An area in Alcantarilha’s WTP will be adapted to install the PAC/MF prototype, and conditions (e.g. power supply, sheltering) and process water connections will be provided. Four types of water will be ready to feed the prototype: raw water, ozonated water, decanted water and sand filtered water.

The technical requirements of the ceramic membrane and of the PAC/MF prototype will be specified, the supplier will be selected, the prototype engineering will be co-developed between LNEC and the supplier, and the prototype will be commissioned.

A set of commercial carbons will be selected for controlling the contaminants targeted by LIFE Hymemb through PAC conventional addition and PAC/MF, to be tested in actions B3 and B4, respectively. PAC will allow adapting these systems to seasonal and regional singularities, providing solutions for a wide range of scenarios of drinking water production Europe-wide.

Conventional PAC addition (PAC/C-F-S) will be optimized at full-scale for controlling the contaminants targeted by LIFE Hymemb. This action is expected to significantly improve the current overall performance (effectiveness and cost-efficiency of EC removal) of Alcantarilha’s WTP, as well as to produce the benchmarks for PAC/MF and the data and knowledge necessary to prepare technical guidelines for the conventional PAC application in drinking water production Europe-wide.

PAC/MF hybrid process will be extensively tested under several scenarios of raw water quality, which will enable to: optimize the PAC/MF performance under different feed water qualities; demonstrate, through long-term operation, the resilience, the cost and environmental efficiency and sustainability of PAC/MF hybrid process or of the stand-alone MF for scenarios in which dissolved organics are not an issue.

Membrane processes are emerging in many EU countries but not in Portugal, therefore action B5 addresses the characterization of the stakeholders’ values, believes and attitudes to test resistances, changes, obstacles and opportunities of using PAC/MF in drinking water production in EU and in Portugal. A stakerholders’ panel will be constituted and will meet twice, before (WS1) and after (WS2) the pilot tests.

The technical, environmental and economic performance of the conventional (PAC/C-F-S) and advanced (PAC/MF) technologies will be assessed using standardized methodologies and metrics, which will allow benchmarking drinking water treatment Europe-wide in terms of water quality, resilience to raw water quality variations, including those driven by climate change, energy and chemicals efficiency and sludge production.

A cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of the PAC/MF technology will be developed incorporating, in addition to the traditional dimensions, social dimensions and stakeholders’ inputs. Such innovative “cross” CBA will bring a transdisciplinary approach to the PAC/MF technology assessment, incorporating both engineering and social sciences dimensions and other sources of knowledge and inputs from the stakeholders.

Action C3 aims at assessing the socio-economic impact of LIFE Hymemb actions on the local economy and population, and to estimate its expected impact nationwide, and will be developed in close connection with actions B5, C1 and C2. Particular attention will be given to tourism in the Algarve region as well as in other emerging tourist destinations in inner regions of Portugal with similar water quality challenges.

Communication and dissemination (C&D) of LIFE Hymemb results will address all target groups identified, to raise their awareness and knowledge on PAC/MF technology. Target groups are transversal to society and therefore diversified C&D media will be used, e.g. project website, notice boards, press releases, seminars, workshops, “open-day” events, technical guidelines, scientific papers and communications, a Layman’s report and short courses (see RESULTS AND DOWNLOADS).

Action D2 aims at connecting LIFE Hymemb project with other EU consortia (projects, technological platforms, expert groups…) to share information, with synergies to all parties involved. Contacts from ongoing projects in related areas and from all stakeholders are most welcome.

LIFE Hymemb management will be driven by project goals, and a sound monitoring of each action development in light of its timely accomplishment and quality of the produced results will be conducted. Responsibilities are well-defined in the project organisation chart and advising/consulting is ensured by the Advisory Board and the Stakeholders’ Panel. While ascertaining the need of possible corrective initiatives, such approach will ensure the suitability of the project outcomes for technology transfer and exploitation.

An After LIFE Hymemb communication plan will be developed for wide dissemination of the project results to the identified target groups. The project website will be online until December 31, 2021.