Emerging contaminants (ECs) are compounds of diverse origin and chemical nature, whose presence in the environment was not considered in the past and, therefore, is still not regularly monitored in urban wastewater. They include a wide range of chemical compounds, such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, flame retardants, surfactants, plasticizers, and industrial additives, among others. Considering the environmental relevance of these compounds, the European Union recently approved a new Directive on urban wastewater treatment, which requires the monitoring and removal of these contaminants, posing significant challenges for its implementation.
In this context, the BlueWWater Project – Monitoring, treatment and reduction of microplastics and emerging contaminants in urban wastewater and in the cross-border coastal environment – is funded by the Interreg VI-A Spain–Portugal Programme (POCTEP) 2021– (https://bluewwater.eu/en/bluewwater-english/), and its main goal is to improve the quality of river, transitional, and coastal water bodies by controlling, monitoring, and assessing the emissions of microplastics and emerging contaminants into aquatic environments in both regions, ensuring a sustainable use of water resources and contributing to the implementation of the new EU legislation on wastewater treatment. BlueWWater brings together a consortium of 11 entities from Galicia and northern Portugal, including universities, technology centres, public agencies, and environmental organizations.
BlueWWater builds on the synergies established through previous projects such as NOR-WATER and aims to strengthen cross-border cooperation in the sustainable management of water as a shared resource.
As part of the communication and knowledge transfer activities of the BlueWWater project, the workshop “Environmental risk of contaminants of emerging concern in urban wastewater: tools for biological and chemical monitoring, advanced treatment methods and modelling” was held last Friday, July 4th, at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto. The event gathered nearly 80 participants, including experts and key stakeholders in the sector, such as authorities and government bodies responsible for water quality control, monitoring, and management; control laboratories, water treatment companies, technology developers, research centres, academic institutions, and members of the NOR-WATER Network – a collaborative network for the detection and treatment of emerging contaminants in the waters of Portugal and Galicia, which already includes over 70 member organizations. The workshop provided a space to discuss some of the main results of the project and to address priority challenges for the sector.
The opening session featured a speech by the Dean of FCUP, Prof. Cristina Freire, who emphasized the importance of integrating new treatments into wastewater processes to improve water quality. Dr. Teresa Neuparth and Prof. Miguel Santos (CIIMAR/FCUP) then welcomed participants and presented the scientific and institutional context of the event. Dr. Marisa Fernández (CETMAR) introduced the BlueWWater project, highlighting the cooperation network that made the workshop possible.
Fig. 1. Cristina Freire, Teresa Neuparth, Marisa Fernández and Miguel Santos welcoming participants
The first technical presentation was delivered by engineer Cristina Gonçalves from Águas do Norte, who provided a detailed overview of the new Urban Wastewater Directive (UWWTD), analyzing the key articles and anticipated changes, based on her experience managing 179 WWTPs.
Fig. 2. Cristina Gonçalves from Águas do Norte presenting the new UWWTD
She was followed by Dr. Luís Vieira (CIIMAR), who addressed the presence of microplastics in the environment, sharing updated data on marine litter and results from a recent study that detected microplastics in wild fish from the North Atlantic. He also presented the MAELSTROM and INSPIRE projects, which use bubble barriers to remove seabed waste and valorize plastic residues by transforming them into furniture. He also mentioned the use of filtration membranes in the Douro River to capture micro- and nanoplastics.
Fig. 3. Luís Vieira from CIIMAR addressing the issue of MPs in marine ecosystems
Prof. Rosario Rodil (University of Santiago de Compostela) presented advanced analytical tools developed by her team, capable of detecting and quantifying a wide range of emerging contaminants in wastewater. These methodologies, applied within the BlueWWater project, are essential for assessing compliance with the new Directive and for providing robust and detailed information on the presence of micropollutants, thus improving the effectiveness of monitoring systems and decision support tools.
Fig. 4. Rosario Rodil from USC presenting analytical methodologies for CECs
Dr. Ana Gomes (FEUP) presented new quaternary treatments tested at pilot scale, grouped into physical processes (such as nanofiltration and reverse osmosis) and chemical processes (such as photoreactors and ozonation). She referenced projects like NOR-WATER, SERPIC, and OZONE4WATER, all focused on removing emerging contaminants.
Fig. 5. Ana Gomes from FEUP explaining new quaternary treatments
After the coffee break, Dr. Juan Bellas (IEO-CSIC) highlighted the role of ecotoxicology in environmental risk assessment, using bioassays with microalgae and sea urchin larvae. He noted that many degradation products retain toxicity and advocated for an integrated ecotoxicological approach.
Fig. 6. Juan Bellas from IEO during his talk on ecotoxicological effects
Dr. Isabel Iglesias (CIIMAR) presented the use of numerical and hydrodynamic models to identify risk zones (“hotspots”) and support the ecological modelling of Dr. Irene Martins (FCUP), with trophic chain simulations and risk analyses. These models were complemented by a literature review on the effects of microplastics on various marine organisms, including cnidarians.
Fig. 7. Isabel Iglesias (CIIMAR) and Irene Martins (FCUP) explaining how hydrodynamic and ecological models work
Dr. Jessica Pérez (CETAQUA) presented preliminary results of an environmental assessment of wastewater treatment technologies using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, applying the USEtox model.
Fig. 8. Jessica Pérez from CETAQUA presenting life cycle results
Professors Cristiano Soares and Fernanda Fidalgo (FCUP) concluded the technical presentations with a talk on the agricultural reuse of treated water, highlighting its potential as a source of nutrients and organic matter for crops, along with plant stress studies on target species.
Fig. 9. Cristiano Soares and Fernanda Fidalgo (FCUP) during their talk on water reuse for agricultural purposes
The morning concluded with a roundtable discussion moderated by Prof. Miguel Santos and Dr. Teresa Neuparth, with the participation of members of the project’s advisory panel: Engineer Vitorino José (APA), Engineer Luísa Lopes (SIMDOURO), Engineer Adelaida Rocha (Águas e Energia do Porto), Dr. Nieves Carro (INTECMAR) and Dr. Leonor Cruz (CMIA Viana do Castelo). They discussed strategies to address the challenges posed by the new UWWTD and the role of different institutions in its implementation.
Fig. 10. Members of the advisory panel during the final roundtable discussion
In summary, the project results highlight the need to validate new technologies to improve the removal of these compounds, as current technologies do not guarantee elimination levels compatible with the requirements established by the new directive (UWWTD). The workshop also helped identify key challenges associated with this transition, which is expected to play a central role in improving the final effluent quality from WWTPs, as well as in protecting receiving environments and human health.
The presentations from the workshop are available for consultation:
- The BlueWWater Project. Marisa Fernández – CETMAR
- New Urban Wastewater Directive (UWWTD): main challenges for transposition and implementation. Cristina Gonçalves – Águas do Norte
- Microplastics in the environment, MAELSTROM project: risks and challenges. Luís Vieira – CIIMAR
- Advanced chemical monitoring methods under the UWWTD. Rosario Rodil – USC
- New quaternary treatment methods for urban wastewater. Ana Gomes – FEUP
- The role of ecotoxicology in assessing the risk of contaminants of emerging concern in urban wastewater. Juan Bellas – IEO-CSIC
- Tools to support environmental risk assessment: ecological and numerical modelling. Isabel Iglesias and Irene Martins – CIIMAR/FCUP
- Tools to support environmental risk assessment: LCA methodology for treatment systems. Jessica Pérez – CETAQUA
- Advanced water quality assessment methods for reuse. Fernanda Fidalgo and Cristiano Soares – FCUP