Optimization of dosage of iron salts in sanitation: improvement of efficiency, dynamics of micropollutants and epidemiological implications in wastewater

The IRONSEWER project aims to optimize the use of iron salts in urban sewer systems to improve their efficiency and sustainability. These compounds are commonly used to reduce odour, corrosion, and greenhouse gas emissions, but their optimal use and potential side effects are still not fully understood.

The project combines advanced digital technologies with experimental research to develop more precise real-time dosing and control strategies. This approach seeks to lower operational costs and enhance system management while ensuring compliance with environmental objectives. In parallel, IRONSEWER explores the use of iron-rich by-products from other water treatment processes as a more sustainable alternative to commercial salts, thus contributing to resource circularity within the urban water cycle.

Furthermore, the project examines how ferric dosing may influence the behavior of microcontaminants and the reliability of biomarkers used in wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE)—an emerging field with strong potential for environmental and public health monitoring.

Overall, IRONSEWER presents an integrated and multidisciplinary vision that combines environmental engineering, chemistry, and data science to promote more efficient and sustainable urban sanitation systems, aligned with European strategies for ecological and digital transition.

Funding agency:

Project PID2023-150103OB-I00 (IRON-SEWER) – Funded by MCIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 / and FEDER, UE.