of ageing infrastructure, climate change, water scarcity, flooding and pollution.
Mattias Salomonsson, Research and Development Manager for Water at Sweco, attended the congress alongside colleagues from across Europe to exchange knowledge and share perspectives on these challenges.
Mattias Salomonsson. Photo: Anna W Thorbjörnsson
“A central message from the event was clear: delivering resilient water systems is not simply a matter of replacing old assets,” he says. “It requires an integrated approach, combining strategic investment, advanced treatment technologies, digital tools, climate adaptation and expertise across the full water cycle.”
Through presentations, dialogue with stakeholders and conversations at the Sweco stand, Sweco experts shared insights and practical solutions for planning and designing resilient water systems, treatment plants and related infrastructure.
“Building resilience means understanding where risks are greatest, how systems interact and where investment can create the most value,” says Mattias.
These themes are also explored in Sweco’s report, Old pipes, new pressures: Transforming Europe’s Water Infrastructure, which was launched during the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition.
IWA Project Innovation Awards 2026: Recognition for innovative micropollutant treatment
A project in Flanders provided a practical example of this integrated approach. During the congress, Sweco and Aquafin, together with the project’s contractors, received a bronze medal in the Market-changing Water Technology & Infrastructure category of the IWA Project Innovation Awards 2026.
The award recognised Flanders’ first quaternary micropollutant treatment installation, located at the Aartselaar wastewater treatment plant.
The installation combines three consecutive treatment stages: disc filtration, ozonation and granular activated carbon filtration. Together, they remove a broad range of organic micropollutants, including residues from medicines, cosmetics and pesticides as well as PFAS compounds. It is the first installation in Flanders to apply this combination at full scale.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Grote Struisbeek, supporting local surface-water quality. The site also generates operational knowledge to inform future projects in Flanders, the Netherlands and across Europe. Sweco supported Aquafin with the feasibility study, preliminary and detailed design, permit application, tender documents and execution supervision. The work brought together expertise in process design, electromechanics, civil engineering, electricity, automation and infrastructure into one coherent solution.
“This recognition confirms that combining process expertise with multidisciplinary engineering can deliver a robust solution for removing micropollutants. I thank Aquafin for its trust, the Interreg partners and every colleague whose work made this project possible,” says Greet De Messemaeker, Business Unit Manager Clean Water & Water Security at Sweco.
“Our award-winning project helps us prepare for Europe’s higher ambitions. The First Quaternary Micropollutant Treatment Plant in Flanders shows what is possible when partners combine expertise and ambition. Aquafin sincerely thanks Sweco and all the teams involved for the excellent collaboration. Together, we are helping water treatment plants evolve into resource-smart hubs that restore ecosystems and create lasting value for society.”, says Jan Goossens, CEO of Aquafin.
Working together for resilient communities
The discussions in Glasgow highlighted the importance of integrating water risks into planning and investment decisions, protecting water resources and renewing critical infrastructure.
“We need further action to strengthen resilience, including integrating water risks into planning and investment decisions, protecting water resources and accelerating the renewal of critical infrastructure,” Mattias Salomonsson says.
He adds: “Whether the challenge is securing drinking-water supply, reducing pollution, managing stormwater or preparing communities for floods and droughts, solutions need to be adapted to local conditions while drawing on shared knowledge and innovation.”
Sweco supports clients across the full project lifecycle—from strategic advice and early studies to planning, design, implementation and operational optimisation. Learn more about Sweco’s water services
