HELCOM launches a new project to promote advanced phosphorus removal

Helsinki, 16 February (HELCOM Information Service) – The Helsinki Commission has launched together with its partners a new project to curb eutrophication of the Baltic Sea through the promotion of advanced removal of phosphorus from the municipal sewage discharge.

This project, named PURE (Project on Urban Reduction of Eutrophication), is part of the strategic HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan to radically reduce pollution to the sea and restore the good ecological status of the marine environment by 2021. The plan includes actions to curb eutrophication of the Baltic Sea, caused by excessive inputs of phosphorus and nitrogen loads originating from inadequately cleaned municipal wastewaters and agricultural run-off.

“One of the major objectives of the PURE Project is to demonstrate low-cost, high-impact actions that result in measurable outcome regarding reduced phosphorus discharges to the Baltic Sea,” says Anne Christine Brusendorff, HELCOM’s Executive Secretary. “It will provide good example that HELCOM’s strict discharge requirements for phosphorus are possible to achieve in a cost-efficient way”.

Cost-effective techniques to remove phosphorus from wastewaters are in use e.g. in the Nordic countries. The current lack of good examples and knowledge at plant level, lack of common commitment and joint implementation, as well lack of funding hinders the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) wide implementation of these techniques. The Project demonstrates potentials of joint implementation and joint investments in the Baltic Sea region in combating eutrophication in a cost-effective way.

PURE will prepare and implement investments that reduce phosphorus loads to the Baltic Sea. The Project targets selected municipalities and their wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and supports them in reaching a phosphorus content of 0,5 mg/liter in outgoing wastewaters. This level is in harmony with the HELCOM Recommendation and is half of the concentration stipulated by EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. Altogether PURE aims at annual reduction of at least 300-500 tonnes of phosphorus from the Baltic Sea via investments in Riga, Jurmala and Brest water utilities. As phosphorus removal slightly increases the amount of sludge in WWTPs, PURE will also present and develop sustainable ways to handle this sludge.

Project partners include Union of the Baltic Cities Commission on Environment (UBC EnvCom) as lead partner, John Nurminen Foundation (JNF), HELCOM and the municipal partners of Riga Water, Brest Vodokanal, Jurmala Water, Sewage Management Facilities Luebeck, Järve Biopuhastus OÜ of Kohtla-Järve, City of Gdansk, Water and Sewage Company of Szczecin and Mariehamn Town.

PURE is co-financed by the European Union. The Project has been approved for financing by the Baltic Sea Region Programme (BSRP) 2007-2013 and its total budget amounts to around EUR 3.2 million, with approximately EUR 2.0 million to be allocated as co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument.

The Project will last for 42 months, including 36 months of implementation period (2010-2013). Its results and methods will be compiled into a book of good practices in chemical phosphorus removal and sustainable sludge handling at municipal WWTPs.

The Project will serve both international purposes (EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive, EU Water Framework Directive, EU UWWTP Directive and the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region) as well as country-wise nutrient reduction targets set by the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan. In order to achieve “clear water” which is one of the main objectives of the plan, phosphorus inputs to the Baltic must be further cut by about 42% (15,000 tonnes).

The initial activities to launch the project were discussed at a kick-off meeting which was held on 9-11 February in Helsinki at the premises of the City Hall of Helsinki and the John Nurminen Foundation.

Follow-up:

More information on the PURE Project is available from the Project’s website: www.purebalticsea.eu

Latest news on the Project’s activities will be also published at HELCOM’s webpage dedicated to PURE:

http://www.helcom.fi/projects/on_going/en_GB/PURE/

PURE is part-financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument). 

Note to Editors: 

The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, more usually known as the Helsinki Commission, or HELCOM, is an intergovernmental organisation of all the nine Baltic Sea countries and the EU which works to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution. 

HELCOM is the governing body of the "Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area," known as the Helsinki Convention.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Mikhail Durkin

Professional Secretary

HELCOM

Tel: +358 (0)46 850 9195

Fax: +358(0)207 412 645

E-mail: mikhail.durkin@helcom.fi

Mr. Nikolay Vlasov

Information Secretary

HELCOM

Tel: +358 (0)46 850 9196

Fax: +358 (0)207 412 645

E-mail: nikolay.vlasov@helcom.fi 

Ms. Lotta Ruokanen

Project Manager

HELCOM

Tel: +358 (0)40 162 2054

Fax: +358(0)207 412 645

E-mail: lotta.ruokanen@helcom.fi