Climate plan: Circular water management 2020-2030

A transition plan for circular water management is considered an important component of this climate plan — both for climate adaptation and for advancing circularity.

Objectives

Ghent University is developing an integrated water policy that aims to close water cycles as locally as possible and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

This means Ghent University will:

  • Achieve an additional 15% reduction in tap water consumption by 2030 compared to 2020.

  • Maximize the use of alternative water sources depending on application, targeting 80% reuse in new construction and renovation.

  • Create space for water by removing unnecessary paving and transforming these areas into zones where water can infiltrate the soil.

  • Actively contribute to improving both the quality and quantity of groundwater and surface water.

  • From now on, apply an integrated approach to water management in all new construction and renovation projects, involving experts, students, and policy staff.

  • Set up pilot projects for circular water management to enable innovation.

Key Milestones

  • Structural vision "Ghent University Imagines 2050", outlining the foundations for future-proof, sustainable campus development.

  • Translation of this vision into campus plans, which provide clear direction — including on circular water management and the preservation and quality design of open spaces. These plans guide engineering firms and support coherent communication with permitting authorities and campus users.

  • Phasing out and clustering of surface parking on the UFO, Sterre, and Coupure campuses, and converting (parts of) parking structures into bike storage facilities on the UFO, Dunant, and Blandijn campuses — enabling de-paving and greening of those spaces.

  • Constructed wetlands (helophyte fields) on the Pharmacy campus, Proeftuinstraat, and Gontrode, allowing partial water purification for reuse and rainwater infiltration into the soil.

  • Grants from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Blue-Green Pearl award from the Flemish Government, thanks to a strong vision identifying opportunities to build climate-resilient campuses.

Actions 2025–2028

  • Closely monitor water consumption using digital meters, with a focus on high-usage equipment (e.g., reverse osmosis systems).

  • Maximize the use of greywater in construction and renovation projects for sanitary applications.

  • De-pave and green unnecessary infrastructure.

  • Thoroughly assess alternatives before using new green space.

  • Use planned construction and renovation projects as leverage to implement parts of the campus plan.

  • Seize opportunities or quick wins that enable faster execution of approved campus plans, such as launching grant applications, living labs, and encouraging/supporting bottom-up initiatives.

Where do we stand?

How much water do we consume? And what share comes from alternative water sources?

Evolution of Water Consumption by Type

More information

More information about our achievements and what you can do can be found on the webpage circular water management.