*Challenging embedded thinking and practices in the water sector *Embracing circular economy principles and technological inn ... ovation *Piloting10 full scale deployments in 8 EU Member States to define the next generation of water systems and solutions As appetite for the world’s most important resource continues to grow – from water use in industrial processes and agriculture to intensity of urban demand – a new European consortium called nextGen is setting out to challenge embedded thinking and practices in the water sector. By embracing ‘circular economy’ principles and technological innovation to preserve natural capital, optimise resources and improve system efficiency, nextGen aims to boost sustainability and bring new market dynamics throughout the water cycle. Amongst an array of solutions proposed, advance treatment technologies and nature-inspired storage solutions will optimise water resources; managing and recovering energy more efficiently will turn treatment plants into positive energy generators; and ground breaking nutrient mining and reuse will create new products from waste streams. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme read more