On Thursday, March 13, 2025, students from the Chemistry (supervised by: Christodoulos Makedonas) and Biology (supervised by: Katerina Ntakou) Clubs of our school visited the Thriasio Wastewater Treatment Center (K.E.L.T.) of E.Y.D.A.P. in Aspropyrgos.
The visit was part of the European project RHE-MEDiation (https://rhemediation.eu/), in which E.Y.D.A.P. (https://www.eydap.gr/) and the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR, https://www.hcmr.gr/en/) are participating from the Greek side. One of the main objectives of the RHE-MEDiation program is the operation of pilot wastewater treatment units with photo-bioreactors, which are based on microalgae. With these photo-bioreactors, it is expected that heavy metals, PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals”, various pharmaceutical substances, pesticides, and other chemical pollutants can be removed from urban wastewater. The ultimate goal of the program is the protection and improvement of the water quality in the Mediterranean (EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters).
The visit began with Dr. George Katsouras, a chemical oceanographer from E.Y.D.A.P.’s R&D Department, who initially described the areas in which E.Y.D.A.P. and HCMR are active. He then explained the five-stage process used for wastewater treatment at the K.E.L.T. In the last part of his presentation, Dr. Katsouras provided a detailed description of the goals of the RHE-MEDiation program and the expected results from its implementation. A free discussion followed with him and Mr. Nikos Strefhtaris (MSc), marine biologist and representative of HCMR, during which our team had the opportunity to learn more about PFAS, the “forever chemicals”, and the role that microalgae are expected to play in wastewater treatment.
After the necessary break, our students were guided through the facilities of the K.E.L.T. and then to the pilot unit of the photo-bioreactors. There, they learned more about their role from Ms. Anthi Yfanti, a researcher at E.Y.D.A.P.’s R&D Department and chemical oceanographer. Ms. Yfanti discussed with our group the challenges they face, the processes of quality control, and the prospects for the wider application of such technologies.
Finally, our students had the opportunity to discuss specific issues concerning the monitoring and proper functioning of the subunits of the K.E.L.T. with Dr. George Tzatsanifos, an electrical engineer. Among other things, everyone was struck by Dr. Tzatsanifos’s mention of the frequent lightning strikes on one of the center’s tanks.
Overall, beyond the knowledge our students gained, equally important was their realization that the proper functioning of such a facility requires the collaboration of many different specialties and scientific fields. Through this experience, our students understood in practice the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and teamwork in addressing modern environmental challenges.
We would like to express our special thanks to the above-mentioned scientists and engineers, both for their warm hospitality at the K.E.L.T. and for their excellent presentations, as well as for their willingness to discuss the many questions from our students.
Finally, we would like to thank Mr. Ilias Stefanou, the communication officer of E.Y.D.A.P., who organized our visit and took care of all the necessary details.
