BSR WATER recommendations
The BSR WATER platform, uniting 7 transnational projects, cooperated with HELCOM in providing the input into the regional policy recommendations, and with UBC Sustainable Cities Commission – in developing of the Baltic Smart Water Hub.
The BSR WATER platform (2018-2021) aims to enhance cross-sectoral cooperation in smart water management by providing a possibility for transnational experience exchange, sharing of good practices and solutions, as well as delivering comprehensive overview of the current and future regional policy. Platform brings together experts representing diverse projects that have generated through transnational cooperation replicable solutions alonog a broad variety of water-related issues (smart nutrient management and sludge handling, storm water management, domestic and industrial wastewater treatment, manure management and energy efficiency).
The outcomes and practical findings of the contributing projects (IWAMA, Manure Standards, Village Waters, BEST, Reviving Baltic Resilience, iWater, CliPLivE) support the long-term development of regional environmental policy and recommendations which will further strengthen policy-practice link in implementation of advanced water protection measures.
Regional policy recommendations on nutrient recycling
Information on the most advanced and efficient solutions for nutrient recycling in the Baltic Sea Region, collected in the platform, serve as an input for the development of the Regional Nutrient Recycling Strategy at HELCOM. The recommendations consider the whole wastewater management process with the aim to increase availability of valuable components contained by sewage water and sludge for recycling.
Regional palette of solutions to recycle nutrients and other valuable components
Recommendations on hazardous substances
Wastewater and sewage sludge often contain various hazardous substances and pathogens hampering utilization of the valuable components contained by wastewater and sludge, particularly, phosphorus. The compilation of data on micropollutants content in wastewater and sludge, done with support from the platform projects, creates a scientific background for elaboration of regional policy regarding priority micropollutants in wastewater and sludge as well as on emerging pollutants.
Policy briefs on micropollutants in wastewater and sewage sludge:
Integrated model for Water-Sludge-Energy cooperation
Platform aims to consider all necessary factors influencing successful Water-Sludge-Energy cooperation model and suggest the best ways of establishing sustainable circular economy linkages related to wastewater treatment. The work is based on cases collected via the Water Hub with support from the Hub experts. Holistic approach to utilization of various valuable components in wastewater sector increases feasibility of nutrients recycling and sustainable handling of sewage sludge. BSR WATER develops a cooperation model among main stakeholders dealing with water, wastewater, energy, sludge handling, waste utilization, biogas production.
Guidelines on integrated model for Water-Sludge-Energy cooperation
Policy recommendations for implementing sustainable urban storm water management
Platform evaluates and elaborates policy tools, based on the outcomes of the cooperating projects, in order to facilitate the regional dialogue on promotion of sustainable storm water solutions aimed at prevention of pollution of the environment and adaptation to climate change. The work results in a baseline report which will serve environmental authorities regulating storm water quality. Moreover, BSR WATER contributes to the revision of the HELCOM Recommendation 23/5 related to storm water management in order to update it based on the knowledge accumulated in the consortium and participating projects.
Regional and national recommendations for integrated storm water management (ISWM)
Management of industrial wastewaters
The Guidelines for the Management of Industrial Wastewaters document collects information and recommendations for management of industrial wastewaters Baltic Sea Region wide. The guidelines document also includes specific national key recommendations separately for Russia, Estoina, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Finland. The Guidelines were developed by the BEST project, contributing project of the BSR WATER platform.