European Science Communication Institute ESCI
European Science Communication Institute ESCI is a other that is part of the pulse of the water sector. Here we bring together everything it publishes on Smart Water Magazine: its news, its blogs and the events it takes part in.
How technology is helping to restore and rewet peatlands in Europe
When environmental engineering PhD student Pouya Ghezelayagh visited peatlands in Norway to measure them, he almost passed out from the cold, snowy conditions. However, he had a better time traversing the spongy peatlands in the Biebrza Valley, Poland, which has been his most recent place of study. Perhaps due to his experiences in the field, […]
Rules, regulations and revenues: tackling Paludiculture’s painful problems
Rewetting drained peatland for sustainable farming holds clear climate-wins yet high investment costs, regulatory barriers, and other issues threaten progress. How can paludiculture players tackle the challenges?
Peatlands were drained for agriculture. Now researchers are trying to restore them
With wellies and waterproof clothing, Claudia Nielsen spent time splodging through the Bois-des-Bel peatlands earlier this year. The peatlands, located in Quebec, Canada, had been restored, with conservations working on them for 23 years. Nielsen was there to learn more about the restoration in her capacity as part of the coordination team of the EU […]
Unlocking the potential of wastewater using AI – The DARROW project introduces itself
The water discarded globally every year could fill Lake Geneva in Switzerland almost four times. But this wastewater is a treasure trove of valuable resources, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are important components of agricultural fertilizer. Recovering these resources is crucial for a circular and sustainable economy. The European research project DARROW aims […]
From waste to resource: how Artificial Intelligence will transform water treatment in the EU
Water passing through treatment plants used to be considered waste to be discharged into rivers and seas. Its organic matter was a residue, and the nitrogen and phosphorus it contained were pollutants. Perceptions have shifted. With the right technology and infrastructure, it is possible to turn these elements into energy (biogas) and fertilisers for agriculture, […]
International water research networks offer solutions for water stress
To get a sense of the drastic measures to prevent water scarcity across the world, just look at tomato farmers. Although separated by the Atlantic ocean and a language barrier, Mexican and Dutch tomato farmers have one problem in common. Fourteen years ago in the Mexican province of Baja California, a shortage of freshwater meant […]
“A secondary effect of applying Sea4Value findings is an increase in desalination efficiencies”
In 2019, in an UN-backed report, experts warned of rising levels of toxic brine as a result of a growing number of seawater desalination plants being built around the world to meet growing water needs. The experts estimated that globally, plants discharge 142 million cubic metres of hypersaline brine every day. Nevertheless, there exist economic opportunities […]
Circular economy solutions showcase the business model for sustainable water use
From fruit juice to green pharmaceuticals and seawater to more sustainable electronics, new innovative technologies are helping lay down the foundations for a circular economy of water – thanks to several EU funded research projects. Society has evolved to extract water from limited resources, but new circular economy technologies are turning the tide on this […]
New technologies to slash water consumption and to recover 30% of water and heat in industry
The European Parliament has set a new climate target for 2030—to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% compared to 1990 levels, up 40% on previous targets. Some industry groups criticize the new targets as being overambitious and too expensive while across Europe scientists and engineers have already joined forces ready to take on […]