The document discusses moving from wastewater treatment plants to resource recovery facilities to improve sustainability. It introduces the WATER CIRCLE project, which uses anaerobic membrane bioreactor technology to treat wastewater and recover resources like water, nutrients, and energy. WATER CIRCLE significantly reduces environmental impacts and was the 2017 winner of the EU Innovation Deal for addressing bottlenecks in wastewater treatment regulations and reusing reclaimed water for fertigation to enhance sustainability.

1. Boosting opportunities - Innovating water
EIP Water
WATER INNOVATION: BRIDGING GAPS,
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
27 AND 28 SEPTEMBER 2017
ALFÂNDEGA PORTO CONGRESS CENTRE
INNOVATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING EU WATER
LEGISLATION
FROM WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS TO RESOURCE
FACILITIES: WATER CIRCLE
AURORA SECO
UNIVERSITY OF VALENCIA / “WATER CIRCLE”
EIP WATER ACTION GROUP

2. Boosting opportunities - Innovating water
EIP Water
From wastewater treatment plants to resource facilities:
WATER CIRCLE - 2017 Winner of the EU Innovation Deal
Prof. Aurora Seco
Universitat de València
aurora.seco@uv.es

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EIP Water
ACIDIFICATION
HUMAN TOXICITY
EUTROPHICATION
WATER USE
MARINE AQUATIC ECOTOXICITY
TERRESTRIAL ECOTOXICITY
FRESH WATER AQUATIC ECOTOXICITY
NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

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EIP Water
DIRECTIVE 2000/60/CE
DIRECTIVE 91/271/CEE

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INCREASED DEPLETION
OF RESOURCES
INCREASED
WATER SCARCITY
MOVING FROM WWTPs
TO WRRFs
To improve recovery of resources:
 Water
 Nutrients
 Energy
To reduce negative impacts:
 Energy consumption
 Sludge production
 GHG emissions

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EIP Water
ACTION GROUP
Anaerobic MBR for WATER Resource Recovery in CIRCuLar Economy: WATER CIRCLE
N & P
discharge
limits!
It comes from
WASTE!
Waste Source of Resources
FERTIRRIGATION significantly
enhances SUSTAINABILITY
BUT

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EIP Water
INNOVATION DEAL on Sustainable Wastewater Treatment Combining Anaerobic
Membrane Technology and Water Reuse

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EIP Water
Main bottlenecks & barriers detected:
• “Discharge”: legal definition and point of application (UWWTD 91/271/ECC)
• Regulations to be applied when reclaimed water is used for agricultural purposes in sensitive areas.
• Reclaimed water pricing.
• …
INNOVATION DEAL on Sustainable Wastewater Treatment Combining Anaerobic
Membrane Technology and Water Reuse

9. Boosting opportunities - Innovating water
EIP Water
From wastewater treatment plants to resource facilities:
WATER CIRCLE - 2017 Winner of the EU Innovation Deal
Prof. Aurora Seco
Universitat de València
aurora.seco@uv.es