WorkPackage 3

WP3: Zer0-M Realization

Objectives and scope

The diffusion of a Sustainable Water Management (SWM) approach is considered to be crucial for the success of the overall objectives of the Zer0-M concept. The constraints to be encountered can be summarized as:

• Reestablishment of common habits, which fluctuate in accordance with several factors including economical, social, climatic and local conditions.
• Difficulties in convincing decision makers who are uneager to take a step forward to SWM approach.
• Demanding future of broad dissemination as a key to achieve process goals. It is believed that the target groups should be reached in a direct way in order to gain more profound and conclusive consequences.

Along these lines, SWM - Training and Demonstration Centres (TDC) are being set up in the 4 MEDA-Partner Countries (MPC), expecting more support, participation of local people, understanding in decision making processes, and help for the rehabilitation of the vicinity and conditions for the modification of existing habits.

Aim

The aim of implementing TDCs is the demonstration of new practices, comprising a basis for training activities as well as seminars and workshops. By this approach, gaining ability to develop non-conventional water resources for sustainable development and helping dissemination of knowledge by training activities and workshops would be an asset. The project will benefit for the point of resource conservation and related economical aspects. TDCs are also aimed for participation of technical staff to the training activities and workshops, especially for infrastructure, new piping installations and other related issues of SWM. They provide a possibility for practical experiences as well as train the trainers in a very practical way. TDCs also help the technicians, as well as decision makers and media members to understand the involved design and operation of these new concepts.

In addition the system is expected to achieve adaptation of innovative technologies to local conditions. Findings are exchanged and discussed among MEDA partners as well as EU partners to reach an optimum solution and integrated strategy. For this purpose meetings and technical visits are also part of the TDCs in each country. The possible obstacle concerning the aim of the project is the need to sensitise common habits of people - specifically for some new technologies, such as urine segregation. Furthermore, the stronger opposition to SWM concerns decision makers, who are not familiar with any kind of "demand side management" in the water field. Hence, implementation of the TDC concept in MPCs will scrutinize these obstacles and eventually attain a rational optimal solution satisfying the constraints in a sustainable way.

• water metering,

• water saving taps with aerators, flow regulators and long life tap seals,

• shower heads with flow regulators and flow control discs,

• toilet cisterns: dual flush and stop button toilet cisterns,

• hydraulically optimised toilet seats (availability of optimised squatting seats yet to be checked),

• compost toilet sand

• other water saving appliances

Segregation of wastewater into components

• grey water

• black water or

• dry night soil and

• urine

Implementation of TDCs

Treatment of components with low tech and low cost treatment processes as

• constructed wetlands,

• anaerobic digestion

• biomembrane treatment

• waste stabilisation ponds

• composting of sludge and night soil

The SWM examples installed in the 4 MPCs in form of TDC cover a range of measures as wide as possible, spanning from water saving equipment to wastewater recycling. By making various configurations of treatment units and other equipment it is intended to design and implement comprehensive sets. The equipment and the technology to be assessed throughout the design and monitoring phase of the study are summarized below.

Reuse

• reuse of treated wastewater for minor domestic purposes as flushing, garden watering but also crop irrigation or landscaping.

• reuse of nutrients in agriculture and gardening

• rainwater harvesting and reuse options

Description of TDCs in MPCs.

The characteristics of TDCs which are implemented in 4 MPC are listed below in tabulated form.

WSD = Water Saving Devices

AD = anaerobic digester– Biological wastewater treatment unit

MBR = Membrane Bio-Reactor – Biological wastewater treatment unit

HRAP = high rate algal pond

SBR = Sequential Batch Reactor - Biological wastewater treatment unit

UV = ultra violet type disinfection unit

CW = constructed wetland – low cost wastewater treatment system

p.e. = population equivalent

Figure 1: TDC example in MRC (Turkey)

Wastewater characterisation and monitoring studies

Comprehensive characterisation of the segregated wastewater streams are being carried out. In addition to the compliance monitoring studies with regard to the existing regulations for the above described systems are being accomplished. The parameters to be monitored are i.a.:

• flow rate and pollutant loading rates,
• BOD₅, COD and fractions,
• N, P, SS, pH, oil and grease,
• Conductivity and colour,
• ygienic parameters (coliforms, streptococci, helminthe eggs),
• Heavy metals and their accumulation,
• Srfactants (anionic and non ionic).

Furthermore, pollutant removal efficiency of the systems will be determined under various loading conditions. On the other hand findings will be exchanged and discussed among MPCs and EU partners to reach optimum solution and integrated strategy. For this purpose meetings and technical visits will be realised at the TDCs in each country. According to the results obtained modifications for the systems and treatment units will be realised to adapt to local Mediterranean conditions.

Expected results/benefits from WP3 activities

The installation of pilot plants described will enhance the institutional capacity of the MPCs involved by introducing innovative technologies and approaches.

Demonstration activities will enhance public acceptance for reuse/recycle concepts. Involvement of media within the process is thought to have an acceleration effect on awareness rising in public to reach the highest level of environmental sensibility and acceptance of the new methodology. Once it is accepted and believed to be beneficial it helps to reduce water usage considerably and the cost for water supply and treatment therefore. An overall economic benefit for most of the stakeholders is expected. It has also a significant positive effect on agriculture, landscape irrigation, potential and protection of natural resources. The developed and accepted methodology will also create economically and environmentally sound achievements for tourist areas, which will result in sustainable tourism for MPCs.

Exchange of information and know how as well as the transfer of technologies will be achieved by organizing meetings and workshops. The technology will be modified or developed for local Mediterranean conditions. Hence, design operational risks to be encountered for full-scale implementations will be reduced to nearly zero. Training the technicians will also result in reducing the risk and in maintaining the hygienic conditions.

Integrated management will be attained by making use of the results. Hence, pilot applications will be in a sense a small scale replica of full scale systems. Furthermore, the possible difficulties to be encountered within full applications can be detected and solutions will be generated.