Your challenges
Water scarcity is an escalating global challenge, particularly in urban centers and industrial zones where demand is surging due to rapid population growth and large-scale real estate development. These areas face increasing pressure on existing water resources, making efficient water management and sustainable water treatment solutions essential for long-term resilience and compliance with environmental regulations.
Water scarcity and restrictions
In many regions, groundwater levels are critically low, making the supply of drinking water uncertain. During periods of drought, water restrictions are often imposed to reduce consumption, affecting not only urban development but also gardens, plants, and soil health. Together, these challenges highlight the urgent need for sustainable water management and efficient use of resources.
Floods and sewer overflows
Intense rainfall can overwhelm both the natural environment and urban infrastructure. When the soil cannot absorb excess water, it leads to runoff, clay swelling, and increased flood risks. At the same time, sewer systems can become overloaded, causing untreated water to overflow into rivers. Together, these challenges highlight the need for resilient water management solutions to protect communities and the environment.
Building and infrastructure risks
Rapid urban growth is straining central water treatment systems, where expanding capacity is costly and complex. At the same time, clay shrinkage and swelling from shifting moisture levels can damage building foundations, causing structural cracks. These challenges demand resilient urban planning and localized water management to protect infrastructure and buildings.
Industrial and commercial water usage
High water demand in business complexes and stadiums can exceed existing infrastructure, while practices like using drinking water for toilets waste resources. Efficient water management reduces consumption, cuts costs, and supports sustainability.
Corporate sustainability
Businesses must balance financial performance with environmental and social responsibilities, adapting to regulations and climate risks. Sustainable water practices help minimize impact and strengthen overall corporate sustainability.
- Municipal
- Municipal wastewater
- Building facilities
Battery Park City Water Reuse Systems
Context
As part of a pioneering initiative for sustainable urban development, Battery Park City in New York became one of the first neighborhoods in the U.S. to adopt decentralized water reuse systems on a building scale. The challenge: design and operate multiple in-building systems that could sustainably treat blackwater, reduce potable water use, and relieve strain on municipal infrastructure — all while maintaining long-term performance and public confidence in a dense urban setting.+
Solution
Natural Systems Utilities, part of Nijhuis Saur Industries, partnered with the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) to develop and operate six decentralized water reuse systems across eight residential buildings: The Solaire, Tribeca Green, Millennium Tower, The Visionaire, Riverhouse, Liberty Luxe, Liberty View, and The Verdesian. These compact, in-building membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems treat blackwater on-site using advanced technologies including hollow fiber micro-filtration, ultraviolet light disinfection, and biological nitrogen removal to meet New York City Department of Buildings’ direct water reuse standards.
- Municipal drinking water
- Municipal
- Building facilities
Canal Café Water Reuse Installation
Context
As part of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, Nijhuis Saur Industries (NSI), together with Natural Systems Utilities and Sodai, in collaboration with the world-renowned architecture firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R), launched Canal Café: a visionary urban installation that transforms brackish canal water into high-quality espresso. The challenge was both symbolic and technical: prove that water reuse can be safe, sustainable, and culturally inspiring — even in one of the world’s most iconic cities built on water.
Solution
NSI, through its companies Natural Systems Utilities and Sodai, designed, built, and operated a cutting-edge hybrid water treatment system that combines natural processes with advanced filtration. The system purifies canal water to drinking-water standards, used on-site to brew espresso at the Canal Café — a public, interactive space designed by DS+R. The installation challenged perceptions and inspired dialogue on sustainable water reuse, earning international acclaim and the prestigious Golden Lion Award at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025.
- Building facilities
- Municipal
- Municipal wastewater
Gillette Stadium Wastewater Reuse Facility
Project’s context and challenges
During the construction of the new Gillette Stadium — home to the New England Patriots — it became evident that the water demand on game days and during concerts exceeded the capacity of the Town of Foxborough’s water supply and wastewater treatment systems. The existing infrastructure simply couldn’t manage the extreme peak flows from over 68,000 fans during halftime flush periods. To avoid overburdening the municipal systems, the Town, the stadium operators, and Natural Systems Utilities (part of NSI) joined forces to develop a sustainable solution that could ensure reliable operations while meeting strict regulatory and environmental goals
- Building facilities
- Municipal
- Municipal wastewater
- Municipal drinking water
Heuvelstraat, a waterneutral residential area – closed loop approach
Project’s context and challenges
In the rural village of Silvolde, located in the Dutch Achterhoek region, the Heuvelstraat pilot project tackles a growing regional crisis: prolonged droughts caused by sandy soils and declining groundwater levels, combined with increasing pressure on the drinking water supply due to urban development. Traditional centralized water systems—where rainwater is drained away and wastewater transported to distant treatment plants—no longer provide a sustainable solution.
The challenge: design and implement a decentralized, circular water system that allows residents to live water-neutral and sewageless, by harvesting and reusing water within each household.
- Municipal
- Municipal wastewater
Domino Sugar Redevelopment Wastewater Reuse Facility
Context
As part of a major urban redevelopment in Brooklyn, New York, Two Trees Management partnered with Natural Systems Utilities (NSU), part of Nijhuis Saur Industries, to reduce potable water demand and mitigate combined sewer overflows. The challenge: design and build a compact, district-scale water reuse facility that could treat blackwater from five mixed-use buildings and supply high-quality non-potable water for reuse — all within a dense urban footprint.
Solution
Natural Systems Utilities, part of Saur Group, designed, built, and is operating a decentralized water reuse facility at the Domino Sugar redevelopment site. The system treats blackwater from five buildings and produces high-quality non-potable water for on-site reuse. Excess treated water is safely discharged to the East River, improving water quality and reducing strain on municipal infrastructure. The facility is a model for sustainable urban water management and aligns with New York City’s long-term environmental goals.
