• The LIFE PRISTINE analytical campaign has made it possible to select a total of 17 relevant compounds that will constitute the shortlist of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) that will be followed during the PRISTINE solution demonstration.
  • These 17 relevant compounds are classified as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, industrial chemicals, microplastics (MP) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARG).
  • Among the contaminants analysed, pharmaceuticals were the most significant family of CECs in both in the drinking water demonstration scenario in the Basque Country and the wastewater facility in the Murcia region, where the project’s demonstration activities will be carried out.
  • Pesticides like glyphosate and fungicides like imazalil or pyrimethanil were also included in the shortlist of CECs, due to their concentration, occurrence and persistence at one or both sites.
  • Microplastics and antibiotic-resistance genes were present in both sites and their removal will be also followed during the PRISTINE solution demonstration.
  • The campaign has also set the water quality that the technologies of the LIFE PRISTINE Integrated Solution will need to deal with.

Barcelona, 16th of January 2024 – The LIFE PRISTINE project has concluded an exhaustive water characterization campaign to shortlist the initial set of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) objective for the project, which aim is to eliminate over 80% of these types of compounds, like pharmaceuticals, pesticides or fungicides, in both drinking water and wastewater streams.

The two water streams where the LIFE PRISTINE Integrated Solution will be demonstrated were intensively characterized for a full year in terms of CECs content and water quality. These allowed to assess CECs seasonality, occurrence, persistence and water quality that the PRISTINE Solution will need to deal with. The campaign also allowed to define the technologies requirements to ensure optimum operation of the integrated technology.

“The results of the analytical campaign performed from November 2022 to October 2023 provided valuable insights into addressing the challenges of contaminants of emerging concern in water resources“, expresses Ana Jiménez-Banzo, LIFE PRISTINE project coordinator and Head of Innovation MGT & Technology Transfer at ACCIONA. “These findings will be instrumental in steering our project towards pioneering solutions that safeguard our ecosystems and ensure sustainable water quality”, she adds.

The campaign findings highlight the following key results:

  • Pharmaceuticals become the primary focus because of their notorious occurrence, concentration, and variability across both demo sites and their effects, which are reflected in their presence in current regulations. This realization underscores the urgency in addressing these compounds within the LIFE PRISTINE project.
  • Glyphosate stood out as the predominant pesticide detected in both sites, emphasizing its relevance. Additionally, imazalil and pyrimethanil‘s significance in the wastewater site during the spring season as well as their concentration and their low removal efficiency support their inclusion in the project’s shortlist.
  • While estrone, a hormone, was detected frequently in both sites, its concentrations fell below the Probable No Effect Concentration (PNEC), leading to its exclusion.
  • MPs and ARG were ubiquitous in both demonstration sites and will be monitored closely during the demonstrations.

Aina Soler, researcher from ACCIONA, states that “these findings mark a crucial milestone in our endeavour to devise holistic water treatment solutions. The LIFE PRISTINE project is committed to develop technologies that not only combat emerging contaminants but also adapt to dynamic environmental conditions and ensure high-quality drinking and reclaimed water“.

The meticulous evaluation of technology requirements, coupled with these insights, positions the LIFE PRISTINE project at the forefront of innovation. With a strategic focus on addressing water quality challenges, the project aims to align with European policies and to elevate global standards in environmental sustainability.

Two representative operating environments

The PRISTINE Integrated Solution will be demonstrated in operationally representative conditions for drinking water and wastewater treatment, running for a year each.

The PRISTINE Integrated Pilot Plant constructed will be installed in a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in Murcia, property of the partner ESAMUR. After that testing, the demonstration plant will be sent to the drinking water scenario in the Basque Country to be demonstrated for 12 additional months.

Demo activities will be carried out by ACCIONA in close cooperation with the consortium partners and technology providers Eurecat, NX Filtration and Xylem, and the water public authorities ESAMUR and CABB (as associated partner).