Continuing the project “Safety Plan for Diffuse Pollution Control of Watersheds”, scientists at the RTU Institute of Water Systems and Biotechnology are developing solutions to reduce water pollution.

Within the framework of the project, work is actively underway on the creation of a pilot plant for the reduction of diffuse pollution. Its operating principle is the recovery of nitrogen compounds from sewage sludge compost runoff or infiltrate, using a membrane contactor system. Typically, the infiltrate is returned to the wastewater treatment system in an untreated form, thus creating an additional pollution load on the treatment facilities. As the infiltrate flows through the pilot plant with a selective membrane, the recovery of nitrogen compounds will be achieved. The resulting compound – ammonium sulfate – can be used as fertilizer.

In laboratory conditions, scientists from the Institute of Water Resources and Energy (IWRI) tested the device to verify the efficiency of nitrogen recovery. After successful results, the assembly of the pilot device was started, so that it could soon be installed at the wastewater treatment plant of the project partner SIA “Liepājas ūdens”. It is expected that the installation of the pilot device will help reduce the release of nitrogen compounds into treated wastewater and combat the eutrophication process in the Baltic Sea.

https://centralbaltic.eu/project/wssp/

The project is co-financed by the European Union, its total budget is 2.6 million EUR, the implementation period is 01.05.2024–01.10.2027.

#Interreg #InterregCentralBaltic #WSSP

Our institute’s experts continue their work on developing tools for mitigating diffuse pollution within the framework of the project “Safety Plan for Watershed Diffuse Pollution Control”. Read more about what has been accomplished in the last six months!

Risk map created!

Using geographic information system tools, the risk factors contributing to diffuse pollution in the Liepāja area, in the Cietoksnis Canal catchment area, were assessed. The highest risk of diffuse pollution was found in industrial areas and allotments.

A seminar for target groups has been held!

In cooperation with colleagues from “Liepājas ūdens” at the end of April, we organized an event for the project’s target groups. Representatives of various organizations whose daily work is related to water pollution management participated in the seminar. We presented the sewage sludge compost leachate treatment technology planned in the project and received valuable suggestions for improving the process. Participants engaged in a discussion on the diffuse pollution risk mapping approach and provided comments on the environmental pollution challenges in the mapping area.

Pilot plant tests have begun!

We are conducting laboratory tests on a device that we will soon install in the Liepaja wastewater treatment plant. The technological principle of the pilot device is to obtain ammonium sulfate from compost leachate, thereby reducing the release of nitrogen compounds into the Baltic Sea.

You can follow the latest news on the Interreg Central Baltic Sea Region Programme project “Watershed Safety Plan for Diffuse Pollution Control” (WSSP) here.

The project is co-financed by the European Union, the total budget is 2.6 million EUR, the implementation period is 01.05.2024–01.10.2027.

#Interreg #InterregCentralBaltic #WSSP

Water Systems and Biotechnology Institute is excited to announce the date of our annual seminar “Bioenergy Technologies and Biotechnologies” that is held as a side event of The 66th International Scientific conference of Riga Technical University.

This year the event is extended to 2 days and will be held from 16th to 17th October, 2025 in RTU conference room “Moon”. .

The seminar will combine oral presentations with a dedicated poster session and 2 workshops for both students and academics. The key topics of this year are:

• Water and Wastewater technologies

• Biotechnology and Bioengineering

• Bioenergy and biomass valorization

• Future technologies

The final programme of the seminar will be available here in Latvian and English by 10.10.2025.

Please Register here by 1st October.

Those who aim to present the deadline is 25.09.2025. to be included in the official Programme of RTU 66th International Scientific Conference.

Certificates of participation will be available upon request!

Seminar supported by project No. 5.2.1.1.i.0/2/24/I/CFLA/003 (grant No.RTU-PA-2024/1-0068) – Implementation of consolidation and management changes at RTU, LiepU, Rēzekne Academy of Technology and Latvian Maritime Academy and Liepāja Maritime College for progress towards excellence in higher education, science and innovation

The visit of USA professors to RTU is organized with the financial support of BAFF – Baltic American Freedom Foundation.

This year we have three topics, and each of them will have a separate sessions in the seminar:

• Water and wastewater technologies
• Biotechnology and bioengineering
• Bioenergy and biomass valorization

We would also like to welcome students in these fields to participate in the poster session, which will also be a part of the seminar.

All conference presenters should submit an extended abstract until the 30th of September via e-mail to Alise-Anna.Stipniece-Jekimova@rtu.lv that will be published in the Book of Abstracts indexed with an e-ISSN number. The template for the extended abstract is available for downloading here. Abstract book 2023 is available here.

The registration for presenters will be closing on 27th of September, seminar listeners can register until 10th of October. Registration is available here.

Lecture annotation in English:

The view that microorganisms in nature live mostly isolated and that there is little interaction between microbial species has changed dramatically over the last decades. It is becoming more and more clear that, in many environments, microorganisms have a very “social” life and that the spatial structure of microbial cells can strongly determine the function of the microbial community as a whole. During his talk, prof. Nuno Azevedo will discuss how concepts related to spatially-structured microbial communities, e.g. biofilms, have evolved with time and are affecting current research trends that span from health, industry and the environment. State of the art approaches to spatially characterize biofilms and that are currently being implemented in his lab, such as spectral imaging fluorescence in situ hybridization and spatial transcriptomics, will also be discussed.

More about the associate professor’s work can be found here.

Thank you to State Ltd “Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre”, from whom we additionally obtain precipitation data so that we can assess the impact of groundwater infiltration in the central sewerage networks.

Thank you to the staff of Ltd “VNK-Serviss” for their technical support.

“Big data for the assessment of environmental-policy outcomes in the Latvian water-management sector” (project reg. no. 1-08/97/2023) is implemented with the financial support of the Latvian Environmental Protection Fund.

Students, technology experts and professionals from the fields of environmental science, urban planning, engineering, information technology and architecture are invited to take part in the “LifeHack Valmiera” hackathon. Both teams and individual participants who are ready to apply their knowledge and skills to contribute to improving the urban environment in Valmiera can apply.

Participants are invited to choose one of six challenges designed to improve the urban environment and ecological sustainability of Valmiera. The topics include innovative approaches to flood-risk mitigation, the urban heat-island problem, and improving water quality.

During the “LifeHack Valmiera” hackathon, participants will have the opportunity to collaborate with experts from the city of Valmiera, Riga Technical University, the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Tallinn University of Technology, the University of Tartu, the Estonian University of Life Sciences, and companies from the environmental and technology sectors. The experts will provide support and consultation so that participants have access to the data and information needed to develop effective solutions.

“By supporting the organisation of the hackathon, the goal of Valmiera Municipality is to identify opportunities for addressing environmental problem areas in the city of Valmiera with nature-based solutions that would provide the residents and visitors of Valmiera with a diverse, well-maintained and accessible environment. We expect that the ideas developed by the teams during the hackathon will be not only innovative and environmentally friendly, but will also raise residents’ awareness of the possibilities for the sustainable use of natural resources,” notes Ramona Višņevska, chief project manager for urban-planning and design matters at Valmiera Municipality.

The hackathon is organised by Riga Technical University in cooperation with Valmiera Municipality and Valmiera Technical School, and is held within and with the support of the European Union LIFE programme project “LIFE LatEstAdapt” (“Development and demonstration of a portfolio of nature-based and smart solutions to improve the climate resilience of cities in Latvia and Estonia”).

Before the hackathon, on 8 May, an online event will take place where you can learn more about the hackathon, its challenges, and a team-building session will be organised.

Applications for the “LifeHack Valmiera” hackathon are open until 12 May 2024.

More information and registration on the “LifeHack Valmiera” website:

https://lifehackvalmiera.hacktribe.co

Take part in “LifeHack Valmiera” and create innovative environmental solutions!

Contact information:

Jurijs Kondratenko, Riga Technical University, Jurijs.Kondratenko@rtu.lv

Kārlis Skuja, Riga Technical University, karlis.skuja_1@rtu.lv

The hackathon is organised by Riga Technical University in cooperation with Valmiera Municipality and is held within and with the support of the European Union LIFE programme project “LIFE LatEstAdapt” (“Development and demonstration of a portfolio of nature-based and smart solutions to improve the climate resilience of cities in Latvia and Estonia”). The project has received funding from the European Union LIFE programme, the Latvian Environmental Protection Fund of the State Regional Development Agency, and the Estonian Ministry of Climate. The information reflects only the views of the LIFE LatEstAdapt project implementers, and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.

The seminar will take place within the 64th RTU International Scientific Conference on 17 October 2023 at Riga Technical University.

This year the seminar will focus on three research directions:

• Waste management, biorefinery and bioenergy
• Wastewater management
• Water treatment and other research directions

The seminar programme is available in Latvian and English.

The abstract book, compiling the extended abstracts of the seminar participants, is available on the RTU Press website.

The seminar is organised with the support of the NoviCo project (EEA Grants project No. EEA-RESEARCH-173 “NoviCo” (Agreement No. EEZ/BPP/VIAA/2021/7)).