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The ceramics used in this project create a new disruptive solution for gathering and reusing runoff, helping to save water and providing good drainage in any situation

Nº4. October 2018

We have an intimate knowledge of the LifeCersuds project, from its earliest stages


Here we speak with Gabriel Arribas, agent of CHM Works and Infrastructure, the company that is carrying out the project.



LC How did you become involved in this project? Is this the first time CHM has participated in a project of this type and scale, or have you already carried projects similar to LIFE?
GA. It all started with a call from Javier Mira, ITC-AICE habitat coordinator to our R&+D manager at that time, Antonio José Pérez. Javier briefly outlined the project to him, and after a period of consideration and an inhouse study, we decided to come onboard.

CHM has spent many years researching investment opportunities with funders such as CDTI and MINECO, but this has been our first LIFE project. We are currently also working on a LIFE HEARTLAND project that aims to develop a new type of road surfacing material to reduce the impact of the so-called heat island effect in cities.
LC. You were very respectful towards the general public in conducting this project. How has your relationship with the public evolved? Did the project encounter negativity, curiosity or acceptance?
GA. While we were carrying out the work I would say the word that would best define public perception of it would be EXPECTATION – the idea of a paving material capable of draining water into an underground tank is striking enough to get people asking questions.

This was no surprise since we had put up posters describing the work being carried out in the area as well as the characteristics of the paving material and drainage systems. Once the work was complete we didn’t receive any feedback about it at all. Based on my experience, that is best sign of the public being happy with the end result

LC. What kind of technical problems did you encounter during the course of the work?

GA. The main issue with the cobblestones was that the nature of the ceramic material meant they had to be cut very carefully to prevent the layers from separating, especially in the case of oblique cuts.

Workmen had to work very carefully with this material in order to avoid dropping the cobblestones during handling, as they are very fragile.

As in any urban development project, many unexpected issues arose, particularly with regard to service connections. Very few projects have plans showing all the different existing service networks, and this inevitably leads to subsequent additional costs in terms of breakages, poor performance, etc.
LC. Life Cersuds is a project designed to combat the effects of climate change. Do you think the construction industry in general should be focusing more on that goal? Do you think we still have a long way to go in this area? Do you think these issues are being taken into account? 
GA. Yes, we should focus more on these goals and try to implement the SUDS concept in all kinds of construction, from parks to housing developments. In answer to your question, yes, we still have a huge way to go. This area is vast and with many unknowns, but it has been seeping into the consciousness of industry professionals, construction companies and society at large over recent years. It is becoming more normal to hear people talking about draining road surfaces, green roofs, etc.

This can also be seen in the increasing number of requests from public authorities for these concepts to be taken into consideration in their projects.
LC Do you think that public authorities are sufficiently committed in this area? 
GA. I think they are, but we still have a long road ahead of us. Firm steps are being taken, and the best proof of this is in the legislation being passed in this area, which must be followed.

However, it is another question as to whether or not the funding is available to enable widespread implementation of models like ours
LC What would be your ideal project?
That’s easy to answer, although difficult in practice. As well as a project having a firm foundation in all aspects (technical, aesthetic, financial, etc.) the main players – construction company, works manager and developer – must form a good team without any clashes of ego, be well coordinated and be sufficiently openminded to be able to resolve any unforeseen situations that may arise during the course of the work. Unfortunately, after 25 years in this field, I can count the number of projects like this on one hand.  

 

Conclusion of the project to demonstrate the Life Cersuds urban drainage system
The project will make it possible to see how the system operates a real scale
 
In a stretch of Torre Sant Vicent 0street in Benicàssim, which is one of the main arteries through the city, the pavement, bike lane and pedestrian zone have been replaced by a permeable surface placed over the SUDS. This has been done by placing a new permeable cobble pavement, made from low-value ceramic tiles, over a sustainable urban drainage system. The goal is to filter the water coming from rain or runoff from other areas of the city through the permeable pavement to the SUDS, made up of polyethylene geotextiles. This system filters pollutants from this water, getting rid of up to 70% of the hydrocarbons, more than 50% of phosphorus, more than 65% of nitrogen and more than 60% of heavy metals that would otherwise end up in aquifers or underground reservoirs supplying irrigation networks. It will also mean an end to annoying puddles and to some extent even flooding. CHM, the company carrying out the demonstration project and the installing the system to test its performance, this project is based on the 3R rule: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
We would like to highlight the large number of people who have used this system, including pedestrians, vehicles and bikes that travelled over this pavement in July and August. Two very large international music festivals, FIB and Rototom Sunsplash, were also held over these two months with a total of 208,000 people coming to the city, all of them potential users of the system.

More information at http://www.lifecersuds.eu/

 
LifeCersuds News

Example of employment and growth

The aim of the European Commission’s #investEU campaign is to increase public awareness about how EU investment is boosting growth and employment. On this occasion, the LifeCersuds project was chosen as an example of innovative EU investment.
More information:  www.lifecersuds.eu
 
We were at…

Cersaie 2018

We took part in this international construction fair held in Bologna from 24 to 28 September. Represented by our project partner CCB (Ceramic Centre Bologna). We had a stand where we used animations and other materials to present our project to the 111,000 visitors who attended this event. Our project aroused a lot of interest and questions about its results.

More information: www.lifecersuds.eu

”Jaume Blanco” award for innovation

The AEIPRO (Spanish Project Management and Engineering Association) presented this award to the poster format entitled "Design of Sustainable Drainage Systems taking account of irrigation strategies" during the XXII International Congress on Project Management and Engineering (CIDIP).

More information:  www.lifecersuds.eu
 

SAIE 2018

From October 17 to 20 we were at the International Construction Fair in Bologna, where our CCB project partner gave an oral presentation about the Life Cersuds project.
 
We had a stand where we had the opportunity to collaborate with other research entities such as the Italian Construction Cluster.


More information: www.lifecersuds.eu
SUDS expert forum

We will bring together a hundred SUDs experts
 
On 15 June this year, the city of Benicássim (Castellón) welcomed some of the most prestigious experts on Sustainable Drainage Systems. It was attended by the mayor of the city and some other top experts such as Javier Mira (lead researcher of the LifeCerdsu project), Ignacio Andrés, researcher at the UPV (Polytechnic University of Valencia) and architect Enrique Fernández-Vivancos, who designed the demonstration project along with Eduardo de Miguel. They joined Sara Perales, Green Blue Management manager, to talk in greater depth about the features of this demonstration project.
 
Copyright © 2018 Instituto de Tecnología Cerámica
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