TREASURE
What will happen?
The Water Board is participating with a number of European partners in the Interreg project TREASURE. TREASURE is an acronym for Targeting the reduction of plastic outflow into the North Sea. The partners are water managers, knowledge institutes and consultancies from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France: countries situated around the North Sea. In this three-year international research project, the parties are working together to reduce the amount of macroplastics flowing into the North Sea from our waterways.
Where does the project take place?
At pumping station De Helsdeur, municipality of Den Helder
When will the project take place and how long will it take?
The project runs June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2026.
Who do we work with?
In this project, HHNK is collaborating with Noria Sustainable Innovators
Results
This research project focuses on four interrelated themes.
- Policy and management
- Prevention and behavior change
- Data collection and analysis
- The application of various techniques to collect and dispose of plastic waste from rivers and ports
Each region in the North Sea region is implementing a combination of policy and management, data collection, plastic awareness and disposal activities. This is done through so-called living labs. HHNK focuses on developing practical solutions and promoting regional cooperation in its living lab. We are conducting research at De Helsdeur pumping station into how plastic is spread through the water system and what monitoring systems and capture systems can be used to prevent plastic pollution. Dispersal involves looking at where the macroplastic comes from (origin), the route taken and its destination.
Water Quality
We are constantly researching water quality. This allows us to properly understand the ecological system in our management area and, together with partners, take better measures in places where water quality is not good. Since 2016, we have also been focusing on pollution from micro and macroplastics. With an awareness campaign, the first steps have been taken to develop innovative removal techniques for macroplastics. At the Wieringerwerf sewage treatment plant, experiments were conducted with a bubble screen to study the behavior of microplastics. Participation in TREASURE is the next step towards better water quality and with it we are investing in international knowledge exchange on the four themes.
Interreg
Interreg North Sea program is a European grant scheme for spatial and regional development. Parties from different countries work together on the projects covered by this Interreg scheme. The goal of this Interreg program is to stimulate European cooperation, counter border barriers and learn from each other.
Budget
HHNK's total project budget is approximately € 190,000. Of this, 60% is co-financing from the European Interreg North Sea Programme 2021-2027.
Want to know more?
For more information about this project, please contact us via our contact form or by calling 072 - 582 8282.