A newsletter for the “Water Cycle and Soil Related Aspects” activities in the European Commission Directorate General for Research

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FP6 – Global Change and Ecosystems: Results of the call Targeted Third Countries

Within the area "Water cycle and Soil related aspects" immediate negotiation has been opened with the consortium applying for an extension of the RECLAIM WATER project (http://www.reclaim-water.org/).

The project is addressing municipal water reclamation and further use for aquifer recharge (AR) considering appropriate technologies, safety aspects and options for integration in water management approaches.

The extension of the project focuses on affordable and simple reclamation technologies like primary treatment and maturation ponds that are based on the long term experience of the AR schemes in Mexico City and South Africa. Moreover investigations on advanced dual membrane systems (MF and RO) of the Newater's brine treatment are the main contributions from the Singapore's new partners.

The overall project budget is about 6 M€, including an EC grant of 3,56 M€.

Progress towards FP7 (2007-2013):

On 24 July 2006 the Council of the EU has reached a political agreement on FP7. A common position, derived from this agreement, will be sent to the European Parliament for a second reading. It contains also an indicative breakdown of spending among programmes (in million EURO).

The specific programmes and the rules for participation of the FP7 legislative package will be decided at a later stage.

More information on FP7 preparation phase is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/

The African Water website was launched to provide support to the African researchers wishing to participate in FP7. 

African Water is a 2-year (2006-2007) Specific Support Action funded under FP6 and promoted by the Research Working Group of the EU Water Initiative to increase involvement of African researchers in the water-related components of FP7.

The African Water website will provide within the coming months the latest information about FP7.  The training material and guides for participation will be uploaded.

The African Water newsletter is also available free of charge. To subscribe please register at: www.africanwater.net. 

A knowledge network for solving real-life water problems in developing countries: Bridging contrasts (ANTINOMOS).

The project aims at contributing to global and local knowledge networks for solving real life water supply and sanitation (WSS) problems in developing countries in view of reaching the MDGs. Based on an account of failures of WSS interventions in the last decades, ANTINOMOS aims at making an impact through bridging contrasts (between conceptual approaches, or between perceptions of global and local knowledge networks) and knowledge gaps (between knowledge areas which have only recently been recognized by decision makers as a key issue in reaching the MDGs). The core part of the proposal will be devoted to try to bridge these contrasts and knowledge gaps. For this purpose, special effort will be devoted to link state-of-the-art technological advancement in WSS with local resources and grassroots innovations, in order to enable context-specific learning opportunities for more sustainable solutions to real water problems.

For more information please contact Mr Dino Borri, Dipartimento di Architettura e Urbanistica, Politecnico di Bari: e-mail: d.borri@poliba.it

Resource-Oriented Sanitation concepts for peri-urban areas in Africa (ROSA).

The UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs, target 10) call for halving the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015. ROSA promotes resource-oriented sanitation concepts as a route to sustainable and ecologically sound sanitation in order to meet the MDGs.

These concepts shall be applied in four cities in East-Africa, namely Arbaminch (Ethiopia), Nakuru (Kenya), Arusha (Tanzania) and Kitgum (Uganda). The consortium comprises 2 partners from each of these countries, a university and an end-user. For the model cities strategic sanitation & waste plans (SSWPs) will be developed for the whole city area. These SSWPs will come up with the best solution for the city combining several techniques (resulting in hybrid systems) according to the local requirements.

Dissemination activities will be focused on establishing the local East African network between universities, end-users, etc. This network will ensure the consolidation and the replication of the knowledge gained within the region.

For more information please contact Mr Günter Langergraber, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna: e-mail: guenter.langergraber@boku.ac.at

Integrated High Resolution Imaging Ground Penetrating Radar and Decision Support System for WATER PIPEline Rehabilitation (WATERPIPE).

Many EU cities are experiencing increasing problems with their water pipeline infrastructure. The cost of replacing these old, worn-out systems, if left to deteriorate beyond repair, is astronomical and clearly beyond the resources of many communities. Replacement, however, is not the only choice as many of these systems can be rehabilitated at 30 to 70 percent of the cost of replacement. Accordingly, resources are now increasingly being allocated to address pipeline rehabilitation management issues. Due to the emphasis on sustainable management, risk-based approaches for the rehabilitation management of the water supply network need to be developed.

Rehabilitation decisions should be based, inter alia, on inspection and evaluation of the pipeline conditions. Yet, utilities cannot locate a number of their old pipes and current inspection technologies typically do not provide the needed detailed information on pipeline damage. 

The objectives of this work are:

1. To develop a novel, high resolution imaging ground penetrating radar for the detection of pipes, leaks and damages and the imaging of the damaged region and evaluate it at a test site.

2. To produce an integrated system that will contain the equipment in ‘1’ and a Decision-Support-System (DSS) for the rehabilitation management of the underground water pipelines that will use input from the inspections to assess, probabilistically, the time-dependent leakage and structural reliability of the pipelines and a risk-based methodology for rehabilitation decisions that considers the overall risk, including financial, social and environmental criteria.  

3. To field test the equipment and the DSS. 

For more information please contact Mr Nikolas Uzunoglu, Institute of Communication and Computer Systems: e-mail: nuzu@cc.ece.ntua.gr

Optimised Radar to Find Every Utility in the Street (ORFEUS).

This project addresses the requirement for advanced technologies for locating, maintaining and rehabilitating buried infrastructures (area II.3.3). Specifically it fulfils the requirement for locating buried assets. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is the only known non-invasive technique that can detect metallic and non-metallic buried objects, but conventional pulse time-domain technology has reached the limit of its development potential. This project will use innovative techniques to provide a clear advance in the state of the art.

The project has three major objectives:

• To provide a step change in the depth penetration and spatial resolution of GPR used for surveys carried out from the ground surface. This will be achieved by increasing the frequency and dynamic range of the radar by researching and developing Stepped Frequency Continuous Wave techniques and ultra wide-band antennas whose performance is independent of ground characteristics.

• To prototype an innovative GPR-based real-time obstacle detection system for steerable bore- heads of Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) pipe and cable laying systems so that they can operate more safely below ground. This will require new antenna designs to be developed to provide a look-ahead capability and robust systems to be designed to protect against the hostile mechanical environment

• To increase knowledge of the electrical behaviour of the ground, by means of in-situ measurements to enhance understanding of the sub-soil electrical environment and to provide information for scientifically based antenna design. The project will lead to practical solutions that can be implemented cost-effectively to provide a capability to locate buried infrastructure with accuracy and reliability. This will reduce the need for excavations in the highway, thus minimising direct and indirect costs, reducing the incidence of pollution and enhancing safety.

For more information please contact Mr Howard Scott, OSYS Technology Limited: e-mail: howard.scott@osys.co.uk

"Integrated Deliberative Decision Processes for Water Resources Planning and Evaluation", Guidance Document, ADVISOR 2004.

The Guidance Document is part of the ADVISOR (Integrated Evaluation for Sustainable River Basin Governance) research project funded by the European Commission under FP5. 

The document explains and provides a step-by-step guidance on how to design and run an Integrated Deliberative Decision Process (IDDP) that is proposed to be adopted as the platform to achieve integrated evaluations.

The document can be downloaded under the following link:

http://ecoman.dcea.fct.unl.pt/projects/advisor/iddp/publications/ADVISOR GUIDELINES.pdf

"Water Reuse System Management Manual - AQUAREC", edited by Davide Bixio and Thomas Wintgens.

The project AQUAREC “Integrated concepts for reuse of upgraded wastewater” was funded by the Fifth Framework Programme of the European Commission. Its major aim was to investigate and develop concepts and methodologies supporting rational and knowledge-based waste water reuse strategies.

This publication presents practical information on waste water reuse concepts based on actual and proved management and operational practises. A broad approach has been considered by addressing institutional, organisational, legal, economics, financial, social and environmental issues together with technological aspects. The targeted readers are mainly practitioners concerned with implementation of waste water reuse schemes, but this publication may also become ‘the wastewater reuse manual’ for decision makers, local authorities, consultants and research bodies involved in the area.

The publication will be available by the end of September as printed or PDF document from OPOCE at:  http://bookshop.europa.eu/.

For more information you may also contact A. Gonzalez (Avelino.Gonzalez-Gonzalez@ec.europa.eu)

Water and Soil European Research - Catalogue of FP6 projects

A recent publication provides an overview of the projects addressing issues linked to water and soil research that resulted from activities launched from 2003 to 2006 by the priorities "Global Change and Ecosystems" and "Policy-Oriented Research".

The overall European Commission's budget dedicated to the presented 58 research projects is 188 M EURO.

The information provided is based on the data available in June 2006, some projects still being subject to final negotiation.

The publication is available at:
http://forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/rtd/eesdwatkeact/library?l=/projects_information&vm=detailed&sb=Title

"EU-Funded Projects Workshop" at the IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition, 11 September 2006, Beijing, China.

The workshop aims to present concrete cases of international scientific collaboration depicting briefly the area of water research funded by the European Union.

The workshop will refer to the following EU-funded projects:

• SWITCH: urban water management,

• TECHNEAU: drinking water technologies,

• AQUASTRESS, RECLAIM WATER and GABARDINE: water stress, reclamation and artificial recharge,

• AMEDEUS and EUROMBRA: membrane bioreactors for municipal water treatment and the MBR-network.

A. Gonzalez (European Commission, DG RTD - Environmental Research) will give a presentation entitled "Opening the European funded Water Research to the World"

The event will take place in room 11, level 3, Beijing International Convention Centre, 8 Beichendong Road between 9:15 and 13:00hrs. 

Additional details, agenda and abstracts are available at the Congress Programme Live
http://www.iwa2006beijing.com/templates/dynamic/Conferences/conferenceB.aspx?ObjectId=642919

The European Commission - Research Directorate General will be present at the exhibition stand n°207 in the IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition.

"International Water Research Report" at the IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition, 13 September 2006, Beijing, China.

This workshop highlights international water research strategies and trends with a particular focus on the EU, North America, East Asia and Australasia. In addition, EU-China research linkages, and the EU Water Technology Platform will be featured in the workshop

P. Balabanis (European Commission, DG RTD - Environmental Research) will give a presentation entitled: "European Water research from the 6th to the 7th Framework Programme, and its global dimension"

The workshop will take place in room 51, level 3, Beijing International Convention Centre, 8 Beichendong Road between 9:15 and 13:00hrs.

Additional details, agenda and abstracts are available at the Congress Programme Live
http://www.iwa2006beijing.com/templates/dynamic/Conferences/conferenceB.aspx?ObjectId=642919

The European Commission - Research Directorate General will be present at the exhibition stand n°207 in the IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition.

"Uncertainty in data and models: on the way to operational use in environmental management" workshop, 21 September 2006, Brussels, Belgium.

The workshop will be hosted by the European Commission and will take place in the Crown Plaza Hotel, Rue Gineste 3, 1210 Brussels.  There is no registration fee and the workshop is open to the public, however, the number of participants is limited.

As mentioned in the previous issue of our newsletter, the detailed information about the workshop can be found on the HarmoniRiB website: www.harmonirib.com.

For more information please contact Mrs. Kirsten Bache at: kba@geus.dk.

Technology for safe drinking water in the Baltic Region - 1st Regional Technology Platform, Riga/Jurmala, Latvia, 5 October 2006.

The TECHNEAU project results are to be shared at the Regional Technology Platforms (RTPs) which are one-day workshops that focus on the consultation of regional water experts and stakeholders.

The first RTP will highlight the water situation in the Baltic Region.  It will be supported by the European Commission, the Riga Technical University and Riga Water.

For more information visit: www.techneau.eu or contact Ms. Diana Marquardt at: marquardt@ivt.rwth-aachen.de.

1st thematic workshop of the EU project NORMAN, Maó, Menorca (Balearic Island), Spain, 27-28 November 2006.

The objectives of the workshop are to provide detailed insight into the key technical issues related to the chemical analysis of emerging contaminants and to give an overview of the current state of the art, as well as future trends in sampling, instrumental analysis and data evaluation methodologies.

For further information please contact Dr. Mira Petrovic, Department of Environmental Chemistry, IIQAB-CSIC at: mpeqam@cid.csic.es.

"Today is the Future", Brussels, Belgium, 7-18 March 2007.

High-level representatives of the German EU Presidency and the European Commission will open a major event on European research in Brussels launching the Seventh Framework Programme (2007-2013).  The event will begin with an "Evening on European research" which will comprise:

• speeches by the high-level representatives of the German EU Presidency and the European Commission

• the opening of the public exhibition "Today is the future"

• the award ceremony for the Descartes Prizes for collaborative research and science communication.

The exhibition will refer to the European success stories in science and technology and to the achievements of some EU-funded research projects. Appropriate information for the exhibitors is available at the web site. 

During the same period, small exhibitions designed to increase political, media and public attention will also be set up in Brussels near the Berlaymont building and in the building of the Council of Ministers. 

The public programme including public lectures, the research classroom, media briefings, and presentations on the Seventh Framework Programme will be running in parallel to the exhibition.  The event will be open to the public, entrance will be free.

For additional information please visit: http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/events/index.html

2nd International Conference on "Managing Urban Land", Stuttgart, Germany, 25-27 April 2007.

The event is jointly organized by the EU initiatives Revit & Cabernet and provides an informal meeting place for professional encounters of investors, project developers and owners of brownfield areas.

For further information please visit:  www.revit-cabernet.org or send an e-mail to: info@revit-cabernet.org.

Computer Aided Rehabilitation of Sewers and Stormwater Networks (CARE-S)

CARE-S is a 3-year research project funded by the European Commission under the Fifth Framework Programme aiming to develop an integrated and robust decision support system for sewage network management.  The advanced rehabilitation planning system is based on a comprehensive and integrated suite of software tools including enough flexibility for adaptation to a variety of situations, users needs and skills.

The product is in its final stage of development and adaptation. End-users involved in the project are implementing the tool for daily operational management in areas of Spain and Portugal. Other European cities and water managers are attracted by the CARE-S system. Contracts have been signed by Reggio Emilia - Italy and in Stockholm establishing a formal introduction of the system for sewer management purposes. The cities of Prague and Cracow are firmly interested and concrete projects for demonstration and training programmes are well progressing.

The new generation management system of sewer and storm water assets, methodology and software is presented in a recently published book: "CARE-S: Computer Aided Rehabilitation for Sewer and Storm Water Networks", edited by Sveinung Saegrov. The publication is available from IWA Publishing: www.iwapublishing.com (ISBN: 1843391155; August 2006). 

MORE INFORMATION: click here

LEGAL NOTICE

The information and views set out in this newsletter are those of the author(s) and do not reflect necessarily the official opinion of the European Communities. Neither the European Communities institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made on the information contained therein. This newsletter may be freely distributed.

See also http://europa.eu.int/geninfo/disclaimer_en.htm

EDITOR:

European Commission

DG Research, Unit I02

Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049 Belgium                                     © European Communities, 2006.

e-mail : Avelino.Gonzalez-Gonzalez@ec.europa.eu            Reproduction is authorized provided the source is acknowledged