More information
Description
The water availability index in Poland is approx. 1600 m3/person annually and the retention level is approx. 7% of surface water runoff (one of the lowest in Europe - EU average: 4,560 m3/person). Therefore, measures should be taken to protect water resources against progressive climate change due to the risk of losing the country''s food security due to limited access to water especially by considering the newest EU water reuse regulation which need to be implemented in Poland in 2023.
Development and implementation of water recovery technology based on wastewater and rainwater; Raising social awareness and acceptance of water recovery; Creating a knowledge exchange platform.
Final beneficiary: Companies (different sectors) and water/wastewater professionals; Society (children and adults); Non-governmental organizations; Scientists, PhD students, students.
Aquateam COWI AS - substantive support, technical consultations, coorganization of a study visit to Norway,
Optimus Foundation - coordinating a social campaign for children and youth, developing popular science articles,
GreenBack - construction of the installation.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address several critical issues and challenges related to water management in Poland. First, Poland has low water availability of around 1,600 m³ per person per year, which is significantly below the European Union (EU) average of 4,560 m³ per person. Furthermore, the country’s water retention level is alarmingly low at around 7% of surface water runoff, which is one of the lowest in Europe. These factors, combined with the ongoing impact of climate change, pose a serious threat to the country’s water security and consequently to food security.
In response to these challenges, the project aimed to protect water resources and mitigate the risk of food insecurity caused by limited access to water. Furthermore, compliance with EU regulations is an urgent matter. The European Union approved the Water Recovery Regulation on 26 June 2020, and Poland has three years to adapt its systems to meet these requirements. This requires the development and implementation of innovative water recovery solutions.
Another challenge is the low level of public awareness of water management in a closed loop. To address this challenge, the project included a comprehensive public campaign to promote good practices in water recovery and to support public acceptance of water recovery from wastewater and stormwater.
The project also focused on creating an innovative method for water recovery from wastewater and stormwater. In addition, it included the transfer of knowledge and best practices in water management in a closed loop from Norway to Poland, which is essential for building the country’s capacity for sustainable water management.
In summary, the project aimed to address the problem of low water availability and retention, increase compliance with EU regulations, increase public awareness and develop innovative water recovery technologies, ensuring a more sustainable and secure water future for Poland.
As part of the project, a comprehensive information and educational campaign was carried out to raise awareness of the importance of circular water management in the process of transformation towards a Circular Economy (CE) in Poland. The aim of the information and educational campaign was to popularize rational and economical management of water resources and to disseminate the use of water recovery methods in Poland. Awareness-raising campaigns were carried out for 3 main groups of stakeholders:
- children, youth and the general public,
- students, PhD students and scientists,
- domestic entrepreneurs operating in various industries and specialists from the water and sewage industry.
The campaign program was based on 3 substantive pillars in the scope of the importance of rational and circular water management and their importance in the environment, economy, everyday life. As part of the campaign, events such as workshops, trainings, seminars, summer school, educational games, competitions, webinars and a conference summarizing the project were organized. The campaign also included initiatives such as: broadcasting an educational spot on TV, within which a film was prepared presenting one of the elements of the project, which was the construction of an innovative installation for the recovery of grey and rainwater and the management of this resource for the purposes of plant irrigation. The indicated action was implemented in response to the occurrence of real problems resulting from phenomena generally referred to as drought. The basic premise for taking action was the risk related to the possibility of introducing periodic bans on the use of tap water for agricultural and gardening purposes. The film also presented general information about the project, including the project''s objective. An educational and promotional spot was also prepared to promote the International Conference, as well as a traditional advertisement promoting the project in the form of an educational film presenting one of the elements of the project, which was the construction of an innovative installation for the recovery of grey and rainwater and the management of this resource for the purposes of plant irrigation. The advertisement was presented in the trams of MPK S.A. in Kraków. A platform for the exchange of information on water saving and water recovery was created in the form of the project website www.wodogozowanie.com. Information materials were distributed electronically through a network of contacts by creating social media on Facebook and LinkedIn platforms, building a contact database in the form of people following the funpage on the above-mentioned platforms and sharing information posts about current activities and events in the project. A discussion forum was also created in the form of a blog on the project website, where posts by various experts related to the water and sewage industry on topics related to sustainable and circular water use were published. Forum participants had the opportunity to add comments to individual publications, while conducting interesting discussions.
As mentioned above, one of the elements of the project was also the construction of an innovative installation for the recovery of grey and rainwater and the management of this resource for the purposes of plant irrigation. The basic goal of the construction of the installation for the recovery of grey and rainwater was to present and test in real conditions, new innovative solutions allowing for the effective management of the acquired resources for gardening and technical purposes. In particular, great emphasis was placed on the aspect of failure-free operation of the systems, combined with ensuring the highest possible level of safety when using water from secondary sources. The results of the work carried out allow for the practical implementation of the presented solutions, both in activities aimed at the management of rainwater (e.g. when building a rainwater collection installation), as well as activities related to the processes of secondary water purification, which can also be applied to water from the stream of purified sewage (new filtration solutions).
The project achieved several notable results, positively impacting different groups of beneficiaries (children, youth, and the general public; students, PhD candidates, and scientists; and domestic entrepreneurs along with specialists from the water and sewage industry) by enhancing awareness, demonstrating innovative solutions, and promoting sustainable practices in circular water management. A key outcome was the successful execution of a comprehensive information and educational campaign aimed at raising awareness about the importance of circular water management in Poland’s transition towards a Circular Economy (CE). Through workshops, training sessions, seminars, summer schools, educational games, competitions, webinars, and a final summarizing conference, the project reached diverse audiences to promote rational and economical water resource management. A significant emphasis was placed on the practical use of water recovery methods in Poland, showcasing their importance in the environment, economy, and everyday life.
One of the results of the project was the construction of an innovative installation for the recovery of grey and rainwater, used specifically for plant irrigation. This installation served as a practical demonstration of new, effective solutions for managing water resources, aimed at reducing dependency on tap water and addressing drought-related challenges. The installation also emphasized system reliability and safety in utilizing secondary water sources, proving the feasibility of such technologies for broader application in agricultural and technical contexts.
In summary, the project has brought results both in terms of increasing public knowledge and awareness, as well as in the practical application of new water recovery technologies. These achievements have directly impacted a wide range of beneficiaries, from the general public to industry professionals, supporting long-term changes in water management in Poland.
Summary of bilateral results
Cooperation with the Norwegian partner allowed for the transfer of knowledge and experience from Norway to Poland. The Norwegian partner, as a donor of knowledge, supported the implementation of the project through active participation and co-organization of many events carried out as part of the project for various stakeholder groups, such as: seminars, workshops, summer school and training. Thanks to the support, an innovative installation for the recovery of water from sewage and rainwater was developed. The Norwegian partner, through its active participation, also contributed to the success of the conference summarizing the project. The implementation of the project resulted in the creation of joint scientific publications.