Meet Delphine Vandeputte and Lara Speijer, two young PhD researchers at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel who are investigating a pressing question: how can wastewater help us combat drought?

As our region increasingly faces dry summers and declining groundwater levels, Delphine and Lara are working on an innovative solution: reusing treated wastewater through subsurface irrigation.

This technique uses a network of drainage pipes beneath agricultural land to deliver water directly into the soil—minimizing evaporation and replenishing groundwater. “During the dry summer of 2022, we already saw remarkable results. Our test fields remained noticeably greener than the surrounding fields, and the groundwater level rose locally by about 30 centimeters,” says Lara.

And there’s more! The team is also collaborating with communication experts to build public trust in the use of treated wastewater. As Delphine emphasizes: “People often hesitate when they hear ‘wastewater,’ even if it’s treated and safe.”