Author(s): Blanca Aznar Soler; Jordi Grima Gomez; Xavier Torret; Vicente Medina; Javier Varela; Maria Jose Chesa; Anna Llopart-Mascaro; Jose Antonio Garcia; David Erill; Montse Batlle; Teresa Juan; Carme Bosch; Aitor Corchero

Linked Author(s): Blanca Aznar Soler, Vicente Medina, Aitor Corchero

Keywords: Bathing water quality; Sewer system management; CSO; E. coli; Enterococci

Abstract: The LIFE iBATHWATER is a real-scale demonstration project of a new integrated management system for the urban drainage system focused on bathing water quality. Its application is expected to reduce combined sewer overflow (CSO), reduce pollution and environmental impact in the receiving water bodies and minimise the sanitary risks of bathing areas during and after episodes of intense rainfall. Several technological assets are installed and validated in Barcelona (coastal waters) and Berlin (river water), where the pilot tests are being carried out. To accomplish these challenges, the solution comprises the development of an open platform capable of combining operational online information to forecast bathing water quality. Also, in the field, an innovative online microbial analysis to monitor bathing water quality indicators during rain events is tested. In Barcelona, sewer management strategies has been focused on reduce the CSO and also two numerical models running in real time have been implemented to estimate the evolution on bacteria (E.coli and Enterococci) during and after short-term pollution episodes at bathing waters. The first model computes the combined sewer overflow (CSO) volume spilled from the sewer system to the beaches, and the second one simulates the maritime conditions and the bacterial decay into the sea. Model results are compared with the real measurements, bacteria concentration, to calibrate and validate the system.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3850/IAHR-39WC2521711920221658

Year: 2022