KWR Water Research Institute’s Post

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝐖𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 🦠💧 In Denmark, groundwater has historically been unusually clean, but now there is a need to purify it before it is distributed as drinking water to consumers. This is the conclusion reached by researchers Jens Muff, Peter Roslev, and Cejna Anna Quist-Jensen from Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Denmark in an article on Altinget.dk (in Danish), based on the increasing presence of pesticides and other harmful substances in the groundwater over the years. See: https://lnkd.in/dPVX4ws3 Thus, they argue against several political parties and stakeholders in the water sector, who suggest that preventing pollution rather than purifying water is the way forward. But pollution is already a reality, say the three researchers. Therefore, purification is necessary, even though prevention and nature protection are also very important to them. "While we wait for the quality of our groundwater to be restored, we can use the purification technologies that already exist to clean our drinking water," says Cejna Anna Quist-Jensen. These technologies include membrane filtration, with which researchers have achieved unprecedented results in relation to drinking water, most recently in a Danida-funded project in South Africa in collaboration with local partners. In other words, research offers a solution to polluted drinking water. Now, the researchers invite stakeholders in the water sector to collaborate 🤝. #researchimpact #watertech #aaudk #knowledgefortheworld

Let’s make drinking water treatment more sustainable!   Last week Silvy and I went to Pollutec in Lyon, where we received the RELX Environmental Challenge award for our TU Delft | Water for Impact project on #electrocoagulation. Electrocoagulation uses electricity to produce coagulant, rather than dosing chemical salts. Production of the metal plates needed for electrocoagulation has a lower CO2 footprint compared to the production of the salts.   With the prize we are able to test electrocoagulation to chemical coagulation in a real-life case in #Ghana, where next to the lower CO2 footprint, it will also lead to a much shorter and more secure supply chain.      Want to stay updated on how we are doing with the project? Follow TU Delft | Water for Impact!   #waterforimpact #drinkingwater 

Nano en micro plastic in soil and water management is a relatively new conference topic. If you would like to share your scientific or decision making knowledge and experience in this area, this call of abstracts is just for you, open till December 1 #plastic #conference2024

I am thrilled to share the publication of our research paper, "Environmental Risk Assessment of Novel Bio-Composite Materials for Canal Bank Protection Using Recovered Resources." This collaborative effort, co-authored with Oriana Jovanovic, Jan Peter van der Hoek and Zoran Kapelan, addresses an innovative sustainable solutions in canal infrastructure, exploring the use of bio-composite materials derived from resources recovered from the water sector. 🚰🌿 🔬 Our research investigates the environmental risk assessment of novel bio-composite materials, which are made from resources recovered from water sector such as cellulose from wastewater and calcite from drinking water, and represent a breakthrough in sustainable engineering. We use canal bank protection as a case study to demonstrate the application of these novel materials and conduct a comprehensive risk assessment. 💡 Key Insights: Unveiling the environmental risk associated with bio-composite materials in canal applications. Use of recovered resources from the water sector (e.g., cellulose, calcite). Column laboratory leaching tests as a crucial step in the absence of onsite data. 🌍 As these materials are entirely new, our research took a pioneering step by conducting column laboratory leaching tests to simulate real-world scenarios. The results obtained serve as vital input data for predicting environmental impacts in practical settings. 🙏 I extend heartfelt gratitude to my co-authors for their expertise and collaborative spirit in bringing this research to fruition. 🚀 I invite you to read the full paper [https://lnkd.in/d23VaGqQ] to explore the potential of these bio-composite materials in various applications with particular regards of canal bank protection. A case study of the WIDER UPTAKE EU Project conducted by #TUDelft, in collaboration with NPSP and Waternet. 🌍 💧 #WaterSmartSolutions #ResearchCollaboration #Sustainability. Let's continue pushing the boundaries of innovation for a greener and resilient future. 🌿🌎 #EnvironmentalScience #Sustainability #BioCompositeMaterials #CanalBankProtection #InnovationInEngineering #ResearchPublication

How can we efficiently recover #phosphorus from acidic waste streams without pH adjustments? Discover the innovative research from the WATER-MINING H2020 project: "FePO₄.2H₂O recovery from acidic phosphate-rich waste streams". This study highlights a simple, efficient method to recover phosphorus, preventing eutrophication and conserving resources. Explore our advancements in sustainable water management! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eGncbH9U #PhosphorusRecovery #WaterTreatment #Sustainability #Research Nouran Bahgat Aamash Siddiqui, Philipp Wilfert, Leon Korving, Mark van Loosdrecht Delft University of Technology Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology

Research suggests “oil eating” microbes could be the future to clearer waters and less pollution 🌊. Crude oil does not mix with water; it creates a film along surface. This disrupts the delicate nature of the ecosystem that lies beneath it. Could “oil eating” microbes be the answer to clearing future oil spills and conserving marine life? 🔗 See the link in the comments to read the summary on Kudos, part of Royal Society of Chemistry #SDG Showcase. #GlobalGoals UN Sustainable Development Group Regis Antonioli Junior

Last week, I had the honor of presenting some results of my doctoral thesis at the 11th International Conference on Sustainable Solid Waste Management #Rhodes2024. During the conference, I presented a poster titled “Dehydrated Sewage Sludge Viscoelastic Behavior: Impact of Coagulant, Flocculant, and Filtration Pressure” and participated in an oral presentation with Azeddine FANTASSE on “Exploring Convective Drying Behavior of Hydroxide Sludges through Micro-Drying Systems.” I had the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of scientists, researchers, and leaders in the fields of #sewagesludge, #sludgemanagement, #sludgetreatment, and #sludgevalorization. One of the key insights I gained from the conference is that sewage sludge offers a wide variety of valorization alternatives. However, most of these alternatives require the sludge to be dehydrated or completely dry, which necessitates a significant amount of energy, making these alternatives sometimes non-economical or impractical to implement...This is where my work becomes crucial: because understanding how the efficiency of the drying process is influenced by the viscoelastic properties of the sludge and how these properties are affected by processing and dehydration conditions, offers the possibility of finding energetic optimization in sludge treatment, making all valorization alternatives more feasible and efficient. The feedback I received on this aspect of my research was overwhelmingly positive, with many experts highlighting its potential to reduce costs and improve sustainability in sludge management. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my thesis director, Angélique Léonard, the F.R.S. - FNRS, and the University of Liège for their unwavering support and for providing me with this incredible opportunity. Their guidance and resources have been instrumental in advancing my research.

Exciting times at Irish Manufacturing Research as our Water Technologist, Ana Clara da Rosa Santos, and Water Engineer, Eva McEnnis participated at the International Water Association (IWA) Digital Water Summit in Bilbao, Spain, from November 14th-16th, 2023. The event was a global hub for digitalisation in the #water sector, featuring dynamic sessions, live demos, and even a site visit to Galindo Wastewater Treatment Plant, currently serving 1 million people. Co-organised by IWA, Consorcio de Aguas Bilbao Bizkaia, and AEAS - Asociación Española de Abastecimientos de Agua y Saneamiento it brought together experts to tackle key questions about #digitalwater integration. Our participation underscores IMR's commitment to staying ahead in #innovations. The Summit not only provided valuable insights but also a roadmap for integrating digitalisation into our services. We're eager to apply these learnings to guide our clients on their water management journeys.💧🚀 #WaterInnovation #WaterManagement #DigitalWaterSummit #SustainableManufacturing #sustainability #water

Stressing the economic importance of a future-proof water management in our harbors

Clean water is vital to the health of humans and nature – but when it is polluted with micropollutants such as PFAS, Danish municipalities have a hard time tracing the source. That’s why it’s important to share data and knowledge on the sources of micropollutants. Systematic and DHI have collaborated on a proof of concept for a digital solution that could ease the detective work. 🔍 The solution collects data from all wastewater-discharging companies, presents it in a visual overview and makes it easy to filter and search for e.g., potential emitters of PFAS. ‘By allowing utilities to access and compile data in a digital solution, it becomes a far less resource-intensive task’, says Trine Dalkvist, Senior Wastewater Engineer at DHI. A solution like this will also ensure that utilities and municipalities can work together on limiting micropollutants. This will be even more relevant with the proposal for a revised EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive with stricter requirements for industrial discharge permits. The proof of concept was developed in the ‘Water Data Space’ project as part of Erhvervsfyrtårn for vandteknologi supported by #euinmyregion and Danmarks Erhvervsfremmebestyrelse. The other project partners are Water Valley Denmark, Systematic, DTU Sustain, Aarhus Vand, Danmarks Miljøportal, HOFOR, VandCenter Syd, Herning Vand, Aarhus University, VIA University College and Aalborg University.   Learn more about what Trine has to say about the project in the video below and find the link to the final report in the comments. 👇