IWIP

The ThWIC project IWIP aims to secure the future water supply of industrial parks through optimised resource management and the implementation of circular water use concepts.

Climate change and increasing water demand from different sectors are expected to lead to more frequent water shortages in Germany. Industrial parks are particularly affected, as they are characterised by clusters of large industrial water consumers and can therefore face both local competition for water resources and broader supply challenges. At the same time, these sites offer significant opportunities for cross-company collaboration and more efficient, integrated water management.

The IWIP project addresses these challenges by developing concepts for a modernised and more flexible water supply infrastructure in industrial parks. The solutions are being demonstrated in close cooperation with industrial and research partners at the Bitterfeld-Wolfen Chemical Park, a representative large-scale industrial site. The project focuses on the optimal use of available water resources – including freshwater, process water and treated wastewater – through circular and cascading water reuse concepts. Digitally supported networking and physical integration of production and treatment facilities enable water flows to be managed efficiently and reused multiple times.

The Bitterfeld-Wolfen Chemical Park also serves as an application and demonstration centre for innovative water analysis and treatment technologies developed within ThWIC. Among others, technologies from the KARLsens and TOPIC projects will be tested and validated under real industrial conditions.

By developing integrated concepts and transferable implementation guidelines, IWIP contributes to the sustainable use of water resources in industrial parks and strengthens the long-term resilience of industrial water supply systems.