KTH, Norrvatten and SVOA strengthen collaboration for sustainable drinking water
Researchers from KTH and representatives from Norrvatten and SVOA (Stockholm Vatten och Avfall) recently came together for a seminar at KTH to explore opportunities for collaboration. The discussions focused on sustainable drinking water, the development of water and wastewater systems, and biotechnological approaches for circular cities. The seminar was hosted by WaterCentre.
“The most effective collaboration occurs when research and operational needs are aligned from the outset,” says Daniel Hellström from Norrvatten.
Presentations were given by WaterCentre’s Director, Professor Zahra Kalantari; Associate Professor Zeynep Cetecioglu Gurol; Daniel Hellström from Norrvatten; and Dinko Riihimäki Lukes and Elias Thörnqvist from SVOA, followed by an open discussion.
All parties agree that close collaboration between research environments and water utilities is essential to ensure a safe, sustainable and future-proof water system – from drinking water supply to wastewater treatment and resource recovery. As Daniel Hellström, Head of Quality and Development at Norrvatten, puts it – researchers contribute cutting-edge knowledge, innovative methods and scientific expertise, while utilities provide real-world challenges, operational data and implementation capacity.
“This is particularly important not only for drinking water safety, but also for advancing wastewater treatment, climate adaptation and the circular use of resources such as energy and nutrients,” says Dinko Riihimäki Lukes, Development Engineer at SVOA.
Working together effectively
So how can KTH researchers and water utilities collaborate most effectively?
“The most effective collaboration occurs when research and operational needs are aligned from the outset. This involves jointly identifying research questions that address real operational challenges, co-designing projects to enable direct implementation of results, and maintaining continuous dialogue between researchers and utility staff,” says Daniel Hellström.
Both Norrvatten and SVOA see significant value in continuing to strengthen ties with KTH and WaterCentre – not only in research, but also in competence development and future recruitment. Enhanced collaboration in education and research is mutually beneficial and vital for addressing future challenges, particularly in a growing region like Stockholm, where demands on water and wastewater systems continue to increase.
Bridging technical disciplines
“WaterCentre can also play an important role in bridging technical disciplines – for example, between water engineering, digitalisation, urban planning and environmental science – which is increasingly important for utilities operating in a complex and expanding urban environment,” says Dinko Riihimäki Lukes.
Text and photo: Åsa Karsberg
Do you want to collaborate with researchers at KTH? Or are you a researcher wanting to collaborate with SVOA or Norrvatten? Email us at watercentre@kth.se .