HIGHWET

Performance and validation of HIGH-rate constructed WETlands

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'This project is addressed to improve the capacity and effectiveness of constructed wetland (CW) systems as sustainable wastewater (WW) treatment technology. HIGHWET project aims to develop and validate new configurations of CWs to obtain high rate CWs for treating different types of WW. HIGHWET system approach will enhance the implementation of these treatment technologies not only due to their low operation and maintenance cost but also due to their high organic and hydraulic loading rate capacity. The HIGHWET project aims to perform and validate new approaches of vertical and horizontal CWs including innovative materials as gravel bed, aeration devices for increasing biological development and hybrid configurations (hydrolysis anaerobic reactor and CW systems) for decreasing required surface of conventional CWs. The outcomes of the project will be the performance of holistic HIGHWET systems capable of operating at high loading rates treating municipal and industrial WW. Furthermore, new operation strategies will be carried out in order to avoid the gravel bed clogging and extend the lifetime of the systems. Three European SMEs with a extended know-how in natural WW treatments will collaborate with two RTD performers with high experience in anaerobic digestion and CWs to obtain new WW plant configurations in order to uptake new markets: small towns (2,000 to 5,000 p.e.), industrial (food and beverage sector) and livestock farm sectors (Farms with more than 100 heads). Furthermore, a food sector company and regional water agency will be involved in the project as end-user and stakeholder, respectively. SMEs involved in HIGHWET project will have the opportunity to extend their market share since they will obtain innovative and novel products: sustainable and competitive WW treatments; novel aeration and micro-aeration systems to be implemented in WW treatment sector; and specific aggregate /material to be used in CW as gravel bed.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Although the EU's Water Framework Directive (WFD) addresses urban wastewater treatment, requiring the treatment of sewage, there are many small and medium-sized towns without this service. Furthermore, many of them are unable to cope with the energy and maintenance costs of conventional treatment plants, making them unsustainable and uneconomic.