Wastewater

Head Engineer

Researcher Scientist, PhD

Research Scientist

A comprehensive Norwegian study has investigated the environmental effects of pharmaceutical discharges via wastewater from hospitals. Some drugs may pose a hazard to the environment, while for several drugs we lack knowledge about the effects on aquatic life.

A vast number of new wastewater treatment plants in developing countries has led to an imbalance between phosphorous and nitrogen in surface waters. The result could be excessive growth of potentially poisonous algae with a preference for nitrogen. A new study calls for better nutrient reduction in order to maintain ecosystem biodiversity.

ALGECO (Cost-effective algae technology to promote circular economy development of Norwegian wastewater treatment plants) provides a scientific blueprint for a new paradigm of bioeconomy for Norwegian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). We aim to transform municipal treated wastewater from waste into algae-based products by developing and implementing innovative, cost-effective and viable algae technologies.

There is a need for more accessible and comprehensive knowledge on industrial symbiosis. Through bilateral cooperation between Romanian and Norwegian actors, the CATALYST project will provide relevant and reliable information on symbiotic opportunities, case studies, and best practices for facilitators, companies and industrial symbiosis stakeholders identified through the project.

In the CORNELIA project, NIVA together with its two industrial partners tests and verifies innovative technical solutions for targeted removal of antimicrobial resistance from wastewater at hospitals (at the source) and at wastewater treatment plants (before discharge to the environment).

The goal of the DUWA project is to treat wastewater discharges from hospitals to minimize the spreading of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to the environment and to reduce the emission of micropollutants. NIVA assists the start-up company Sustaintech AS in the development and verification of ozonation to remove antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) in wastewater decentrally at a Norwegian hospital.

We need to improve our understanding of the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in surface waters, particularly downstream of urban waste water treatment plants. However, at present there is no European overview of the presence of AMR in surface waters. This project will develop a basic approach and methodology for a European scale AMR monitoring of surface waters.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest health challenges of our time with serious economic consequences for society globally. The goal of HOTMTAS is to design, implement and assess modular advanced solutions for effective and decentralized wastewater treatment at selected point sources of AMR emergence, such as hospitals and nursing homes.

LOCALITY will develop new solutions to use nutrient-rich industrial wastewaters and Baltic and North Seas water to cultivate algae using infrastructures available locally and transform them into innovative products (aquafeed supplements, biostimulants/fertilizers, protein alternatives, nutraceuticals, textile additives).

PAIRWISE aims to advance knowledge of antimicrobial resistance as a pollution in aquatic environments, wildlife, and livestock. PAIRWISE focuses on dispersal and dynamics of antibiotic resistant bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes and antibiotics in aquatic environments affected by wastewater treatment plants.

SIREN (Integrated system for simultaneous recovery of energy, organics and nutrients and generation of valuable products from municipal wastewater) will develop a system that recovers energy, organics and nutrients from municipal wastewater while simultaneously generating valuable products.

The purpose of the river monitoring program is to calculate inputs of nutrients and pollutants to Norwegian marine areas through monitoring of rivers and modeling of inputs from areas without monitoring.

The WatRes project investigates the occurrence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic-resistance genes from the Hias wastewater treatment plant to Lake Mjøsa, a main source of drinking water and irrigation.

The section conducts research on topics that contribute to sustainable development of cities and towns, and infrastructure. We study the problems, processes and solutions for handling drinking water, wastewater, and storm water in urban areas, in a changing climate.