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Dear readers,

Welcome to the first LIFE EFFIDRAIN newsletter. The projectstarted at the end of October 2015 and is estimated to becompleted in 2019. During this time, we want to keep youinformed about the project progress with two newslettersper year.

In these newsletters you will find information about theLIFE EFFIDRAIN project, the planned events and activitiesand other interesting material.

This first newsletter is an introduction to the project: itscontext and objectives, the team and some informationabout organised events. We hope that you find itinteresting, and we would appreciate your feedback oradvice on how to improve our newsletter and website.

In addition, if you are interested in collaborating with us orif you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us viawebsite or email (jmeseguer@cetaqua.com).

Welcome to the LIFE EFFIDRAIN project!

Best regards,The EFFIDRAIN team

EDITORIAL

Combined Urban Drainage Networks (UDNs)collect and convey wastewater and stormwater together. This mixed water is sent toWastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs)where it is treated before being released tothe receiving environment.

During dry weather and moderate rainevents the system performs well. However,during heavy-rain events, the UDN andWWTPs capacities can be easily overloaded,causing untreated water discharges to theenvironment (Combined Sewer Overflows).To avoid this, modern UDNs includeinfrastructures, such as tanks, gates andpumps, which can provide storage duringthe rain events, to release water gradually tothe WWTP. The infrastructure operation isperformed based on a telemetry andtelecontrol systems.

Up to date, Real-time control (RTC) havebeen based on managing flows, not takinginto account the polluting load (quality) ofthe water, which varies considerablythroughout the rain events and the storageperiods. Similarly, the efficiency of theprocesses in the WWTP depends on boththe quantity and the quality of the treatedwater and untreated water may be refusedat different by-pass points producing CSO.

Up to now, UDNs and WWTPs have beenmanaged separately. It is clear that anintegrated and coordinated management ofquantity and quality in both systems isrequired to optimize the overall efficiencyand protect the quality of the receivingwaters.

THE PROJECTWhat is the problem?

What is the LIFE EFFIDRAIN proposal?

The main goal of LIFE EFFIDRAIN is todemonstrate an integrated real-time controlstrategy of urban drainage networks andwastewater treatment plants to minimizethe pollution of receiving waters during rainevents, through the use of real-timequantity and quality data.

By using simulation software as VirtualReality, RTC techniques based on hydraulicand quality information will be developed,

implemented and tested for two pilotUDN+WWTP systems showing differentfeatures regarding climate conditions,network size and automation level:

• The Atlantic pilot, in BordeauxMétropole, France. The receiving body isthe Garonne river.

• The Mediterranean pilot, in Badalona,Spain. The receiving body is the sea andephemeral water courses.

Sensor

Actuator

Scupper / Grate Inlets

Retention tank

CSO – Combined SewerOverflow

Industrial facility

Remote control facility

WWTP – Waste watertreatment plant

Sewer medium pollution

Sewer high pollution

Sewer low pollution

THE TEAM

Cetaqua is the project coordinator. It is a non-profit foundation that integrates, manages and executes technological projects related to the

integral water cycle. Cetaqua benefits from both academia and industry, which enable the centre to be aware of the sector’s current and future needs and to effectively transfer and apply the

results of its projects.

AQUAMBIENTE unifies wastewater treatment management activities within the integral water cycle. In order to do so, AQUAMBIENTE works in

water services and structures, with a compromise in taking care of the environment, quality, up-to-

date technology and a focus on innovation.

Within AQUATEC, the Urban Drainage Direction is the technical direction of Aquatec devoted to

urban drainage management. Its main activity is focused on transforming the traditional urban

drainage management into a smart/advanced one on the basis of knowledge and innovation.

The Spanish National Research Council is the largest public institution dedicated to research in

Spain and the third largest in Europe. Belonging to the Spanish Ministry of Economy and

Competitiveness, its main objective is to develop and promote research that will help bring about

scientific.

Le Lyre is part of the network of the international Global Competence Centers of Suez. Le Lyre has

an innovative governance that mixes local players, local authorities, universities and research

laboratories, it tackles urban water resource management issues through four areas of activity:

urban drainage, stakeholders and customers, environment and data.

DISSEMINATIONWebsite

The project website is already available! Don’t miss any update about the project. Visit thewebsite to check the status of the actions, news and general information.

WWW.LIFE-EFFIDRAIN.EU

News

News & Events

First EC monitoring visitDate: May 2016Participants: All partnersDescription: The monitor of the project visited the Cetaqua premises in Cornellà de Llobregat (Barcelona), where all the partners discussed the state of the project and exposed the next steps of the LIFE EFFIDRAIN project.

Networking in ManchesterDate: May 2016Participants: Jordi Meseguer (CetaquaBarcelona)Description: The LIFE EFFIDRAIN project went to the meeting “WATER WORKS –overcoming challenges to achieving good water status in urban areas”, held in Manchester, UK. This was an opportunity to know other projects and to exchange experiences between water field professionals.

Agbar meeting on technology and innovationDate: September 2015Participants: Alberto Sánchez (CetaquaGalicia)Description: Internal meeting of the Agbar group on innovation in which different European LIFE projects were presented.

LIFE14 Regional Kick-off meetingDate: November 2015Participants: Iván Rodríguez (CetaquaGalicia)Description: The aim of this meeting organised by EASME was to go through the legal aspects, the LIFE programme rules, interaction with EASME and the role of external monitors during the implementation of the project. Besides, it was an opportunity to network with other LIFE water-related projects included in the LIFE14 programme.

Kick-off meeting of LIFE EFFIDRAIN projectDate: October 2015Participants: All partnersDescription: First meeting of the LIFE EFFIDRAIN partners, where the project actions were exposed by its leaders. Some doubts were solved and next steps were explained.

Information brochureDate: December 2016Description: An information brochure of the project will be produced. It will explain the LIFE EFFIDRAIN project and will give visibility to all the partners and stakeholders.

NEXT STEPS

First advisory boardDate: End of 2016 / Early 2017Description: In this meeting, several technical aspects will be discussed and doubts will be solved with the project advisors.

STAY IN TOUCH!For more information, contact the project managerJordi Meseguer (jmeseguer@cetaqua.com) or visit theLIFE EFFIDRAIN website.

LIFE14 ENV/ES/000860

LIFE EFFIDRAIN presentation in the 14th

International CCWI ConferenceDate: 7-9 November 2016Description: Presentation of the approach and main challenges considered in the LIFE EFFIDRAIN project.