Intensive work is underway on the Waterman project. On Friday, 21.10.2024, the Polish side of the project consortium met at the headquarters of STG ERB. The meeting was devoted to activities related to pilot investments in Braniewo, issues related to the model strategy and the establishment of a local reference group, as well as a promotional campaign aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of water reuse.
We discussed current issues, problems to be solved and formal procedures related to the final determination of investment costs, the schedule for implementing the pilots and validating the system. We also agreed on the scope of work for the near future.
As a reminder - the project involves the creation of 9 pilots related to water recycling, 2 of which will be located in Braniewo, i.e. recycling water from the Braniewo public swimming pool, where pool water will be treated in a recirculation system so that it can be used for municipal purposes, and a rain garden in the parking lot at the Braniewo swimming pool.
The meeting was attended by representatives of Gdansk University of Technology, GA-MA Consulting GmbH, the Braniewo City Hall and the STG ERB.
Save the date: WaterMan study trip on “Water recycling in humid regions”
Visit Belgium and Netherlands with us on 14–16 Jan 2025. See at-scale examples of water recycling in humid regions and get to know the perspectives on the topic of different water management actors. Save the date in your calendar and stay tuned for further news!
How can we adapt local water supply in the Baltic Sea Region to climate change?
Due to climate change, periods of drought are becoming more frequent in the Baltic Sea Region and drinking water, which is mainly obtained from groundwater here, can get scarce in certain periods. To secure a stable water supply, it may become necessary to use water of different qualities and to tap into other sources of “usable water” in the future. The WaterMan project supports municipalities and water companies in adapting their strategies to these challenges by bringing water recycling into wider practice.
How is it done in other regions? See it yourself at the study trip!
As part of this support, WaterMan organizes study visits to other regions, which are frontrunners in water recycling. A first trip in April 2024 led to the semi-arid Murcia Region in Spain, where water reuse is common practice since many years and the water reuse rate was increased from 0% to 98% within the last 30 years. But also in the humid parts of the EU, water recycling is already applied at scale. In January 2025, the project offers another 3-day study trip to explore such practices in the Netherlands and Belgium .
Date: 14-16 Jan 2025 (3 full days)
Travel days: 13 Jan & 17 Jan 2025
Highlights of the programme:
Government strategies in Zealand / NL & Flanders / BE
Industry-driven water reuse in Terneuzen / NL
Mature reuse scheme for resilient supply in Torreele / BE
Greywater reuse (e.g. in Gent / BE) & commercial water recycling solutions
Roundtable talk on regulatory frameworks in Brussels
… more to come …
How can I join?
The detailed programme of the study trip is published in the beginning of November 2024. Along with it, interested parties can register until mid-November 2024. In the meantime: Block the dates in your calendar and stay tuned for further news!
WaterMan - Hamburg, September 18-19, 2024
On September 18-19, 2024, the WaterMan project meeting took place in Hamburg, focusing on key issues related to water management and sustainable use of water in the Region of the Baltic Sea. The event brought together partners from several countries who discussed ways to optimize water management processes, including water reuse, and the role of public engagement in implementing environmental projects.
Day 1: Strategy Presentation and Stakeholder Dialogue
The first day began with a welcome from Mr Tobias and Mr Jens. The discussion centred around contemporary challenges related to flooding, in particular, the current situation in Switzerland and Poland was mentioned, where many towns were flooded. The plan for the two-day event was presented, covering topics such as central support for local activities, study presentations, and discussions on "ex-ante" evaluations of strategy models. A key issue was analyzing how to best use available funds and how to connect water management strategies with awareness-raising activities.
In the afternoon session, the focus shifted to stakeholder dialogue and awareness-raising issues. Experts from the University of Bremen presented research findings on public participation in various fields, including water management. They shared examples of sustainable development and the circular economy, emphasizing the importance of engaging citizens in decision-making processes at the local level.
Day 2: Study Visit and Further Discussions
The second day began with a study visit to one of Hamburg's "living labs," where large-scale rainwater management systems have been implemented. Participants had the opportunity to see how these innovative solutions work in practice.
After returning, discussions continued on the "Water Reuse Toolbox," tools that enable the reuse of water, a key element of the project. There was also a discussion of the planned case studies in Belgium and the Netherlands, scheduled for January 2025.
Key Conclusions from the Meeting:
Integration of Strategies with Public Engagement: It was emphasized that water management strategies cannot operate in isolation from the region's residents. Engaging local communities in decision-making processes contributes to greater acceptance and the effectiveness of implemented solutions.
Modern Water Management Methods: The Hamburg meeting showcased that innovative water management systems, such as rainwater reuse in residential construction, can be implemented on a large scale. An example is the Hamburg model, where rainwater management systems were introduced in residential areas.
International Cooperation: Project participants from various countries, including Germany, Sweden, Poland and Latvia, shared experiences on local strategies. These discussions helped identify further actions to improve water management at the regional level.
The Importance of Education and Communication: The need to disseminate knowledge and build awareness of water issues, not only among experts but also the general public, was also discussed. Projects like WaterMan must reach a wider audience through educational campaigns and media cooperation.
The meeting in Hamburg marked another step towards achieving the ambitious goals of the WaterMan project, which aims to implement modern, sustainable water management solutions in the Baltic countries and beyond.
Saldus - pilot visualization
The WaterMan pilot measures take shape. Visualisation of the pilot measure in Saldus / LV. It collects & recirculates of stormwater for supplying a public fountain as well as further utilisations (e.g. watering / cleaning of streets).
The video visualises the concept of the pilot in Saldus Municipality / LV. The facility collects stormwater in a reservoir below the Kalpak Square in Saldus Municipality. It will purify the collected water and recirculate it for the purpose of reusing it for supplying a public fountain as well as further utilisations (e.g. watering municipal greenery or cleaning streets).
Below you can find a video of pilot
Riding the Wave - Europe Forum in Turku 28.08.24
On 28-30 August Europe Forum 2024 in Turku took place for the seventh time. The main theme of this year’s edition is “Europe’s Secure Future”. The topic also concerns the protection of water resources.
As Mr Patrick Child – Deputy Director General at DG Environment – said we are struggling with the water crisis. We have to think about water management. The topic of water is getting more attention in the European Parliament and the political priority in the Agenda is water. There are growing evidence of environmental pollution in Europe. We can see droughts which are causing huge losses, not only at the local level but also this is a regional problem. We need to reduce the use of drinking water for every purpose, e.g. industries or farmers. There is a big problem of PFAS – forever chemical in the water – and other water pollution. At some point, we will have a problem that national or EU funds will not be enough to stop the problem and there will be a need to cooperate with SME’s. That’s why projects realized within the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme are very important. Only together we can do more on the topic of sustainable use of water.
Water is used in many sectors of human life, which means we must work to secure its resources. During this year’s Forum water management challenges and solutions were discussed at our event “Riding the Wave – Sustainable Water Management in the Baltic Sea Region” organized by Centrum Balticum. The discussion was also a European Green Week Partner Event. In the discussion, the WaterMan project and three projects: Nursecoast-II, ReNutriWater and Blue Cities, presented their solutions related to sustainable water use. Projects deal with different main topics but water is a base.
Project WaterMan was represented by Marcin Żuchowski from Association of Polish Communes Euroregion Baltic, he said that:
– In northern Europe, we are used to having plenty of fresh, drinkable water available. We have an increasing demand for drinking water, that’s why WaterMan promotes the idea that different qualities of water can be used for different purposes. Treated wastewater or rainwater could be used in flushing toilets and washing cars. Building stakeholder and consumer acceptance is also an important task of our project. For most actors, the idea of water reuse is still a novelty. In the WaterMan project, we have pilot solutions which were tailored to the needs of a given partner. We need to remember that not every solution will be ok for every case. Municipalities need to analyse their situation and then look for the best solution.
It is very important to promote results and solutions to build awareness among the stakeholders.
Pani Anu Reinikainen reprezentowała projekt Nursecoast-II, który zajmuje się tematem wody trakcie sezonu turystycznego na obszarze przybrzeżnym. Testowane są różne rodzaje rozwiązań uzdatniania wody, ale oprócz działań pilotażowych prowadzone są badania społeczne i ekonomiczne.
Turku - Eurooppa-foorumi - registration
The Association will participate at Europe Forum, where it will represent the two projects Waterman and Nursecoast during the panel discussion Riding the Wave Ensuring Water Security in the BSR Thtough Sustainable and Resilient Water Management on 28.08.24 at 14:00-14:45 (EET) The panel will focus on solutions to secure water resources and their sustainable use. We invite all interested parties to attend the event physically in Turku or online on 28-30.08.2024.
