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WPC Hofstade: smart water purification​

 

First in Europe: WPC Hofstade directly converts treated municipal wastewater into safe drinking water

The challenge

Due to increasing water stress and stricter sustainability goals, a groundbreaking project was realized in Hofstade. The aim was to directly convert treated urban wastewater into safe drinking water. This project had to meet the strictest drinking water standards while ensuring continuous and reliable operation. WPC Hofstade became the first operational Direct Potable Reuse facility in Europe.​

The solution


The water production center combines multiple purification steps into one integrated process. The facility is designed according to the multi-barrier principle, with safety, monitoring, and reliability at its core.

Main features: 

  • Advanced water purification technologies in series
  • Continue quality monitoring and process control
  • High availability and redundancy
  • Complete integration into the drinking water distribution network

Automation and integration​


The realization of WPC Hofstade was achieved through an intensive collaboration between Nuoro and Centif.

Nuoro was responsible for the design and construction of the water treatment facility, while Centif took care of the complete process automation and control.

The joint scope included:

  • Design and implementation of process automation
  • PLC and SCADA control of water treatment processes
  • Integration of measuring instrumentation and analyzers
  • Implementation of safety logic and interlocks
  • Real-time monitoring and alarm management
  • Support during the testing phase, startup, and operational handover


An intuitive and robust HMI forms the brain of WPC Hofstade and translates complex water treatment processes into clear, real-time control and decision-making.

The result


The WPC Hofstade facility provides reliable and stable operation throughout the entire water production chain. Thanks to continuous monitoring, water quality is permanently monitored to ensure safe drinking water production. The facility fully complies with the applicable European drinking water legislation, thereby contributing to increased water security for the region. At the same time, a scalable and future-oriented automation platform has been established, allowing for further expansion and optimization.​

The impact


WPC Hofstade demonstrates that the direct reuse of wastewater for human consumption is not only technically feasible but can also be designed to be safe and operationally reliable. The close collaboration between Nuoro and Centif resulted in an innovative total solution that sets a new standard for circular water management in Europe and shows how technology can contribute to structural solutions for water scarcity.



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