Hidrodoe is an interactive science centre about water in Herentals, Belgium. Founded in 2003 as an initiative of the Flemish water company Pidpa, our mission is to help people of all ages discover the value of water - economic, cultural, chemical, physical - through interactive, playful and sensory experiences.
In 2019, Hidrodoe was selected as one of Belgium’s six SDG Voices, becoming a lifelong ambassador for the UN Sustainable Development Goals. SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) is at the heart of what we do: ensuring everyone has access to safe water, teaching how water is purified, and encouraging visitors to save and reuse water. Education (SDG 4) is also central: we turn complex water challenges into fun, understandable experiences.
A central component of our work is the BluElephants, inspired by advanced mobile, decentralised wastewater treatment technology. The compact MBR (Membrane Bioreactor) technology is energy-efficient and uses few chemicals. These systems purify wastewater and convert it into water that can be reused to flush our toilets. Thanks to the FOSCUBE® phosphate removal unit, which uses IOCS granules (a by-product of Pidpa’s drinking water production), water that once was waste becomes part of a circular system. Part of what makes BluElephant powerful is its mobility and decentralised character: ideal where there is no central wastewater treatment, such as remote sites, recreation areas, small communities.
Thanks to the BluElephants we can reuse the grey and black water from our toilets over and over again. Every drop of water at Hidrodoe is given “infinite life”: water we can reuse, or if not reusable, water that is infiltrated naturally into the soil to help replenish groundwater reserves — particularly important during droughts and heat.
The objective is to fully close the water cycle at Hidrodoe. This aligns with our transition to a fully sustainable company, guided by the SDGs. We want to continue to focus on sustainability in all its forms and communicate this to our visitors. With the BluElephants we aim to demonstrate the steps companies can take to close water cycles and save water, and we want to share this with our visitors through an interactive story.
It is science in action, visible to every visitor. One school child once asked while looking at our vivid blue tanks: “So when I flush here, it might be the same water that was flushed yesterday… and tomorrow too?” That moment captures what Hidrodoe is about: making circular water both tangible and inspiring. Because there is only one amount of water in the world.
The BluElephants are more than technology, they embody Hidrodoe’s values. We should not wait for the change but be the change. It's our responsibility to take ownership of water.
Our entire team is committed to becoming more environmentally friendly, and it's a never-ending journey. We continue to grow and stretch our efforts as we learn more about sustainability solutions, our environmental impact and technological advancements.
Continuous progress in sustainability is possible for small organisations, large corporations, and even on a personal level, simply at home. We hope that our sustainability actions will inspire others.
What makes the BluElephants unique is their visibility and storytelling. They stand boldly on-site, sparking curiosity and conversation. They embody Hidrodoe’s values: innovation, education, and circularity. They prove that sustainability can be practical, inspiring, and shared with every visitor.
The Blooloop Innovation Awards celebrate projects that push boundaries in visitor attractions. In the Sustainability category, judges seek initiatives that reduce environmental impact and advance the UN SDGs. The BluElephants at Hidrodoe do exactly that.
What makes BluElephants unique is their dual impact.
- Environmental innovation: reducing water waste, closing the loop on site, and showing that decentralized, mobile purification is viable in locations beyond large treatment plants.
- Visitor inspiration: unlike hidden infrastructure, our BluElephants are visible, educational, and story-driven. Visitors - from families to school groups - not only see sustainability in action but take home the message that every drop counts.
By combining cutting-edge technology, circular resource management, and powerful storytelling, Hidrodoe’s BluElephants embody what the Sustainability category stands for: meaningful change with global relevance. And what's more, we are the first in Europe to have the BluElephants in permanent operation.
Partners
- First idea: Kris Liekens, David Geysen and Dorien Mahieu
- Design and follow-up: Aquafin and Pidpa
- Technology designers: Jotem and Hello Water
- Contractors: Hein Vanhoutte and Pidpa
- Operations: Pidpa and Hidrodoe
- Interactive exhibit and decoration of elephants: Bruns and Hidrodoe
