2026.05.24

Elvire Roualle de Rouville – Water Industry Internship Program

Water Industry Internship Program brings together a number of students from all over the country every summer to explore the water and sanitation industry, one of society's most fundamental but also most invisible sectors. During the program, participants get to meet leading players in the industry, work on a joint project and build a network that extends far beyond the summer. In this interview series, we present this year's participants in the internship program.

Elvire Roualle de Rouville is a first-year student in the Master's program in Chemistry at the University of Gothenburg and already has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from KTH. This summer she is participating in the Water Industry Internship Program, and there is no doubt that she has come to the right place.

How did you end up on a course against water?

It was during a course in environmental protection technology at KTH that my interest in water purification was awakened, especially during a study visit to Himmelfjärdsverket. I was completely hooked there. It is precisely the combination of biological processes, chemical reactions and microorganisms that captivates me, and biological purification is the area I enjoy most. Since then, I have been completely hooked.

What attracted you to the Water Industry Internship Program?

It was actually a friend who tipped me off and said it would be a perfect fit for me. The more I read, the more I understood what she meant. What attracts me most is seeing the water industry in practice and gaining a broader understanding of the industry as a whole. When you study, there is a lot of theory and lab work. To actually see how it works in real life, and also discover all the parts of the industry that you might not otherwise think about, I am really looking forward to that.

The water and sanitation industry is said to be socially important but invisible. What makes it exciting for you?

It is precisely the fact that it is invisible that I find so interesting. Many people take water for granted, especially in Sweden where we have such clean and good water. But behind every liter there are enormously complex biological processes, chemical reactions and technical solutions, as well as resource management, environmental impact and a constantly changing regulatory framework. It is an industry where you can never press pause, and that makes it very exciting.

What do you hope to learn during the summer, and how does it fit into your future?

Above all, I want to understand how the water industry works in practice and what roles and skills are required for the systems to work. In the long term, I want to work in water treatment and the environment, so the internship feels like an important step to get into the industry, but also to get a clearer picture of what direction I want to take in the future.

If you could wish for one moment during the summer, what would it be?

Visiting a wastewater treatment plant. It's the biological processes that I find most fascinating, so it would have been really fun to see them in person.