Principles of BIODAPH technology
The BIODAPH technology combines the filtration capacity of zooplankton (in this case Daphnia) with the capacity of bacterial and algal biofilm to remove nutrients. Daphnia is able to remove particles with a size below 30 µm that do not settle or settle too slowly in secondary clarifiers. The removal of solids is associated with a decrease in organic matter, pathogens such as coliforms and E. coli, and emerging contaminants from secondary wastewater. The population of Daphnia in the system is dynamic and depends on different factors, being the substrate availability, the turbulence (flow velocities in the system) and the water temperature some of the main parameters. However, Daphnia is sensitive to common contaminants when they are at raw wastewater levels (e.g. organic matter, ammonium and nitrite, and metals). Given this, this application of this technology is restricted to polish previous treated wastewater (acts as a tertiary treatment).
Project phases
Where is BIODAPH2O located?
Location of the two demonstration sites: Quart, Girona, Spain (left) and Antissa, Lesvos, Greece (right). The map also shows the annual rainfall (mm/year).
WWTP Quart
Production of 146,000 m3 of reclaimed water and improvement of the river ecosystem services and its ecological quality along 4 Km downstream the WWTP discharging point.
WWTP Antissa
Production of 13,200 m3 reclaimed water for irrigation reclaimed water for irrigation in Greece. Reducing the occurrence of emerging pollutants by 70- 80% in the irrigated crops.
Project Impacts
Water Reuse
Production of 146,000 m3 of reclaimed water at the Spanish site and 13,200 m3 for irrigation at the Greek site
"The power of Daphnias"
Improvement of the river ecosystem services and reduction of emerging pollutants by 70-80% in crops irrigated with BIODAPH reclaimed water
Circular economy
Significant reduction in operating costs as the treatment is free from chemicals and is less energy-intensive
Efficient WWTP
Up to 98% reduction of energy consumption in comparison with conventional and advanced WW tertiary systems
Zero pollution
Removing emerging pollutants by ~ 70% for pharmaceuticals, 90% for AMR, 80% for microplastics, and 60% for PFAS
Sustainable management
Reduction of the carbon footprint and greenhouse gas production by more than 80%
Policy implications
- BIODAPH technology will be tested in different configurations to obtain reclaimed water in accordance with EU Regulation 2020/741 to irrigate nearby agricultural land and allowing the standards set in Water Framework Directive of the EC (Directive 2000/60/EC) to be reached by producing reclaimed water having a high microbiological and chemical quality and ecological biodiversity.
- Moreover, specific national guidelines for water reuse in Spain and Greece will be considered (e.g., Spanish Reuse Royal Decree 1620/2007 and Greek Common Ministerial Decision ΚΥΑ 145116/2011).
- Since 2019, the European Commission is intending to revise the UWWT directive, BIODAPH2O will contribute to reinforce the urgency to act upon the emerging pollutants such as pharmaceutical residues, antimicrobial resistance genes, and microplastics, by including legal-limits and monitoring programs in the revised directive and we will direct our technology as a feasible widely adoptable, low-cost, low-energy best practice/solution.