MATCARB Programme

Coordinators :

Rémi CLEMENT/ Pauline LOUIS

Active period :

2021-2024

Financing :

Ministère de la Transition Ecologique

Partners :

RAE, Pierre et Terre, LEHNA, Université de Rennes

Summary

In partnership with the Ministry of Ecological Transition, the REVERSAAL research unit is responsible for coordinating a study focused on preserving soil infiltration capacity, applicable to surfaces subject to infiltrated treated wastewater. The primary operational objective of this project consists of evaluating the evolution in infiltration capacity of this wastewater into the soil through use of an intermediate organic support or enhancement, namely wood chips. Introducing wood chips would yield, among other things, localized improvements to the ecosystem that positively impact the soil’s capacity to accommodate treated wastewater infiltration, by minimizing clogging effects over time. The primary scientific objective will thus be to understand the interactions taking place between the soil, the organic enhancement (wood chips) and the macrofauna, along with the resulting effects on changes to both the soil infiltration capacity and purification capacity.

Research in this area is being carried out at 2 study scales: in the field, with measurement campaigns aimed at evaluating the existing wood chip filters in individual installations and then determining their viability to handle wastewater infiltration; and in the laboratory, in launching pilot facilities under controlled conditions fed with treated wastewater in order to fully understand the biogeochemical mechanisms acting upon infiltration, as well as the potential for treatment refinement using wood chip filters.