Periodic Reporting for period 1 - StopUP (Protecting the aquatic environment from urban runoff pollution)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2022-09-01 al 2024-02-29
Stormwater overflows, such as urban surface runoff and combined sewer overflows, are of high risk when entering the aquatic environment untreated due to their substantial pollutant loads. European urban wastewater treatment infrastructure rarely has appropriate treatment processes for these polluted water streams. Therefore, new strategies and technologies are needed to mitigate these pollutant emissions effectively.
The EU-funded StopUP project tackles the lack of options for managing stormwater overflows in decentralized and centralized systems (see Figure below). With eleven consortium partners, including nine beneficiaries and two associated partners, StopUP aims to characterize pollutant sources and pathways. Employing cutting-edge monitoring techniques, including online sensors and advanced data analysis, the project seeks to enhance the understanding of pollutants. Upon that, it pioneers new technologies for pollution prevention, along with providing decision-making tools to aid in selecting and implementing mitigation measures.
The EU-funded StopUP project tackles the lack of options for managing stormwater overflows in decentralized and centralized systems (see Figure below). With eleven consortium partners, including nine beneficiaries and two associated partners, StopUP aims to characterize pollutant sources and pathways. Employing cutting-edge monitoring techniques, including online sensors and advanced data analysis, the project seeks to enhance the understanding of pollutants. Upon that, it pioneers new technologies for pollution prevention, along with providing decision-making tools to aid in selecting and implementing mitigation measures.
The research and innovation activities within StopUP are centred around six case studies in six different countries and urban catchments (see Figure below). For a first overview, information from each case study was collected regarding catchment characteristics and protection goods.
- A database was developed including information about the catchment characteristics, water quantity (precipitation data and flow measurements) and water quality.
- A pollution and pollution-induced risk profiling of the urban catchments was subsequently set up with this data.
- Furthermore, sampling campaigns were started at the case studies to determine pollutant loads.
- A sample protocol for off-line analysis was created so all sampling campaigns can be done uniformly.
- For in-line analysis, an operational sensor and sampling system was developed, capable of measuring parameters such as water level, turbidity, and electrical conductivity in high frequency in the aquatic environment.
All gained data regarding the pollution characteristics in the different case studies is then used within StopUP for pollution modelling.
- A novel simplified model for surface runoff quantity and quality estimation was therefore developed for small catchments and a first model calibration on turbidity data could be collected in the Belgium case study.
The integration of future seasonal variations will also be implemented, and a methodology was proposed to downscale climate change scenarios and build future timeseries with fine time steps.
- In addition, a web-based interception tool has been developed that measures the volume reduction capability of SuDS systems which is used as a surrogate for the reduction of water pollution impact on the receiving water environment.
As StopUP also seeks to develop, test and assess innovative strategies and technologies for pollution prevention, pilot plants of various technical approaches were planned and constructed.
- In total, six pilot plants including approaches for decentralized and centralized sewer systems were installed at the case studies (see Figure below in cases 1, 2, 4A and B, 5, and 6).
The collection of data of these technologies and different scenarios for conducting life cycle assessments (LCAs) has started alongside with dissemiantion activities through which planners, operators, and authorities will be enabled to make comprehensible, sustainable decisions. The outcomes from investigating urban runoff pollution characteristics, pollution modelling and mitigation measures are used then for setting up urban runoff water quality management plans (URUQ-MAPs).
- The framework and stepwise and iterative structure of URUQ-MAPs were already drafted and can now be applied to the case studies.
- A database was developed including information about the catchment characteristics, water quantity (precipitation data and flow measurements) and water quality.
- A pollution and pollution-induced risk profiling of the urban catchments was subsequently set up with this data.
- Furthermore, sampling campaigns were started at the case studies to determine pollutant loads.
- A sample protocol for off-line analysis was created so all sampling campaigns can be done uniformly.
- For in-line analysis, an operational sensor and sampling system was developed, capable of measuring parameters such as water level, turbidity, and electrical conductivity in high frequency in the aquatic environment.
All gained data regarding the pollution characteristics in the different case studies is then used within StopUP for pollution modelling.
- A novel simplified model for surface runoff quantity and quality estimation was therefore developed for small catchments and a first model calibration on turbidity data could be collected in the Belgium case study.
The integration of future seasonal variations will also be implemented, and a methodology was proposed to downscale climate change scenarios and build future timeseries with fine time steps.
- In addition, a web-based interception tool has been developed that measures the volume reduction capability of SuDS systems which is used as a surrogate for the reduction of water pollution impact on the receiving water environment.
As StopUP also seeks to develop, test and assess innovative strategies and technologies for pollution prevention, pilot plants of various technical approaches were planned and constructed.
- In total, six pilot plants including approaches for decentralized and centralized sewer systems were installed at the case studies (see Figure below in cases 1, 2, 4A and B, 5, and 6).
The collection of data of these technologies and different scenarios for conducting life cycle assessments (LCAs) has started alongside with dissemiantion activities through which planners, operators, and authorities will be enabled to make comprehensible, sustainable decisions. The outcomes from investigating urban runoff pollution characteristics, pollution modelling and mitigation measures are used then for setting up urban runoff water quality management plans (URUQ-MAPs).
- The framework and stepwise and iterative structure of URUQ-MAPs were already drafted and can now be applied to the case studies.
The StopUP project goes beyond addressing the challenges of urban runoff and sewer overflows by providing several innovative solutions and by that, advancing the technological frontier. An in-situ grab sampling system has been developed that is triggered based on in-line sensor data and weather predictions. Thereby, not only live data is integrated but also the future state of the system is included. Besides evolving such an automatic triggering protocol for advanced sampling, StopUP also works on pollution modeling so that stakeholders can enhance their decision-making process for selecting appropriate SuDS systems. An end-user water quality design and planning interception tool was set up and has been released for public access (https://stopup.hrwallingford.com/(si apre in una nuova finestra)). The tool allows users to create a detailed representation of a SuDS network, to apply rainfall, and then to calculate and report on its hydraulic and water quality performance. An assessment of the pollution management effectiveness is thereby possible.
Driving highly promising technologies for the mitigation of pollution by urban runoff is another key activity within the StopUP project. Several technological approaches are investigated at the same time so that also cross-case assessments and a subsequent decision support method for treatment technologies are possible. A retention soil filter system is optimized which can be implemented in densely populated areas with limited land availability. The addition of biodegradable flocculants before the filtration process has shown to increase the reduction of turbidity by around 80%. The investigation of the process combination of micro sieving and adsorption also successfully indicated an effective treatment of combined sewer overflow. Another investigated nature-based technology showed that impregnating clay onto the biochar significantly enhances the removal of micropollutants in constructed wetlands, with phragmites biochar showing remarkable promise.
Driving highly promising technologies for the mitigation of pollution by urban runoff is another key activity within the StopUP project. Several technological approaches are investigated at the same time so that also cross-case assessments and a subsequent decision support method for treatment technologies are possible. A retention soil filter system is optimized which can be implemented in densely populated areas with limited land availability. The addition of biodegradable flocculants before the filtration process has shown to increase the reduction of turbidity by around 80%. The investigation of the process combination of micro sieving and adsorption also successfully indicated an effective treatment of combined sewer overflow. Another investigated nature-based technology showed that impregnating clay onto the biochar significantly enhances the removal of micropollutants in constructed wetlands, with phragmites biochar showing remarkable promise.