Global Environmentally Friendly Water Management: Water-Saving Mitigation of Legionella & Scale Care (GOODWATER)
Partners:
- University Hospital of Tuebingen (Germany)
- MECAMIDI SA (France)
- Elgressy Engineering Services (Israel)
- Aquastel Balti (Estonia)
- Technion, Israel Institute of Technology (Israel)
- University of Trento (Italy)
- Foundation for Research and Technology, Hellas (Greece)
The Project:
The proposed project aims to resolve a most acute human – scientific, social and practical problem: that of non-chemical water treatment and bacteria (especially legionella) eradication. It offers an entirely novel scientific methodology that makes use of the combination of electrolysis and flow of the water in the electrolysis cell. While each of the components of methodology is known, there is no science or theoretical framework that would enable rational and extensive use of the system. The project sets to formulate this needed science and theory.
The toll of untreated water is heavy, both in economic terms and health terms. Legionella itself is a major contributor to some of the more deadly and dangerous diseases and has been marked by the EU as a prime target for concerted effort to eradicate. The proposed project will attempt to create the science that would enable the development of non-chemical technologies to eradicate Legionella. The technologies ensuing from the science produced by the project will also serve in the European battle against water pollution and will set a standard for bacteria-free, un-scaled, non-corrosive water.
Variety of disciplines have been mobilised to carry out the proposed research. These include Chemical engineering, water chemistry, electric engineering, microbiology and medicine, technology production and social sciences. This amalgamation accentuates the novelty and innovation of the project.
The proposed project is highly innovative and therefore carries some risk. However, field test show that the technique proposed is working in most cases. Therefore, even if scientifically risky, the project will still allow the developing of the proposed technique for the benefit of society in general and SMEs in particular. The proposed technique will make water treatment cheaper and safer then the current one. It will give small companies the edge they need to be competitive in this market, which currently is dominated by giant companies.