Nursecoast II project Kick off conference - Finland 24-25.05.2023

On May 24 and 25, the Nursecoast-II project held a Kick off in Finland. The project partners had the opportunity to meet physically for the first time. On the first day, a transnational CO-CREATION workshop was organized, led by experts in wastewater treatment plants and ecosystem approaches. Participants were able to open up new ideas related to their pilots and positively intensify their experiences to fully realize project objectives, such as better adapting wastewater treatment systems to the high seasonality in tourist destinations and improving the condition of the coastal Baltic Sea.

As a reminder, Nursecoast-II is a project that will pilot different approaches to treating wastewater during the summer season, involving the use of appropriate wastewater treatment technologies, or reuse, which should be based on nature's resources, such as gray water and sludge management. The educational aspect of wastewater treatment policies in Baltic Sea tourist destinations will also be developed.

An important aspect of the project's implementation is for the partners to get to know each other. The project leader led an ice-breaking session where participants were able to step out of their comfort zone and get to know each other a little better.

Later that day, a study visit was made to the city of Scola, where plans for a wastewater treatment system there were reviewed.

In the afternoon, time was devoted to presentations and discussions, on topics such as GIS analyses of current small wastewater treatment plants in selected regions, identification of technological boundaries for selected pilot projects, study of water consumption and possible water saving solutions in pilot projects. Options for nutrient reduction and recycling, from wastewater to resources, such as sludge management, phytoremediation and biomass harvesting for possible use, and wastewater irrigation were analyzed. Topics in the area of socioeconomic determinants of wastewater treatment in tourist destinations were also addressed, such as: preliminary analysis taking into account the needs of stakeholders, profiling baseline conditions, establishing a framework (including identification of regulations, governance and requirements), Forecasting and identifying options and solutions to mitigate climate change.

On the second day, the partners focused on the pilots planned for the project. Ideas for solving water recovery problems were presented, such as new test methods for enhanced removal of phosphorus and other pollutants; innovative aeration at the Vallenssved wastewater treatment plant; and reuse of wastewater through irrigation of tourist sludge + aeration with nano-bubbles. Communication and billing topics were also discussed. There was also a boat cruise around the Archipelago, along the city's coastlines.

In the final part of the meeting, the activity of cooperation and exchange of experience and knowledge on the implementation of pilot activities was discussed. The workshop was summarized by the project leader.