Sustainable Solutions
31 October 2019
The filtering of pharmaceutical derivatives from water is a problem for almost the entire world. That was part of the reason for the international interest elicited at the Budapest Water Summit by the results of a National Competitiveness and Excellence Programme (NVKP) project led by the Geographical Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Science’s Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, which cover the complete set of associated problems.
While there are some promising experiments in Hungary, too, no widely applicable, environment friendly, easily adaptable and cost-efficient solutions have been found yet. That was part of the reason for the tremendous international interest in the presentation of the results of the experiments and product development work conducted in an NVKP project led by the Geographical Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Science’s Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences at the Water Industry Expo of the Budapest Water Summit – the developments designated by the umbrella brand CLEAREADY cover the entire set of problems.
The Department of Aquaculture at Szent István University has developed a fast test based on a transgenic zebrafish species that can detect compounds with oestrogen effects in waters quickly. The filter material development conducted jointly by the Geographical Institute and Aquaprofit Zrt. aims
UTB Envirotec Zrt. uses wastewater sludge to make a nutrient solution that reduces the concentration of pharmaceutical residues significantly. If all goes well, these products, still under development, will reach the market within two years.
At the Expo, held as a part of the year’s most important diplomatic event, along with the researchers of Pannon University and the National University of Public Service, the innovations and their market possibilities also garnered interest from the National Agricultural Research and Innovation Centre, the body that coordinates irrigation, and a number of companies open to new wastewater treatment technologies that are active in our country (e.g. Organica, Biopolus).
The results also attracted numerous notable foreign visitors. The Hungarian stand was visited by the delegation of WaterLex, the internationally recognised Swiss organisation that works on establishing the legal conditions required for access to clean and safe drinking water, a representative of the Estonian Ministry of the Environment, and also the market development delegate of the Hungarian Embassy of the United States of America.
Among developing countries, the representatives of the Royal Scientific Society of Jordan and the Government of India’s Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation were primarily interested in the possibilities and risks of using treated wastewater for irrigation, while for instance companies from Pakistan and Ghana sought information about possible ways of producing drinking water free of pharmaceutical derivatives. In addition, a number of notable Western European research institutes and specialist companies indicated their interest in submitting joint applications to obtain financing from EU funds.
Coca-Cola has presented its first bottle made by recycling marine waste. At its test facility, it has so far produced 300 bottles that contain 25% plastic waste fished out the Mediterranean Sea.
Interview with Mr. Xavier Leflaive, Principal Administrator, Environment Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Interview with Professor Aaron Wolf, Director of the Program in Water Conflict Management, Oregon State University (USA).
A great many people were interested in the Budapest Water Summit – the importance of the event is attested by the fact that over 2,300 people from 118 countries had applied to attend the event, and along with the over 30 ministerial delegations, leaders of international organisations and multilateral financing institutions, as well as water industry experts have also attended.
The Institute for Sustainable Development have summarized the third day of the Budapest Water Summit 2019 as part of the so-called BWS Bulletin.
Young people wish to live in a clean environment, that natural need is the message of the drawings, photos and posters they submitted to the competition, said President János Áder to journalists after the awards ceremony of the SDG for Kids competition at the Budapest Water Summit.
The Institute for Sustainable Development have summarized the second day of the Budapest Water Summit 2019 as part of the BWS Bulletin
The Institute for Sustainable Development have summarized the first day of the Budapest Water Summit 2019 as part of the so-called BWS Bulletin.
Watch the video recording of the opening ceremony.
