Objective
Problems to be solved
Long-term water pollution from abandoned mines and associated industrial sites is a significant problem in many EU Member States and Candidate States. Recent developments of "passive", ecologically friendly in-site remedial methods for such pollution, including subsurface reactive barriers and various forms of wetland, have hitherto developed in an uncoordinated manner. PIRAMID aims to draw these developments together, and to foster further innovations to make the technology applicable to a wider variety of abandoned mine waters. Guidelines for the practical use of the technology will be drawn up and widely disseminated. In this way PIRAMID will assist in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive.
Scientific objectives and approach
· Assemble a European database of experiences with passive in site remediation of acidic mine / industrial drainage, covering both surface and subsurface passive in-site remediation (PIR) systems
· Develop process based models of PIR system performance to support improvement of future designs
· Critically evaluate the potential application of PIR in areas of Europe which still do not have the technology
· Test in lab and field novel approaches to PIR, for other specific contaminants and using novel substrate
· Develop engineering guidelines for PIR application at new sites throughout the EU
Expected impacts
· Rendering feasible remediation projects that would not otherwise have been undertaken
· Development of environmentally-friendly remedial measures which can make a contribution to the practical implementation of the Water Framework Directive
· Assist Candidate States in attaining environmental quality in line with EU requirements
· Developments of PIR technology which will be applicable in future to other pollutants, such as nutrients or man-made organic compounds
Fields of science
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
NE1 7RU NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
United Kingdom