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StopUP

Protecting the aquatic environment from urban runoff pollution.

Major progress has been achieved in protecting European freshwaters through advances in and consequent implementation of wastewater treatment. However, urban pollution still poses a threat to the quality of the receiving water bodies. Stormwater overflows from combined systems and surface water runoff cause considerable pollution of the aquatic environment. The pressure on the receiving waters environment from these emissions is expected to get worse through the impacts of climate change.
In StopUP, 11 partners from seven European countries and Tunisia develop approaches and options to halt pollution from urban run-off. This includes modelling of pollution flows through catchments as well as technical interventions such as overflow treatment or sustainable urban drainage systems.
The Swiss case study implemented by FHNW School of Life Sciences aims at quantifying for the first time the pollution load related to combined sewer overflow spills. Modelling shall help identifying the benefits of an integrated management of the sewer-wastewater treatment system (and its optimisation). Eventually, we aspire for recommendations of how to maximise the use of the treatment capacity of already existing wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure - even during storm events – for minimising the pollution discharge.
The work is performed in close collaboration with the AIB, responsible for the wastewater services in the canton Basel-Landschaft.


Key Figures

      Project duration:2022 - 2025
      Funding agency:

      EU / Horizon Europe, Project 101060428, SBFI Nr. 22.00128

      Website:www.stopup.eu
      Dissemination:Horizon, The EU Research & Innovation Magazine, 9 October 2023

      Institute for Ecopreneurship

      FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland School of Life Sciences, Institute for Ecopreneurship Hofackerstrasse 30 CH - 4132 Muttenz
      More information about the location