Nine Projects, One Circular Water Vision

Why Symbioter?

Across the Baltic Sea region, municipalities and water utilities are already facing the effects of a changing climate: longer droughts, heavier storms, and growing pressure on freshwater supplies. The challenges are multiplying, but the good news is that so are the solutions. The region does not have to start from zero. Over the past decade, a series of EU-funded projects has tested and proven solutions for reusing water, recovering nutrients, and managing stormwater more intelligently.

Symbioter’s aim is to bring this accumulated knowledge together in one place, and to help it travel further. Rather than reinventing solutions, Symbioter consolidates the tools, methods and lessons learned from nine background projects and supports local public authorities, infrastructure and service providers, and interest groups across the Baltic Sea Region in putting them into practice.

Our Background Projects

Symbioter builds on the results of nine projects that have each explored a different piece of the circular water economy puzzle — from water and nutrient reuse to climate-resilient stormwater management. Together, they form the foundation on which Symbioter’s work rests.

ReNutriWater — Interreg Baltic Sea Region

Focused on water and nutrient reuse, providing tools, guidance and mentoring to support local water symbiosis between municipalities and other water users.

What it contributes to Symbioter: the WaterSafe tool, a mentoring method for water reuse, and a practical handbook. Visit the project: https://interreg-baltic.eu/project/renutriwater/

WaterMan — Interreg Baltic Sea Region

Supported water reuse through shared model strategies, expert access and engagement tools that help public authorities and water companies bring water reuse into practice.

What it contributes to Symbioter: the Recycling Toolbox, an expert platform, and awareness-raising roundtables. Visit the project: https://interreg-baltic.eu/project/waterman/

NURSECOAST-II — Interreg Baltic Sea Region

Developed solutions for the seasonal wastewater challenges faced by coastal tourist areas, using innovative and nature-based treatment systems.

What it contributes to Symbioter: a best-practice report and insights from six pilot sites. Visit the project: https://interreg-baltic.eu/project/nursecoast-ii/

NOAH — Interreg Baltic Sea Region

Strengthened climate-resilient stormwater planning by combining holistic urban planning approaches with smart, real-time-controlled drainage systems.

What it contributes to Symbioter: a guide for planning against extreme-weather events. Visit the project: https://sub.samk.fi/projects/noah/

VillageWaters — Interreg Baltic Sea Region

Improved small-scale wastewater treatment in rural areas and scattered dwellings to reduce nutrient loads reaching local waters and the Baltic Sea.

What it contributes to Symbioter: an information tool for choosing the right rural wastewater solution. Visit the project: https://villagewaters.eu/

City Blues — Interreg Baltic Sea Region

Advanced nature-based solutions for stormwater management and green-blue infrastructure to help growing cities adapt to climate change.

What it contributes to Symbioter: nature-based-solution modelling results and insights from municipal cooperation. Visit the project: https://interreg-baltic.eu/project/city-blues/

Aquares — Interreg Europe

Enhanced water reuse management by supporting public authorities in improving policy instruments and exchanging solutions across European regions.

What it contributes to Symbioter: a modular industrial water reuse system. Visit the project: https://www.interregeurope.eu/aquares

CATCH — Interreg North Sea

Helped midsize cities strengthen their climate resilience through improved, water-sensitive urban water management strategies.

What it contributes to Symbioter: flood-control approaches, heavy-rain mapping guidance, and recommendations for water-sensitive communities. Visit the project: https://www.northsearegion.eu/catch/

NENUPHAR — Horizon Europe

Promoted circular nitrogen and phosphorus recovery from waste streams, supporting cleaner environments and new fertiliser value chains.

What it contributes to Symbioter: a GIS platform, an N/P emission estimation method, techno-economic insights, and a circular N/P handbook. Visit the project: https://project-nenuphar.eu/

Looking ahead

By consolidating what these nine projects have already achieved, Symbioter can focus its energy on what matters most: helping municipalities across the Baltic Sea Region put circular water solutions into practice. Follow our journey as we share tools, stories and opportunities to get involved.

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