ArcticSewlutions

Sewage management in cold and sparsely populated regions: solutions for the Arctic in view of a changing climate and emerging contaminants.

About the project

Variable wastewater (WW) management approaches are used in Arctic countries. They differ by the type of systems used and the level of environmental and health protection they provide. Several factors, such as regional climate and geology or the history and culture of a region, can affect the suitability of management solutions. ArcticSewlutions aims to compile information on the type, efficiency, and properties of treatment options in cold and sparsely populated regions including effects on emerging contaminants and tests at pilot sites. The goal of the project is to promote the exchange of knowledge and practical experiences on WW management solutions providing stakeholders with the information needed to assess and change practices if needed. The project aims for enhanced WW management in changing climate and variable geographic conditions for the resilience and health of communities.

ArcticSewlutions

in numbers

EU funds

835.685,44€

Total funds

1.455.231,05€

Number of partners

Partners: 5 Associated partners: 3

Project duration

01.10.2024 - 30.09.2027

Work packages

Description of the project's work packages

1. Efficiency of wastewater treatment solutions in cold climate regions

The objective of WP1 is to compile existing data and to create additional data on the type, efficiency, and properties of WW treatment options including nature-based solutions (NBS). The goal is to elucidate the efficiency of solutions for the removal of micropollutants and provide information about the environmental load.

2. Environmental load of anthropogenic compounds near Arctic settlements

WP2 aims to produce data on the occurrence of wastewater-related emerging contaminants in different wastewater recipients (the sea, lakes, streams) near settlements affected by wastewater discharge from different treatment solutions. The goal is to investigate how changes to the current WW treatment solution can affect the WW-derived environmental load and if these changes would be likely to have a measurable impact on the recipient water bodies given other possible sources.

3. Technical feasibility and socio-environmental acceptability of wastewater solutions

The aim of WP 3 is to meet the critical need for information on which wastewater treatment solutions are appropriate and efficient in sparsely populated areas in consideration of the environmental loads and impacts, local infrastructural and climatic conditions, user-friendliness, social acceptance and level of expertise needed for implementation and maintenance. WP3 aims to fill the information requirements by compiling technical documentation (including user experience) on the different wastewater treatment solutions applied in the Arctic region, and by disseminating this information in a catalog in an easily comprehensible manner.