Home » PROJEKTY » LESS IS MORE

LESS IS MORE

LESS IS MORE – Energy-efficient technologies for removal of pharmaceuticals and other contaminants of emerging concern.

Project total budget: 2 299 325,00 €

ERDF amount requested: 1 752 399,75 €

DUE TO THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION AND THEREFORE THE INABILITY TO PERFORM THE REMAINING PROJECT TASKS LESS IS MORE HAS BEEN PROLONGED UNTILL JUNE 2021

Micropollutants, or contaminants of emerging concern (CEC), referring to a number of various substances such as pharmaceuticals, biocides and endocrine disruptors, may have adverse environmental effects, especially in cases with sensitive recipients. Besides impacts on aquatic life, release of micropollutants is a threat to drinking water resources in areas where the access to fresh water for drinking water production is limited. The reduction of micropollutants reaching the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) from industries, households and hospitals is poor for a majority of the contaminants. This makes the WWTPs point sources for many of these substances. Therefore upgrading of WWTPs will be needed. Advanced treatment for removal of micropollutants will also enable reuse of water for various purposes.

The overall idea of the project is to test new, cost-effective technological solutions, for removal of pharmaceuticals and other CECs as well as antibiotic resistant bacteria, suitable for small and medium WWTPs and to disseminate information on new technologies to the end users.

The project’s activities include demonstration, testing and validation of solutions for removal of micropollutants. Three pilot plants will be designed, constructed and installed at WWTPs in Denmark, Sweden and Lithuania. The core idea of the pilots is to develop and test separation technologies based on membrane and activated carbon processes in various combinations. Solutions will be tested for improvement of the energy balance by extraction of organic rest products with high energy content resulting from membrane filtration and reuse it for biogas production. Also, the potential for reuse of treated water will be reviewed. At the final stage a consolidated evaluation report on energy efficiency and cost effectiveness will be prepared.

Figure 1. Concept for pilot tests in Denmark

Figure 2. Concept for pilot tests in Sweden (Direct Membrane Filtration)

Figure 3. Concept for pilot tests in Lithuania

Please see the video form the Kretinga WWTP. In short, this is a GAC (Granular Activated Carbon) filter system installed in Kretinga Wastewater Treatment Plant. It treats about 15 % of total wastewater flow coming to the WWTP and its main purpose is to remove pharmaceuticals from treated water. This GAC pilot unit was installed in existing Tertiary treatment building so no new buildings were necessary for such unit.

The main target groups are WWTP’s in small and medium coastal municipalities of the South Baltic area as well as decision and policy makers: national authorities and water associations, R&D organisations, SME associations, EU water sector platforms, HELCOM and environmental NGOs.

The project has a high transnational added value as it addresses an emerging threat to the South Baltic Sea from micropollutants causing damages on ecosystems including hormonal disorders, behavioural changes and antibiotic resistance. To reach good environmental status as well as to safe guard human health adequate treatment technologies for removal pharmaceuticals and other CECs need to be introduced at WWTPs in the Baltic Sea Region.

LESS IS MORE will deliver two main outputs:

1. Pilot investments in technological solutions for removing pharmaceuticals and other CECs as well as antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

2. Solutions focusing on separation processes developed and presented in the form of blue prints and expert papers.

LESS IS MORE comprises 4 work packages and entails 2 innovative approaches:

1. process-driven innovation by introducing membrane filtration early in the process line to improve the treatment process and enhance the potential for reuse of energy and water

2. technology-driven innovation by developing and testing novel polishing technologies as a fourth treatment step in cooperation with technology suppliers (SMEs).

The long-term aim of the project is to reduce the input of CECs from wastewater into the Baltic Sea through upgrading of WWTPs.

Project Partners

Associated partners

Svedala Municipality, Sweden
Lithuanian Water Supply Association, Lithuania
Danish Water and Wastewater Association (DANVA), Denmark
Swedish Water & Wastewater Association, Sweden
Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, Sweden
WIN – Water Innovation Accelerator, Sweden

WFOŚiGW w Gdańsku udzielił Gdańskiej Fundacji Wody dofinansowania w formie dotacji na wkład własny do projektu Less is More.

Informacje: TUTAJ