Sorigué and the University of Girona (UdG) have built a pilot plant to gauge the effectiveness of BIODAPH, a new system for treating wastewater by using live microorganisms which remove pollutants. The system has been rolled out in a real-world environment at the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the municipality of Quart, Girona, which is operated by Sorigué.  

A technical conference was held to kick off the pilot plant attended by over 40 water industry experts who were able to see at first-hand how this system works and learn about other innovative technologies for nature-based solutions. BIODAPH is part of the LIFE BIODAPH2O project coordinated by the University of Girona (UdG) whose partners are Sorigué, the Catalan Water Partnership (CWP), IDAEA-CSIC, the BETA Technology Centre, the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and MINAVRA Techniki.  

Another similar plant is to be set up under the LIFE BIODAPH2O project in Antissa on the Greek island of Lesbos.  

LIFE BIODAPH2O is co-financed by the European Commission through the LIFE programme. It has a €2.1 million budget and will last for 42 months. The results of the pilot test will be available in 2025 to study the feasibility of replicating the system on a real scale.   
 
Nature-based, low-energy solution  

At present, the Quart WWTP collects wastewater from the municipality, treats it and finally discharges it into the River Onyar. 

The BIODAPH pilot plant aims to treat 40% of the effluent using living organisms that have demonstrated their efficacy in eliminating microbiological pollutants, microplastics, pathogens, solids and metals.  

The results of the tests to be conducted at the Quart WWTP will make it possible to validate the technology’s effectiveness on a real scale and gauge its impact on the environment.   

BIODAPH harnesses small crustaceans such as water fleas (Daphnia) and microorganisms including microalgae and microbial biofilms that feed by filtration, thus absorbing a high percentage of pollutants. It is a clean technology which does not require chemicals or produce sedimentation sludge. Furthermore, as it is compact, it does not take up a large area and is powered by a solar panel whose energy use is lower than other conventional systems.  

BIODAPH is a tertiary treatment which operates in the last stage of the process to enhance the quality of the water discharged into the river or used for agricultural purposes.  

The Quart WWTP, which has been run by Sorigué since 2010, is in an area declared as water-stressed and so developing efficient technologies for treating and subsequently using wastewater is crucial for local ecosystems.