Periodic Reporting for period 1 - D4RUNOFF (Data driven implementation of hybrid nature based solutions for preventing and managing diffuse pollution from urban water runoff)
Reporting period: 2022-09-01 to 2024-02-29
Diffuse urban pollution is affecting natural waters in all of Europe. This is mainly regulated trough the EU Water Frame Directive, which includes lists of targeted chemical compounds, threshold limits and monitoring. Scientists acknowledge, that contaminants in the targeted monitoring, only covers a subset of the contaminants in urban runoff. Thus, present regulation and management of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) is limited due to lack of knowledge of pollutants and their effects on human health, water environment and biodiversity.
The D4RUNOFF project, financed under the EU Green Deal Zero Pollution Action Plan, is developing a framework to deal with this problem. The scientific backbone of the project is developing standardized chemical detection methods based on non-target suspect screening. The D4RUNOFF project framework will also develop and demonstrate target monitoring with novel sensor technology, evaluated through a risk-based approach and mitigated through implementation of naturebased solutions - all managed in an AI supported digital platform.
The results will enable stakeholders to identify all pollutants present in urban runoff, demonstrate a market for monitoring of CECs and provide knowledge of the potential to reduce and prevent urban pollution by implementing naturebased solutions in our cities. The Ai assisted digital platform is designed to make complex datasets and comprehensive scientific knowledge accessible for all stakeholders in urban pollution management, urban planning as well as policy, strategy and regulation.
By providing detailed and comprehensive knowledge of CECs in urban runoff, the D4RUNOFF project will close the knowledge gap and hereby directly impact strategies of European water infrastructure, urban planning, climate adaptation as well as future environmental regulations, like Water Frame Directive, the implementation of the Urban Waste Water Directive etc.
The D4RUNOFF project, financed under the EU Green Deal Zero Pollution Action Plan, is developing a framework to deal with this problem. The scientific backbone of the project is developing standardized chemical detection methods based on non-target suspect screening. The D4RUNOFF project framework will also develop and demonstrate target monitoring with novel sensor technology, evaluated through a risk-based approach and mitigated through implementation of naturebased solutions - all managed in an AI supported digital platform.
The results will enable stakeholders to identify all pollutants present in urban runoff, demonstrate a market for monitoring of CECs and provide knowledge of the potential to reduce and prevent urban pollution by implementing naturebased solutions in our cities. The Ai assisted digital platform is designed to make complex datasets and comprehensive scientific knowledge accessible for all stakeholders in urban pollution management, urban planning as well as policy, strategy and regulation.
By providing detailed and comprehensive knowledge of CECs in urban runoff, the D4RUNOFF project will close the knowledge gap and hereby directly impact strategies of European water infrastructure, urban planning, climate adaptation as well as future environmental regulations, like Water Frame Directive, the implementation of the Urban Waste Water Directive etc.
Within reporting period 1 (M1-M18) of the D4RUNOFF project, the focus has been on the scientific developments of novel chemical detections methods for urban rainfall runoff samples, development and prototype of CEC sensor technology, research on naturebased solutions for preventing runoff pollution and development of modules for the AI assisted digital platform.
The scientific work has been a collective effort including all project partners as well as stakeholder engagement in desiging the digital platform.
One main achievement is the development of the sampling protocol and coherent development of a novel analytical method to analyze water samples by non-target suspect screening technology. Sampling of rainfall runoff in an urban environment, is a highly complex task, and despite long periods of no rain, we have managed to derive over 40 representative runoff water samples in the case study areas in Odense, Pontedera and Santander, supplemented with samples from Copenhagen, Riga and Ljubljana. This was very important for the development of the analytical chemical detection methods, it provided important initial results with the chemical composition of the runoff water and this was crucial to the developments of the sensors, nature based solutions and the digital platform.
We managed to develop a prototype of sensors for the selected contaminants (triazines, small microplastics (≤50µm), 6-ppd-quinone, zinc and nickel) as well as scientific datasets and knowledge of naturebased solutions to be implemented in the D4RUNOFF digital platform.
Detailed information of the main achievements on work package level is attached.
The scientific work has been a collective effort including all project partners as well as stakeholder engagement in desiging the digital platform.
One main achievement is the development of the sampling protocol and coherent development of a novel analytical method to analyze water samples by non-target suspect screening technology. Sampling of rainfall runoff in an urban environment, is a highly complex task, and despite long periods of no rain, we have managed to derive over 40 representative runoff water samples in the case study areas in Odense, Pontedera and Santander, supplemented with samples from Copenhagen, Riga and Ljubljana. This was very important for the development of the analytical chemical detection methods, it provided important initial results with the chemical composition of the runoff water and this was crucial to the developments of the sensors, nature based solutions and the digital platform.
We managed to develop a prototype of sensors for the selected contaminants (triazines, small microplastics (≤50µm), 6-ppd-quinone, zinc and nickel) as well as scientific datasets and knowledge of naturebased solutions to be implemented in the D4RUNOFF digital platform.
Detailed information of the main achievements on work package level is attached.
The key problem in dealing with urban pollution in Europe and Globally, is the lack of knowledge due to lack of measurements. This is primerely due to limitations in analytic chemestry methods to detect and identify a large number of CECs in very low concentrations in urban runoff. The methods for water sampling, transport and non-target suspect screening developed in the D4RUNOFF project will demonstrate a solutions to these limitations. We have provided a invatory list of what CECs are found in urban runoff across europe based on non.target screening. This has never been done on urban runoff samples. Possibly these results could alter the WFD compound lists, threshold values and regulation as well as feed discussions on reducing or even banning certain chemicals used in products within the city. Consequently, these results will affect our current investment strategies for urban runoff according to climate change adaptation, renewal of sewer systems and sustainable urban drainage systems for the future.
The D4RUNOFF innovative sensor design will enable automated water sampling and detection of 4 selected CECs - especially the detection of microplastics in very small partile size is beoynd state of the art and will provide valuable knowledge of the content of micoplastics in urban runoff. We demonstrate that monitoring of CECs can be done by sensors, which by regulation can lead to new markets for sensor technology.
The parametric library for nature based solutions by compiling results of scientific publications in litterature will provide knowledge and applicable data for many usages - including further research, urban pollution planning, regulatory guidelines and design of NBS to implement in investment planning. This data set will also be included in the D4RUNOFF Ai supported platform, hence be demonstrated and be openly shared with all stakeholders.
Through a co-design approach, involving primary future users such as municipalities, policymakers, technical operators and technicians in the water sector, academic and scientific organizations and civil society, the project has gathered valuable insights into their needs and interests regarding stormwater runoff management. This participatory methodology has enriched scientific data collection through both qualitative and quantitative user research, complementing traditional methods. In addition, the significance of D4RUNOFF's co-design methodology has extended beyond the project itself, as evidenced by its adoption and dissemination among other EU-funded initiatives.
The D4RUNOFF innovative sensor design will enable automated water sampling and detection of 4 selected CECs - especially the detection of microplastics in very small partile size is beoynd state of the art and will provide valuable knowledge of the content of micoplastics in urban runoff. We demonstrate that monitoring of CECs can be done by sensors, which by regulation can lead to new markets for sensor technology.
The parametric library for nature based solutions by compiling results of scientific publications in litterature will provide knowledge and applicable data for many usages - including further research, urban pollution planning, regulatory guidelines and design of NBS to implement in investment planning. This data set will also be included in the D4RUNOFF Ai supported platform, hence be demonstrated and be openly shared with all stakeholders.
Through a co-design approach, involving primary future users such as municipalities, policymakers, technical operators and technicians in the water sector, academic and scientific organizations and civil society, the project has gathered valuable insights into their needs and interests regarding stormwater runoff management. This participatory methodology has enriched scientific data collection through both qualitative and quantitative user research, complementing traditional methods. In addition, the significance of D4RUNOFF's co-design methodology has extended beyond the project itself, as evidenced by its adoption and dissemination among other EU-funded initiatives.