PRESS RELEASE
Velserbroek, 7 January 2016
Interreg 2 Seas Programme awards grant to accelerate innovation in drinking water treatment
The DOC2C’s consortium, consisting of PWN Technologies (NL), South West Water (UK), De Watergroep (BE), Lille University (FR) and Delft University of Technology (NL) received a grant from the Interreg 2 Seas Programme to significantly improve and accelerate innovation in drinking water treatment by collaboration within the 2 Seas region.
Interreg 2 Seas 2014-2020 is a European Territorial Cooperation Programme, covering England, France, the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders). The Programme is part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and has a total of €241m ERDF to co-finance projects in the 2014 – 2020 period. Its overall objective is to develop an innovative, knowledge and research based, sustainable and inclusive 2 Seas area, where natural resources are protected and the green economy is promoted. The project partners will collaborate to support the development of innovative technologies to improve the removal of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) in drinking water treatment.
More than 35 organizations, varying from drinking water companies, universities, knowledge centers and the private sector (SME’s), will be involved in this project as an observer. Evers + Manders coordinated the project submission and will be involved during the whole project.
This project will lead to intensive exchange of knowledge and experience between utilities, universities, knowledge centers, contractors, engineering companies occupied within surface water treatment to efficiently and effectively meet this need/challenge. It will also open up new and extensive market chances for technology providers, a lower environmental impact of drinking water production and improved water quality.
Gilbert Galjaard, CTO of PWN Technologies said: “Removing DOC is problematic for this region and something we all struggle with, reaching even further than the area around the Channel and the North Sea. Everyone in the region needs access to a continuous supply of good, safe drinking water, regardless of the impact climate change and economic activities have on the sources of drinking water. The challenge water suppliers face is to continue to meet this need whilst adapting to the effect of climate change we now see and mitigating against future effects. We have been working in partnership on this issue for more than two years. This success is not only special to the consortium, but also to the Province of North Holland”. It was the first time that organizations from the Province of North Holland could participate in the Interreg 2 Seas Programme. “PWN Technologies and the other partners are very grateful for the large effort the Province of North Holland put into the process to become part of this Programme”.
Chris Rockey, South West Water’s Science and Water Quality Manager said: “This project will lead to new innovative technologies that will contribute to South West Water’s aim to continue to provide good, safe drinking water that has the trust of our customers, while minimizing the cost of water treatment and our impact on the environment.”
Liesbeth Verdickt, Process Engineer at De Watergroep: “Also in Belgium we are dealing with water quality challenges and this project and unique cooperation will enable us to face these challenges and to incorporate innovative technologies in our treatment plants.”
Luuk Rietveld, professor Urban Water Cycle Technology of Delft University of Technology: “I am looking forward to a fruitful and intense cooperation with all stakeholders and to find new solutions with a lower environmental impact.”
Baghdad Ouddane, professor Environmental Chemistry at Lille University: ”This project gives us the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences with a lot of experts facing the same challenges. By combining our forces the best ideas and new innovations will be found.”
For more information, please contact: Debbie Middendorp, Communications Manager DOC2C’s T: +31627014926, E: dmiddendorp@doc2cs.com