The LIFE Impetus “Improving current barriers for controlling pharmaceuticals compounds in urban wastewater treatment plants” project (2016-2019), coordinated by LNEC, is one of the 5 competing finalists to the LIFE Environment 2021 Awards, attributed by the European Commission. The project is also one of the 15 nominees for the LIFE Citizen’s Prize, voted by the general public.

This nomination recognizes the high innovation potential of this project that demonstrated how to improve the control of pharmaceutical compounds in urban wastewater treatment, with low-investment, low-energy solutions, and how to develop high-performing absorbents, tailor-made for target pharmaceuticals.

Besides LNEC, the project beneficiaries were the water utilities Águas do Algarve, Águas do Tejo Atlântico and EPAL, EHS Consulting, the Faculty of Sciences and the Faculty of Pharmacy of Lisbon University and the University of Algarve.

Find out more at the project website, Layman’s report (pt/en) and summary.

Vote for your favourite LIFE project in LIFE Awards 2021.

The LIFE program is the EU financial instrument that supports environmental, nature conservation and climate action projects across the EU.

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O projeto LIFE Impetus “Improving current barriers for controlling pharmaceuticals compounds in urban wastewater treatment plants” (2016-2019), coordenado pelo LNEC, é um dos 5 finalistas aos Prémios LIFE 2021, na categoria “Ambiente”, entregues pela Comissão Europeia, e um dos 15 candidatos ao LIFE Citizens’ Prize, atribuído pelo público em geral.

Esta nomeação reconhece o elevado potencial de inovação deste projeto, que demonstrou como melhorar o controlo de fármacos no tratamento de águas residuais urbanas, com baixo investimento e energia, e desenvolver adsorventes de elevado desempenho, “à medida” de fármacos-alvo.

Além do LNEC, o projeto teve como parceiros as empresas Águas do Algarve, Águas do Tejo Atlântico, EPAL e EHS Consulting, e a Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, a Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa e a Universidade do Algarve.

Descubra mais no site do projeto, no Layman’s report (pt/en) e no resumo (en).

Vote no seu projeto LIFE favorito em LIFE Awards 2021.

O programa LIFE é o instrumento financeiro da UE que apoia projetos ambientais, de conservação da natureza e de ação climática em toda a UE.

LIFE IMPETUS wins the PT Global Water Award 2019 for R+D+i

Last 29-30 January 2020, LIFE IMPETUS was present at the LIFE Waste-Water Treatment Platform Meeting held in Barcelona, Spain. LIFE IMPETUS was showcased in Theme 2 Workshop “Pollutants of emerging concern”.
This meeting was a gold opportunity to share our findings and outcomes with industry and key players in EU water policy, responsible for the ongoing revision of the EU urban wastewater treatment directive (UWWTD). video recorded.

 

 

LIFE IMPETUS wins the PT Global Water Award 2019 for R+D+i

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last 11^th December 2019, during the 14^th Expo Water Conference, LIFE IMPETUS won the PT Global Water Award 2019 for Research + Development + Innovation. The PT Global Water Awards 2019 recognise the excellence in the internationalisation of the Portuguese water cluster and are organised by the Portuguese Water Partnership and Água & Ambiente journal, with the support from the Ministry for Environment and Climate Action and from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The award ceremony was chaired by the Internationalisation State Secretary.

LIFE IMPETUS – Improving current barriers for controlling pharmaceutical compounds in urban wastewater treatment plants (2016/19) characterised the occurrence of pharmaceutical compounds in urban wastewaters and demonstrated easy-to-implement, low-capex and low-energy measures for improving their control in activated-sludge wastewater treatment plants. Among the products developed there are: analytical procedures for pharmaceuticals compounds in complex matrices (wastewaters, sludges, clams); strategies and best practices of operating A2O and oxidation ditches activated-sludge systems for enhanced control of pharmaceuticals; idem with powdered activated carbon-enhanced treatment; new high-performing powdered activated carbon (WEX Global 2019 award winner for “Innovation in Technology”).

Coordinated by LNEC, the project consortium includes also Águas do Algarve, Águas do Tejo Atlântico and EPAL, Faculty of Pharmacy and Faculty of Sciences of Lisbon University, University of Algarve and EHS consulting (4 R&D institutions, 3 water utilities and a SME).

 

The LIFE Impetus International Final Conference will take place in Lisbon (Portugal)
on 5 December 2019 at LNEC Congress Centre.

The objectives of the conference are to present and discuss the project outcomes.

The conference will gather the LIFE Impetus Project Partners and Stakeholders’ Panel, two invited speakers and members from networking LIFE projects, as well as the water industry, water professionals, technology providers, press and general public.

PROGRAMME + REGISTRATION HERE

LIFE Impetus @ Caminho da Inovação’19 – Expo & Networking

On 26th of September 2019, Águas do Tejo Atlântico (AdTA) hosted the 3^rd edition of “O Caminho da Inovação” (The Innovation Pathway’19 – Expo & Networking), an event dedicated to innovation on water sector. This event was attended by more than 500 participants from various areas and nationalities and was focused on the innovation of water management, treatment and energy.  In addition to the presentations and panel discussions, the event involved about 50 entities, from municipalities, utilities, research institutes and technology companies, who accepted the challenge and brought their latest projects to the EXPO & NETWORKING session.

The LIFE Impetus was present on the EXPO & NETWORKING session and we had the opportunity to explain the 3 main axes of our project: knowing, innovating and replicating.

2 Workshops on Analytical Methods for PhCs and wastewater samples preparation

Seeking capacity building at stakeholders potentially involved in monitoring of PhCs at the water sector operators or reference laboratories, LIFE Impetus organized two workshops in Lisbon, at the EPAL facilities and the Pharmacy Faculty facilities. These workshops brought together Lab technicians stakeholders from the water sector and other areas (e.g., health, environment and education). The first workshop (on May 21) had 28 participants and the second workshop (on June 4) had 18 participants. Participants were quite active during the workshop, asking information about PhC occurrence in urban wastewaters and the presented analytical methods.

The first workshop’ program included:

• Overview of the LIFE Impetus project
• Challenges of contaminants of emerging concern: pharmaceutical compounds
• Validation and quality assurance of analytical results
• Sample pre-treatment techniques: advantages and disadvantages
• Sample pre-treatment techniques applied during LIFE Impetus project
• Chromatographic methods used in the analysis of contaminants of emerging concern: analytical challenges
• Challenges in the chromatographic analysis of pharmaceutical compounds in environmental samples

The second workshop’ program included:

• Sample pre-treatment of environmental samples for the analysis of pharmaceutical compounds by liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry: wastewaters
• Sample pre-treatment of environmental samples for the analysis of pharmaceutical compounds by LC-MS/MS: sewage sludge and clams
• Sample pre-treatment of environmental samples for the analysis of pharmaceutical compounds by liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS): accelerated solvent extraction (ASE)
• Analysis of pharmaceutical compounds by LC-MS/MS: wastewaters, sewage sludge and clams

 

LIFE Impetus on the road

From May to July 2019, the LIFE Impetus team presented some of the project’s results in six conferences across Europe and the USA. The name of the events, the presentations and their authors is presented below:

• SETAC Europe 29^th Annual Meeting (Helsinki, Finland) – “Occurrence and seasonal variation of pharmaceutical compounds from four therapeutical classes in the influents of two Portuguese wastewater treatment plants” (Rodrigues JA, Silva S, Cardoso VV, Cardoso ME, Coelho MR, Benoliel MJ, Almeida CMM) – 20-30 May 2019
• CQE Days Spring Meeting 2019 (Lisbon, Portugal) – “Novel environmental-friendly activated carbons for enhanced pharmaceuticals removal from wastewaters: contributions of LIFE IMPETUS project” (Mestre AS, Viegas RMC, Mesquita E, Rosa MJ, Carvalho AP) – 30 May 2019
• IWA Water Reuse 2019 (Berlin, Germany) – “Modelling and predicting the potential application of new waste-derived activated carbons for controlling pharmaceutical compounds in conventional wastewater treatment” (Viegas RMC, Mesquita E, Campinas M, Mestre AS, Carvalho AP, Rosa MJ) – 16-20 June 2019
• Carbon 2019 (Kentucky, USA) – “Engineered activated carbons for improved recalcitrant pharmaceuticals removal during urban wastewater treatment: LIFE Impetus project” (Mestre AS, Andrade MA, Viegas RMC, Mesquita E, Rosa MJ, Carvalho AP) – 14-19 July 2019
• Satellite Symposium to CARBON 2019 – Beyond Adsorption Symposium II (New York, USA) – “Key parameters for activated carbon adsorption of pharmaceutical compounds from wastewater” (Mestre AS, Viegas RMC, Mesquita E, Andrade MA, Rosa MJ, Carvalho AP) – 20 July 2019
• Serea19 (Lisbon, Portugal) – “Estratégias de reforço físico-químico com carvão ativado em pó para controlo de fármacos em ETAR” (Viegas RM, Mesquita E, Martins A, Rosa MJ) – 15-17 July 2019

PAPER ON ANALYTICAL MONITORING PUBLISHED IN THE “FOOD ANALYTICAL METHODS” JOURNAL

A scientific paper entitled “Development of a Multiresidue Method for the Determination of 24 Pharmaceuticals in Clams by QuEChERS and Liquid Chromatography-Triple Quadrupole Tandem Mass Spectrometry” has recently been published in the “Food Analytical Methods” journal. The aim of the paper is to present the optimization and validation of a method for the determination of PhCs in clams for further evaluation of any potential human exposure risk due to their consumption.

Food Analytical Methods is an international peer-reviewed journal, covering fundamental and specific aspects of the development, optimization, and practical implementation in routine laboratories, and validation of food analytical methods for the monitoring of food safety and quality.

 

 

EASME, NEEMO and APA visit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the 20th of February, LIFE Impetus consortium welcomed Solon Mias from EASME (the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises), Filipa Ferrão, the  project External Monitor from NEEMO and Isabel Lico, APA Focal Point for LIFE. This visit included the participation in the technical meeting held at the University of Algarve, in Faro, for discussing the project progress and major results, and a visit to Faro Noroeste WWTP, during which the pilot prototype therein installed and the LIFE Impetus solution were presented to a numerous delegation of Águas do Algarve.

 

 

WEX Global 2019 award for “Innovation in Technology”

LNEC and FCUL received the WEX Global 2019 award for “Innovation in Technology” for the environmental-friendly production of novel activated carbons from pine nut residues and their application for enhanced removal of pharmaceutical compounds in urban wastewater treatment plants, developed within LIFE Impetus project.

The awardees are Ana Paula Carvalho and Ana Sofia Mestre, of Centro de Química e Bioquímica and Centro de Química Estrutural of Faculdade de Ciências of Universidade de Lisboa, and Maria João Rosa, Rui Viegas and Elsa Mesquita, of the Urban Water Unit of the Hydraulics and Environment Department of LNEC.

The prize was awarded by an international, cross-sector panel of experts in the water and energy sectors during the WEX Global 2019 – Applying Intelligence to the Circular Economy in Water & Energy conference, held in Gaia, Portugal, last 4-6 March.

This key, prestigious award, assigned to recent water projects with a circular economy component, recognises outstanding usage, manufacture or production of innovative products, materials or technologies which are providing substantial benefits to the world’s water needs.

Read more at https://www.wex-global2019.com/wex-global-awards-2019/

 

Segundo Workshop do projeto LIFE IMPETUS

A 10 de janeiro de 2019 realizou-se no Centro de Congressos do LNEC o 2.º Workshop (WS2) do projeto LIFE Impetus. Este workshop reuniu o painel de stakeholders, constituído por elementos representativos do setor da água e de outras áreas (designadamente, saúde, agricultura e ensino), a monitora externa do projeto, elementos do Conselho Consultivo do e o consórcio do projeto – LNEC, Águas do Algarve, Águas do Tejo Atlântico, EHS, EPAL, Faculdade de Ciências e Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa e Universidade do Algarve.

Este evento contou com 37 participantes e prosseguiu o trabalho desenvolvido no primeiro workshop – WS1 (em 12.07.2017). No WS1 explorou-se o problema (i.e. a presença de fármacos nas águas residuais) e no WS2 explorou-se a solução desenvolvida no projeto, i.e. as ETAR como barreira de proteção da ambiental, com a apresentação de resultados alcançados até à data. Além disso, na sessão da manhã, os stakeholders trabalharam sobre cenários futuros e fatores socioeconómicos com impacto numa previsível evolução do papel das ETAR e, na sessão da tarde, ponderaram custos e benefícios intangíveis a integrar na análise custo-benefício do projeto.

On January 10 2019, the 2^nd Workshop (WS2) of the LIFE IMPETUS project was held at the LNEC Congress Center. This workshop brought together stakeholders from the water sector and other key areas for the project replication and dissemination (e.g., health, agriculture and education), the project’s external monitor from Neemo, Portuguese members of the project Advisory Board and the project consortium – LNEC, Águas do Algarve, Águas do Tejo Atlântico, EHS, EPAL, Faculty of Sciences and Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon and University of Algarve.

This event gathered 37 participants and continued the work done in the first workshop – WS1 (on 12.07.2019). In WS1,  the problem was explored (i.e. the presence of drugs in urban wastewaters) and WS2 addressed the solution, i.e. the WWTPs as an environmental protection barrier, with the presentation of project’s main results. In addition, in the morning session, the stakeholders worked on future scenarios and on socioeconomic factors impacting on a predictable evolution of the role of WWTPs and, in the afternoon, they weighted intangible costs and benefits to be integrated into the project’s cost-benefit analysis.

 

LIFE IMPETUS @ Caminho da Inovação’18 – Expo & Networking

On 26th of September 2018, Águas do Tejo Atlântico (AdTA) hosted the second edition of “O Caminho da Inovação” (The Innovation Pathway’18 – Expo & Networking), an event dedicated to innovation on water sector. In addition to the presentations and panel discussions, the event involved about 50 entities, from municipalities, utilities, research institutes and technology companies, who accepted the challenge and brought their latest projects to the EXPO & NETWORKING session. This event was attended by 400 participants from various areas and nationalities and was focused on the innovation of water management, treatment and energy. The live streaming of the sessions was viewed by 300 spectators in the morning and more than 200 spectators in the afternoon.

The LIFE Impetus had a special session untitled “LIFE Impetus: Control of pharmaceutical compounds in WWTPs” where it was possible to present the LIFE Impetus project and its progress. The LIFE Impetus was also present on the EXPO & NETWORKING session.

 

LIFE IMPETUS @ 3rd Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 3rd Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference took place on 13^th-16^th May, Berlin. This scientific meeting was organized by Elsevier in cooperation with the University of Lüneburg and ISC3 – International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre.

This conference provided not only a forum for chemistry related topics, such as synthesis and technical aspects of chemistry and its products, but also the broader context needed to enable long term viable and globally applicable contributions of chemistry to the SDGs.

LNEC research group participated with a poster entitled “Developing sustainable activated carbons for improved pharmaceutical compounds removal from urban wastewaters in the framework of LIFE IMPETUS project”.

Our colleagues Ana Paula Carvalho and Ana Sofia Mestre, from FCUL (Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa) presented the poster and they received a very positive feedback from other attendees of this conference!

LIFE Impetus project welcomes students’ visits

LIFE Impetus project invites students, from young children to university students, to visit the Urban Water Unit (NES) of the Hydraulics and Environment Department (DHA) and to learn about the LIFE Impetus project, the problem and the solutions targeted.
These visits start with a brief description of NES and UQTA (the Water Quality and Treatment Laboratory) research activity, particularly on the water quality analyses (e.g. pharmaceutical compounds) and water treatment technologies. Participants visit the lab facilities, see 1-2 demonstrations of water analysis or treatment experiment, and are introduced to the ongoing R&D projects. LIFE Impetus is always on the spot light and catch the visitors’ curiosity and interest.

Colégio Valsassina visit, 12th grade Students, 21.03.2018	Visit of students of Environmental Engineering graduation of the Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), School of Agriculture, 02.11.2017

 

 

 

LIFE Impetus @ 8th World Water Forum

LIFE Impetus project integrated the Portuguese Water Hub of the 8th World Water Forum (fma2018.pt/pt/home).

LIFE Impetus @ Encontro Desafios da Água

On the 1^st and 2^nd of March 2018, Águas do Algarve organized the meeting Desafios da Água (www.desafiosdaagua.com) which brought together more than 30 experts to discuss current issues of unquestionable importance to the water sector and to the environmental education. About 500 participants attended the event, from water utilities, municipalities, universities, technology centers and companies, utilities. Desafios da Água presented seven thematic sessions with invited speakers, including Maria João Rosa (Life Impetus project coordinator) and António Martins (AdA team leader in the LIFE Impetus project), which talked about LIFE IMPETUS in their presentations on water reuse and AdA innovation projects, respectively. The younger ones were entitled to a space that was dedicated to them at the meeting Desafios da Água, with a set of initiatives aimed especially at students from 1st cycle to high school This event accommodated technology demonstrations and presentations of research, development and innovation projects, such as the LIFE Impetus project.

            

 

O Caminho da Inovação – Expo & Networking

A Fábrica de Água de Alcântara abriu portas à comunidade científica e empresarial com um evento dedicado à inovação no setor da água.

A estratégia para antecipar os principais desafios do futuro, com destaque para a economia circular, gestão da energia, poluentes emergentes, digitalização da económica, alterações climáticas, entre outros, esteve no centro do “Caminho da Inovação”, nome escolhido para o evento que reuniu cerca de 300 participantes, entre colaboradores, universidades, centros tecnológicos, empresas, entidades gestoras e municípios.

A par de um conjunto de sessões temáticas com convidados de referência do setor, com destaque para o Secretário de Estado do Ambiente, Carlos Martins, e o Presidente da European Water Association, José Saldanha Matos, os vários espaços da Fábrica de Alcântara acolheram uma demonstração de tecnologias e projetos de investigação e desenvolvimento, tais como o projeto LIFE IMPETUS, e que colocam a Águas do Tejo Atlântico na linha da frente da inovação.

“The Alcântara water factory opened the doors to the scientific and business community with an event dedicated to innovation in the water sector. The strategy to anticipate the future main challenges, with emphasis on the circular economy, energy management, emerging pollutants, water digitalization, climate change, among others, was at the heart of the “Innovation Path”. Attended the event about 300 participants, among them employees, universities, technology centers, companies, utilities and municipalities. A series of thematic sessions occurs with invited speakers of the sector, including the Environment Secretary of State, Carlos Martins, and the President of the European Water Association, José Saldanha Matos. Also, in this event, Alcântara water factory accommodated technologies demonstrations and presentations of research, development and innovation projects, such as LIFE IMPETUS, that place Águas do Tejo Atlântico at the forefront of innovation.”

LIFE Impetus at the 2017 EIP Water Conference, Porto

The LIFE Impetus project participated on the side event entitled “The LIFE programme: funding opportunities & innovative solutions on wastewater treatment”, organized by EASME. The event took place on 26 September. This event aimed to showcase and disseminate a selection of the latest and most replicable solutions developed by LIFE in the field of wastewater treatment. Additionally, the side event included presentations on the LIFE program’s topics in the water sector for the following years as well as a slot on LIFE funding opportunities and future call for projects.

LIFE Impetus @ European Researchers’ Night 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In September 29th 2017, in the European Researchers’ Night (Lisbon), Ana Paula Carvalho and Ana Sofia Mestre, from the Faculty of Sciences team, presented LIFE Impetus with a special focus on the preparation and use of activated carbon materials for water decontamination purpose

s – “Activated carbons. Materials for a better environment and pure water”. Along the night the stand and the experimental activity received 100+ visitors from general public, including 50+ pupils and students.

LIFE Impetus @ LNEC EM Open Day

In June 6th 2017, in LNEC-EM open day, the Water Quality and Treatment Laboratory (UQTA) – operational unit of LNEC-EM, received 21 visitors from LNEC, universities, research centres, engineering and municipal companies. The visit focused on the UQTA’s activity and research, particularly on the laboratorial analyses (e.g. natural organic matter, cyanotoxins and pharmaceutical compounds) and treatment technologies. Participants visited the laboratory facilities and received information about LIFE Impetus.

 

1^st Collaborative Workshop of the LIFE Impetus project

A 12 de julho de 2017 realizou-se no Centro de Congressos do LNEC a 1.ª Oficina de Trabalho Colaborativo do projeto europeu LIFE Impetus – Improving current barriers for controlling pharmaceutical compounds in urban wastewater treatment plants. Esta oficina reuniu o painel de stakeholders, constituído por elementos representativos do setor da água e de outras áreas (designadamente, saúde, ensino, produção estatística, produção de amêijoas e imprensa) e o focal point para o programa LIFE, e o consórcio do projeto (LNEC, Águas do Algarve, Águas do Tejo Atlântico, EHS, EPAL, Faculdade de Ciências e Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa e Universidade do Algarve). Esta primeira oficina, que contou com 35 participantes, teve como objetivo explorar o problema (ou seja, presença de fármacos nas águas residuais urbanas), promover o debate e a coprodução de um Quadro de Referência Partilhado de dimensões de impacte a considerar durante o projeto. Foi um dia animado com vários exercícios em grupo e seguir-lhe-á uma segunda oficina, a realizar em 2018, para explorar a solução, os resultados e a análise custo-benefício do projeto.

“On July 12 2017, the first Collaborative Workshop of the European project LIFE IMPETUS – Improving current barriers for controlling pharmaceutical compounds in urban wastewater treatment plants was held at the LNEC Congress Center. This workshop brought together stakeholders from the water sector and other areas (e.g., health, education, statistical production, clams production and press) and the focal point for the LIFE program, and the project consortium (LNEC, Águas do Algarve, Águas do Tejo Atlântico, EHS, EPAL, Faculty of Sciences and Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon and University of Algarve). This first workshop, which had 35 participants, aimed to explore the problem (i.e., the presence of drugs in urban wastewaters), to promote the debate and the co-production of a Shared Reference Framework of impact dimensions to consider during the project. It was a lively day with several group exercises and it will be followed by a second workshop, to be held in 2018, to explore the solution, the results and the cost-benefit analysis of the LIFE IMPETUS project.“

LIFE IMPETUS has been published on European Commission’s Facebook

LIFE IMPETUS has been published on European Commission’s LinkedIn

 

The LIFE IMPETUS project was highlighted in the second edition of “Open day of LNEC Operational Units” held in 6^th June 2017.
Event flyer

LIFE IMPETUS @ CQB-day 2017

The Centro de Química e Bioquímica (CQB) day 2017 took place on 31^st May 2017 in FCUL, Lisbon, organized by Ana Paula Carvalho, action B3 leader and FCUL team on LIFE IMPETUS.

This event included two invited lectures, one of them presented by Maria João Rosa about “The role of activated carbon technologies for controlling emerging contaminants in water and wastewater treatment”, with a special highlight to the LIFE IMPETUS project, and to LNEC-FCUL partnership.

CQB-day 2017 Book of abstracts

LIFE IMPETUS @ celebration of 25 years of LIFE programme

The Portuguese celebration of 25 years of LIFE programme took place on 22^th May 2017 in the LNEC auditorium, Lisbon. This event was organized by the Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente in cooperation with LNEC.

This event included five sessions during the morning period, namely: opening, the 25 years long contribution of the LIFE programme to the environment; 2017 LIFE call: new aspects and main opportunities; the LIFE in Portugal: the last 25 years and the future of the next 25, closing. The afternoon period included a Match Making session between cofinancers and applicants.

Maria João Rosa (LNEC research group) participated in the round table on “the LIFE in Portugal: the last 25 years and the future of the next 25”. The LIFE IMPETUS project was presented with in a poster, together with other LIFE projects with LNEC’s contribution: LIFE HYMEMB and LIFE AWARE.

 

LIFE IMPETUS in “Indústria e Ambiente”

LIFE IMPETUS project is referred in the March/April 2017 issue of Indústria e Ambiente (http://www.industriaeambiente.pt/noticias/revista-n103-marco-abril-2017/) magazine, in the article “O papel da regulamentação na inovação no domínio da reutilização de água” (The role of regulamentation to innovation in the water reuse domain).

 

 

LIFE IMPETUS @ EWA Spring Conference 2017

The EWA Spring Conference 2017 on Sanitation Approaches and Solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals took place on 10^th-11^th May, Lisbon. This scientific meeting was organized by the European Water Association (EWA) and APESB (Portuguese Association for Sanitary and Environmental Engineering) in cooperation with CERIS-IST-UL (Centre for Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability of Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon).

The topics addressed at the event were on-site sanitation and new sanitation approaches, conventional and non-conventional sewer systems, nature based treatment solutions, excreta and treated wastewater reuse and resources recovery, energy efficiency and management in wastewater treatment, and sludge and bio-solids management.

LNEC research group participated with an oral communication entitled “Framework for energy management in small size, decentralized wastewater treatment plants” and a poster with the presentation of the LIFE IMPETUS project.

 

LNEC team in LIFE IMPETUS is proud to be part of the LIS-Water

The international reputation of the Portuguese water sector continues to grow. The LNEC application to the European Union H2020 Teaming program for creating an excellence center for water in Portugal, the Lisbon International Centre for Water (LIS-Water), was awarded funding for the 1^st stage – result disclosed in March 22^nd, the World Water Day.

LIS-Water will be constituted by public and private entities, promoted by LNEC in partnership with several (currently around 40) International and Portuguese institutions, including Crandfield University and Sorbonne, the EU partners in the teaming project.

LIS-Water aims at atracting world  experts, national and foreign, and will focus on the development and dissemination of knowledge on public policy, regulation and management of water resources and urban water services (water, wastewater and stormwater services), based on five pillars: research and innovation – the master pillar; education, training and capacity building, to support the utilites, administration and regulators; business support, incubation and acceleration of start-ups, to support the industry; think tank and strategic advice , to support the policy makers; social engagement, to support the society at large.

The LNEC team in LIFE IMPETUS is proud to be part of this new center of excellence, led by Jaime Melo Baptista (member of LIFE IMPETUS Advisory Council), Helena Alegre, Rafaela Matos and Maria João Rosa. The LIFE IMPETUS outcomes will help build the ground for many of its pillars.

LIFE IMPETUS participated in the networking event “Current and future trends in the monitoring and control of emerging pollution in the water cycle”, held in Santiago de Compostel, Spain, gathering representatives of different projects in the field of monitoring, control and treatment of emerging pollutants in the integrated water cycle.

During the event, besides LIFE IMPETUS, several projects were presented and discussed, namely the CFIS-Ecopharma project, LIFE EMPORE, WaterNanoEnv, Sea-on-a-chip, BRAAVOO and SeMPAC.

The objective of the event was to know different projects encompassed in this subject addressed from different perspectives: real-time monitoring, passive samplers, nanotechnology, treatment systems and control tools. The event favored networking among the projects involved in order to establish future work needs on the issue of emerging pollutants, in anticipation of possible changes in legislation at the community level.

To conclude the day, a round table was held on the present and future of the issue of emerging pollutants in the water cycle with representatives of companies, research centers and technology centers: National Laboratory for Civil Engineering (LNEC) , Instituto Tecnológico de Galicia, Iberian International Nanotechnology Laboratory, Levante Technological Laboratories, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Cetaqua Galicia.

LIFE IMPETUS was present at the 17^th ENASB – Environmental and Sanitary Engineering Meeting, held last 14-16 September in Guimarães. On top of being presented in two oral communications, LNEC had a LIFE dedicated stand for disseminating LIFE Hymemb, LIFE aWARE and LIFE IMPETUS.

The ENaSB – National Meeting on Environmental and Sanitary Engineering is a reference biennial event for the water sector in Portugal, and the 2016 edition involved 350 participants and many top-level decision-makers (incl. 2 ministers (environment and economy), 1 state-secretary (environment)). Seven LIFE IMPETUS members from LNEC (4), AdA (1), EPAL (1), FFUL (1) and UALG (1) attended this event and supported/promoted the project dissemination.

“Águas do Algarve testa soluções para remover fármacos das águas residuais
A empresa Águas do Algarve vai participar num novo projeto, coordenado pelo Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil (LNEC), que visa testar soluções para a remoção de compostos farmacêuticos a partir de águas residuais em sistemas de tratamento.”

Águas do Algarve testa soluções para remover fármacos das águas residuais

“Águas do Algarve | Projeto de I&D sobre monitorização e controlo de compostos farmacêuticos em ETAR urbanas, utiliza Alfarroba, cortiça e extratos de acácia”

http://www.avozdoalgarve.pt/detalhe.php?id=15365

“A Águas do Algarve vai colaborar no projeto de Investigação e Desenvolvimento (I&D) sobre monitorização e controlo de compostos farmacêuticos em ETAR urbanas, promovido pelo Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil (LNEC), no âmbito do Programa LIFE 2014-2017.”

http://www.diario-online.com/noticia.php?refnoticia=159616

http://www.postal.pt/2016/04/alfarroba-cortica-testadas-para-retirar-medicamentos-das-aguas-residuais-urbanas/

https://www.ualg.pt/sites/default/files/recortes/algarveinformativo2_14-04-2016.pdf

https://www.ualg.pt/sites/default/files/recortes/algarvenoticias2_14-04-2016.pdf

https://www.ualg.pt/sites/default/files/recortes/algarlife_14-04-2016.pdf

 

The kick off meeting of LIFE Impetus took place …

https://pt-pt.facebook.com/LNEC-Laboratório-Nacional-de-Engenharia-Civil-IP-395181000653683/

6 projects coordinated by Portuguese entities were approved, 4 in “LIFE Environment” theme, with a total budget of 4.8 million euros, and 2 in “LIFE Nature and Biodiversity” theme, with a total budget of 9.1 million euros.

http://www.industriaeambiente.pt/scid/webIA/defaultArticleViewOne.asp?articleID=2627&categoryID=780

Brussells supports six LIFE Environment projects in Portugal with 14 million euros.

 

http://www.jornaldenegocios. pt/economia/ambiente/detalhe/ europa_apoia_seis_projectos_ ambientais_em_portugal_com_14_ milhoes_de_euros.html