The ZeroPollution4Water (ZP4W) Cluster, managed by Water Europe, is expanding its ranks with five newly accepted projects that will enrich its collaborative effort to achieve clean and safe water across Europe. Water Europe coordinated an open call and rigorous recruitment process to select these projects, ensuring they align with the cluster’s mission and bring fresh expertise. This expansion marks an exciting step forward for the cluster, which was launched in 2023 by Water Europe in partnership with the European Commission, and underscores its commitment to fostering innovation and synergy in the water sector.
A Rigorous Selection and Evaluation Process
The inclusion of new projects followed a structured evaluation and onboarding process led by Water Europe. During April 2025, a committee evaluated all applications based on clear criteria, such as:
- each project’s relevance to the cluster’s zero-pollution objectives
- the innovative value of its approach, complementarity with the cluster’s existing seven “sister” projects
- the willingness to actively participate in cluster Working Groups.
The evaluation panel conducted a thorough review of each proposal’s merits and fit within the cluster’s scope. Projects were required to submit detailed applications outlining their mission, goals, and alignment with the cluster’s priorities, and specify which cluster Working Groups they would contribute to and how.
Five projects emerged as top candidates and were officially accepted in May 2025. Water Europe has since coordinated their onboarding, introducing each new project to the cluster’s structures and planning integration activities. The selection process prioritized projects that demonstrated strong alignment with the cluster’s zero-pollution vision, original solutions to pressing water challenges, and a collaborative spirit. Each of the five selected initiatives brings something unique, from cutting-edge technologies to geographic reach, promising to enrich the cluster’s impact.
New Projects at a Glance: Five Innovative Initiatives Joining the Cluster
The five newly accepted projects span a variety of water-related challenges, reflecting the cluster’s broad zero-pollution mandate. Below is an overview of each project – highlighting their scope, innovative aspects, and how they plan to contribute to the ZP4W Cluster’s collaborative efforts:
🔹 LIFE ELEKTRA
Coordinated by Global Omnium (Spain), this project focuses on electrochemical nitrate removal from groundwater and surface water using renewable energy, with hydrogen recovery as a co-benefit.
🔹 NIAGARA
A Horizon Europe project led by ITENE (Spain), NIAGARA targets complex contaminants in drinking water through biosensors, enzymatic filtration, and hydraulic modelling.
🔹 LIFE PRISTINE
Coordinated by ACCIONA, this project tackles emerging pollutants across the full water cycle using nanofiltration, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), and digital control tools—boosting water quality and reuse.
🔹 LIFE CASCADE
Led by De Nora Water Technologies (Italy), this project addresses PFAS and microplastics in textile industrial wastewater with modular treatment systems and real-time monitoring technologies.
🔹 D4RUNOFF
Based in Denmark and coordinated by VandCenter Syd, this initiative develops AI-powered sensors and nature-based solutions to tackle pollution from urban stormwater runoff.
Strengthening the Cluster through Diversity and Synergy
The addition of these five projects will significantly strengthen the ZP4W Cluster, providing new perspectives, expertise, and opportunities for synergy. First, the projects broaden the cluster’s thematic and technical scope – covering areas like industrial wastewater treatment, stormwater management, advanced sensor technology, and emerging contaminants – which complement the focus of the cluster’s original projects. This means the cluster as a whole can now address a more complete water cycle: from preventing pollution at the source (e.g. through urban runoff control and industrial water reuse) to improving treatment processes for drinking water and groundwater protection. The innovative approaches brought by the new members (such as AI platforms, nature-based solutions, and circular economy models) will spark knowledge exchange and cross-fertilization of ideas within the cluster’s working groups.
Moreover, the new projects enhance the cluster’s geographic diversity and stakeholder reach. They involve partners and case studies from across Europe (including Southern and Northern Europe, and even neighbouring regions), linking different local challenges and solutions. This geographic spread will help the cluster tailor policy recommendations and best practices that are applicable in various contexts. Several new projects also engage industry players, utilities, and city authorities, connecting the cluster to a wider community of practice. By integrating these varied contributions, the cluster can foster stronger joint outputs – for example, co-authored policy briefs on contaminants of emerging concern, or shared data platforms – that leverage the broadened expertise. In short, the cluster’s collaborative network is being reinforced, becoming more interdisciplinary and robust.
Next Steps: Onboarding and Collaboration Kick-off
With the selection complete, the ZP4W Cluster is now focused on smoothly integrating the five new projects and kicking off collaboration. Over the summer, Water Europe’s cluster coordination team has scheduled bilateral meetings with each new project. These one-on-one sessions allow the cluster management to welcome the project teams, align on expectations, and identify the specific working groups and activities where each project will contribute. This tailored onboarding ensures that from day one, the new members know how to plug into the cluster’s communication channels and work plan. As noted in the cluster’s roadmap, June and July were devoted to assigning the new projects to appropriate Working Groups and defining initial contribution plans.
The real collaboration will scale up after the summer: in mid-September 2025, a cluster-wide session is planned that will bring together all new project teams and the leaders of each Working Group. This meeting will serve as an introduction and brainstorming workshop – new partners will present their project objectives in brief, and working group leaders will outline ongoing cluster initiatives, seeking areas of intersection. The goal is to spark discussions on how to coordinate efforts (for example, where a project’s case study or technology can be linked with another’s), and to formally initiate joint actions. By mid-September, the groundwork laid during bilateral onboarding will translate into concrete collaboration roadmaps.
Beyond that kick-off session, the cluster will fully incorporate the new projects into its regular activities. New members are expected to actively participate in cluster meetings, joint events, and publications going forward. In fact, some will be representing the cluster at upcoming conferences and policy forums, demonstrating the cluster’s growing voice in Europe’s water innovation landscape. Progress will be monitored through the cluster’s reporting and evaluation processes to ensure each project’s insights are being shared and integrated.
The ZeroPollution4Water Cluster’s expansion in an exciting new chapter. The five accepted projects strengthen the cluster’s capacity to tackle water pollution from multiple angles, from high-tech treatment solutions to preventative, nature-based strategies, all within a collaborative framework supported by Water Europe.