CASE Göteborg

Water-safe infrastructure and construction projects

Key innovations
(i) Environmental digital monitoring for legal compliance at major construction projects; (ii) Water quality monitoring and prediction system with integrated stormwater treatment; (iii) Real-time public engagement platform on urban surface and wastewater quality, linked to science park activities (Universeum) promoting water-friendly behaviour.

Sectors
Construction industry, infrastructure projects, stormwater treatment, sewer systems, environmental assessments, wastewater treatment plants.

Special focus
SDGs: 6,11,12,14.

Environmental protection: WFD good ecological and chemical status. National environmental target “Non-toxic Environment” Legal compliance: Weser judgement, Urban wastewater treatment directive,

Market creation: water monitoring for infrastructure projects will be required for legal compliance and with the open source tools and platform developed in SCOREwater will cost a small fraction of the enormous sums spent on infrastructure projects in the EU.

Public outreach: city dwellers, local government, road administration authorities, NGOs, construction industry, schools, science park visitors.

Background: In the next 20 years, more than 100 billion Euros will be invested in construction, reconstruction, expanding and densifying the City of Göteborg as well as building infrastructure in the city region. Göteborg is a coastal city whose water resources are important for drinking water, recreation, fishing and tourism. The West Link (Västlänken), a train tunnel that will increase capacity and reduce the vulnerability of rail traffic in the region, is one of Sweden's largest infrastructure projects. Construction projects of this kind can potentially cause risks, for example, particles and pollutant transport via the stormwater and combined sewers, increased wastewater overflows, or direct surface runoff to the water bodies in the city. City of Göteborg has the responsibility for the monitoring and compliance of the Water Framework Directive of the water bodies. There are a particular concern regarding Gullbergsån and the port channels as tributaries to Göta älv which is both a drinking water reservoir and transports directly to the sea. Many citizens are concerned about the costs of the infrastructure investments and the potential environmental impact they have.

Aim
The aim is to be in agreement with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 12, 11 and 6, implement compliance with the non-deterioration principle during infrastructure development (Weser judgement) and control of wastewater overflows according to the Urban Wastewater Directive. And also, to raise public awareness of urban surface water quality, promote “water-friendly” behaviour (thus fostering a water-responsible society), and provide information about the actual effects of infrastructure projects on urban water resources.

Approach
This should be achieved by estimate stormwater pollution levels for West Link and city construction site by connecting water quality sensors to the SCOREwater platform and analysing using artificial intelligence. Direct polluted stormwater is sent to local water treatment stations employing cost-efficient “blue-green” technology, using Chitosan, for effective treatment of construction storm- and process water. Also, implement high temporal and spatial resolution water quality monitoring using sensors in recipients in the Göta älv, to connect response in recipient from pollution from construction sites. Further, measure stormwater volumes and sewer overflows with cost effective wireless sensors for mass deployment in compliance with the Wastewater directive. IVL and end user City of Göteborg will also analyse social and organizational factors that enable technological development.

Outcome
A smart water management system for environmental monitoring and legal compliance (Weser judgment, Wastewater directive) during construction projects. Map-based interface for web and applications that provide the public, businesses and local government with an inclusive, interactive information platform for water quality and stormwater quantity monitoring. Science park (Universeum) activities to raise public awareness about the waste-, surface-, and drinking water cycle and promote water friendly behaviour.

Innovation beyond the case: Provide new tools to the digital market for monitoring compliance with the WFD (water body surveillance monitoring and Weser judgment) and UWWTD (wastewater overflows). Innovation is pushed by: i) Increased resolution in stormwater monitoring, both in space (more sensors) and in time (real-time data collected to the SCOREwater platform), ii) Prediction of local pollutant levels based on other measurements using machine learning, iii) Open data, map-based and app interfaces, scalable to other urban and rural areas, providing a timely overview of status of the stormwater and wastewater systems as well as water body recipients.