Croatian Geological Survey

Croatian Geological Survey

Croatian Geological Survey

Croatian Geological Survey

Croatian Geological Survey

Croatian Geological Survey

Croatian Geological Survey

DEPARTMENT OF HYDROGEOLOGY AND ENGINEERING GEOLOGY

EU Funds Projects

MicroDrink – Capacity building for management and governance of MICROplastics in DRINKing water resources of Danube Region

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The MicroDrink project, approved in the first call of the Interreg Danube Programme 2021-2027 and co-financed by the EU for the total amount of 2.351.480,00 €, commenced in January 2024. Lead by the Department of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology of the Croatian Geological Survey, the project will be implemented throughout two and a half years, during which time 11 project and 19 associated strategic partners from 9 countries (Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czechia, Croatia, Hungary, Germany, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro) will closely cooperate.

The project focuses on the ever-present and growing problem of microplastics in drinking water resources. In Europe, hundreds of thousands of tonnes of microplastics are released into the environment every year. The occurrence of microplastics has been determined in all tributaries of the Danube river, including the river itself. Exposure to microplastics may consequently result in (eco)toxic impairments in living organisms, and the lack of a harmonised approach to sampling, analysis and regulation of microplastics in drinking water resources represents one of the most crucial challenges for Danube region countries. International cooperation is essential, considering microplastics pollution is transboundary. MicroDrink will facilitate transboundary cooperation by strengthening policy and decision makers' knowledge and ensuring their collaboration with water facilities and the scientific community.

Microplastics research will be conducted on 9 pilot area sites in 8 countries. The croatian pilot site is located in Gorski kotar where, in collaboration with Iševnica water facility, the quantity of microplastics particles in the water of Kupica spring, used to supply drinking water to nearly the entire region, will be determined. Furthermore, in order to enhance and spread knowledge on microplastics, MicroDrink will create an online database containing a comprehensive overview of sampling methods, laboratory equipment and analytical techniques. The project will also serve as a foundation for future activities of microplastics monitoring as well as contribute to the successful implementation of EU Drinking Water Directive at all levels.

 

 

Project leader: dr. sc. Jasmina Lukač Reberski

Croatian Geological Survey

Jasmina Lukač Reberski

Ivana Boljat

Ana Selak

Mirna Švec

Josip Terzić

Institute of Public Health Zadar (Croatia)

University of Ljubljana (Univerza v Ljubljani, Slovenia)

Public company Kovod Postojna, water supply, sewerage, a limited liability company, Postojna (Javno podjetje Kovod Postojna, vodovod, kanalizacija, d.o.o., Postojna, Slovenia)

Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany)

Environmental Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH, Austria)

    T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute (Výzkumný ústav vodohospodářský T. G. Masaryka, v.v.i., Czech)

      Eurofins Analytical Services Hungary Kft (Hungary)

      University of Belgrade, Faculty of Mining and Geology (Univerzitet u Beogradu, Rudarsko-geološki fakultet, Serbia)

      Institute for Public Health of the Federation Bosnia and Herzegovina (Zavod za javno zdravstvo Federacije BiH, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

      Public Utility Service Company „Drugi oktobar“ Vršac (Javno komunalno preduzeće „Drugi oktobar“ Vršac, Serbia)

      Project duration: 1/2024-6/2026

       

      Project Category: EU Interreg projekt

       

       

      Financing amount: 2.351.480,00 €

      Projekt je u sklopu Programa transnacionalne suradnje dunavske regije 2021.-2027. sufinanciran sredstvima Interreg fonda.


      Status: Active

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