With the collaboration of TRARGISA and the academic environment integrated by ICRA and the University of Girona, the Girona City Council has promoted an industrial doctoral project that implements a health surveillance network based on wastewater analysis. Within the framework of the EXPOWASTE pilot study, samples will be collected from collectors in different neighborhoods of the city, which allows for more detailed data to be obtained than traditional sampling at the treatment plant. This methodology allows for the rigorous analysis of chemical compounds such as parabens, plasticizers, sunscreens and heavy metals, as well as biological agents, including antibiotic resistance genes.
Industrial PhD student Sílvia Busquets i Font will lead the project, which aims to develop advanced IT tools – such as plug-ins for geographic information systems and low-cost compact sensors – to optimize the design and implementation of this network. With an expected duration of three years, the project integrates the work of the Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Dipsalut, the University of Girona and the company TRARGISA.
The project stands out for collecting samples directly from collectors distributed throughout the city, a strategy that contrasts with the usual practice of sampling at the treatment plant and that allows for more detailed information on variations in wastewater quality according to the socioeconomic context of each area. This methodology will facilitate the detection of substances such as parabens, plasticizers, sunscreens, heavy metals and even antibiotic resistance genes, providing a comprehensive view of the factors that influence community health.
During the press conference held at Girona City Hall, the deputy mayor and councilor for Talent, Innovation, Health and Community, Xavier Aldeguer, highlighted: "with the participation of Girona City Hall in the Industrial Doctorate Program we contribute to increasing the innovative capacity of our socio-economic fabric, while supporting the training of research personnel in our city, boosting the Girona economy" (L. Artigas, El Punt Avui).
The councilor for Climate Action and CEO of TRARGISA, Sergi Cot, also highlighted the importance of this initiative: "with the industrial doctorate we comply with one of the 64 points of agreement of the mandate, while with the innovative project that we present today we open up a world of new ideas and possibilities in the field of public health. We want Girona and its urban area to be leaders in the field of scientific innovation" (L. Artigas, El Punt Avui).
With this commitment, Girona positions itself at the forefront of innovation in public health, offering a new tool that complements traditional health monitoring systems and that could serve as a model for other cities in the search for more precise and sustainable management of community health.
Sources:
- El Punt Avui: They analyze Girona's wastewater to establish an urban health surveillance network
- Diari de Girona: Pioneering project will study the state of Girona's wastewater
- Description of the industrial doctoral project: Development of tools for the implementation of a health surveillance network in Girona through wastewater
