Project on Urban Reduction of Eutrophication

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Eutrophication is a major problem in the Baltic Sea. It’s caused by excessive phosphorus and nitrogen loads coming from land-based sources. At least 95% of the phosphorus load enter the Baltic Sea waterborne and a major part of this load originates from point sources. Here the municipal waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) play the primary role. New actions to reduce the amount of phosphorus from the effluent ending up to the Baltic Sea are immediately needed: according to HELCOM, failure to react now would undermine both the prospects for the future recovery of the sea and its capability to react to the projected stress by the climate change. Besides, inaction will affect vital resources for the future economic prosperity of the whole region and would cost tenfold more than the cost of action. In order to achieve “clear water”, which is one of the main objectives of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan, phosphorus inputs to the Baltic Sea must be further cut by about 42% (15 000 tons). Cost effective techniques to remove phosphorus from wastewaters are in use e.g. in the Nordic countries. Current bottlenecks that hinder the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) wide implementation of these techniques are: 1) lack of good examples and knowledge at plant level 2) lack of funding 3) lack of common commitment and joint implementation. PURE prepares and implements investments that reduce phosphorus emissions from the Baltic Sea. The project targets selected municipalities and their waste water treatment plants and supports them to reach a phosphorus content of 0,5 mg/liter in outgoing wastewaters. This level is in harmony with the HELCOM recommendation and is half of the concentration stipulated by EU Waste Water Treatment Directive. Altogether PURE aims at annual reduction of at least 300-500 tons of eutrophying phosphorus from the Baltic Sea. As phosphorus removal slightly increases amount of sludge in WWTPs, PURE also presents and develops sustainable ways to handle this sludge. Project implements the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan’s Eutrophication Segment and its Recommendation 28E/5 on more stringent requirements for phosphorus removal from municipal WWTPs. PURE would also implement EU Baltic Sea strategy as its draft action plan addresses a flag ship project "Clean waste water". PURE demonstrates low-cost, high-impact actions that result in measurable outcome regarding phosphorus discharges to the Baltic Sea. Project demonstrates potentials of joint implementation and joint investments in the BSR in combating the eutrophication in a cost-effective way. Project results and methods will be compiled into a book of good practices in chemical phosphorus removal and sustainable sludge handling at municipal WWTPs. Project partners include Union of the Baltic Cities Commission on Environment (UBC EnvCom) as lead partner, John Nurminen Foundation (JNF), HELCOM, Riga Water, Brest Vodokanal, Luebeck and several other central locations around the BSR

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