During the 29th and 30th of November, the REWAISE consortium held the project’s 2nd review meeting in Denia (Spain). The project officer, Cristina Paducea, alongside two external reviewers, evaluated the project’s progress of the last 18 months.

In the Continental hub a combined urine diverting and dehydrating unit to recover nitrogen were demonstrated at VA SYDs head office in Malmoe (Sweden). In addition, the Swedish Living Lab installed the first large-scale demo of rain and stormwater filtration and reuse based on the design and on the prototypes of UF modules. In this unique demonstration, stormwater from the utility's rainwater storage will be used in households, e.g. for washing machines and toilet flushing.

In the Mediterranean hub, in Almería (Spain), new biomimetic Membranes were tested in several water treatment applications to result in high-quality drinking water with around 15% lower pressure than other membranes, and the first results of materials recovery from desalination brines are available. Regarding the Atlantic hub, new solutions such as the Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor in Vigo or the Organics Thermal Ammonia Recovery Unit are being commissioned, to analyse the benefits of each technology in resource recovery. Furthermore, new digital tools have been deployed to monitor water quality in reservoirs and optimize networks and treatment plants.

All these developments are being closely monitored with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), whose Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been defined to measure the efficiency of water recovery, energy balance or carbon footprint, and quantify the improvements in sustainability  and affordability.

In addition, market studies for the solutions developed within the project have been completed and the go-to-market strategy is being implemented with the technology providers. All of the scientific and project-related results have been widely communicated and disseminated through different events, channels and tailor-made activities, with the project website www.rewaise.eu getting more than 1000 hits per month.

This active communication promotes the engagement of different stakeholders, based on a clear methodology and guidelines to create Living Labs on a larger scale and favour open innovation. Swift progress has been achieved in the Midlands and Skane Living setting up competency groups for wastewater management and reuse. Many capacity building activities have been carried out, fully tailored to the identified needs in the previous period.

After a critical analysis of progress by the Project Officer and the external reviewers, a visit to the desalination  plant located in Denia (Spain) was facilitated by Aqualia, the project coordinator, to show the many test facilities for membranes, pre-treatment or brine recovery in this research platform.  

More information

Frank Rogalla (coordination): frogalla@fcc.es

Antonio Menéndez (coordination): antonio.menendez@fcc.es

David Pedrero (coordination): david.pedrero@inncome.es

Iciar Serrano (communication and dissemination): iciar.serrano@inncome.es