“Hoffselva is perfect for this type of demonstration”
Dr. ing. Herman Helness is Research Manager at the research institute SINTEF and kindly answered some questions about the DESSIN demo site in Hoffselva, Norway.
1. What is being tested at your test site for DESSIN?
We are testing two innovative solutions for improving water quality in Hoffselva by local treatment of combined sewer overflows: A lamella settler and a high rate filter. The solutions will be automated and in communication with a centralised system to ease operation. The innovations will aid in achieving the goals of the WFD. Click to read more
DESSIN scientists participated in workshop on joint and coordinated use of surface water and groundwater in Spain
The aim of the workshop that was organized by FCIHS, the International Centre of Hydrogeology on the 14th May in Barcelona, Spain was to share experiences of joint and coordinated use of surface water and groundwater. The flexible use of surface water and groundwater is typical in arid regions with irregular water resources. The main advantage of this flexible management in the use of sources is a stronger resources warranty and less investment costs in hydraulic infrastructures. At the workshop, some examples were presented, starting with the most relevant cases in Spain located in the Mediterranean coastal area.
Kick-off meeting in Germany
Purpose of the DESSIN kick-off meeting between the German project partners UFT Umwelt- und Fluid-Technik and the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) was to determine the status quo and to prepare the starting actions for their participation in the DESSIN project.
Norwegian kick-off meeting
The local Norwegian kick-off meeting of DESSIN took place at the beginning of March in Oslo, Norway. Organized by SINTEF, ten people from research institutes, industry and municipal institutions attended. Main purpose of the meeting was for the people from the different organisations to meet and to discuss and plan the tasks lying ahead to ensure that DESSIN is going to meets its objectives. After a brief overview of the DESSIN project, the links between the activities in Norway and other parts of DESSIN were pointed out.
DESSIN presented at Spanish water workshop
At the beginning of April, Ester Vilanova from DESSIN partner Amphos 21 presented an overview of the DESSIN project at a workshop in Madrid, Spain that was organized by the Spanish technological water platform (PTEA). The aim of the workshop, which was attended by approximately 150 research technicians from industry, universities and research centres, was to encourage the active participation of Spanish companies of the water sector in research and innovative projects at national and international level.
DESSIN kicks off
On the 28th-29th January 2014, the FP7 project DESSIN kicked off in Brussels. The European four-year project demonstrates and promotes innovative solutions for water scarcity and water quality related challenges & additionally demonstrates a methodology for the valuation of ecosystem services (ESS).