Circular Stories is a monthly series on regional experiences and practices fostering the circular economy across Europe.
The Regional Development Agency for Podravje – Maribor (Eastern Slovenia), coordinator of the CCRI region Podravje and a member of the AER Working Group on Bioeconomy, pioneers an innovative approach to water management through DEMO2, one of the 10 demonstrator sites of the CircSyst project across Europe.
About the CircSyst project – Circular Systemic Solutions
CircSyst (Circular Systemic Solutions for Plastic, Packaging, Bio-Waste, and Water) is a cutting-edge Horizon Europe-funded project, coordinated by AIJU, that unites a consortium of 32 public and private entities from eight European countries, including Spain, Belgium, Finland, Greece, Sweden, Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, and the United Kingdom.
Reusing wastewater for sustainable agriculture
Coordinated by the Regional Development Agency for Podravje – Maribor, the demonstrator site at the central wastewater treatment plant in Ptuji aims to test processes to clean municipal wastewater, making it suitable for agricultural applications, including livestock drinking water and washing. The site is a joint effort by RDA Podravje – Maribor (CCRI coordinator), the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, and Komunala Ptuj. It explores innovative ways to reuse treated urban wastewater for agriculture and utilities, helping to create a truly circular water system.
About the demonstrator site in Ptuj
A pilot device with advanced membrane purification and ozonisation technology is being installed in Ptuj to clean municipal wastewater to a safe, high-quality standard. The purified water will be tested on various vegetables and agricultural uses, from irrigation and indoor farming to drinking water for livestock, washing, and other purposes. By developing and demonstrating these processes, DEMO 2 aims to show how wastewater can become a valuable resource that reduces pressure on freshwater supplies and creates sustainable solutions for agriculture.
Going beyond Ptuj: upscaling CircSyst
As the project progresses, it is generating interest for upscaling and multiplication. Several wastewater treatment plants and agricultural stakeholders, as well as municipalities in the region, have expressed interest in replicating the demonstrated use of treated wastewater, also applying the model on a bigger scale for larger farming areas. This innovative solution aims to close the water loop by creating a sustainable system for the agricultural industry.
