Project O External

Spring 2022 Issue

Did you know that many modern water systems are based on an unsustainable linear economy model?

This approach incorrectly assumes we have access to endless freshwater supplies and natural resources. Linear economies are damaging our planet, wasting limited resources and causing pollution. We must shift to a circular economy approach to build a more sustainable present and future.

DEVELOPING PRACTICAL TOOLS
FOR A CIRCULAR WATER ECONOMY

Project Ô has developed water treatment technologies to support the transition to a circular water economy. These technologies work in harmony with current systems and improve technical and economic success. Adopting a circular economy helps make our systems more resilient to environmental and economic change, ultimately working to provide a reliable water supply for current and future generations.

Watch Project Ô overview video

PROTECTING THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT
PLANT IN ALMENDRALEJO, SPAIN

Project Ô has developed circular water technologies at four installation sites in Croatia, Israel, Italy, and Spain. In this issue, we focus on the installation site in Almendralejo in Spain.

Almendralejo, near Seville in Spain, is home to businesses processing olives for use as both fruit and oil. Wastewater from these businesses and local homes is treated at a nearby wastewater treatment plant.

During the olive production season, the toxicity levels of the wastewater rise and can damage the biological treatment system, which removes pollutants in wastewater. This means that wastewater could go into local rivers untreated.

Project Ô has developed a water treatment module to detect and remove pollutants from businesses and households’ wastewater that could damage the water treatment plant in Almendralejo. This treatment module assesses the toxicity levels of incoming wastewater samples to determine if it is safe to treat or if extra treatment is needed first. If needed, the module will ensure wastewater toxicity is reduced before it enters the normal process at the treatment plant.

While treated water is usually discharged into the local river at the end of the process, this module allows to reuse it by treating it further and removing other pollutants like pharmaceuticals, herbicides and disinfectants, making it clean and safe to sustain crops and clean municipal areas, like streets.

To further support their transition to a circular water economy, they are utilising Project Ô’s web-based platform designed to assist in water planning activities and help regulators make evidence-based decisions about water use.

LATEST UPDATES FROM PROJECT Ô

Co-creation workshop in Spain

The first live online co-creation workshop was held in April 2022 with relevant stakeholders and agencies in Almendralejo, Spain, one of the Project Ô demosites. Read more about the workshop here.

Co-creation workshop in Italy

The second live online co-creation workshop was held in May 2022 with relevant stakeholders and agencies in the Puglia region in Italy, one of the Project Ô demosites. Read more about the workshop here.

Dissemination activities underway

On Friday 13 May 2022, Project Ô partner, Università degli Studi di Torino showed students a prototype of the Project Ô technology used at the demosite in Croatia. Read more about it here.

Demosite posters installed

As part of the communication efforts, several posters were produced and installed at the demosites. You can read and download the materials, reports and
publications developed throughout the project here.

You can read more about Project Ô on our website and social media channels

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 776816

No longer want to receive these emails? Unsubscribe.