The 8 NINFA case studies (CS) were analyzed, considering climate, socio-economic aspects, hydrogeology, and groundwater quality. Specifications and requirements for piloting scenarios were outlined, as KPIs indentified for the entire project (an initial validation strategy for these KPIs was proposed). Complementary activities included a State-of-the-Art (SOTA) report on sensors and water treatment technologies, along with a review of crucial monitoring parameters. Additionally, a survey in Montaigu-Vendée (CS4-bis) assessed citizen acceptance of wastewater reuse. European and national legislation and guidelines on reclaimed water reuse were studied to identify potential parameters for characterizing treated water for reuse.
During this reporting period, a flow model was refined for CS1 using Vistas and laid the groundwork for CS2, with plans for further expansion. Regarding the sensor development, activities have been focused on performing bioassays on novel-sensors for detecting hydrophilic organic compounds and improving multisensory device optic-fiber sensors for measuring groundwater flow and salinity.
Laboratory experiments have been performed based on a thorough SOTA of technologies and analytical methods. Platinum Group Elements (PGE), Hydrocarbons, and Microplastics in urban runoff fractions have been characterized, and preliminary assays to assess their retention and elimination by the selected water treatments. Also, targeted Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) and Antibiotic Resistant Genes (ARGs) and Bacteria (ARBs) from CS4 have been selected, analytical protocols for their proper determination were developed and preliminary lab-scale experiments testing their elimination by the selected water treatments were performed. Lastly, an evaluation of Hydrochar from pig manure solid fraction as a soil amendment and treating the liquid fraction with membrane-assisted stripping (MAS) for nitrogen recovery.
Effects of climate and global changes on groundwater have been identified and prioritised, as adaptation and mitigation strategies for CS1. Work for CS2 is ongoing. Various AI techniques and simplified geohydrological models have been tested and flow charts on the negative effects of global changes on groundwater quality as well as a risk analysis, have been initiated to be able to create climatic projections on several scenarios.
Finally, all NINFA components and the software platform architecture have been drawn in a preliminary platform architecture for NINFA, including the DSS logic and CS2 scenarios, was created.
