All components for the SERPIC process chain had been readily developed at the different partners and delivered to partner University Castilla La Mancha (UCLM). Here they were assembled to a working prototype treatment plant. Wastewater effluent from the local wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is used as inlet water. The prototype is run to reduce remaining compounds of emerging concern (CECs) that have not been removed by the WWTP. 

In October, the irrigation of crops with the treated water has started in six test pots. Two pots are irrigated with the effluent treated by the SERPIC technology, two are irrigated by the wastewater effluent without further treatment, and two are irrigated with tap water. In one of the two test pots each are growing potatoes, in the other carrots.

Samples are taken frequently from the product water, from the soil and from the plants. They are being analysed for occurrence of the 30 target CECs that have been defined in Deliverable D1.1. The field test will continue in spring 2024 with another growth period. With these results, we will be able to assess the performance of the SERPIC technology for the degradation of CECs.