Paterna wastewater plant tests new technology to remove emerging contaminants

The INNOCUA project is conducting a pilot study at the Paterna Wastewater Treatment Plant in Valencia, Spain, to test new technologies for removing emerging contaminants from water. These pollutants, which include microplastics, pharmaceutical compounds, pesticides, and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, are often not fully captured by conventional treatment systems.

Coordinated by Labaqua and involving partners such as AIMPLAS, Aigües de Paterna, and the Universities of Valencia and Polytechnic of Valencia, the initiative evaluates six quaternary treatment technologies. These include photocatalysis, activated carbon adsorption, ultrafiltration, and iron nanoparticles at a pilot scale, alongside industrial-scale ozonization and ultraviolet radiation.

The project utilizes a ‘One Health’ approach, employing advanced genetic analysis techniques like metagenomics to understand risks associated with antimicrobial resistance. This initiative aligns with the new European Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (2024/3019), which will require large treatment plants to implement quaternary treatments.