Objective
Pollution of water wells caused by iron bacteria can block filters, which leads to the quantity of water decreasing until it stops the pump. The different methods used to solve this problem are expensive and they do not return the system to the initial pumping efficiency. Operators often allow pollution to develop and only carry out remedial action when the pump-station is not able to meet users demand. Therefore economically and environmentally it is important that preventive maintenance of water wells be developed.
This project planned to introduce the EMP process (Electric-Magnetic-Pasteurizing) as a preventive treatment process for well pollution caused by iron-bacteria. The EMP-Process consists of heating in a selective way the well filter and its immediate proximity by the use of an induction process. A temperature of 70 C (kept for a few seconds), is able to kill the iron-bacteria which are present on the well filter. Among all the processes used to fight iron-bacteria, heat is certainly the most efficient and the most environmentally friendly.
A market study showed that water well operators are interested in seeing this process developed further, so long as there is a reduction in the exploitation costs. The low cost of applying this process (in comparison with the cost of chlorination) shows that the market is limited by the supply and not by the demand. The market for this equipment for underground water sources in Europe is potentially several hundred units per a year. The market potential for export (USA, CANADA) is also promising.
The project was successful as it appeared to have solved a significant problem for the EU mineral water industry, as well as having a wider application in other countries including the third world. The team involved a multi -disciplinary mixture of engineers, environmental and microbial specialists and well management specialists and water companies. New knowledge about the functioning of microbial organisms in underground aquafers was developed, but the main output was the development of an environmentally sound method for killing microbes without introducing chemical, nuclear or blasting techniques. The project team have developed a new organisation and an exploitation plan for the product and have already received expressions of interest in commercial exploitation from two firms.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
1150 BRUXELLES
Belgium
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.