Águas do Algarve testing techniques to remove drugs from waste water

The regional water company, Águas do Algarve, has announced further research into a project to control pharmaceutical compounds in urban wastewater treatment plants.

The investigation has been approved under the LIFE 2014-2017 programme and the main objectives are to monitor and to determine the efficiency of removing drugs from waste water treatment plants using conventional treatment systems, as well as evaluating new techniques.

The project aims to tested new technologies that can be rolled out to other treatment systems across Europe.

The company said that the project is coordinated by the National Laboratory of Civil Engineering, as well as Águas do Algarve, and has the participation of the University of Algarve, the University of Lisbon, Environmental and Regional Development Consulting, Lda, Águas de Lisboa and Vale do Tejo and Águas do Tejo Atlântico.

The three and a half year project started in January 2016 and ends in June 2019.

The total budget for the project is €1.49 million, with Community support of €855,600.

The water company confirmed that it is carrying out pilot tests at the Faro Noroeste treatment plant where different types and doses of chemical coagulants and activated carbon are being tested to see how effective they are at removing drug compounds.