The APRIORA project | Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Gdańsk University of Technology

From September 30 to October 2, Gdańsk University of Technology hosted a meeting of the consortium and associated partners involved in the “APRIORA” project. This initiative is closely aligned with the revised EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD), a critical component of Europe’s action plan for reducing pollution and promoting a circular economy.

The updated directive proposes stricter limits on nitrogen and phosphorus emissions into water bodies and introduces a so-called fourth treatment stage, designed to reduce micropollutant emissions. By 2045, this requirement will apply to all wastewater treatment plants with a capacity exceeding 150,000 PE (population equivalent). For smaller agglomerations, those exceeding 10,000 PE, the obligation will be introduced if a risk assessment (RA) determines that micropollutants from these plants pose a threat to the environment or public health.

The responsibility for conducting risk assessments and implementing mitigation measures will rest with regional Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs) in collaboration with wastewater treatment plant operators. However, both groups are facing challenges due to insufficient data on micropollutant emissions, their associated risks, and the lack of tools for assessing risks and evaluating the effectiveness of treatment technologies.

The APRIORA project focuses on developing an integrated risk assessment (RA) system based on monitoring micropollutant emissions, modeling their spread in surface waters, and conducting a multi-criteria analysis of the risks to both the environment and public health. During the meeting at Gdańsk University of Technology, the project's progress to date was discussed. The proposed approach does not require advanced modeling skills or specialized research. Instead, it utilizes an open geographic information system (GIS). The GIS platform will incorporate data on pharmaceutical consumption, as well as infrastructure and operational data from wastewater treatment plants, enabling the estimation of micropollutant emissions into receiving waters. Their concentrations will be calculated based on catchment parameters and hydrological data.

Starting in November, the project will enter its pilot phase, during which the developed model will be tested in the catchment areas of five rivers that flow into the Baltic Sea.

The APRIORA project is funded under the INTERREG Baltic Sea Region program for 2021-2027. Project partners include the University of Rostock (lead partner), the German Federal Environment Agency, the Finnish Environment Institute, the Centre for Economic Development, Transport, and the Environment for South Ostrobothnia in Finland, the Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology, the Latvian Environment, Geology, and Meteorology Centre, and Kristianstad University in Sweden.

The Gdańsk University of Technology is represented by a team consisting of: Prof. Aneta Łuczkiewicz, PhD, Eng.; Assoc. Prof. Sylwia Fudala-Książek, PhD, Eng.; Prof. Anna Remiszewska-Skwarek, PhD, Eng.; Dr. Małgorzata Szopińska; Dr. Filip Gamoń, Eng.; and Dr. Wojciech Artichowicz, Eng. Polish supporting institutions (associate organizations) include: the "Wodociągi Polskie" Chamber of Commerce, the Regional Water Management Authority in Gdańsk, the Linia Municipality, the Municipal Water and Sewage Company Ltd., the "Łeba" Water Association, and the Municipal Utility Services in Łęczyce.

APRIORA