Coordinator and leader of the project

FCC AQUALIA S.A.

Aqualia

About Aqualia

Activity

AQUALIA is the fourth largest water management company in Europe and the ninth in the world by population served (Global Water Intelligence, March 2021). It is a public limited company that is owned by the citizen services group FCC (51%) and by the Australian ethical fund IFM Investors
It covers the entire water cycle, managing a network of more than 80,000 km that offers drinking water and treats the wastewater of more than 29 million people in 17 countries.

AQUALIA activity comprises 3 major areas among which, it creates synergies in knowledge, methodology, research and development, working with local partners and administrations:

  • Integral management of public water services.

  • Design and construction of all types of water infrastructures.

  • Global solutions for the use of water in industry.

1.What experience does it have?

AQUALIA has a solid experience in water and wastewater treatment and management, always aimed at presenting sustainable solutions to problems arising in the field of water treatment, allowing the technical department to design water treatment facilities with the latest and most modern technologies. AQUALIA has provided necessary knowledge through pilot programs testing plants to solve wastewater treatment problems with innovative technologies.

2.What is the field of action?

Regarding the project field, AQUALIA has experience in the implementation of AnMBR (LIFE MEMORY, BESTF2 BIOWAMET, LIFE METHAMORPHOSIS, H2020 Run4LIFE and a patent in process of approval in cooperation with UV) and PN/AMX (JPI WaterWorks Pioneer and share a patent for the ELANÂŪ process with USC). Moreover, nutrient recovery strategies and ICT solutions are being developed in the H2020 Run4LIFE and H2020 Incover and will serve as starting point for this LIFE proposal.

3.Why is it the project leader?

His extensive experience in coordinating European projects supports his ability to lead LIFE ZERO WASTE WATER.

UNIVERSITY OF VALENCIA

UNIVERSITY
OF VALENCIA

About UVEG

Activity

The University of Valencia (UVEG) is a five-century old university teaching and doing research in all scientific fields (social, economic and legal sciences, experimental sciences, engineering, health sciences, educational sciences and humanities) and University levels (Bachelor, Masters, PhD).

UVEG stands as one of the main public research organisations in Spain ranking third among all Spanish Universities, first in Valencia region, and 193th in the world.

Support from an office for European Projects (OPER), an Office for Technology transference (OTRI), and several central services, are available for staff developing European funded projects.

1.What projects does it participate in?

UVEG has participated and is participating in more than 300 European Projects under the RTD European Framework Programmes and other as Erasmus, Leonardo, Life+, Cost, EEA Grants, Daphne III, Creative Europe etc, acting as coordinator, contractor, associated contractor, member, or host institution. UVEG also takes part in VLC/Campus of International Excellence awarded by the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation.

2.What is CALAGUA?

The CALAGUA Research Group has twenty years’ experience in studying the whole range of biological, physical and chemical processes involved in WWTPs, lately focusing on anaerobic processes in membrane bioreactors, as best way for resources recovery from sewage.

3.What technology is leading?

CALAGUA is leading a consortium on AnMBR technology, under the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Water (“Anaerobic MBR for WATER Resource Recovery in CIRCuLar Economy: WATER CIRCLE”) and one of the two Innovation Deals selected by EU, which is focused on analysing and overcoming possible EU regulatory barriers affecting water reuse for agricultural purposes. In this project, CALAGUA will focus on the study of AnMBR plant fed with the mixture of OFMSW and WW.

UNIVERSITY OF SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

UNIVERSITY
OF SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

About USC

Activity

The University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) is older than 500 years. It has more than 2.000 lecturers (42 % female) and 299 research groups. It has participated actively in more than 100 projects under various EU Initiatives in the last 5 years. Itwas recognized by the Spanish Ministry of Education as an International Campus of Excellence.

The Group of Environmental Biotechnology (GEB) from the Department of Chemical Engineering at USC can be consideredas one of the best Environmental Engineering groups in Spain.

With a scientific background in the period 2013-2018 of 316 publications in international and national journals (276 SCI), 40 Doctoral Theses, 15 European research projects, 24 national projects and around 30 contracts with companies and 5 patents, the group is recognized as a “Group of Excellence” and it was awarded with the “Martinez Moreno Prize 2011” and since 2015 it belongs to the CRETUS (Cross-Research in Environmental Technology).

1.In what field does it have experience?

The GEB has proven expertise on the field of nitrogen removal via the autotrophic partial nitritation and Anammox (PN/AMX) processes and has been working in this fieldsince year 2000. The research performed on the PN/AMX processes implementation at mesophilic temperature and high ammonium concentrations (sidestream conditions) allowed for the completion of7 PhD thesis, more than 35 papers in peer review journals (ISI) and 3 European, 4 Spanish and 1 Regional projects granted.

2.What has its experience allowed it?

With this expertise and together with the company Aqualia has developed the ELANÂŪ process, obtained a patent (EP 2 740 713 A1) and applied for a new one, regarding the application of the PN/AMX processes at mainstream conditions.

3.What makes it a project leader?

For these reasons, the USC will lead action B.2.2 to develop a PN/AMX system for the treatment of the effluents from an AnMBR operated at ambient temperature and relatively low ammonium concentrations or “mainstream conditions”. In the USC project will be co-financed with own contributions.

CANAL DE ISABEL II, S.A.

CANAL
DE ISABEL II

About Canal

Activity

CANAL DE ISABEL II is the company that manages the water cycle in the whole Madrid Region (8.000 Km2 area) since 1851.

With 6,45 million of people supplied and 1,5 million contracts, Canal de Isabel II manages 13 reservoirs and 78 deep wells.

CANAL DE ISABEL II also manages the sanitary system with more than 14,000 km sewerage network, 65 storm tanks and 157 Waste Water Treatment Plants, where 444,25 hm3 of waste water were treated in 2019.

And Canal de Isabel II manages 31 reuse water plants and more than 650 km reclaimed water network.

CANAL DE ISABEL II defined a strategic plan that runs from 2018 to 2030, defining objectives to long term, as well as the strategies to achieve it. This plan is articulated in 10 main lines strategic.

1.What is its key strategic line for this project?

Boosting quality and energy efficiency, leading the innovation and development and ensure sustainability and efficiency in management. Thus, participation in the present project by CANAL, contributes to the three lines mentioned.

2.What experience does it have?

CANAL DE ISABEL II have a great expertise in the whole water cycle, managing the water and the infrastructure and is deeply involved in every innovative project related to Circular Economy in the water sector.

3.What are its representative projects?

Some examples are the WWTP Arroyo Culebro considered as the flagship model of digitalization in Canal de Isabel II; the Centre of Excellence in Research in Techniques of Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDS) and Centre of Excellence in Research in Sewage and Waste Water Treatment Reuse Technologies; Development of a respirometer in Las Rejas WWTP; Loeches sludge drying plant with electricity cogeneration.

VIENNA WATER SYSTEMS (VWMS) GMBH

VIENNA WATER SYSTEMS
(VWMS) GMBH

About VWMS GmbH

Activity

VWMS GmbH is a private owned Austrian SME focussed on developing, producing and selling rapid microbiological measurement Technology.

The development of the core technology started in Jan. 2010. First patents have been filed in 2011. VWM GmbH has been founded 2013 and restructured in September 2016 VWMS GmbH has been established in late 2016.

At the time VWMS has 8 employees (3 female / 5 male) but planes to expand staff.

VWMS technology has been winner of:

  • 2019 -Winner of the BACTERIA DETECTION CHALLENGE – by MEKOROT - ISRAEL NATIONAL WATER UTILITY.
  • October 2016 WaterSmart Innovations Conference LAS VEGAS Channels for Innovation Summit: MOST INNOVATIVE NEW TECHNOLOGY.
  • July 2016 Singapore Water Week TechXchange: WINNER OF INNOVATION AWARD.
  • 1st Place voted by the Jury + 1st Place voted by TechXchange Participants.
  • Jan 2016 International Water Summit ABU DHABI - Innovate@IWS: FIRST PLACE INNOVATOR - WINNER OF INDUSTRIAL WATER SECTOR.

1.How are its projects today?

The first prototypes of ColiMinder devices have been sold to Customers in late 2016.

Since than several pilot installations have been installed in different applications from drinking water, food and beverage industries though surface and bathing waters to wastewater treatment plants.

2.What solutions does VWMS GmbH offer?

VWMS is offering measurement devices, reagents and software solutions for remote control and automatic notification.

3.How does its experience benefit ?

Based on the experience in different pilot installation VWMS is constantly improving the measurement technology, reagents and software solutions.

SIMBIENTE - ENGENHARIA E GESTÃO AMBIENTAL, LDA

SIMBIENTE

About Simbiente

Activity

Simbiente is a company focused on research, development, innovation and services related to environmental engineering and biotechnology areas. Resulting from activities of researchers and consultants, Simbiente was founded in 2004 as a spin-off company of University of Minho.

Following some of the relevant projects on this regard are mentioned:

  • INCOVER, H2020 aimed to move wastewater treatment from being primarily a sanitation technology towards a bio-product recovery industry and a recycled water supplier.
  • SAID, FP7 focused in the deployment and evaluation of cutting-edge Decision Support Systems (DSS) technologies for integrated water management.
  • SARASWATI, FP7 aimed to the consolidation, replication and up-scaling of sustainable wastewater treatment and reuse European technologies for India.
  • NUTREC, FP7 aimed to develop and market an innovative technology for the recovery of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) from wastewater and landfill leachates.
  • NOVIWAM, FP7 aimed to promoting multilevel and interregional co-operation in the field of water management tools and methods.
  • ww4environment LIFE+ aimed to improve the climatic performance (carbon footprint) of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).

1.How is its network of alliances configured?

Simbiente has a multidisciplinary and experienced staff, including engineers (environmental, biological), biologists, microbiologists and geographers, reinforced when and where needed by a wide network of external consultants and partnerships.

2.How do they develop R&D?

Simbiente has a R&D unit which was created as a result of the need to integrate new ideas, existing technology and visions of the future into projects that generate added value.

3.What fields are its projects focused on?

This unit is working with national and international partners at several projects in different stages of development, mainly focused on the fields of water and waste management and valorization, wastewater treatment technologies, bioenergy, life cycle assessment, decision support systems and research and technological development.

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