Actions

LIFE ALCHEMIA project actions:

The structure of the project ensures its successful implementation, since there is an effective interaction between the activities foreseen. The duration of the project will be 39 months, starting on 02/10/2017 and ending on 31/12/2020.

Preparatory actions of characterization of inlet waters and contacts with filter suppliers (Actions A3-A4) will facilitate the design and operation of the 4 pilot plants (Actions B1 and B3).

3 pilot plants consisting on 2 stage bed filters (10.8 m3/h capacity) will operate for the removal of Ra and/or U in 3 municipalities of Almería (Spain). In each plant, a different approach to prevent the filters becoming NORM will be implemented: backwash cleaning with water or regeneration in place with an oxidant (Action B2).

A fourth pilot plant (0.6 m3/h capacity) with an alternative strategy based on innovative Hydrous Manganese Oxide technology (HMO) will be applied for the removal of Ra in Viimsi (Estonia) in the Action B4.

All the pilot plants will stay operative for at least 2 years taking into account the self-life of the absorbent materials constituting the bed filters. The different assayed alternatives will provide soundness to take a step closer to potentially NORM-free treatment technology .

A cost benefit analysis will be carried out in order to make a rational choice between technologies (bed filters vs RO) in terms of operation, maintenance, waste management costs, safety, local conditions and legislative requirements (Action B5).

A database containing relevant information of drinking water treatment plants (DWTP) along Europe treating water with natural radioactivity will be done during the first semester of the project (Action A1). This database will identify target groups to transfer project outcomes: making specific technical suggestions for the full-scale implementation of the project (Action B6.2) and successful overtake in 5 replication studies (Action B6.3).

A group of indicators set in Action C.1 will be regularly monitored and compared over the initial situation from which the project started. A wide variety of dissemination actions (website, training sessions, etc.) are foreseen with the aim to raise awareness and allow for replication and transfer of the results elsewhere under similar circumstances (Action D). Last but not least, Action E involves project management activities.