PURE project workshop on Sustainable Sludge Handling was organized in Lübeck on 7-8 of September 2011. The event gathered 70 experts from around the Baltic Sea region, e.g. PURE partner organizations, associated partners, water companies, universities and consultants. This demonstrates the importance of environmentally sustainable, economically efficient and legally allowed sludge management – essential part of modern wastewater treatment.

Both political and economical aspects affecting the sludge management strategies, as well as practical technical solutions and future prospects in different circumstances were presented and discussed. Differing legislation, risk assessment, energy policies and nutrient recycling possibilities have a big impact in planning of the future sludge management options which may require major economical investments. See more details from the Sustainable Sludge Handling Workshop and the presentations.

PURE is preparing sludge related publications. In November 2011 an electronic Newsletter will be published, concentrating on practical experiences of sludge handling. One of the main outputs of PURE is a publication of good practices in sludge management including legislation, various technological solutions for sludge stabilization, dewatering, drying, hygienization and disposal, and also some experiences. This publication is in drafting phase.

Tendering for the equipment Riga Daugavgriva WWTP has been completed. Two electromagnetic flow meters and a ferric sulphate dosing tank have been delivered by the end of 2010 and are waiting for installation. The delivery of the centrifuge for improved excess sludge management is going to take place in spring 2011.

Local adaptation of the detailed plans for Brest investment is under way. Jurmala Water has performed and will perform additional testing at Sloka WWTP to refine the proposed investment. Tendering for the equipment will begin in Jurmala in spring 2011.

PURE was one of the organizers of the “Local Actors as Forerunners – Concrete Achievements and Links to International Covenants in Baltic Sea Protection” in Tallinn on 16 March. The event gathered c. 100 participants representing municipalities and city organizations, water companies, ministries, international financiers and universities from the Baltic Sea region. Local achievements and problems in the Baltic Sea protection work were presented and discussed. See the programme of the event and presentations of the speakers. Also a project meeting of PURE was organized in Tallinn on 16-17 March

Pilot investment at Riga Daugavgriva WWTP is in progress and it is expected that installations will be ready in couple of months. Implementation of this investment, Riga WWTP will reduce the phosphorus load to the Gulf of Riga by c. 100 tons annually.

Detailed plans for Brest and Jurmala investments are ready, as well as audit reports for Gdansk, Kohtla-Järve and Szczecin WWTPs. In Brest PURE-financed chemical storing and dosing station will be built in unused pre-aeration basins. Also new on-line and laboratory analysis equipment of phosphate and total phosphorus will be purchased to optimize the treatment process. At Jurmala treatment plant the proposed PURE investment include e.g. new online measurement equipment to improve the process control and balancing. Usual problems in the other quite modern WWTPs concern sludge settleability and thickening issues. A future PURE workshop in Lübeck will concentrate on sludge handling.

See details of the project progress in the end of 2010 in the first PURE Newsletter .

Riga workshop gathered PURE partners in October 2010. Photos: PURE/Riga Water

The consultant for PURE technical audits, Pöyry Finland Oy, has started the auditing of PURE partner WWTPs in May 2010. By September 15th, proposals for investments to be realized with PURE funding have been presented to Brest and Jurmala WWTPs. The detailed planning for Brest and Jurmala investments will be ready in October as well as the draft audit reports for Gdansk, Kohtla-Järve and Szczecin WWTPs. The reports will be discussed in PURE Riga workshop (20-21 October 2010) and finalized by the beginning of November.

In August 2010, Riga Water launched a call for tenders for flow meters and container for ferrosulphate dosing to be purchased in PURE project. Decanter centrifuge for better excess sludge handling is to be purchased by the end of 2010 as well.

John Nurminen Foundation has contracted Pöyry Finland Oy to perform the PURE technical audits in the waste water treatment plants of Brest, Gdansk, Jurmala, Kohtla-Järve and Szczecin. Pöyry Finland Oy won also the open tender for leadership of PURE sludge handling studies. Altogether 7 proposals were given for consultancy in PURE technical audits and 8 proposals for leadership of the sludge handling studies.