LIFE AMIA

An innovative demonstration European project that aims to reuse wastewater for agricultural practices and aquifer recharge.

This project will protect the aquatic environment against the pollution associated with pathogens and micropollutants that are not removed in conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and will implement a technology with low energetic demands.

LIFE AMIA will develop an innovative and sustainable WWTP concept combining compact anaerobic-aerobic treatment, a microalgae bioreactor and advanced adsorption-oxidation process (AOP). The novel WWTP layout will allow nutrient recovery through microalgae cultivation and will reduce the net energy consumption, mitigating the greenhouse gas emissions.

PROJECT

LIFE18 ENV/ES/000170

INNOVATIVE COMBINATION OF WWT TECHNOLOGIES FOR WATER REUSE: ANAEROBIC-AEROBIC, MICROALGAE AND AOP PROCESSES.

LIFE AMIA Project is a demonstration project for Research, Development and innovation included in the LIFE Programme 2018.

Document downloads:
Poster LifeAmia
Diptych LifeAmia
Layman's report LifeAmia
Infographic LifeAmia

DURATION

SEP 2019 - DIC 2022

BUDGET

1.945.914€

The main goal of LIFE AMIA Project is to protect the aquatic environment against the pollution caused by the presence of pathogenic microorganisms and micropollutants that are not removed in conventional wastewater Treatment plants (WWTP). The project will implement an innovative technology combining the following processes.

COMPACT ANAEROBIC-AEROBIC TREATMENT WITH BIOGAS PRODUCTION

ADVANCED ADSORPTION-ELECTROOXIDATION TERTIARY TREATMENT SUPPLIED WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY

MICROALGAE-BASED TREATMENT FOR NUTRIENT RECOVERY

POLICY IMPLICATION

The LIFE AMIA Project will promote the consecution of different European objectives framed on the following policies:

DIRECTIVE 2000/60/EC

Water framework, for regulation and protection of the European water bodies status.

DIRECTIVE 91/271/ECC

Urban Wastewater regulation to improve the competitivity of wastewater treatment facilities.

DIRECTIVE 86/278/EEC

To manage sludge production in urban wastewater treatment plants.

DIRECTIVE 1999/31/EC

To regulate the reduction of waste management.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of LIFE AMIA Project are in line with the different actions and strategies promoted by the European Union to increase energy efficiency and towards sustainable development in rural areas.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

The innovative system of the LIFE AMIA Project will improve the net energy demand of WWTP through the production of bioenergy (biogas) and the supply with renewable energy, thus contributing to the reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions.

The demonstration plant of 12 m3/d capacity will be located in Alhama de Murcia (Spain). The technology implemented will treat the municipal wastewater in a sustainable energetic system. The sewage sludge production will be reduced through the application of an anaerobic treatment, also contributing to decreasing the cost of managing this waste. Another characteristic of the system implemented in LIFE AMIA will be the reduction of the carbon footprint with the consequent minimization of the greenhouse gases emissions. Furthermore, the recovery of resources such as nutrients and biomass will be promoted through the production of microalgae biomass and sewage sludge that could be used as biofertilizers.

This technology is of great interest for small and medium municipalities located in warm climate areas with water scarcity in which the reuse of treated water is necessary and a priority. For this reason, the LIFE AMIA Project will apply advance techniques for pathogenic microorganisms detection and monitoring, following the recommendations of the new European Regulation that establishes the minimum requirements for water reuse and guarantee the safe use of this resource.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
  • To reuse wastewater in agricultural according to the new European Water Reuse Directive.
  • To provide an energy self-sufficient system to treat municipal wastewater.
  • To reduce the environmental impact of the produced sludge, educing sludge production and minimizing the management costs.
  • To reduce the carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions.
  • To remove micropollutants and pathogens from the wastewater.
  • To recover nutrients (algae) to be used as biofertilizer.
  • To introduce metagenomic techniques for the quantification of microorganisms.

PARTNERS

LIFE AMIA project is carried out by the consortium integrated by six partners from Spain, United Kingdom and Cyprus, of the scientific, public and private sectors.

facsa
esamur
eurofins iproma
CSIC
arviatechnology
atlantis-consulting

ACTIONS

LIFE AMIA Project includes shares divided execution in five sections.

  • A. Preparatory actions
    A1 Requirements and specifications.
  • B. Acciones de implementación
    B1 Design and development of the combined anaerobic-aerobic compact (A2C) process.
    B2 Design and integration of the raceway microalgae process in the system.
    B3 Design and integration of advanced oxidation process in the system.
    B4 Technical validation and demonstration of the integral system.
    B5 Replication, transferability and business plan.
  • C. Monitoring of the impact of the project actions
    C1 Monitoring the environmental impact and LCA.
    C2 Monitoring the socio-economic impact.
  • D. Public awareness and dissemination of results
    D1 Dissemination planning and execution.
  • E. Project management
    E1 Overall project management.

NEWS

The LIFE AIMIA conference brings together more than a hundred professionals interested in advanced wastewater treatment.


The conference 'Advanced wastewater treatment for water reuse in agriculture', organized by the LIFE AIMIA project partners, brought together more than a hundred people to discuss the keys to this innovative project.

LIFE AMIA presented during IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition


LIFE AMIA latest results were disseminated in Copenhagen during this worldwide event for shaping the water future.

LIFEAMIA Conference - LIFEis30. (ADVANCED WASTEWATER TREATMENT FOR WATER REUSE IN AGRICULTURE)


LIFEAMIA Conference - LIFEis30. (ADVANCED WASTEWATER TREATMENT FOR WATER REUSE IN AGRICULTURE)

The experimental sludge treatment plant of the San Javier treatment plant receives an award for its contribution to the circular economy


It has been chosen by the European network INtercamBIOM as the best innovative practice with biomass in 2022.
The LIFE DRY4GAS project proposes a sustainable solution to waste management by converting 60 percent into synthesis gas and allocating the remaining 40 percent to improving the quality of the soil for crops.

The European project LIFE AMIA advances in its objective of promoting the reuse of treated water.


The initiative, integrated into the European LIFE program, will allow the reuse of water and the recovery of nutrients for agricultural use through a technology with low energy consumption and low greenhouse gas emissions. The project, led by FACSA, is made up of six partners from three countries: ESAMUR, CEBAS-CSIC, Eurofins Iproma, the British Arvia Technology and Atlantis Consulting Cyprus.

FACSA and ESAMUR members visit LIFE AMIA plant in Alhama de Murcia to prepare A2C start-up.


Alhama de Murcia, 26th October 2020. The first stage of the LIFE AMIA plant consists of an anaerobic-aerobic process which will be carried out in the A2C system. The reactor has been installed during the last week of October, in collaboration with the Norway company BIOWATER with telematic assistance due to the Covid-19 situation. During the visit, a full-day training has been carried out about A2C system operation.

Arrival of LIFE AMIA first stage to Alhama de Murcia: pilot plant construction is on-going.


Alhama de Murcia, 23rd October 2020. FACSA is working on the installation of the first stage of the LIFE AMIA plant. The anaerobic-aerobic reactor has arrived this week and is ready for final assembly.

LIFE AMIA first monitoring team has taken place this week


Members of FACSA, ESAMUR, EUROFINS IPROMA, CEBAS-CSIC, ARVIA and ATLANTIS have met online to review the main progress of the project. Mariona Salvatella, member of NEEMO Life Team and responsible of LIFE AMIA Monitoring Team has attended the meeting. Due to COVID-19 the meeting has not been celebrated in Alhama de Murcia WWTP facilities (Murcia, Spain) in which the project is being developed.

LIFE AMIA participates in the webinar "From wastewater treatment to resource recovery: LIFE AMIA and other examples of innovation in water" and is presented in aguasresiduales.info


FACSA presents the European project LIFE AMIA on the Spanish-speaking blog Aguasresiduales.info. 362 participants attended the event from more than 283 public and private entities.

LIFE AMIA partners investigate a new treatment to promote the reuse of purified water and reduce energy consumption.


The project, will reduce greenhouse emissions and, in addition, will recover nutrients for agricultural use.

The initiative is part of the European LIFE program, is led by FACSA and is made up of six partners from three countries: ESAMUR, CEBAS-CSIC, IPROMA, the British Arvia Technology and Atlantis Consulting Cyprus.

CONTACT

Sociedad Fomento Agrícola Castellonense.
FACSA
Av. Del Mar 53
12003 Castellón - ESPAÑA

T. +34 964 255 063
info@lifeamia.com

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Disclaimer: Any communication related to the LIFE AMIA project exclusively reflects the author's point of view. The Executive Agency for Small Medium-size Enterprises (EASME) is not responsible for the use that may be made of the information contained herein