Aquafin and Sweco win international award for pioneering wastewater treatment plant
The first full-scale wastewater treatment plant in Flanders capable of removing micropollutants such as pharmaceutical residues, cosmetics and PFAS compounds has received an international award. The installation, developed by Catalisti members Aquafin and Sweco, combines advanced treatment technologies with valuable operational insights for future wastewater treatment projects. It received a bronze award in the 'Market-changing Water Technology & Infrastructure' category of the IWA Project Innovation Awards 2026.
Just over a year ago, Aquafin commissioned a new treatment facility in Aartselaar, in the province of Antwerp. The €10 million investment was designed to help prepare the Flemish water sector for future European requirements on the removal of micropollutants from wastewater. While the strictest requirements will only become mandatory in 2045, the installation is already generating valuable operational experience. “The lessons we are already learning today will help us in the future,” said Bernard De Potter, Administrator-General of the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM), at the time.
Removing micropollutants through advanced treatment
Conventional wastewater treatment removes organic matter and nutrients, but does not fully eliminate micropollutants. These are chemical substances that occur in very low concentrations in water, including residues from pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, pesticides and short-chain PFAS compounds. Even at low concentrations, such substances can harm aquatic ecosystems when they enter surface waters. They can contribute to antimicrobial resistance, meaning that bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites become resistant to the medicines designed to combat them.
Situated at the Aquafin site in Aartselaar, the installation combines three complementary treatment technologies. First, disc filters remove remaining suspended solids. Next, ozonation technology in a dedicated concrete tank oxidises and breaks down a broad spectrum of organic micropollutants. Finally, granular activated carbon filters capture any remaining pollutants and transformation products. Together, these technologies enable the removal of micropollutants, improve local surface water quality, and support the transition towards more robust and sustainable wastewater treatment systems. It is the first installation in Flanders to apply this combination of technologies at full scale. The treatment installation was officially inaugurated on 23 May 2025, following preparations that Aquafin and the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) had initiated in 2017.
Jan Goossens, CEO of Aquafin:
"Our award-winning project helps us prepare for Europe's higher ambitions. The first installation for quaternary treatment of micropollutants in Flanders demonstrates what is possible when partners combine expertise and ambition. Aquafin sincerely thanks Sweco and all teams involved for their excellent collaboration. Together, we are helping wastewater treatment plants evolve into resource-efficient hubs that restore ecosystems and create lasting value for society."
"Our award-winning project helps us prepare for Europe's higher ambitions. The first installation for quaternary treatment of micropollutants in Flanders demonstrates what is possible when partners combine expertise and ambition. Aquafin sincerely thanks Sweco and all teams involved for their excellent collaboration. Together, we are helping wastewater treatment plants evolve into resource-efficient hubs that restore ecosystems and create lasting value for society."
Greet De Messemaeker, Business Unit Manager Clean Water & Water Security at Sweco:
"This recognition confirms that the combination of process expertise and multidisciplinary engineering can deliver a robust solution for the removal of micropollutants. I would like to thank Aquafin for its trust, our Interreg partners, and every colleague who helped make this project possible."
"This recognition confirms that the combination of process expertise and multidisciplinary engineering can deliver a robust solution for the removal of micropollutants. I would like to thank Aquafin for its trust, our Interreg partners, and every colleague who helped make this project possible."
Qian Xin Liang, Senior Project Leader at Sweco:
"The successful completion of the installation in Aartselaar demonstrates the value of strong collaboration between Sweco and its partners Aquafin, Mols Contractors, Litran, Deckx Elektro Mechanica and Xylem. The breakthrough lies in the integration of disc filtration, ozonation and granular activated carbon filtration into a single reliable full-scale system."
"The successful completion of the installation in Aartselaar demonstrates the value of strong collaboration between Sweco and its partners Aquafin, Mols Contractors, Litran, Deckx Elektro Mechanica and Xylem. The breakthrough lies in the integration of disc filtration, ozonation and granular activated carbon filtration into a single reliable full-scale system."
European legislation drives innovation in water treatment
The project is also providing valuable practical experience for the implementation of the revised European Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. Under the new legislation, quaternary treatment will become mandatory by the end of 2045 for wastewater treatment plants serving 150,000 population equivalents or more. For smaller plants, a risk assessment will determine whether additional treatment steps are required. Intermediate implementation targets have been set for 2033 and 2039.
The full-scale operational data generated at the Aartselaar site will help future projects make informed decisions on design, automation, monitoring, maintenance, safety and cost efficiency. By providing practical insights into the implementation of advanced wastewater treatment technologies, the installation is helping prepare the sector for the next generation of water quality standards.
About SwecoSweco plans and designs the sustainable communities and cities of tomorrow. Together with its clients, the company’s 23,000 architects, engineers and other experts develop solutions that accelerate the green transition, maximise the opportunities of digitalisation, and strengthen the resilience of society. Sweco is Europe’s leading architecture and engineering consultancy, with revenues of approximately SEK 31 billion in 2025. The company is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.
About AquafinAquafin is the Flemish Government’s partner for the development, financing and operation of wastewater treatment infrastructure in Flanders. The company collects domestic wastewater from municipal sewer systems through collector networks and transports it to treatment plants, where it is purified in accordance with European and Flemish standards. Aquafin combines robust infrastructure management with a strong focus on innovation and contributes its expertise to Belgian and international research projects that support the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive.
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