LBTU Joins International Project on Sustainable Reuse of Water and Nutrients
At the beginning of October, the University of Turku, Finland hosted the launch meeting of the project "Reuse of Nutrients and Water from Human Based Sludge" (ReNuW-Hubs, No. CB0700318), funded by the Interreg Central Baltic Programme. The project aims to develop innovative solutions for the reuse of water and nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen), strengthening sustainable resource circulation in the Central Baltic Sea region.
Project partner institutions include: University of Turku (Finland) as lead partner, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. (Finland), Estonian University of Life Science (Estonia), and two partners from Latvia - University of Latvia and Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU).
The ReNuW-Hubs project improves nutrient (phosphorus and nitrogen) recycling and water reuse from community wastewater, including human sludge, using a physico-chemical treatment system housed in a 20-foot mobile container (MWWTD). The project enhances the system’s efficiency and promotes the use of recycled nutrients and reclaimed water for irrigation by farmers, horticulturalists, and municipalities.
As drought and production costs rise, demand for recycled resources grows. Unlike large-scale centralized systems, the mobile unit allows earlier nutrient recovery, increasing efficiency and producing irrigation water and hydro-char.
ReNuW-Hubs also explores barriers and opportunities through futures methods (e.g. Delphi, horizon scanning), cost-benefit analysis, and end-user interviews to assess attitudes, preferences, and product-market fit.
In the framework of the project, LBTU will research how recycled nutrients can be used in plant cultivation and sustainable land management, conducting experiments both in laboratories and under field conditions together with municipalities and other partners. LBTU will also assess regulatory frameworks in Latvia and other countries to identify opportunities for the safe use of nutrients and their introduction to the market. The university will organize demonstrations and discussions with local stakeholders to promote public understanding and support for such solutions.
The ReNuW-Hubs project will strengthen cooperation among universities, municipalities, and businesses, providing an opportunity to test new technologies under practical conditions and to promote sustainable water management solutions throughout Central Baltic Sea region.
The project is implemented within the framework of the Central Baltic Programme 2021–2027 - EU cross-border cooperation programme.
More about the project: https://centralbaltic.eu/project/renuw-hubs/
