On May 15 the final project seminar was held summarizing the main project results
TRUST ALUM project offers reliable solution for reducing phosphorus in lakes
On May 15 the final webinar of the TRUST ALUM project took place, which was attended by almost 50 participants – experts from various fields, representatives of local governments and policy makers across the Baltic Sea region. The seminar was organized by Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology (LHEI) as the project lead partner. The event summarized the main results of the project, especially highlighting the experience of the first application of ALUM method in the Baltics – in Velnezers, Riga.
ALUM treatment pioneers in the Baltics
Over the past two years, the TRUST ALUM project team led by LHEI has implemented an ambitious project – to introduce and evaluate ALUM treatment as a scientifically sound, safe and effective method for reducing the impact of phosphorus in heavily eutrophicated lakes.
The project culminated in the first large-scale application of ALUM in Velnezers lake, Riga. In parallel, a comprehensive set of informative and methodological materials was developed, which will serve as support for the repeated application of this method in other Baltic countries.
The TRUST ALUM toolbox (ej.uz/TRUSTALUMToolbox) and collaboration platform materials (ej.uz/TRUSTALUMHUB) were also presented, offering an in-depth insight into the methodology, results, and practical guidelines for replicating the method.
Webinar highlights
- Experts at the workshop shared the latest results on the use of polyaluminium chloride (PAC) for phosphorus binding. The treatment planning process, monitoring and data collection methods for PAC modeling, as well as effective public awareness strategies were explained in detail.
- Visitors were able to take a virtual tour, which showcased the latest tools, field methods and laboratory techniques. These are used both during treatment and for monitoring before and after the treatment. Highlights included a demonstration of the specialized treatment boat that was built, and a presentation of the modeling approach used to calculate the required PAC dosage.
- Participants were invited to explore the TRUST ALUM toolkit and collaboration platform materials to gain an in-depth understanding of the methodology, results, and basic conditions for replicating the method.
Regional experience and next steps
Mārcis Zariņš (Riga Municipality, Latvia), Vaiva Ramanauskienė (Environmental Centre for Administration and Technology, Lithuania) and Andreas Hoy (SEI Tallinn, Estonia) shared the experiences of target groups, showing how cross-border cooperation and trust-building have been essential to generate interest and promote the potential for wider application of ALUM lake treatments.
During SLIDO interactive session, most participants expressed a positive attitude and confidence in the ALUM method as an effective solution for treating phosphorus-rich lakes.
Elsi Kauppinen, Coordinator of the EU SBSR Policy Area “PA Nutri”, welcomed the information presented, particularly highlighting the interest regarding the treatment boat used for monitoring of Lake Velnezers and the new modeling tools, which provide an opportunity to more accurately predict the effectiveness of ALUM method and implement treatment in an environmentally safe manner.
Why is ALUM important for the Baltic Sea region?
The TRUST ALUM project addresses one of the most pressing water management problems in the Baltic Sea region – eutrophication, caused by excessive algal blooms, which harm both the ecosystem and human health. The consequences of accumulated phosphorus in many lakes in the region, including in Latvia, are still being felt today, mainly due to inadequate management that took place in the past.
Our proposed solution ALUM method – the addition of a phosphorus-binding mineral (polyaluminium chloride – PAC) – helps bind phosphorus in lake sediments. This treatment is cost-effective and can provide long-term benefits. While the method has been successfully implemented in Sweden for over 60 years, its use in the Baltic States has so far been hampered by a lack of knowledge, skepticism about the high costs and effectiveness, as well as concerns about safety.
The TRUST ALUM project aimed to increase trust in the ALUM method by demonstrating its effectiveness in lake Velnezers as a pilot study. The developed tools, expert network and implemented communication activities helped to overcome the above-mentioned obstacles to improve water quality throughout the region.
The webinar provided a unique opportunity to learn about the results of TRUST ALUM project – a revolutionary initiative that implemented and tested the first lake treatment using the ALUM method in the Baltic States in lake Velnezers, Riga.
The large seminar attendance and engaging discussions demonstrated genuine interest in implementing the ALUM method on a larger scale and a desire to find solutions to the identified obstacles, including by initiating changes in regulations.
Seminar recording can be found here: https://ej.uz/5jr1
