Innovative Pilot Plant in Ferrara Advances Water Purification by Removing Micropollutants
An innovative pilot plant that removes micropollutants from water is now operating in Ferrara, at the heart of the Po River basin.
The pilot plant, a result of collaboration between Hera Group, Medica Spa, a leader in biomedical equipment production, and the National Research Council (CNR), removes micropollutants in water intended for potable use by using innovative materials derived from the recycling of waste from the biomedical industry. This is an excellent example of systemic collaboration between industry and academia. The Pontelagoscuro plant, which draws water directly from the Po River, making it drinkable through a complete, safe treatment process, is the Hera facility where the new system has been installed.
The Water Living Lab, the cornerstone of the Life Remembrance project, was presented on March 5 by Alessandro Baroncini, Hera’s Central Director of Networks; Letizia Bocchi, Head of Medica’s R&D and project coordinator; and Manuela Melucci, senior scientist at the Institute for Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity of the National Research Council (CNR-ISOF), project Technical Manager. Also present were Irene Priolo, Vice President and Commissioner for Ecological Transition, Emilia-Romagna; Maria Cristina Pasi, Water Europe ambassador; and Lorenzo Poltronieri, President of Ferrara City Council.
The Water Living Lab responds to the need highlighted by the Water Safety Plan to improve the risk management of pollution in the Po River. Considering the positive laboratory test results, Hera decided to participate in the project by assessing the technology in its own plant, complying with the reference water regulations. The innovative plant uses polymeric granules derived from process waste membranes of the biomedical industry. In this way, a highly valuable but discarded material is enhanced and reused in the purification cycle, becoming a resource and a virtuous example of the circular economy. Tests conducted at CNR-ISOF showed greater effectiveness in removing micropollutants (including PFAS, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and pesticides) compared to granular activated carbon. Now, by diverting a small portion of water treated by the purifier, either in its natural state or altered specifically for the project, the pilot will be able to study the removal performance of pollutants by the new materials in a real environment.
“The virtuous management of the water supply chain is a priority for us,” comments Alessandro Baroncini. “Therefore, this experiment is part of the innovation path that we have long undertaken to achieve ever higher levels of efficiency, safety, and quality, confirming the strongly industrial vocation of the water cycle processes. In the industrial plan up to 2027, about 1.2 billion euros will be allocated solely to the integrated water cycle, including interventions to address the water supply-related critical issues in an increasingly drought-prone context to preserve our water resources.”
“The collaboration created within Life Remembrance represents a unique opportunity for us to explore the potential applications of secondary products. Synergies of this kind are particularly valuable for managing environmental issues and increasing the company’s sustainability,” explains Letizia Bocchi.
“It is a privilege for us researchers to watch the scaling up to a real plant of such a novel technology developed in our laboratories,” concludes Manuela Melucci, “as well as being able to contribute to its validation for the benefit of all citizens.”
Read MoreEuropean Coalition urges action from the European Commission to deliver the Water Resilience Initiative
[March 12, Brussels] – Today, a diverse coalition of European organisations has joined forces to call upon the European Commission to deliver the Water Resilience Initiative as soon as possible, marking a crucial first step towards an ambitious water strategy for Europe.In an open letter addressed to the European Commission, the coalition emphasises the indispensable need for a water-resilient Europe in light of the escalating pressures on the continent’s freshwater resources, intensified by the impacts of climate change. The coalition stresses that water stands at the centre of the economic, societal, and environmental sustainability of Europe. As such, the Water Resilience Initiative is seen as imperative to provide European socio-economic actors with a competitive edge, while ensuring the availability of water resources of the highest quality at the right time.
Over the past five years, European institutions have diligently updated the European water acquis to confront emerging challenges head-on. A consensus has emerged among European Member States and institutions, highlighting the urgent need for a cohesive and comprehensive water strategy. Notably, resolutions from the European Council in 2021 and 2023 underscored the strategic significance of water and the imperative for decisive action. Bold commitments on water were submitted to the UN 2023 Water Conference, demonstrating Europe’s dedication to global leadership in water management.
These cannot be delivered without the Water Resilience Initiative that was announced in the State of the Union speech in September 2023. With Europe positioned to lead by example, the coalition urges the European Commission to stick to its commitment and swiftly deliver the Water Resilience Initiative, making water a top priority for the next mandate of the European Commission.
Read the full letter here.
Read MoreOnline Workshop ‘Prevention measures and management of DBPs’ on 21 March
On the 21st of March 2024, H20ForAll project is organising an online Workshop ‘Prevention measures and management of DBPs (Disinfection by products)’.
The workshop aims to discuss preventive measures and practices to secure drinking water quality and mitigate drinking water challenges – such as the spread of DBPs – along the whole drinking water chain.
H2OforAll is a EU-funded project which proposes novel technologies and approaches to safeguard the quality of drinking water by minimizing disinfection by-products (DBPs) during disinfection and monitoring their behaviour along the drinking water distribution systems.
You can check the full agenda and register here.
Read MoreJoint letter to the EU Commission: calling for a comprehensive approach to water and reiterating their call for an EU Blue Deal
In a joint response to the European Commission’s postponement of the Water Resilience Initiative, Pietro de Lotto, From the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Pernille Weiss, Chair of the MEP Water Group and member of the European Parliament (EP) and Andre Viola, member of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) sent an open letter to Executive Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, asking the Commission to adopt a comprehensive approach to water and reiterating their call for an EU Blue Deal.
‘’The EU Blue Deal should be designed with a water-smart strategy based on guiding principles and concrete action.’’ sated the letter.
You can read the full letter at this link. To learn more, check the press release.
Read MoreBelgian Presidency Water Conference: Speeding up to a water resilient Europe, 12 March 2024
The Water Conference is coming up on March 12th in Leuven, under the title ‘Speeding up to a water resilient Europe. Towards an EU water resilience agenda’’. Water resilience is a critical concern within the EU, with countries and regions having to deal with drought, water scarcity, and increasingly severe floods.
During the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council, the 1-day conference will provide valuable perspectives and insights on water resilience in Europe. The event will see a significant representation from Water Europe community.
In collaboration with the Flanders Environment Agency and the European Water Association, Water Europe is also organising an invitation-only dinner on March 11th, the day before the conference. For details regarding the agenda of the Water Conference, please click here
Read MoreInterview with Lucile Sever, Policy Officer at the European Biogas Association
Can you please introduce your association and describe the role that water plays in your work?
The European Biogas Association is the voice of renewable gas in Europe since 2009. Supported by its members, EBA is committed to work with European institutions, industry, agricultural partners, NGOs and academia to develop policies which can enable the large-scale deployment of renewable gases and organic fertilisers throughout Europe. The association counts today on a well-established network of over 300 members including national organisations, scientific institutes, and companies from Europe and beyond.
Water plays a key role in the biogases industry in three ways.
– First, biogas is produced both from municipal wastewater (sewage sludge) and industrial wastewater, as part of the water purification process. In the case of municipal wastewater treatment, the biogas is produced from the remaining sewage sludge after water purification. On the other hand, in industrial wastewater treatment, an anaerobic treatment step is introduced before the aerobic treatment takes place. In this manner, waste load of the water is reduced while at the same time the need for the energy-intensive purification process is brought down.
– Second, it is possible to produce clean water from the digestate, a by-product of certain types of biogas production. Hence biogases plants can bring a solution to water stress.
– Last, most plant types need water as process water, for example, to bring the dry matter content of the substrate mix to the desired level before entering the digester.
The World Resource Institute predicts a 56% gap between water supply and demand by 2030. Water stress is also perceived among the main global risks, highlighting the need to move away from temporary measures to systematic, risk-based management. How are the current water risks perceived in your sector, and what policies/regulations do you consider important for addressing these risks?
The topic of water stress is gaining a lot of visibility in our sector also because biogases plants are often linked to agricultural holdings. We are aware that the cost of inaction in this area would be much higher so we need to start planning at EU level in order to avoid a water crisis.
We believe that the water initiative should focus on enhancing sobriety and best practices in terms of water management across all sectors, including the energy sector. The EU must adopt an integrated approach on water and it might become necessary to introduce water-related criteria in energy policies.
Green waters are also key for the resilience of the agricultural sector. In this area we believe that EU policies should further reward agronomic practices that have positive externalities for water retention, such as the use of digestate or the implementation of sequential cropping systems.
Collaboration and innovation are at the heart of building a Water-Smart Society. How does your organization actively support collaboration and innovation within your sector to improve environmental performance, competitiveness across the value chain? Could you provide specific examples of your efforts in this regard, particularly related to water?
EBA is committed to support a sustainable and competitive biogases market. In line with this, we will release a white paper on water resilience in the biogas sector by July 2024. In general, we would like to promote voluntary actions to reduce the water footprint of our industry through water savings, reuse and recycling in biogas plants. Water-saving technologies are sometimes too expensive so research and development is also needed in this field. We also want to share best agronomic practices that can enhance water retention such as the use of digestate as an organic fertiliser.
The biogases industry can also bring a solution to water stress: with innovative cleaning technologies, pioneering plants are making huge breakthroughs and are able to produce clean water from the digestate. The cleaned water can be used for industrial processes, maintenance of green areas or to supply agriculture.
EBA has an active participation in the Research and Innovation program of the European Commission. EBA is currently partner in the FER-PLAY project and participated as well in SYSTEMIC and Nutri2Cycle projects. These projects have the shared goal to enhance the technology basis and knowledge sharing for, among others, digestate upgrading and application.
Would a water strategy be relevant for your sector to strengthen competitiveness and reduce potential disruption on the value chain by ensuring water resilience, security, and sustainability?
A water strategy is definitely needed and long awaited. In a water strategy, the solutions the sector can provide are two-fold:
– With innovative technologies, digestate can be upgraded to clean water and organic fertilisers. This clean water is recycled water originating from the organic waste streams processed by the biogas plant and can be used for various purposes, contributing to reduced water stress.
– Digestate, applied as an organic fertiliser, has the capability to increase the organic matter of soils and hereby improve the water retention properties of the soils. Therefore, the application of digestate in agriculture can further reduce water stress.
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Interview with Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe
Can you please introduce your association and describe the role that water plays in your work?
Hydrogen Europe is the European association representing the interest of the hydrogen industry and its stakeholders, with the aim of promoting hydrogen as an enabler of a zero-emission society. With more than 500+ members, including 25+ EU regions and 30+ national associations, we encompass the entire value chain of the European hydrogen and fuel cell ecosystem. Our vision is to propel global carbon neutrality by accelerating the European hydrogen industry. All hydrogen production methods, including electrolysis-based clean hydrogen, require water as an input or primary feedstock. Therefore, water is a crucial resource to the sector.
The World Resource Institute predicts a 56% gap between water supply and demand by 2030. Water stress is also perceived among the main global risks, highlighting the need to move away from temporary measures to systematic, risk-based management. How are the current water risks perceived in your sector, and what policies/regulations do you consider important for addressing these risks?
There is an important ongoing discussion about, on the one hand, ramping up the hydrogen industry to intensify decarbonisation efforts in particular in hard-to-abate sectors, while on the other hand mitigating potential risk on water-stressed areas. The best placed regions for clean and green hydrogen production based on water electrolysis (e.g. Southern Europe) are often those increasingly affected by water stress, which is strictly monitored and considered by permitting and authorisation procedures. Continued assessment and surveillance of the risks and effects are necessary.
Still, it is important to realise that water consumption in the electrolysis process is around 40% less per kWh of fuel than that of gasoline or diesel (0.27l for electrolysis and around 0.44 for gasoline and diesel). Therefore, transitioning from fossil fuels to hydrogen would represent a substantial net saving in water use. Additionally, the total water volume potentially used by clean hydrogen production is relatively insignificant; if we were to produce 10 million tonnes of hydrogen with today’s electrolysis technologies (which is the REPowerEU’s 2030 target), the estimated 0.14 billion tonnes of water needed to achieve this production target would constitute only 0.00098% of the EU’s 2020 gross water abstraction (143 billion tonnes). In addition, there is growing and encouraging research and investment into the use of desalinated water for hydrogen production, which further alleviates water stress and can even have a substantial positive impact on regional water management.
Collaboration and innovation are at the heart of building a Water-Smart Society. How does your organization actively support collaboration and innovation within your sector to improve environmental performance, competitiveness across the value chain? Could you provide specific examples of your efforts in this regard, particularly related to water?
The hydrogen sector is still relatively new, therefore innovation and research of technologies is at the core of its growth. Continuous progress regarding water reusability, lowering necessary input water volumes, and the use of desalination technologies are important R&I tracks, pushing the industry towards increasing efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness. Very efficient electrolysis technologies will become the standard for clean hydrogen production with regards to average water intensity, like PEM or Solid Oxide electrolysis. This will no doubt keep improving, with the Clean Hydrogen Partnership – the EU technology platform focusing on innovation – and further EU and Member State-based funding mechanisms increasingly focused on water use. Hydrogen Europe looks forward to closer cooperation with stakeholders like Water Europe to manage this issue.
Would a water strategy be relevant for your sector to strengthen competitiveness and reduce potential disruption on the value chain by ensuring water resilience, security, and sustainability?
A holistic water strategy in the EU would be a great step towards establishing a coherent framework regarding the use, reuse, and management of water in an increasingly interlinked industrial value chain. European industries have seen firsthand over the last few years that stability and competitiveness of essential feedstocks is the basis of well-functioning sectors. Therefore, stress and risks need to be mitigated, and sectoral cooperation and synergies need to be strengthened to achieve resilience, with an established enabling framework. There is no doubt that the hydrogen industry will integrate many stakeholders in the course of its water strategy. Innovation, such as desalination technologies and seawater-based solutions are key for developing sustainable novel industries, such as the hydrogen sector, therefore continued support and a consistent, forward-looking regulatory structure is essential in industrial water management.
Image: Copyright Justin Jin for Hydrogen Europe.
Read MoreInterview with Jurate Svarcaite, Director General of the Association of the European Self-Care Industry
Can you please introduce your association and describe the role that water plays in your work?
As the Association of the European Self-Care Industry, AESGP is committed to promoting responsible self-care and ensuring consumer access to safe and effective self-care products. Water plays a crucial role in our sector, not only as a key ingredient in many products but also in the manufacturing processes and supply chain.
The World Resource Institute predicts a 56% gap between water supply and demand by 2030. Water stress is also perceived among the main global risks, highlighting the need to move away from temporary measures to systematic, risk-based management. How are the current water risks perceived in your sector, and what policies/regulations do you consider important for addressing these risks?
AESGP acknowledges the global water challenges and recognizes the importance of sustainable water management. In our sector, understanding and addressing water risks are integral to maintaining a resilient supply chain. We have implemented a robust set of guidelines outlined in our Responsible Manufacturing Effluent Management Technical Guidance, which provides detailed steps for our members to manage effluent responsibly, minimize water consumption, and adopt environmentally friendly practices. These guidelines reflect our commitment to systematic, risk-based water management.
Collaboration and innovation are at the heart of building a Water-Smart Society. How does your organization actively support collaboration and innovation within your sector to improve environmental performance, competitiveness across the value chain? Could you provide specific examples of your efforts in this regard, particularly related to water?
Collaboration and innovation are fundamental to our approach. We actively engage with stakeholders across the industry to foster environmentally friendly practices. For instance, our CARE FOR PEOPLE, OUR ENVIRONMENT initiative outlines specific actions and projects that aim to reduce the environmental impact of our sector, including water conservation measures. Additionally, we participate in research initiatives and work collaboratively with partners to implement innovative solutions that enhance water efficiency in manufacturing processes.
Would a water strategy be relevant for your sector to strengthen competitiveness and reduce potential disruption on the value chain by ensuring water resilience, security, and sustainability?
A comprehensive EU-wide water strategy aligns with our commitment to sustainability and resilience. Such a strategy would strengthen our sector’s competitiveness by ensuring water resilience, security, and sustainability. We believe that a collective effort is essential to achieving a Water-Smart Society, and we are eager to contribute to this shared vision.
Read MorePioneering the EU Blue Deal: Interview with Pietro Francesco De Lotto
Interview with Pietro Francesco De Lotto, President of the Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI), Coordinator of the EU Blue Deal flagship initiative of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).
The EESC launched the call for an EU Blue Deal last year. What do you hope to achieve with this?
In Europe, we have taken access to water for granted for a long time. But the world and our continent are facing increasing water-related challenges. At EU level, legal frameworks exists, but there are problems with implementation, insufficient funding as well as lack of political will and policy coherence. Many EU policies, such as industrial policies or agriculture, do not address water challenges in an appropriate way. We need measures at EU level to safeguard clean water for people and our natural ecosystems, and to ensure a true transition to sustainable water use in all areas of society. Our aim is to see water at the top of the EU political agenda and therefore embedded in all EU policies.
After the launch of the EU Blue Deal, how is the EESC following up on this?
Firstly, we have seen a lot of positive interest towards the initiative from organised civil society and requests to organise follow-up activities on this thematic. In parallel, we continue to engage with the EU institutions and key stakeholders to push for the Blue Deal as a new priority for the EU in the next years to come. At our February EESC Plenary, EC Vice-President Šefčovič confirmed that our Blue Deal proposals will very much feed into the Commission’s upcoming work on water. In our consultative role, we are working on opinions, including the Water Resilience Initiative, and notably also on industrial technological approaches supporting a water resilience. We are also in an active dialogue with the Member States and with the wider civil society organising follow-activities and events. For instance, the EESC Civil Society Week will see an event on youth engagement and citizen participation centered around water, and other events on the Blue Deal are taking place across Europe.
In the context of the Blue Deal, how do you see the Water Resilience Initiative and the fact that it has now been postponed?
We see the uncertainty around this key initiative as a worrying sign regarding the EU’s determination to tackle the water crisis, which is already impacting citizens, farmers, industries, our natural environment and society as a whole. We stand by our position: Europe needs an EU Blue Deal. Considering the vital nature of water and the magnitude of the challenges ahead, water cannot be limited to a purely environmental policy within the Green Deal, but must be adopted as an independent strategic priority, complementing the decarbonisation strategy and integrated into all EU policies. We urge the Commission to publish the Water Resilience Initiative without delay and are ready to contribute to the reflection process on Europe’s water future.
Water Europe unveiled its updated vision for a Water-Smart Society last year. How can the Water Europe vision for a Water-Smart Society and its implementation tools, the Water-Oriented Living Labs (WOLLs) can contribute to the implementation of the EU Blue Deal?
Our Blue Deal proposals and Water Europe’s vision for a water-smart society are very much aligned. We support the need for a paradigm shift in the way we value and use water in our society and the need to focus on water security, sustainability and long-term water resilience. Investments in innovations, infrastructures and technologies are key in achieving this goal. The best practices and real-life demonstrations provided by Water Europe’s living labs contribute to the development of new technologies, business models and innovations and can also provide input to new policies that support the EU Blue Deal vision.
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Unlocking Insights: Three oganizations share their perspectives on the vital role of water in their mission
Since the beginning of this year, Water Europe has launched a new interview series that dive deep into the pivotal role of water across diverse economic sectors, gathering insights from representatives of various organizations. In this month’s edition, we have the pleasure to feature insights from representatives of three different organisations. Who are they? Jurate Svarcaite, Director General of the Association of the European Self-Care Industry, Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe and Lucile Sever, Policy Officer at the European Biogas Association.
Jurate Svarcaite, Director General of the Association of the European Self-Care Industry: ‘’AESGP acknowledges the global water challenges and recognizes the importance of sustainable water management. In our sector, understanding and addressing water risks are integral to maintaining a resilient supply chain. We have implemented a robust set of guidelines outlined in our Responsible Manufacturing Effluent Management Technical Guidance, which provides detailed steps for our members to manage effluent responsibly, minimize water consumption, and adopt environmentally friendly practices.’’ Read her full interview.
Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe: ‘’A holistic water strategy in the EU would be a great step towards establishing a coherent framework regarding the use, reuse, and management of water in an increasingly interlinked industrial value chain. European industries have seen firsthand over the last few years that stability and competitiveness of essential feedstocks is the basis of well-functioning sectors. Therefore, stress and risks need to be mitigated, and sectoral cooperation and synergies need to be strengthened to achieve resilience, with an established enabling framework. There is no doubt that the hydrogen industry will integrate many stakeholders in the course of its water strategy’’. Read his full interview.
Lucile Sever, Policy Officer at the European Biogas Association: The topic of water stress is gaining a lot of visibility in our sector also because biogases plants are often linked to agricultural holdings. We are aware that the cost of inaction in this area would be much higher, so we need to start planning at EU level in order to avoid a water crisis. Read her full interview.
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