| projects-421 |
101067047 |
EUsed |
Breaking frontiers in long-term, high-frequency monitoring of sediment dynamics across Europe |
HORIZON |
HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01 |
HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01-01 |
2023-01-01 |
2024-12-31 |
Completed |
No data |
A proper understanding of sediment transport is extremely important in many areas of engineering and socio-economic development. On time scales of months to years, the knowledge of where sediment accumulates could save billions of dollars on annual port dredging and beach nourishment. On length scales of deltas, estuaries and coastal zones, such knowledge plays a crucial role for decision-makers to govern the development of a country or region. Unfortunately, high-fidelity, long-term in situ data of sediment transport, particularly suspended particulate matter concentration are often unavailable and/or unreliable. Hence, this project aims to propose a novel approach to reduce the calibration effort and improve the accuracy of long-term, high-frequency in situ measurements. This project will integrate field and laboratory studies to demonstrate that combination of at least one pair of optical and acoustic (O/A) sensors will help to “see” the mud better and “hear” the sand better, which in turn allows us to comprehensively reproduce detailed information of suspended sediment concentration profile in a river, estuarine or coastal zone. Field measurements help to provide input of the boundary conditions for the experiments, whereas the experiments help to isolate variables in order to decipher the behavior of O/A signals that occur in nature. This project will 1) enhance understanding of O/A signals behaviors under similar and different environments, 2) derive empirical functions from field and lab data to describe the ratio of O/A signals as a dependent variable of environmental characteristics and 3) test the functionality and efficiency of the empirical functions, obtained above, with field data collected from different parts of Europe. The primary intellectual merit of this project will be a guideline for water agencies and local authorities throughout Europe and the world to improve their performance in long-term, high-frequency monitoring of water quality. |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101067047 |
Rivers and estuaries', 'Coastal waters' |
| projects-422 |
101093985 |
DANUBE4all |
RESTORATION OF THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN WATERS FOR ECOSYSTEMS AND PEOPLE FROM MOUNTAINS TO COAST |
HORIZON |
HORIZON-MISS-2021-OCEAN-02 |
HORIZON-MISS-2021-OCEAN-02-02 |
2023-01-01 |
2027-12-31 |
On going |
€ 008 422 267.50 |
Over one million barriers on Europe’s rivers have resulted in extensive loss of river connectivity and 70-90 % of Europe’s floodplain areas are ecologically degraded due to human modifications. Despite having an ambitious EU policy framework in place, implementation of fresh and transitional water ecosystem restoration is lagging behind. Reasons for this lie among others in a lack of knowledge, awareness and participation of local people and business actors. The overall aim of DANUBE4all is the development of a comprehensive Restoration Action Plan for the Danube river basin lighthouse developed in an unprecedented co-creation process with stakeholders, integrating citizens’ interests to support the Mission “Restore our ocean and waters by 2030”. Based on solid scientific knowledge and new findings, the Action Plan will promote the improvement of ecological status, biodiversity and ecosystem connectivity. The development and implementation of innovative “Win-Win Nature Based Solutions” will simultaneously lead to an enhanced free-flowing status of rivers and floodplains, flood and drought risk reduction and enhancement of sediment and biota continuity. The aim is to adapt to climate change as well as to improve the endangered biodiversity of ecosystems. This will be reached by identifying, processing and upscaling effective and economically profitable restoration measures. DANUBE4all will implement innovative demonstration activities at three sites in the Upper, Middle Danube and the Danube Delta. DANUBE4all will link ecological and economic benefits providing tailored business cases for SMEs, and will deliver innovative tools to accelerate citizens’ and stakeholders’ engagement. DANUBE4all will provide GIS and Citizen Science tools for upscaling these restoration actions via ten Synergy Sites to the Danube Basin and will also transfer the outcomes to five Associated Regions by concrete steps towards the development of Replication Roadmaps for restoration action. |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101093985 |
Rivers and estuaries', 'Coastal waters' |
| projects-423 |
101107488 |
SCALEES |
Signature of sediment CAscades following Landslides triggered by Extreme Events in the Stratigraphy |
HORIZON |
HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01 |
HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01-01 |
2024-02-01 |
2027-01-31 |
On going |
No data |
Catastrophic sediment release in fluvial systems is largely driven by landsliding that occurs naturally during extreme events such as earthquakes or storms in mountain belts. Sediments cascade through the river system until they are stored either permanently in alluvial fans and lakes or temporarily in terraces. To mitigate future landslide hazards, it is urgent to better understand past extreme events such as their amplitude and frequencies, which calls for an improved identification of a landslide signal in the stratigraphy. The SCALEES (Signature of sediment CAscades following Landslides triggered by Extreme Events in the Stratigraphy) project aims to provide a calibrated and validated numerical model of multi-grain size sediment transport and storage that will be apply to unravel the signal of landslides preserved in lakes or alluvial fans and in terraces. To do so, this numerical model that is a recent development of the established RIVER.lab landscape evolution model will be parametrised using extensive and unique data collected in New Zealand where co-seismic landslides have heavily impacted landscapes. The combination of empirical data with numerical simulations will allow us to predict for the first time the full signal (all grain sizes) of sediment cascades preserved in the stratigraphy in response to an extreme event at the scale of a catchment. The project builds up upon the complementary expertise of the fellow in the field of numerical modelling of sediment transport and storage, of the outgoing supervisor in sedimentology related to natural hazards and of the return supervisor in fluvial geomorphology. Through the access to a unique dataset of post-earthquake records as well as scientific networks and the design of a detailed career development plan and a tailored training program, the fellow will be provided with a unique skill set to become an internationally recognised geomorphologist ready to tackle interdisciplinary research questions. |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101107488 |
Rivers and estuaries', 'Lake' |
| projects-424 |
605641 |
O-WAR |
An Integrated Membrane Process for Oily Wastewater Treatment, Water Reuse and Valuable By-Products Recovery |
FP7 |
No data |
SME-2013-1 |
2014-01-01 |
2015-12-31 |
Completed |
€ 001 448 713.00 |
A large amount of wastewater in the form of oil-in-water is generated in different industries such as olive mills, metal processing and offshore oil and gas. The wastewater treatment equipment market was worth >€1 billion in 2010. All the industries face the same problems: to separate emulsified oil from water in a cost-effective way and to handle large volumes of oily waste in an economical way. Among available technologies membrane processes exhibit undisputable advantages over the conventional approaches, especially in treatment of highly emulsified oily wastewater.The O-WaR project aims to develop an integrated process able to efficiently remove emulsified oil from wastewater, to reuse treated water, to recover by-products in wastewater and to reduce volumes of oily waste for disposal. Our solution consists of a SiC membrane coated with an anti-fouling layer, an Induced Gas Flotation (IGF) unit for membrane concentrate treatment and a NF/RO unit for purification of SiC permeate and/or valuable by-products recovery from wastewater.The O-WaR technology will be able to remove >99% of oil, solids and chemical oxygen demand, making treated oily wastewaters to easily meet discharge or reuse requirements, and produce <2% oily waste for off-site disposal, greatly reducing waste disposal cost. In the case of olive mill wastewater (OMW) treatment the O-WaR technology can effectively recover valuable by-products in OMW and create high values (up to €700/kg of recovered small phenolics for functional food, nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals) for the industry. With the O-WaR technology we expect an annual profit of €1.4 million generated in an OMW treatment plant (20,000 m3/year capacity) and a total annual OPEX savings of €0.17 million for a metal processing factory with 20,000 m3/year wastewater produced compared to using a conventional technology. Also, the SMEs in this project are predicted to have a market opportunity of €11.7 million in first 5 years post project. |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/605641 |
Urban water' |
| projects-425 |
262040 |
AQUACELL |
An innovative technology platform for the enhanced treatment of industrial wastewaters achieving cost reductions, electricity generation and enabling water reuse for non-potable applications |
FP7 |
No data |
SME-1 |
2010-12-01 |
2012-11-30 |
Completed |
€ 001 496 846.00 |
Major water using and discharging industries are of significant European economic importance, generating >€1500 billion turnover and employing >7.5 million people in 220,000 companies (90% SMEs). With continued European growth in demand for water, finite reservoirs of readily-treatable water, rising energy costs and increased environmental legislation, EU industry is experiencing significant competitive threats with regard to cost-efficient supply and treatment of water.Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) utilise electrochemically-active microbes to convert the inherent energy of organic chemical bonds to electrical energy. MFCs encompass unique features that offer advantages for the treatment of wastewater, including: efficient electricity generation; minimal sludge formation; operation at low temperature; and modular cell design, enabling operation at small scale and customisation to specific end-user requirements.A core group of SMEs have identified a unique opportunity to advance MFC technology for industrial wastewater treatment, thereby generating sustainable and competitive business growth. Key innovations include MFC integration with photocatalytic advanced oxidation and a membraneless MFC air cathode design; and a scalable cost-efficient MFC and architecture design incorporating innovative process monitoring & control strategies. System features and benefits include:- Capital cost equivalence with existing aerobic treatment solutions- Significant operational cost savings, realised through:- Recovery of organic content as electrical energy & achieving system sustainability (self-powering);- Enhanced treatment efficiency enabling water reuse for on-site non-potable applications;- Significant cost reductions for sludge disposal and treated wastewater discharge to sewer- Flexible design and operation customised to specific end-user (sector) requirements and enabling treatment of wastewaters of varying composition and containing hazardous micropollutantsThe project will result in a pilot-scale MFC system demonstrated for a target industrial wastewater. AquaCell will generate ~€40 million business growth for its SMEs within a 3-year period creating 94 jobs; and has the potential to benefit >29,700 major water using SMEs within the wider European manufacturing sector. |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/262040 |
Urban water' |
| projects-426 |
303837 |
IMKA |
Impact of hydrological extremes on alpine karst groundwater resources |
FP7 |
No data |
FP7-PEOPLE-2011-CIG |
2012-03-01 |
2016-02-29 |
Completed |
€ 000 100 000.00 |
Karst aquifers supply ca. 25 % of the global population with drinking water. In some European countries and Alpine regions, more than 50 % of the water supply relies on karst groundwater. At the same time, karst aquifers are particularly vulnerable to contamination, because of their hydrogeological characteristics, such as rapid and turbulent flow in a network of conduits and caves. Karst springs often show rapid and marked discharge variations in response to precipitation and snowmelt. Chemical and microbial parameters also display large variations. Long periods of good water quality are occasionally interrupted by short but intense contamination events, often following storm rainfall. Identifying these events and reacting accordingly is crucial for the safe use of these water resources. Due to climate change, spatial and temporal precipitation patterns will change and the frequency and intensity of storm rainfall will increase. Therefore, contamination events at alpine karst springs are also expected to become more frequent and intense. Thus, the overall goal of the proposed project is to study the influence of intensified storm rainfall events on groundwater contamination in alpine karst regions. The three major methodological approaches of the project include: (i) Detailed monitoring of spring discharge and water quality parameters at selected springs; (ii) experimental field work, such as tracer tests during different hydrological conditions, ranging from low- to high-flow conditions and (iii) application of different concepts for groundwater protection zone delineation and development of an adjusted concept which incorporates the impact of climate change. This will directly allow a re-evaluation of existing groundwater delineation guidelines, the prediction of the contamination risk and help save groundwater as a future drinking water resource. |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/303837 |
Groundwater', 'Snow and ice' |
| projects-427 |
605937 |
AQUAWARN |
Deployable early warning pollution device for application in water |
FP7 |
No data |
SME-2013-1 |
2013-12-01 |
2015-11-30 |
Completed |
€ 001 294 659.00 |
The purpose of this project is to develop an innovative integrated deployable device for the detection of pollution in water using innovative, state-of-the-art microfluidic technology. The consortium for this project is made up of partners from Ireland (T.E Laboratories and Dublin City University),UK (University of Southampton, Williams Industrial Services), Turkey (Kalite Sistem) and Italy (R.T. Environment).The AQUAWARN device will be used for monitoring importantwater quality parameters in wastewater and environmental waters. Under environmental legislation such as the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and related Directives on Dangerous Substances (76/464/EEC), Groundwater (80/68/EEC), Drinking Water (80/778/EEC) and Urban Wastewater Treatment (91/271/EEC); there is an increasing requirement to monitor the quality of wastewater and water bodies.The AQUAWARN device will be low-cost, transportable and deployable; it will provide high quality data and field-worthy equipment. The environmental monitoring system will be linked to a process control device and auto-sampler. In addition, data and/or an alarm will be sent to a mobile phone/laptop. The device will allow environmental agencies, industrial bodies etc. to monitor and respond efficiently to spatial and temporal changes in water quality.Aquawarn will run for 2 years for a budget of €1.1M. The consortium involved in the AQUAWARN project will achieve its objectives and exploit the results. The RTDs have strong research expertise and the SMEs have a clear commercial interest in this topic. The global market for environmental sensing and monitoring technologies was worth $13 billion of economic activity at present with a projected average annual growth of 5.4% through to 2016 (BCC Research, 2011). All four SMEs involved in the project recognise the potential benefit of owning the IP of the AQUAWARN prototype and are in the position to benefit from and exploit the prototype IP commercially. |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/605937 |
Urban water', 'Groundwater', 'Coastal waters', 'Rivers and estuaries', 'Wetlands' |
| projects-428 |
262949 |
WATPLAN |
Spatial earth observation monitoring for planning and water allocation in the international Incomati Basin |
FP7 |
No data |
SPA.2010.3.2-03 |
2011-02-01 |
2013-07-31 |
Completed |
€ 000 576 015.73 |
This project proposal focuses on water resources allocation and the identification of historical and current water use and high resolution monitoring of several water resource indicators on a weekly basis. For this purpose an operational earth observation system will be developed which includes a website with weekly updates of water resource data on water use. This system can be linked to GEOSS (Global Earth Observation System of Systems) in order to make data accessible for multiple users. The main data generated on a weekly basis as a result of this project are:-Water use and evaporation-Rainfall-Land use-Soil moisture-Biomass productionThese five parameters are the basic inputs for water accounting, which is a relatively new concept that can contribute to better water allocation, verification of water use and sustainable water utilization. |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/262949 |
Urban water', 'Groundwater' |
| projects-429 |
217976 |
SECUREAU |
Security and decontamination of drinking water distribution systems following a deliberate contamination |
FP7 |
No data |
SEC-2007-1.3-05 |
2009-02-01 |
2013-01-31 |
Completed |
€ 007 481 814.73 |
Vulnerability of drinking water distribution systems to deliberate attacks, which would have major public health, economic and psychosocial consequences, is one of the main issues of concern to regulatory agencies, and water utilities. Such a network appears very vulnerable and easy to contaminate through reservoirs, back-flow… The main objective of this proposal is to limit the impact on the population of safe water privation because of contaminated networks, and to launch an appropriate response for rapidly restoring the use of the network after a deliberate contamination. Questions that will be addressed for successful coordinated response of water utilities and regulatory agencies to contamination include: •Detection of unexpected changes in water quality which could be in relation with a deliberate contamination event, •Adaptation of known analytical methods to rapidly detect specific CBRN contaminants in water and in biofilms. •Localization of the point sources of contamination and subsequently the contaminated area allowing delimitation of the corrective actions. •Decontamination procedures (efficient and realistic) of the distribution system. •Controlling the efficacy of the corrective actions by analysing the water bulk and especially the pipe walls and the deposits. •Cases studies will give the chance for the practitioners to apply on site in real conditions the selected sensors, methods, remediation technologies… It is a unique occasion to test an emergency procedure on a complicated, inaccessible, and relatively fragile system, to evaluate its feasibility at field scale, and to evaluate the difficulty to apply corrective treatments to the huge water bulk generated by the neutralisation/extraction of contaminants. The SecurEau project will therefore contribute to the European scientific excellence, to the European competitiveness and to the fight against terrorism, in accordance with the guidelines set up by the EC in the last 5 years. |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/217976 |
Urban water', 'Water reservoir' |
| projects-430 |
606199 |
TRACT |
In-pipe flexible robot for water pipes inspection |
FP7 |
No data |
SME-2013-1 |
2013-12-01 |
2015-11-30 |
Completed |
€ 001 555 734.00 |
Recent studies surprisingly estimate the losses in European Water Distribution Networks to an average of around 30 to 40%, peaking to more than 50% in some Eastern European countries. It is clear that the economic impact and scarcity of public water sources mandate the development of a systemic leakage control program; while this would seem the most intuitive and feasible approach, currently no technology is reliable enough to be used to pinpoint every source of leak. To solve this issue, the TRACT project will introduce to the market an advanced water pipe monitoring system, consisting in a transport mechanism containing sensors for leakage detection and pipe condition monitoring, which can navigate and inspect water pipe structures of various diameter without the necessary precondition of shutting the process down.This valuable output of the TRACT project will be made available to water utilities clients through the successful delivery of the following Scientific and Technological Objectives: 1)Sensor system along with sensor fusion algorithms which allow the inspection robot to detect and locate pipe damages, leakages, and scaling; 2)Software for mapping the pipeline network; 3)Pipe entry mechanism for a “hot tapping” drilling process, which will allow the inspection robot to enter water pipes without the need for shutting the pipes down;4) Transport mechanism which can carry the sensor system and navigate through water pipes in the range of 100 mm – 600 mm, covering the dimensional range of the majority of existing water supply pipes. |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/606199 |
Urban water' |
