From Innovation to Action: SOLUCIR Promoted at WIE2026 in Dublin

Dublin, Ireland, 13–14 October 2026 – The EU-funded SOLUCIR project participated in Water Innovation Europe 2026, contributing to discussions on Europe’s water security and showcasing innovative approaches to circular and decentralised water management.

Represented by Pepe Puchol-Salort from Imperial College London, SOLUCIR contributed to the Water-Oriented Living Labs (WOLLs) Network panel on “Water Security: Securing Europe’s Water Future” and was featured at the event’s exhibition through the WaterBOOST methodology.

Advancing Water Security Through Decentralised Solutions

During the WOLLs Network panel, Pepe Puchol-Salort highlighted the importance of decentralised water management solutions in addressing droughts and strengthening water resilience.

The discussion, moderated by Andrea Rubini, Director of Operations at Water Europe, brought together Guillermo Zaragoza (Sustainable Desalination Living Lab), Yannick Vanhaegenborgh (Port of Antwerp-Bruges) and Jordi Moreno (WaterCampus) to explore how innovative projects and Living Labs can contribute to securing Europe’s water future.

Pepe’s contribution reflected the core objectives of SOLUCIR, a four-year EU-funded project working to accelerate the adoption of circular and decentralised water and wastewater management solutions.

As climate change, droughts and growing urban populations place increasing pressure on conventional water infrastructure, SOLUCIR promotes a hybrid approach that integrates local, modular technologies with existing centralised systems. This approach aims to improve flexibility, strengthen resilience and support more sustainable water management.

Showcasing WaterBOOST at the Exhibition

Alongside his participation in the panel, Pepe Puchol-Salort also exhibited WaterBOOST on behalf of Imperial College London’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Developed by Imperial College London and the World Economic Forum, WaterBOOST received Water Europe’s 2025 Innovation Award in the Governance category, recognising its contribution to innovative approaches to water governance.

The exhibition at Water Innovation Europe 2026 highlighted how the WaterBOOST methodology is now being applied within Horizon Europe initiatives, including SOLUCIR, connecting innovative governance frameworks with practical approaches to sustainable water management.

Supporting Europe’s Transition Towards Climate-Resilient Water Systems

SOLUCIR’s participation in Water Innovation Europe 2026 reinforced the project’s commitment to advancing water security through circularity, decentralisation and innovation.

By promoting water reuse at the source and integrating decentralised solutions with existing infrastructure, the project seeks to reduce pollution, improve resource efficiency and strengthen water supply resilience in urban, peri-urban and post-disaster environments.

The event provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge with water-sector stakeholders and highlight how innovative approaches can contribute to building more flexible, sustainable and climate-resilient water systems across Europe.