Daphne water solutions for the removal of emerging pollutants from wastewater: market assessment and technical feasibility

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Environmental pollution caused by chemicals is acknowledged by the European Commission as an environmental problem. Legislative measures to limit the impact of pharmaceuticals on human and environmental health will take place in the second half of 2018 (Directive 2013/39/EU), whereas new regulations for pesticide use will be determined by the outcome of the Water Framework Directive in 2020. Existing technologies for the removal of pharmaceuticals (ozonation, chlorination and UV treatment) are inefficient, require specialized infrastructures, and a constant energy supply. Technologies for the removal of pesticides from wastewater are somewhat more effective. However, as for pharmaceuticals, the elimination of pesticides requires special infrastructures and/or filtration systems and it is energy demanding.Dr Orsini has tested and optimized an environmentally friendly and cost-effective biological solution for the removal of pharmaceuticals and pesticides from wastewaters in laboratory environments. As compared to human-engineered structures, this solution is highly effective, requires minimal infrastructures, and has minimal energy demand. The solution uses the naturally occurring, active filter feeder Daphnia as a removal agent, capitalizing on its ability to metabolize chemicals following the active filtering of the surrounding medium. Laboratory experiments show that Daphnia is twice as efficient as bacteria or algae, reaching complete removal within a few days. The purpose of this Pathfinder is to plan the full development to market of DWS through a market assessment, the identification of an industrial partner supporting a feasibility study and the identification of practical solutions for the implementation of DWS in existing wastewater plant workflows. The pathfinder has the following four objectives:1. To commission an independent market assessment2. To confirm target end-users and secure early-adopters. 3. To engage with early adopters to identify infrastructure adjustments needed to introduce DWS into a typical workflow of wastewater treatment plants. Understanding the end user needs for early adoption will clarify whether a consultancy service that provides expert known how and implementation support is the preferred pathway to market for DWS.4. To identify an industrial partner among the end users that is ready to provide in-kind support and a field site for a feasibility studyWith the regulation of pharmaceuticals in wastewater soon in place, the government, local authorities and industry will be required to implement solutions for the removal of chemicals from wastewater. Current solutions for the removal of pharmaceuticals have an efficiency removal of about 50%, a retention time of weeks, and energy consumption above 1.2.kW/m. Moreover, they require the installation of medium to large infrastructures and produce waste, which disposal imposes additional costs and impacts on human and environmental health. As compared to engineered solutions, DWS uses natural biological resources, requires minimal infrastructures consisting of a containment cage surrounded by a fine mesh, and does not produce secondary waste. Daphnia removed periodically from the cages will generate energy in the form of fertilizers and/or fish food. Therefore, DWS has high potential for solving the problems of water sanitation and water quality in both developed and developing countries.Keywords: pharmaceutical removal, wastewater, surface water, bioremediation, water utilities, technology consultancy Stakeholders: UoB, School of Biosciences, Birmingham Water Council, water utilities, technology and innovation consultancy agencies, policy makers, NGOs, EFSA, DEFRA, European Commission, USEPA