Microbial safety checks: the key to unlocking Europe's direct potable reuse revolution?

Near-real-time microbial monitoring data supplied by Swiss-based bNovate Technologies is ensuring Europe’s first direct potable reuse (DPR) scheme meets strict regulations as the continent faces growing pressure on freshwater supplies. 

The Water Production Centre (WPC) in Hofstade is the continent’s first direct potable reuse (DPR) project using municipal wastewater, producing around 400 million litres of drinking water per year, supplying approximately 12,000 people. By the end of 2026, the plant’s production capacity will double to 800 million litres a year.

The Water Production Centre (WPC) in Hofstade in Belgium

The project has been developed by Waterunie, a utility joint venture involving Farys and De Watergroep, in collaboration with Belgian water specialist Nuoro, Aquafin and the CAPTURE research platform. In 2025, the project was awarded the Water Reuse Europe – Innovation Prize, which rewards initiatives that demonstrate excellence in addressing current/future water supply challenges through water reuse. 

DPR is increasingly viewed as a strategy to drive urban resilience, cost efficiency and sustainable development. In 2024, the global market for water reuse was valued at €15 billion and is projected to reach €26 billion by 2030, according to a recent report by the International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA). 

Across the EU, over 86% of wastewater has treatment coverage, with DPR expansion being seen as a way for the continent to expand its climate resilience strategy.

bNovate Technology BactoSense 2

Direct potable reuse demands continuous, near-real-time assurance of water quality – something that conventional microbiological testing methods are not designed to provide. BactoSense meets that requirement by continually monitoring microbial cell counts and integrating with SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) systems to alert operators to any abnormal changes. BactoSense reduces testing time from as much as three days, using traditional laboratory testing, to as little as 20 minutes. 

bNovate’s BactoSense technology installed within the Hofstade plant

BactoSense addresses the three main confidence barriers to DPR adoption: public; regulatory, and operational. While membrane filtration, activated carbon filtration, and disinfection systems clean the water, when used as the final stage of the DPR process, bNovate’s BactoSense monitors the treated water in near-real time, providing fast and accurate insights into changes in water quality.

Bart de Gusseme, senior expert, Innovation Water at FARYS, said: “BactoSense technology serves as a valuable parameter in our SCADA system. If it detects abnormal changes to microbial levels in the water output, it is programmed to automatically stop the plant. Not only does this help us to safeguard the outgoing water quality, but it also fosters confidence in potable reuse as a safe drinking water source.”

Serge Gander, bNovate Technologies CEO

Serge Gander, CEO of bNovate Technologies, said: “DPR is no longer a pilot project. It is the future of water supply for water-stressed regions, and Europe is waking up to that fast.”

He added: “The IDRA's 2026 report makes clear that real-time monitoring is not optional; it is the foundation that makes the whole thing work. We have proven that at Hofstade. One bad surprise in a DPR scheme does not just damage operations; it can set back public and regulatory confidence for years. That is why continuous microbial monitoring is a must-have. You cannot scale reuse if you cannot measure the water quality from your treatment plant and, at the same time, create trust. That is what we do, and that is what the industry needs to understand.”