Program Overview

About This Course

The course ‘’Towards a Circular Water Future’’ introduces the principles of the circular water economy and highlights innovative approaches to water reuse. Participants will explore the importance of water reuse at global and European levels, compare traditional and circular water systems, and examine enabling technologies across agricultural, industrial, and urban contexts. The course also presents different technological innovations and solutions, offering concrete examples of applied practices. Through videos, readings, and interactive quizzes, learners will acquire both theoretical foundations and practical insights to address current challenges in water sustainability.

This MOOC has been developed by the consortium of researchers and practitioners coming from the University of Bologna (Italy), Bioazul (Spain), Ecofilae (France), AGENSO (Greece), ZSI (Austria), Isle Utilities (UK), and Fresh-Thoughts (Austria).

Target

The course is primarily designed for young water professionals seeking to expand their expertise in sustainable water management and circular economy principles. However, it is also suitable for different stakeholders, such as policy makers, researchers, and practitioners, interested in the field of water reuse.

Outcomes

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Define and explain the concept of a circular water economy and its importance in global and European contexts.
• Differentiate and compare traditional and circular water systems, identifying opportunities and limitations.
• Identify and describe key technologies for water reuse across agricultural, industrial, and urban applications.
• Analyse and evaluate innovative solutions and best practices developed within the BOOST-IN project.
• Apply acquired knowledge to practical scenarios, supporting evidence-based and sustainable decision-making in professional or academic settings.

Requirements

No specific prerequisites are required to enrol in the course. A general background or interest in environmental sciences, engineering, or water management may facilitate learning, but the course is designed to be accessible to a broad audience, including young professionals and students from related disciplines.

Activities

The course is organised into thematic modules, each including short video lectures introducing key theoretical concepts, reading materials and fact sheets for in-depth exploration, as well as self-assessment activities to connect theory to practice. The course is divided into different modules:

• Module 1: Introduction to the circular water economy - water reuse concepts, global and EU perspectives, and the transition from traditional to circular water systems
• Module 2: Technologies and solutions for water reuse - key treatment and polishing technologies, and main applications of reclaimed water
• Module 3: BOOST-IN innovations - presentation of real-world case studies of applied circular water practices
• Module 4: Business models in the circular water economy - introduction to business frameworks, with examples of water reuse applications and case studies
• Module 5: Regulations and policy - overview of EU water reuse regulation, barriers in different contexts, and good practice policy recommendations
• Module 6: Public trust and communication - why perception matters, and how awareness strategies and campaigns can support stakeholder engagement

Completion of a module quiz serves as the primary method of assessment and certification for that module. A quiz is considered successfully completed when the participant answers at least 60% of the questions correctly. Successful completion of all module quizzes constitutes successful completion of the MOOC.

Course Staff

Rafael Casielles

Rafael Casielles is a Senior R&D Project Manager at BIOAZUL with over 16 years of experience in water research and innovation, specializing in sustainable water reuse, circular economy, and the WEFE nexus.

Stevo Lavrnić

Stevo Lavrnić is an environmental engineer and is currently a senior researcher at the Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, where he has been carrying out his research activities since 2017.

Cameron McLennan

Cameron McLennan is an environmental engineer with a master's degree in water management from AgroParisTech University in France.

Dorina Bogdani

Dorina Bogdani is an enthusiastic agronomist working in Research and Innovation project management at AGENSO in Greece.

Daniela Fuchs

Dr. Daniela Fuchs is a technology researcher at ZSI – Center for Social Innovation in Vienna.

Noah Stommel

Noah Stommel holds a MSc in Conservation and is experienced in water resource management and aquatic ecology.

Teresa Geidel

Teresa Geidel works in the field of water and environmental governance for Fresh Thoughts since 2020.

Angela Magno

Angela Magno is Senior Project Manager and Director of Communication & Marketing at BIOAZUL, where she combines expertise in sustainable technologies, circular economy, and strategic communication.

Course Details

• Course Number: BOOSTIN1
• Start Date: 5 November 2025
• End Date: 30 September 2026
• Language: English