Due to the likely =
toughening of=20
environmental legislation in the near future, many of the =
currently=20
operating wastewater treatment systems will no longer be =
acceptable, and=20
will have to significantly increase their efficiency. The =
Directive=20
2000/60/EC, establishing a framework for Community action in the =
field of=20
water policy, says that Member States shall establish maximum =
annual=20
averages for the release of certain pollutants, such as substances =
that=20
have an unfavourable influence on oxygen balance. Stricter =
regulations can=20
be found for especially sensitive areas, for areas of abstraction =
of=20
drinking water or for bathing waters.
The=20
problem of meeting existing and forecasted more stringent new =
regulations=20
affects especially small communities, hotels, campsites, etc in =
more or=20
less isolated or remote areas and without access to sophisticated=20
centralised wastewater treatment plants. Moreover, in the case of =
tourist=20
resorts, it is not unusual that the wastewater load is increased =
up to=20
five times during holidays season, making it impossible for local=20
treatment systems to maintain an acceptable organic removal. On =
the other=20
hand, these tourist locations frequently require to maintain a =
very high=20
water quality (including the microbiological quality) in order to =
keep or=20
increase the rate of visitors (especially in mountain lakes, =
coastal=20
areas, etc).
The aim of the =
present project=20
IWAPIL is to develop and test an innovative a membrane bioreactor =
(MBR)=20
intended for use in remote communities, mountain hotels, =
campsites, etc.=20
The new system will be based on a newly developed membrane and =
membrane=20
module and will allow to overcome most of the problems that make =
nowadays=20
MBR=E2=80=99s not practicable for decentralised uses, where no =
skilled operators=20
can be present. The innovative characteristics of the mentioned =
new=20
membrane and membrane module will make it possible to achieve a=20
low-maintenance costs and extremely efficient wastewater treatment =
system,=20
whose effluent can be even reused either for irrigation or toilet =
flushing=20
purposes, as it is totally germ-free. |
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