Project description DEENESFRITPL Advanced tool to monitor wastewater toxicity Urbanisation and industrial and agricultural development are associated with an increase in wastewater pollution worldwide. Wastewater contains a wide range of chemical and biological pollutants that are harmful to public health; hence, it must be treated accordingly before being released into the environment. However, water quality varies after treatment while existing methods are based on spot-sampling, don't offer information on temporal variability and are not suitable for reliable monitoring. The EU-funded ToxMate project is an instrument developed for the automated real-time on-line and on-site monitoring of wastewater toxicity. It is based on the simultaneous analysis and recording of the locomotor activity of several different species of aquatic invertebrates, applying infrared light and precise cameras. The method is fast, allowing for quick interventions to optimise water purification. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Urban centres, industries and agriculture produce large volumes of wastewater; in addition, the current population growth, accelerated urbanization and economic development are increasing the quantity and pollution of wastewater globally. Being a by-product of human activities, wastewater contains chemical, biological and physical pollutants, so it must be treated to remove all contaminants before it is released in the environment. Releasing untreated or inadequately treated wastewater is dangerous and has harmful effects on human health, the environment, and economic activities.Water quality after wastewater purification varies over time, even and especially during one single day, but managers do not have the necessary tools to monitor these variations. Currently available methods based on bioassays or physical and chemical parameters require sampling, conservation and transport, and are based on spot-sampling (1-2 times/year). These methods are not able to provide information on temporal variability and have low efficiency, durability, and specificity; they are also slow in providing results (at least 72 hours) and can’t allow real time monitoring. To overcome these limitations, ViewPoint has developed ToxMate: a tool for the automated real-time, on-site and on-line monitoring of wastewater toxicity. It is based on the simultaneous analysis of the locomotor behaviour of 3 different species of aquatic invertebrates and it uses infrared light and powerful and precise cameras to record continuously the activity of the animals. The system is composed of 3 panels, each containing 16 animals, so 48 animals can be analysed at the same time and for up to 30 days. ToxMate is fast: it can provide a result on water toxicity in just one hour, so it allows public authorities and water managers to measure the variation in wastewater and identify abnormal episodes, thus allowing quick interventions to optimize water purification and control treatment plants more efficiently. Fields of science engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processeswastewater treatment processesengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsoptical sensorsnatural sciencesearth and related environmental scienceshydrologyengineering and technologychemical engineeringseparation technologiesdesalinationreverse osmosisnatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyinvertebrate zoology Keywords real time monitoring water toxicity automated Programme(s) H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs Main Programme H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies Topic(s) EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020 - SME instrument Call for proposal H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-2 Funding Scheme SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2 Coordinator VIEW POINT Net EU contribution € 1 234 515,63 Address TECHNOPARC SAONE VALLE 01390 Civrieux France See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Rhône-Alpes Ain Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 763 593,75
