WOOSU

The WOOSU project aims to develop a solution that promotes the optimization of the operation, sustainability and circularity of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). Its results lead to a reduction in operational costs, the sector’s ecological footprint with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and local water reuse methodologies. The project will also value other surpluses from the operation, sludge, biogas and heat, reintegrating them into the production chain and closing the resource use cycle, through new models of multi-aspect industrial symbiosis. Process optimization leads to improved effluent quality, taking into account energy consumption and variations in equipment operating times. The project will innovate by incorporating Life Cycle Analysis into the decision-making process for treatment actions, developing complementary tools to support the ISO 59020:2024 standard, aligning with EU best practices and future industry procedures. The inclusion of sustainability and circularity components in ETEs allows for management that reduces resource waste and maximizes the reuse of treated water, nutrients included in biofertilizers and biogas. This results in a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, operational costs, and the adoption of concrete circular economy practices. These advances reduce the immediate local environmental impact of treatment operations, promote more efficient use of natural resources, ensure the economic sustainability of WWTPs and contribute to public health and environmental preservation. The project strives for scientific advances and development of technologies in various areas, namely process monitoring, creation of biochemical models and symbiotic models, sustainability assessment, development of advanced control systems and industrial interface tools with the operator. All technologies will be tested in a real environment, using facilities contracted with one of the co-promoters. A great effort will be made to promote the dissemination of the project and its results among the population, entities managing similar equipment, government decision-making bodies and environmental systems, thus also reinforcing the social sustainability component.