The iMERMAID project has reached a key milestone with the successful transport and installation of its Pulsed Discharge Plasma (PDP) system at the San Esteban de Litera Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), part of Use Case 1 in Spain. The installation, completed by IRIS, marks an important step toward full-scale testing of iMERMAID’s innovative solution for the removal of contaminants from agricultural wastewater.
Although some final adjustments are still required before continuous operation begins, this milestone demonstrates tangible progress in iMERMAID’s mission to address one of Europe’s most persistent water challenges — agricultural pollution caused by pesticides and other chemical contaminants.
The San Esteban de Litera demonstration site serves a population equivalent of 1,042 and aims to validate a chemical-free treatment process that uses Pulsed Discharge Plasma to degrade pollutants directly at the source, reducing both energy use and secondary contamination.
The system is complemented by an electrochemical sensor framework that enables real-time monitoring of organic pollutants in wastewater.
This pilot will contribute valuable data and insights to support the development of next-generation wastewater treatment technologies across Europe, helping to safeguard ecosystems and advance the EU’s Water Framework Directive objectives.
