27 Jun WATER-MINING on display in Spain’s Granada
The Parque de las Ciencias science centre in the Spanish city of Granada celebrated World Environment Day on 5 June 2023 with an exhibition showcasing the results of the WATER-MINING project in tackling the ongoing water crisis in Europe.
Imagine wearing a beautiful brooch or using ceramic objects as decoration knowing that their raw materials come from the sewers running several meetings below our streets. The waste that travels through kilometers of pipes has a chance at a second life thanks to Kaumera.
This biologically derived material is extracted from the granules formed during wastewater purification.
Its versatility, including water retention and repellence, fire resistance and its ability to act as a binder in mixtures, has led to its use in various fields such as jewelry, ceramics, furniture design, the creation of new materials and compounds and even products for agriculture, forestry and horticulture.
Kaumera adds extra value to the water purification process by obtaining a marketable raw material. Another material recovered from sewer fibers is Replex, which originates from accumulated toilet paper waste.
Replex is another material recovered from sewer fibers. Photo: ECSITE
In addition to the intelligent treatment and reuse of wastewater, efficient and circular management of a floating farm in the port of Rotterdam enables the use of filtered rainwater to provide drinking water for cows. Furthermore, these cows are fed with city pruning waste or leftovers from fruits, vegetables, or bread. The research is underway to extract clean water through the purification and filtration of cow urine, utilizing solar energy.
The exhibition also showcases the process of using solar energy to obtain freshwater through seawater desalination in locations like Lampedusa (Italy) and Cyprus, providing a solution to the water scarcity problem in these regions.
The exhibition revolves around a large carpet featuring an illustration of the map of Europe. Photo: ECSITE
All these initiatives are presented in the exhibition, awaiting visitors at the Parque de las Ciencias on the terrace of the Macroscopio Building from Saturday 3 June. The exhibition is open until August 2023.
Europe as the Stage for Circular Economy Innovation
The exhibition, in a compact format, revolves around a large carpet featuring an illustration of the map of Europe, defining the exhibition space. On this carpet, a series of elements closely related to each technological innovation of the “WATER-MINING” project are displayed, representing the real-scale demonstrations taking place in different countries. It sets the stage for visitors to embark on a journey to explore these advancements in more detail. From the Netherlands to Italy and then to the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, visitors are transported from one country to another through a playful narration that humorously presents the research findings.
Listen to the audio here (Spanish)
The installation also includes an open space for reflection, where visitors can choose the most appropriate use (consumption, agriculture, nature, or tourism) for recycled clean water. Raising awareness about resource scarcity and the urgency to manage them efficiently is a fundamental aspect of the exhibition.
Raising awareness about resource scarcity and the urgency to manage them efficiently is a fundamental aspect of the exhibition. Photo: ECSITE
WATER-MINING: A Prestigious European Project on WATER
With a funding of over 19 million euros and the collaboration of 38 institutions from 12 European countries since 2020, the WATER-MINING project aims to address the current water crisis by developing technological solutions for sustainable resource management.
Coordinated by ECSITE, WATER-MINING advances the next generation of intelligent water management systems through six large-scale demonstrations, ensuring circular economy principles and a sustainable society.