LIFE Environment and Resource Efficiency TECHNICAL ... · The Faculty of Natural Sciences of...

LIFE Environment and Resource Efficiency

TECHNICAL APPLICATION FORMS

Part A – administrative information

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LIFE17 ENV/SK/000036

LIFE Environment and Resource Efficiency project application

Language of the proposal:

Improvement of health status of population of the Slovak Republic through drinking water re-carbonization

Project acronym:

LIFE - Water and Health

The project will be implemented in the following Member State(s) and Region(s) or othercountries:Slovakia Stredne Slovensko

Expected start date: 01/09/2018 Expected end date: 31/12/2022

LIST OF BENEFICIARIES

Name of the coordinating beneficiary: Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Natural Sciences

LIST OF CO-FINANCERS

PROJECT BUDGET AND REQUESTED EU FUNDING

Total project budget:

Total eligible project budget:

EU financial contribution requested:

948,275 Euro

945,075 Euro

566,950 Euro (= 59.99% of total eligible budget)

FOR ADMINISTRATION USE ONLY


SECTOR

Environment and Health

Project title:

English (en)

LIFE 2017

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LIFE17 ENV/SK/000036 - A2

Coordinating Beneficiary Profile Information

Legal Name Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Natural Sciences

Short Name PRIF UK Legal Status

VAT No SK2020845332 Public body XLegal Registration Private commercial

Registration Date 19/08/2004 Private non- commercial

Pic Number

Legal entity is SME

Employee number

Legal address of the Coordinating Beneficiary

Street Name and No Mlynska dolina, Ilkovicova 6

Post Code 84215 PO Box

Town / City Bratislava

Member State Slovakia

Coordinating Beneficiary contact person informationTitle Mr. Function Head od Dpt. of Geochemistry

Surname Jurkovic

First Name Lubomir

E-mail address [email protected]

Department / Department of Geochemistry

Street Name and No Mlynska dolina, Ilkovicova 6

Post Code 84215 PO Box

Town / City Bratislava

Member State Slovakia

Telephone No 421260296223 Fax No 4211260296217

Website of the Coordinating Beneficiary

Website http://www.fns.uniba.sk

Brief description of the Coordinating Beneficiary's activities and experience in the area of the

The Faculty of Natural Sciences of Comenius University in Bratislava (PRIF UK) was established in 1940 andit is the most integrated institution in Slovakia providing higher education and research in individual fieldsof natural science. Department of Geochemistry represents one of the basic research and educational unitsof the PRIF UK. Department of Geochemistry deals with research and educational activities of staffmembers and students in various fields of geochemistry including medical geochemistry. Within itsresearch activities wide spectrum of environmental-geochemical issues are implemented. One of them isthe development of research methods in the field of interactions “water – rock – biota and humans”including the issue of the impact of geological environment on human health. New methodologies of theevaluation of relationship between human health and geological environment include environmentalmodelling and application of GIS methods. In this field the Department of Geochemistry has implementedseveral medical-geochemical projects and partial studies among which the most significant were medical-geochemical assessments of Žiarska kotlina Basin and the region of Banská Štiavnica. The staff membersof this department took part also in the realization of two Life+ projects: GEOHEALTH and LIFE FORKRUPINA, implemented by the State Geological Institute of Dionýz Štúr, Bratislava as coordinatingbeneficiary organization. The Department of Geochemistry is highly experienced in the field of medical-geochemical research and thus it is competent to implement proposed actions within this project.

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OTHER PROPOSALS SUBMITTED FOR EUROPEAN UNION FUNDING

Please answer each of the following questions:

• Have you or any of your associated beneficiaries already benefited from previous LIFE cofinancing?(please cite LIFE project reference number, title, year, amount of the co-financing, duration, name(s) ofcoordinating beneficiary and/or partners involved):

Our organization – Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava – has benefited fromprevious LIFE co-financing as partner (associated beneficiary) involved in following LIFE projects:

LIFE project reference number: LIFE07 NAT/SK/000707

Project title: Conservation of Endangered Bird Species Populations in Natural Habitats of the DanubeInland Delta

Year: 2007

Total amount of the co-financing: 2,288,831 €

Amount of the co-financing for associated beneficiary PRIF UK: 129,000 €

Duration: 01.01.2009 – 31.12.2015

Name of coordinating beneficiary: BROZ (“Bratislavské regionálne ochranárske združenie” – RegionalAssociation for Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development, Slovakia)

Name of partners involved: PRIF UK (Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava,Slovakia), VVB (“Vodohospodárska výstavba, š.p.” – Water Management Construction, state enterprise,Slovakia), Eduvizig (“Észak-dunántúli Vízügyi Igazgatóság” – North-Transdanubian Environmental andWater Directorate, Hungary), SZITE (“Szigetközi Természetvédelmi Egyesület – Szigetköz” – NatureConservation Association, Hungary)


Project title: Conservation of root vole *Microtus oeconomus mehelyi

Year: 2008



Duration: 01.01.2010 – 31.12.2016

Name of coordinating beneficiary: BROZ (“Bratislavské regionálne ochranárske združenie” – RegionalAssociation for Nature Conservation and Sustainable development, Slovakia)

Name of partners involved: PRIF UK (Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava,Slovakia), VÚVH (Water Research Institute, Slovakia), NP NSS (National Park Neusiedler See–Seewinkel,Austria), PK (Pisztráng Kör – Trout circle association, Hungary), VZZ (Society for the Study andConservation of Mammals, The Netherlands), MŽP SR (Ministry of environment of the Slovak Republic)


Project title: Restoration of Natura 2000 sites in cross-border Bratislava capital region

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Year: 2010



Duration: 01.01.2012 – 31.03.2017


Name of partners involved: PRIF UK (Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava,Slovakia), DAPHNE (Institute of Applied Ecology, Slovakia), State Nature Conservancy of SlovakRepublic, PK (Pisztráng Kör – Trout circle association, Hungary), National Park Donau-Auen (Austria)


Project title: Conservation of birds in SPA Ostrovné lúky

Year: 2012



Duration: 01.01.2014 – 31.12.2018


Name of partners involved: PRIF UK (Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava,Slovakia), VÚVH (Water Research Institute, Slovakia), SAŽP (Slovak Environment Agency – SEA)


Project title: Restoration of nesting and feeding habitats of Sand Martin, Kingfisher and European Bee-eater in Danube-Morava region

Year: 2012



Duration: 01.01.2014 – 31.03.2019


Name of partners involved: PRIF UK (Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava,Slovakia), PK (Pisztráng Kör – Trout circle association, Hungary)

• Have you or any of the associated beneficiaries submitted any actions related directly or indirectly tothis project to other European Union funding programmes? To whom? When and with what results?

No, our organization has not submitted any actions related directly or indirectly to this project to otherEuropean Union funding programmes.

• For those actions which fall within the eligibility criteria for financing through other European Unionfunding programmes, please explain in full detail why you consider that those actions are bettersuited to financing through LIFE and are therefore included in the current project:

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We did not find any of project action falling within the eligibility criteria for financing through otherEuropean Union funding programmes. We have verified the possibility of financing proposed project byavailable sources within the EU funding programmes through the EU official websites as well aswebsite of national relevant authorities. We did not find any relevant financial instruments which fullycover the proposed project falling into the interdisciplinary priority area “environment and health”. Thefollowing are the main financial programmes considered:

Horizon 2020 programme,

Operational programme Quality of Environment 2014 – 2020,

Operational programme Research and Innovation 2014 – 2020,

The third Health programme 2014 – 2020.

Horizon 2020

Priority of our concern within the Horizon 2020 programme for research and innovation is priority 3 -Societal challenges facing EU society including health and environment. This priority includes twopotential topics that could be of our concern:

, demographic change and wellbeing”,

“Climate action, environment, resource efficiency & raw materials”.

Within the topic No. 1 “Health, demographic change and wellbeing” PHC 4: “Health promotion anddisease prevention: improved inter-sector co-operation for environment and health basedinterventions” was implemented within the work programme in 2015. Actually this topic is closed andthe new call 2016 is focused on another issue “Personalized Medicine” which is not eligible for theproject objectives. The topic No. 2 “Climate action, environment, resource efficiency & raw materials”deals with the environment but without any direct link to health. The call 2016 within this topic isfocused on “Greening the Economy”.

Our organization did not apply previously for the funding within the EU funding programme HORIZON2020 also because of the fact that one of the key goals of HORIZON 2020 is enhancing and focusinginternational cooperation in terms of areas and partners. Actually the project objectives are not definedto meet standard eligibility criteria of this programme, especially the eligibility condition within the“research and innovation action” that at least three independent legal entities should be involvedestablished in a different Member State or associated country.

Operational programme Quality of Environment 2014 – 2020

Operational programme Quality of Environment is a programming document of the Slovak Republic fordrawing aid from the EU Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund in the programming period2014–2020 in the area of sustainable and efficient resource use ensuring environmental protection,active adaptation to climate change and promotion of an energy efficient, low-carbon economy. Theproject topic is only marginally concerned within the priority axis 1. “Sustainable use of naturalresources through environmental structure development” and its thematic objective dealing with thedrinking water quality “Preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency”.This thematic objective is specifically oriented on building of environmental infrastructure and reliablemonitoring network for water bodies throughout the Slovak territory and therefore does not meetobjectives of specific project actions.

Operational programme Research and Innovation 2014 – 2020

The operational programme Research and Innovation represents a joint programme document of theMinistry of Education, Science, Research and Sports of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry ofEconomy of the Slovak Republic for the granting support from European Structural and InvestmentFunds during the programme period 2014–2020 in the area aimed to create a stable innovation-friendly environment. The project actions do not fall into strategy for this programme which is aimed toresearch and innovation infrastructure and capacities and promote the efficiency and performance ofthe system research, development and innovations as a basic pillar for sustainable economic growth

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and employment.

The third Health programme 2014 – 2020

The third EU health programme is the main instrument the European Commission uses to implementthe EU health strategy and includes 4 overarching objectives:

Promote health, prevent diseases and foster supportive environments for healthy lifestyles…,

Protect Union citizens from serious cross-border health threats,

Contribute to innovative, efficient and sustainable health systems,

Facilitate access to better and safer healthcare for Union citizens.

The project actions do not meet the policy of this programme since the environmental factor (drinkingwater quality) is not included in the specific objectives. This programme is basically focused on theimprovement of health-care, health prevention and healthy life-style and that is why we find ourproject as not eligible for financing by this programme.

• Has this proposal been submitted before? Yes X No

Yes, this proposal has been submitted before with reference: LIFE16 ENV/SK/000070, Acronym: LIFE,Water and Health, Project title: Elimination of negative impact of low mineralized drinking water onhuman health in the Slovak Republic.

We resubmit this proposal with included changes in key actions.

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Part B - technical summary and overallcontext of the project


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LIFE17 ENV/SK/000036 - B1

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT (Max. 3 pages; to be completed in English)

Project title:


Project objectives:

The main project objective is to improve the health status of residents based on increase of drinkingwater quality through water re-carbonization in two Slovak municipalities with relevance of our resultsfor the whole territory of the Slovak Republic and whole EU territory. The project will lead not only tothe description of real status – relationship between low mineralized drinking water and human health,but also to proposal of appropriate measures for improvement of health status of inhabitants viarealization of set of actions: technological actions, legislative framework as well as dissemination andeducational activities. The target objective will be reached by implementation of the following specificproject objectives:

- The improvement of quality (increase of Ca and Mg water contents, increase of water hardness – Ca +Mg) of low mineralized drinking water to reach better health status of resident population in selectedareas within the Slovak territory,

- Development and construction of prototypes of technological equipment for low mineralized drinkingwater treatment by re-carbonization,

- Installation and operation of two prototypes for water re-carbonization and monitoring of drinkingwater quality status,

- Selection of two drinking water sources for treatment by method of re-carbonization,

- Laboratory tests of carbonate rock leaching,

- Determination of optimal levels of Ca, Mg and water hardness (Ca + Mg) in drinking water favourablefor human health through risk analysis,

- Realization of biomonitoring to confirm the negative impact of low mineralized drinking water (silicategeological environment) on human health.

Actions and means involved:

- Technological measures – re-carbonization of water. For two public water sources (one small watersource for at minimum 250 inhabitants, and the second one big water source at minimum 2,500inhabitants) we would improve water quality by increase of Ca and Mg contents (and thus watermineralization) at defined optimal levels. For this purpose we will develop and compile two prototypesof technological equipment for water re-carbonization. The improvement of drinking water quality byincrease of Ca and Mg contents through process of water re-carbonization should be subsequentlyreflected in improved health status of residents.

- Monitoring of groundwater quality after applying technological measures.

- Risk analysis (health risk analysis) of critical elements/parameters - Ca, Mg, Ca + Mg (water hardness)in ten Slovak municipalities (at minimum 50,000 residents) supplied with soft drinking water and tenSlovak municipalities (at minimum 50,000 residents) supplied with hard drinking water,

- Biomonitoring will include measurement of artificial stiffness and sample collection and analysis oflocally grown vegetable to confirm negative impact of Ca and Mg drinking water deficiency on healthstatus of residents living in the silicate geological environment and to confirm expected improvementof health status of residents after drinking water re-carbonization,

- Legislative proposal for inclusion of drinking water standards for Ca, Mg contents and water hardnessinto drinking water guideline for public supply and bottled water at national level as well as EU level,

- Public relations – we shall increase public awareness on unfavourable health impact of low

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mineralized drinking water on humans through environmental edification and health education ofresidents as well as dissemination in water management companies.

- Monitoring of the project impact to change behaviour of community residents.

- Monitoring of changes in health status of residents living in municipalities where technological actionswere applied into practice (water treatment to improve quality of two public water sources).

- Activities in the field of media – compilation of scientific and popular articles, project website, TV andradio shows etc.,

- Networking with other LIFE projects in similar areas of interest on the national and internationallevels.

Expected results (outputs and quantified achievements):

- Improvement of drinking water quality for two water sources used for public supply by increase of Caand Mg contents at defined optimal levels with favourable effects on human health through operationof two constructed prototypes for water re-carbonization. Two selected water sources will include onesmall water source for about 250–500 inhabitants and the second one big water source at minimum2,500 inhabitants. The expected change related to the improvement of drinking water quality byadequate increase of Ca, Mg contents is about 40 - 50% in comparison with the initial situation. Interms of the range of expected environmental impact on human population and territory, theenvironmental outputs of the project actions will cover directly at minimum 2,750 residents living inarea of about 30 km2 and indirectly about 1,000,000 inhabitants from areas with soft drinking waterliving in area of about 10,000 km2.

- Positive impact on human health conditioned by improvement of drinking water quality in twomunicipalities (increase of Ca and Mg contents through appropriate technological measures). Thisimpact will be monitored in two ways. The first one monitoring method will be human biomonitoringbased on measurement of arterial stiffness and subsequent determination of the arterial age ofresidents before and then one year and two years after drinking water treatment through re-carbonization. The second method of monitoring will be the analysis of changes in health status ofresidents based on available statistical data – health indicators.

This can be quantified only in long-term horizon based on comparison of health data collected beforeand after continuous operation of developed technological measure. Health data will include mainlythe main causes of deaths in Slovakia. In case of cardiovascular diseases the improvement of healthstatus of residents can be expected within 0.5–2 years. In case of other types of diseases (e.g.oncological, respiratory, endocrine system – diabetes etc.) we assume longer time horizon (2–5 years)to reach the positive effect of realized measures. These changes in health status will start to bemonitored during the project (evaluation of the “initial health status”) and their monitoring willcontinue in horizon of 3–5 years after the end of the project within After LIFE Plan.

Is your project significantly climate-related? XYes No

Is your project significantly biodiversity-related? Yes No X

The proposal addresses the following project topic(s):

• Projects reducing the impact of chemicals (including nanomaterials and biocidal products) on theenvironment or human health by a safer or more sustainable use of chemicals or by the minimisationof exposure to toxic chemicals in products or in the environment, through their substitution with safersubstances or with non-chemical solutions.

Reasons why the proposal falls under the selected project topic(s):

This proposal addresses multidisciplinary topic – improvement of health status of residents throughdrinking water re-carbonization. It falls under the several fields of research, including environment,health status of population, drinking water treatment (chemistry, technology) and water management.Thus addressed project topic does not fall directly under any specified topics. However, it is very closeto topic 1. "Chemicals - reducing the impact of chemicals". While this specific topic focuses on health

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impacts of toxic chemicals/substances in the environment or products, this project on the contraryfocuses on the positive health impacts of essential elements - Ca and Mg and the health benefits ofincreased intake of both elements through re-carbonized (enriched) drinking water on residentpopulation living in the areas with soft drinking water (Ca and Mg deficiency in the environment).

We still consider the LIFE+ sub-programme LIFE Environment and Resource Efficiency as the mostsuitable for the implementation of proposed multidisciplinary project.

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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT (Max. 3 pages; to be completed in national language)

Project title:


The main project objective is to improve the health status of residents based on increase of drinkingwater quality through water re-carbonization in two Slovak municipalities with relevance of our resultsfor the whole territory of the Slovak Republic and whole EU territory. The project will lead not only tothe description of real status – relationship between low mineralized drinking water and human health,but also to proposal of appropriate measures for improvement of health status of inhabitants viarealization of set of actions: technological actions, legislative framework as well as dissemination andeducational activities. The target objective will be reached by implementation of the following specificproject objectives:

- The improvement of quality (increase of Ca and Mg water contents, increase of water hardness – Ca +Mg) of low mineralized drinking water to reach better health status of resident population in selectedareas within the Slovak territory,

- Development and construction of prototypes of technological equipment for low mineralized drinkingwater treatment by re-carbonization,

- Installation and operation of two prototypes for water re-carbonization and monitoring of drinkingwater quality status,

- Selection of two drinking water sources for treatment by method of re-carbonization,

- Laboratory tests of carbonate rock leaching,

- Determination of optimal levels of Ca, Mg and water hardness (Ca + Mg) in drinking water favourablefor human health through risk analysis,

- Realization of biomonitoring to confirm the negative impact of low mineralized drinking water (silicategeological environment) on human health.

Project objectives:

- Technological measures – re-carbonization of water. For two public water sources (one small watersource for at minimum 250 inhabitants, and the second one big water source at minimum 2,500inhabitants) we would improve water quality by increase of Ca and Mg contents (and thus watermineralization) at defined optimal levels. For this purpose we will develop and compile two prototypesof technological equipment for water re-carbonization. The improvement of drinking water quality byincrease of Ca and Mg contents through process of water re-carbonization should be subsequentlyreflected in improved health status of residents.

- Monitoring of groundwater quality after applying technological measures.

- Risk analysis (health risk analysis) of critical elements/parameters - Ca, Mg, Ca + Mg (water hardness)in ten Slovak municipalities (at minimum 50,000 residents) supplied with soft drinking water and tenSlovak municipalities (at minimum 50,000 residents) supplied with hard drinking water,

- Biomonitoring will include measurement of artificial stiffness and sample collection and analysis oflocally grown vegetable to confirm negative impact of Ca and Mg drinking water deficiency on healthstatus of residents living in the silicate geological environment and to confirm expected improvementof health status of residents after drinking water re-carbonization,

- Legislative proposal for inclusion of drinking water standards for Ca, Mg contents and water hardnessinto drinking water guideline for public supply and bottled water at national level as well as EU level,

- Public relations – we shall increase public awareness on unfavourable health impact of low

Actions and means involved:

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mineralized drinking water on humans through environmental edification and health education ofresidents as well as dissemination in water management companies.

- Monitoring of the project impact to change behaviour of community residents.

- Monitoring of changes in health status of residents living in municipalities where technological actionswere applied into practice (water treatment to improve quality of two public water sources).

- Activities in the field of media – compilation of scientific and popular articles, project website, TV andradio shows etc.,

- Networking with other LIFE projects in similar areas of interest on the national and internationallevels.

Expected results (outputs and quantified achievements):

- Improvement of drinking water quality for two water sources used for public supply by increase of Caand Mg contents at defined optimal levels with favourable effects on human health through operationof two constructed prototypes for water re-carbonization. Two selected water sources will include onesmall water source for about 250–500 inhabitants and the second one big water source at minimum2,500 inhabitants. The expected change related to the improvement of drinking water quality byadequate increase of Ca, Mg contents is about 40 - 50% in comparison with the initial situation. Interms of the range of expected environmental impact on human population and territory, theenvironmental outputs of the project actions will cover directly at minimum 2,750 residents living inarea of about 30 km2 and indirectly about 1,000,000 inhabitants from areas with soft drinking waterliving in area of about 10,000 km2.

- Positive impact on human health conditioned by improvement of drinking water quality in twomunicipalities (increase of Ca and Mg contents through appropriate technological measures). Thisimpact will be monitored in two ways. The first one monitoring method will be human biomonitoringbased on measurement of arterial stiffness and subsequent determination of the arterial age ofresidents before and then one year and two years after drinking water treatment through re-carbonization. The second method of monitoring will be the analysis of changes in health status ofresidents based on available statistical data – health indicators.

This can be quantified only in long-term horizon based on comparison of health data collected beforeand after continuous operation of developed technological measure. Health data will include mainlythe main causes of deaths in Slovakia. In case of cardiovascular diseases the improvement of healthstatus of residents can be expected within 0.5–2 years. In case of other types of diseases (e.g.oncological, respiratory, endocrine system – diabetes etc.) we assume longer time horizon (2–5 years)to reach the positive effect of realized measures. These changes in health status will start to bemonitored during the project (evaluation of the “initial health status”) and their monitoring willcontinue in horizon of 3–5 years after the end of the project within After LIFE Plan.

Is your project significantly climate-related? XYes No

Is your project significantly biodiversity- Yes No X

The proposal addresses the following project topic(s):

• Projects reducing the impact of chemicals (including nanomaterials and biocidal products) on theenvironment or human health by a safer or more sustainable use of chemicals or by the minimisationof exposure to toxic chemicals in products or in the environment, through their substitution with safersubstances or with non-chemical solutions.

Reasons why the proposal falls under the selected project topic(s):

This proposal addresses multidisciplinary topic – improvement of health status of residents throughdrinking water re-carbonization. It falls under the several fields of research, including environment,health status of population, drinking water treatment (chemistry, technology) and water management.Thus addressed project topic does not fall directly under any specified topics. However, it is very closeto topic 1. "Chemicals - reducing the impact of chemicals". While this specific topic focuses on health

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impacts of toxic chemicals/substances in the environment or products, this project on the contraryfocuses on the positive health impacts of essential elements - Ca and Mg and the health benefits ofincreased intake of both elements through re-carbonized (enriched) drinking water on residentpopulation living in the areas with soft drinking water (Ca and Mg deficiency in the environment).

We still consider the LIFE+ sub-programme LIFE Environment and Resource Efficiency as the mostsuitable for the implementation of proposed multidisciplinary project.

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM TARGETED

The negative impact of low mineralized drinking water with deficient Ca and Mg contents onincidence/mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is well recognized since the mid of 20thcentury. Well-known American scientist Schroeder formulated compelling dictum “soft water, hardarteries”. Within the period of the last 20–30 years of research into drinking water hardness (low,deficient Ca and Mg contents in drinking water) in association with CVDs, hundreds of scientific paperswere published. During the last period several research papers reporting also association betweenincreased incidence/mortality from oncological diseases (ODs) and deficient Ca and Mg contents indrinking water were published worldwide (Japan, Taiwan, USA, Slovak Republic).

Based on the results of the project GEOHEALTH, implemented within the programme LIFE+ (Projectcode: LIFE10 ENV/SK/086) the association between deficient Ca and Mg contents ingroundwater/drinking water and increase mortality from diseases of gastrointestinal system (GS) andrespiratory system (RS) as well as endocrine system (diabetes) was also documented.

Calcium and magnesium are important essential macro-elements. They are intracellular cations, whichare significantly involved in many essential biological processes. Ca and Mg are necessary for humanorganism in adequate content levels. For example, the results of the project GEOHEALTH havedocumented that at deficit Mg water contents (<25 mg.l-1) and Ca water contents (<40 mg.l-1) the lifeexpectancy of Slovak population is shorter on about 4–5 years and relative mortality from CVDs, ODs,GS and RS is about 20–80% higher.

Daily intake of Ca and Mg from drinking water cannot be fully compensated from intake of diet rich inCa and Mg. Both elements occur in water in soluble ionic form and thus directly available to humanorganism. They are directly transferred to cells and involved in many enzymatic processes. On theother hand, Ca and Mg in diet (milk, cheese, beans, poppy etc.) occur in a form of organic complexeswhich are generally not such easily available to human organism. Thus Ca and Mg drinking watercontents are essential components of daily intake of both elements and they cannot be fullysubstituted by increase intake of diet rich in Ca and Mg. From the wide scale of inorganicelements/compounds and parameters of natural radioactivity involved in the chemical composition ofgroundwater analysed in the previous LIFE+ projects (GEOHEALTH and LIFE FOR KRUPINA), Ca and Mgwere identified as the most important water components for human health. Classic pollutants such asnitrates, ammonium or potentially toxic elements had incomparably lower impact on human health ofthe Slovak population (even by several orders).

Classic pollutants or chemicals harmful for human health such as nitrates, heavy metals or organicpollutants are strictly limited within the guidelines for drinking water used for human consumption. Atlow limited contents of these chemicals in water, their negative adverse health effects cannot beobserved. There are no limit values defined for the important biogenic elements Ca and Mg (e.g. WHOdrinking water guideline) or they are limited only as recommended values (e.g. Slovak guideline fordrinking water). Along with the long-term cumulative effects of deficit contents of these essentialelements, the adverse health effects can be observed.

The main exposure route for chemical elements into human organism is the ingestion of food anddrinking water. While the foodstuffs are actually of global origin and their chemical variability isguaranteed, drinking water is consumed by humans on daily basis during the lifetime or until theymove to another region. In case of deficit contents of biogenic elements in drinking water the adversehealth effects can be observed due to daily consumption. The current results achieved within the twoLIFE+ projects (GEOHEALTH and LIFE FOR KRUPINA) clearly defined Ca and Mg and their sum Ca + Mg(water hardness) as the most influential chemical parameters in drinking water for human health. Theirdeficiency was associated with unfavourable health status of Slovak population as well as shorter lifeexpectancy. The simplest way how to eliminate this deficiency is the application of the method ofwater re-carbonization to increase Ca and Mg contents based on addition of carbonate rocks into watersupply source. The addition of carbonate rocks into water sources is actually realized in Slovakia aswell in several countries worldwide in limited extent for the purpose of increasing pH value of water. Inthis way, mainly acid mine waters are treated. During last period several scientific papers werepublished, reporting results of laboratory tests for dissolution of limestone, dolomite and othercarbonate rocks to increase Ca and Mg water contents. Within the project LIFE FOR KRUPINA simpletechnological measures were realized at seven individual residential wells to enrich water by Ca andMg contents. We were able to increase contents of both elements in relatively static natural conditionsas follows: Ca from 20–30 mg.l-1 to about 40–50 mg.l-1 and Mg from 8–10 mg.l-1 to about 20 mg.l-1.However, we were not able to guarantee the stability of increased Ca and Mg contents. High rainfall ledto water dilution and subsequent decrease of Ca and Mg contents. The process of carbonate dilution isrelatively slow, controlled by pH value. It depends on hydrolytic water capacity. At pH eight and higher

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the process is practically stopped. The addition of CO2 is required to run the process of carbonatedissolution. In laboratory conditions, it is verified that after the addition of CO2 in adequate amount weare able to obtain leachate with water hardness (Ca + Mg) equal to more than 80 mmol.l-1. We plan toadd this leachate into water source to reach water hardness at least 2 mmol.l-1. This level was definedas minimum required for optimum status of human health.

Our proposed project is fully in accordance with the European environmental policy and legislation.Two main strategic EU documents dealing with the environment and human health represent thebackground of the proposal objectives, namely: 1.) “Environment Action Programme to 2020 (EAP)”and 2.) “Health 2020”.

Within the 7th EAP the third key action covers the issue of the human health: “Healthy environment forhealthy people”. The important part of this key action is the improvement of legislation relating todrinking water. The environment impacts health through many factors including inadequate waterquality.

Within “Health 2020” the policy framework aims to support actions across government and society to:“significantly improve the health and well-being of populations…”. Good health status of populationbrings benefits to all sectors and the entire society. The supply of population by “safe” drinking wateris one of the most important health determinants. The project objectives are therefore fully inaccordance with the above mentioned strategic EU documents. The project will contribute to:

- Identification and verification of the significance of Ca and Mg in drinking water for human healthbased on risk analysis,

- Application of drinking water treatment – increase of Ca and Mg contents through water re-carbonization into practice,

- Monitoring of improvement of health status of residents supplied by re-carbonized drinking water.

PROJECT PILOT / DEMONSTRATION CHARACTER OF THE PROJECT

According to WHO European Centre for Environment and Health (ECEH), the environment is one of themost important determinants of health. Globally 22% of deaths are caused by environment, 17% bycancer and 25% by strokes. The environment impacts health through many factors includinginadequate water quality.

Low mineralized water can be in accordance with our findings within the previous LIFE+ projects(GEOHEALTH and LIFE FOR KRUPINA) considered as unsuitable. While the impact of water deficient inCa and Mg contents on CVDs is often well recognized in the literature, described and accepted byscientific community, the impact of such water on diseases of other systems has not been adequatelydocumented and accepted so far. We give an example from Great Britain with strong convincing anddemonstrating evidence of impact of water with low hardness on CVD mortality (attached as picture).

According to the results of the project GEOHEALTH, published in the international current contentmagazine Environmental Geochemistry and Health (Rapant et al., 2014 2015, 2016) and InternationalJournal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Rapant et al., 2017), low mineralized waterdeficient in Ca and Mg contents are significantly associated to increased mortality also for oncologicaldiseases (ODs). So far, papers reporting this relationship in four countries of the world were publishedincluding Taiwan, Japan, Slovak Republic and USA. The results of the project GEOHEALTH documentedalso significant relationship between deficit Ca and Mg water contents and increased mortality fordiseases of gastrointestinal and respiratory system (probably Mg significance for the immune system ofhumans plays key role) as well as diseases of endocrine system (mainly diabetes and thyroid gland).We were not able to find any reference in the world literature related to this issue. The innovativenessof this project consists in the fact that the study of the relationship between mortality/incidence of thediseases mentioned above and relatively wide range (more than 30 parameters) of water chemicalcomposition will be realized through risk analysis (Health risk assessment) for all main causes ofdeaths. So far, such studies were not implemented worldwide. Actually, there is no doubt that lowmineralized water deficient in Ca and Mg contents has negative impact on human health from the pointof view of CVDs. We assume to confirm within the proposed project also other relationships (mentionedabove) by direct observations of these diagnoses in relation to drinking water quality.

Another innovative contribution of this project is the use of re-carbonization method via fluidization.Fluidization is process consisting in maintenance of solid particle drift in the column, due to water up

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and down flow. The main advantage of this method is rapid acceleration of solubility of solid particlesdue to maximum contact surface among solid and aqueous compounds and continuous system mixing.Effectiveness of the fluid re-carbonization is about 2.6 higher compared to flow re-carbonization.

Laboratory reactor for recarbonization process in fluidized bed was designed and constructed.Currently, recarbonization process with selected tested materials as donors of calcium and magnesiumis under investigation. Investigation of hydrodynamic conditions in reactor with fluidized bed of halfcalcined dolomite (HCD) can be considered as completed. Model of expansion of fluidized bed has beenverified and parameters of expansion equation has been determined. The algorithm of prediction ofHCD particle size changes during the process has been developed and verified. It was found that thefirst order reaction kinetic model can be used for kinetics of recarbonization process. Both, verifiedmodels of fluidized bed characteristics and reaction kinetics determination are very good basis forprocess scale up from laboratory to larger scale. This knowledge allows prediction of rate of solidmaterial replacement in the reactor and its separability from water.

In the framework of proposed project, the experiments with real treated water will be executed withthe aim to obtain more precise data for design of pilot scale system (RRFB). Simultaneously thecorrelations among pH, conductivity and concentration of processed water obtained in laboratoryconditions will be verified for better control of pilot scale reactor. The pilot scale reactor (1.0 l/s) will beconstructed to gain data for design of large scale production reactor (real reactor) (5.0 l/s) and testedas the water production system for small community (250 to 500 inhabitants) During laboratoryresearch and operation of pilot scale reactor the other materials (limestone, gypsum and zeolite incombination with HCD) to increase calcium content will be tested. Dimensions of pilot scale equipmentwill be determined based on laboratory results and scale up principles. Operation of pilot scale systemwill verify scale up principles and will be used for design of larger production system of recarbonizationof drinking water (5 l/s).

Laboratory system (laboratory prototype) is available and functional. Experimental results proved theconcept and high effectiveness of technology proposed. The hydrodynamic characteristics of testedmaterials can be used in pilot and larger scale system design. Our expertise in scale up was verified onother similar systems and our ability and experience to design and construct large scale systemsguarantee success in this project.

We are not aware that such reaction technique is used in chemical water treatment, including theprocess of re-carbonization, in any country of the world. We plan to use mainly half-burnt dolomite asthe rock type suitable for increase of Ca and Mg water contents. Dolomite changes during the burningprocess at temperature of about 800 °C to the forms MgO and CaCO3. During leaching of half-burntdolomite Mg is relatively well diluted and transferred into aquatic phase. The proportion of Ca is on theother hand low. We are going to find and experimentally verify solubility of other rocks, mainly gypsumand calcite. Gypsum solubility is about two orders of magnitude higher compared with the limestoneand it is very similar to HBD solubility. No problem is related to increase of sulphate contents indrinking water within the range of 10–20 mg.l-1. Even after increase of sulphate water contents at levelof 50 mg.l-1, they will still remain relatively low and for human health not harmful. Slovak guideline fordrinking water used for human consumption defines limit values for sulphates at 250 mg.l-1.

The main reason why WHO (World Health Organization) does not set limits for Ca and Mg in drinkingwater is that so far no risk analysis has been performed to document potential health risks and healthbenefits of both elements in relation to their water content levels. This project aims to perform riskanalysis (in ten Slovak municipalities supplied with soft drinking water and ten municipalities suppliedwith hard water) to compare calculated health risk estimates for specific diseases with the real status –occurrence of causes of deaths of residents which are available from national statistics. We will havealso in disposition real Ca and Mg contents in drinking water sources and we will be able to modelhealth risks at various Ca and Mg concentrations.

The issue of low mineralized water with low pH is currently solved worldwide, including SlovakRepublic, to limited extent by direct addition of carbonate rock into water sources in front of filter.Various types of carbonate rocks are used, mainly limestone, marble, dolomite and half-burnt dolomite.Water flowing across carbonate rock disposes of low pH value and Ca and Mg contents increase only toa limit extent, of about 1–3 mg.l-1. In the territory of the Slovak Republic, e.g. Stredoslovenskávodárenská prevádzková spoločnosť, a. s. Banská Bystrica (water production and managementcompany operating in the Central Slovakia) applies in case of very low mineralized drinking waters withlow pH values from the surface water reservoirs (with water hardness about 0.5 – 0.67 mmol.l-1) theaddition of liquid carbonate hydrate for several water sources. In this way pH value is increasedtogether with slight increase of Ca water content. Actually we are not aware of existence of anyequipment used for water enrichment by Ca and Mg by fluid technique, either in the Slovak Republic,nor in the world.

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Other innovative approach of this project is monitoring of arterial stiffness and overall health status ofresidents after addition of carbonate rock into drinking water sources (water re-carbonization). It canbe fully assumed that the incidence/mortality for CVDs will improve even after 1–2 years and thearterial stiffness will decrease even after several months. In case of oncological as well as other relateddiseases we suppose the positive impact (decrease of their incidence) after relatively longer period(2–5 years). When we discussed the question of the expected improvement of arterial status ofresidents after the change of drinking water hardness (from soft to hard water) with the leadinghygenists from the Slovak Republic as well as from other EU countries, their first reaction was asfollows: "Probably yes, it is possible to expect the improvement of arterial status due to increasedwater hardness but in fact this issue was not analyzed and monitored so far." Their final opinion wasfollowing: "There is high probability that we can expect this improvement of health status but it shouldbe verified in practice."

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Comparison of geographical distribution of cardiovascular mortality and water hardness in Great Britain at thelocal authority district level (adapted from Catling et al., 2005)

Name of the picture:

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From a geological perspective, the Slovak Republic (SR) represents territory where the majority ofgeological formations occurring in Europe can be found. About one half of the SR territory is built byCore Mountains represented mainly by Crystalline rocks (granites, gneisses), carbonates (limestones,dolomites), volcanic rocks (andesites, basalts) and flysch sediments (sandstones, claystones, shales).The second half is represented by lowlands built by Quaternary and Tertiary sediments. Following thevariability of the geological structure, waters of various chemical composition and different hardnessoccur in the territory of SR. Variable geological environment is therefore found as ideal environmentfollowing the main idea of this project – the impact of drinking water of various hardness on humanhealth. We do not assume adverse health effects of other chemical elements such as nitrates,chlorides, heavy metals or organic pollutants in drinking water. The drinking water contents of thesechemicals are strictly monitored within public water supply system in accordance with strict limitvalues set in the guidelines for drinking water used for human consumption. They do not influencehuman health negatively at concentration levels below these limits. In most EU countries Ca and Mgwater contents or water hardness are not limited in the guidelines for the drinking water quality. Insome of EU countries (including Slovakia) the limit values for these chemical parameters are definedbut only as recommended values. It means that although water quality does not meet recommendedcriteria defined by national legislation of an individual state for these chemicals such waters are stillused for public drinking water supply. Many studies exist reporting the adverse health effects forwaters with low water hardness, several of them also under the auspices of the World HealthOrganization (WHO). WHO drinking water guideline does not define any limit values either in the formof recommended levels for Ca, Mg, and water hardness. The main reason why WHO does not set limitsfor Ca and Mg in drinking water is that so far no risk analysis has been performed to documentpotential health risks associated with deficient drinking water contents of both elements. We expect toconfirm with high probability negative impact of soft drinking water on human health based on riskanalysis. In this way we will obtain relevant evidence of expected relationship between low mineralizeddrinking water deficient in Ca and Mg contents and human health. We find expected results to beeligible for the legislative implementation of the minimum required Ca and Mg drinking water contentsand water hardness, including Slovak legislation as well as EU legislation on drinking water quality. Wesuppose the change in WHO approach which will lead at least to its proposal of limits for Ca and Mg inthe form of recommended values within the WHO guideline for drinking water quality. During theproject implementation we will elaborate proposals for inclusion of Ca and Mg limits into WHO as wellas Slovak drinking water guidelines.

The assumed results could have assets not only for the Slovak territory but also for all countries withinthe EU. The Slovak territory as well as the EU territory is built of about 20–25% by silicate rockenvironment (granites, gneisses, andesites, basalts) that hosts low mineralized water. This low watermineralization in silicate rock environment is valid for groundwater as well as surface water includingsurface water reservoirs used for drinking water public supply. Thus we can conclude that about 20%of EU population is supplied by low mineralized waters and they suffer from deficiency of Ca and Mg.

We assume to increase public and scientific awareness and concern by wide project disseminationplanned to be implemented in the Slovak Republic as well as abroad in various forms (webpage,popular and technical presentations, TV shows, Radio sessions, newspaper articles, conferences,promotion on WHO stage etc.). We would like to mention a statement of one simple citizen from asmall Slovak municipality during the informative meeting for residents organized within the projectGEOHEALTH: “Is it truth what you are saying to us, the situation should be dealt with by competentadministrative authorities.”

We assume that our assumed achievements (confirmation of negative health impact of soft drinkingwater on residents and improving of health status of residents due to drinking water re-carbonization)will generate interest not only among Layman public but it would be dealt with also by competentSlovak authorities (Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic, Public Health Authority of the SlovakRepublic etc.) and also within the EU and WHO. Partial solution of elimination of negative healthimpacts of low mineralized drinking water is supplemental Ca and Mg source (various vitaminsupplements, increased ingestion of mineral waters rich in both elements …). The final solutionconsists in water re-carbonization. Within this project we will develop prototype for water Ca and Mgenrichment and apply this developed highly effective technological equipment into practice. Suchequipment or similar one can be used further also in other EU countries. Even though prototypedevelopment and testing (trial) operation will be quite costly, operational costs after its initial testingwill be relatively very low considering the cost of drinking water. Operational annual costs fortreatment of water source with the yield about 1 l.s-1 are likely 2,000–3,000 EUR. This financial amountcan be used for treatment of 31,536 m3 of water per year. For the cost of drinking water which in

EU ADDED VALUE OF THE PROJECT AND ITS ACTIONS

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SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF THE PROJECT

The value of human health and human life is priceless. Either in the EU nor anywhere in the world, noregulations, methodologies or normatives exist to measure price of life. We consider human diseasesand deaths caused by consumption of soft water as so called avoidable causes of deaths. This is anenvironmental factor – character of geological background namely silicate rock environment that isassociated with the formation of soft water. Of course it is senseless and impossible to move theresidents from such unfavourable geological environment. We simply need to eliminate thisenvironmental factor in adequate way – by increasing drinking water (DW) hardness . This will enableto increase Ca and Mg contents in DW which represents one of the significant sources of theseessential elements to human organism within the food chain.

About 20–25 % of the Slovak territory as well as the EU territory is built of silicate geologicalenvironment. In Slovakia about 1 million inhabitants and in the EU about 100 millions of inhabitants areimpacted in relation to consumption of DW deficient in Ca and Mg contents. Socio-economic effects ofthe project can be generally estimated at four levels, namely:

- Directly for residents living in the areas of the Slovak Republic where DW will be treated by re-carbonization (at least 2,750 inhabitants),

- For the rest of Slovak population (about 1 million) supplied by soft DW,

Slovakia is about 1–1.2 EUR per m3 the operational costs for water treatment are really negligible(about 3% from drinking water cost). This is the reason why we plan to develop two prototypes oftechnological equipment for drinking water re-carbonization. One small (more simple) device which willbe used for treatment of drinking water from the source of local significance for at minimum 250inhabitants and one bigger for the drinking water source of the order of thousands of inhabitants.

During informative meetings organized within the project GEOHEALTH in 11 Slovak municipalities withsoft drinking groundwater and impaired health status of residents we included into the questionnairesthe following question: “Would you agree with the increase of Ca and Mg water contents in your localdrinking water source through water treatment?” We were given clear positive answer from allinterviewed citizens as well as mayors from the concerned municipalities.

In case of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) we can expect the improvement of health status of residentsalmost already 0.5–1 year of drinking water use from re-carbonized water source. From literaryknowledge a noticeable improvement in CVDs incidence after several months is well recognized. Incase of oncological diseases, diseases of gastrointestinal and respiratory systems improvement can beexpected over several years.

Big synergic effect of the project will be decreased financial costs for the health care. This effect will becertainly by the order higher than financial costs for operation of the process of water re-carbonization.The improvement of health status of residents and extension of their life expectancy can be expectedas the main project result. We expect validity of these results not only for the population in the SlovakRepublic but also within the whole EU where soft water quality will be improved by Ca and Mgenrichment. Another synergic effect consists in prolongation of the human lifetime and duration ofactive working period of life. The difference in lifetime expectancy between residents supplied with softand hard drinking water in the Slovak Republic is even 4–5 years (according to the results achievedwithin the project GEOHEALTH and LIFE FOR KRUPINA). Similar prolongation of the lifetime can be fullyassumed also in the other EU countries.

About 20–25% of the EU population (more than 100 million of inhabitants) is exposed to risk from Caand Mg deficient drinking water contents. Currently the EU countries implement the EU legislative fromWHO which recommend to EC the standards for drinking water of good quality, safe for human health.WHO cannot implement national legislative of member countries. It can only be given suggestions andproposals for consideration of certain issue (in this case Ca and Mg drinking water standards) at EUlevel. The results of such approach can be new international guideline or recommendations whichmember states then implement within their national legislatives. Last proposal of Drinking waterdirective (98/83 EC from 15th September 2016 “Background paper on chemical and physicalparameters”, appendix 03-OWD does not take into account suggestions related to health risks from Caand Mg deficient contents in drinking water, mainly CVDs documented in many countries in the world.Within the implementation of this project as well as after the project end we plan to make national aswell as international initiatives highlighting the need of definition of drinking water standards for bothelements.

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- For residents living in the EU countries supplied by soft DW (at least 100 milion of inhabitants),

- For residents living in the EU countries and Slovak Republic drinking bottled water.

In the first case we assume that the health status of residents consuming re-carbonized water will beimproved within 10% of population and thus we can help about 275 residents. The annual financialcosts for the health care for one individual (mainly oncological and cardiovascular patients ) are atminimum several thousands EUR per person. Thus the financial costs for the project will be recoveredin about 1 year.

In the second case, we will increase public awareness on relationship between soft water and healthimplications in Slovakia (mainly of those consuming soft water) and disseminate proposal of remedialmeasures including recommendations for residents to use supplemental sources of Ca and Mg(changes in diet, supplemental use of vitamins…). If we assume the improvement of health status atleast in case of 1 ‰ of population, this relates to 10,000 persons.

In the third case after the increase of public awareness within the EU population we assume toinfluence 0.1 ‰ of population, this relates to 100,000 persons.

Financial costs saved within the health care will every year multiply exceed project costs. We areaware of the fact that we are not able to prove precisely this impact not even give relevant financialrate.

The baseline for assumed amount of saved financial costs for healthcare can be explained on exampleof the resident population in the Krupina district – the study area with planned drinking waterrecarbonization in two municipalities. The residents of this district are supplied with soft water. Theyhave higher relative standardized mortality for the main causes of deaths (cardiovascular diseases,oncological diseases, diabetes, …) of about 500 cases of deaths per 100,000 inhabitants compared tothose residents supplied with harder drinking water. When we recalculate these data on impactedpopulation in two municipalities with planned drinking water treatment – 2,750 inhabitants we obtainnumber of 13,7 cases. Average medical costs per year for one-person range in case of cardiovascular,oncological diseases and diabetes among several hundreds to several ten hundred euros per year. Inaverage estimate is 10,000 euros per year. In relation to resident population of studied municipalitiesthe costs for healthcare are estimated to be reduced of about 137,000 per year.

The confirmation of the assumed results – positive impact of increased Ca and Mg drinking watercontents on human health, will represent verified argument for inclusion of Ca and Mg amongregulated elements in national drinking water guideline as well as drinking water guidelines in other EUcountries.

The supposed solution will be definition of temporary period (5 – 10 years), during which watercompanies will be obliged to implement method of drinking water treatment by recarbonization(similarly in case of bottled water). In case of successful implementation of this treatment method intopractice, we assume to influence on about 100 – 150 water sources In Slovakia and 10,000 watersources in the other EU countries. The production of recarbonizing reactors will lead to creation of newjobs.

In our project we will implement also the issue of Ca and Mg contents in bottled DW which arecommonly available on the market in the EU countries. We will propose optimum Ca and Mg contentsalso for the bottled DW. These in many cases (except of bottled water for infants) do not reachrequired Ca and Mg contents at levels necessary for human health.

The fact that low mineralized water is not favourable for human health is commonly taught in thefaculties of medicine practically throughout the whole EU territory. Future doctors, hygienists andepidemiologists are studying this issue for more than 30–40 years, mainly in relation to CVDs. Withinthe project GEOHEALTH we have successfully confirmed the relationship between deficient Ca and Mgcontents in DW and significant increase of mortality also from oncological diseases, diseases ofgastrointestinal, respiratory and endocrine system (diabetes).

The results of the project GEOHEALTH represented primarily study of ecological type however they hadcharacter also of cohort or case-control studies (health indicators for millions of inhabitants wereassessed in relation to chemical composition of groundwater). The significance of this study consistsmainly in huge amount of evaluated environmental and health data and new innovative method oftheir elaboration (through artificial neural network – ANN) which were not reported so far in thepublished literature and it includes following partial important outputs:

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- Results bring supporting evidence of high quality to current well-known relationships,

- Results indicate new health sectors which can be influenced by the macro-elements in drinking waterand show the direction of the further research,

- Results (defining optimum chemical water contents in relation to mortality from diseases) bring newmomentum to be discussed about determination of minimum or recommended Ca and Mg contents inDW.

Drinking water treatment used for public supply through re-carbonization (including also bottled water)using fluid technique require relatively high financial costs related to development, production andtesting of the prototype equipment. However, operating costs are relatively low, at level about severalcents for 1,000 l of treated water. These costs are negligible compared to the price of supplied DW intopublic supply water network in the Slovak Republic which is 1–2 EUR per m3. The final effect –improvement of the health status of residents and saved costs for healthcare are incomparably higherthan costs needed for DW re-carbonization.

We will look for the support of a commercial entity after implementation of the reactor into operationand demonstration of supposed effects on water quality. Then we plan to address the informationabout the tested technology to producers of bottled water, water companies and producers of waterequipment. “Safer and Health Water” could become a strong marketing strategy (see for exampleMagnesia mineral water). On the other hand, the increase of DW quality and taste properties of watersupplied from pipeline system will lead to reduction of consumption of various alternative drinks withsugar and subsequently to the improvement of health of drinking water consumers.

Within our proposed project we will perform health risk assessment for ten municipalities supplied withsoft DW with low Ca and Mg contents (at least 50,000 inhabitants) and for ten municipalities suppliedwith hard DW with adequate Ca and Mg levels (at least 50,000 inhabitants). By application of DW re-carbonization based on the principles of fluid technique we aim to confirm the effectiveness of thismethod to reach adequate increase of Ca and Mg drinking water contents and subsequentimprovement of the health status of residents based on its monitoring.

The use of re-carbonized water for drinking purposes (including also bottled water) is assumed to bringrelatively high societal as well as economic benefits leading to synergic effects, mainly in decrease ofcosts for health care. The improvement of the health status of residents will be reflected in increase oflifetime expectancy (assumption of 3 – 5 years) and in significant decrease of incidence of CVD andOD. Synergic effect is thus assumed to be observed at two levels:

- decrease of costs for health care,

- prolongation of economically active life of residents.

EFFORTS FOR REDUCING THE PROJECT'S "CARBON FOOTPRINT"

Our project does not have any direct relation to the reduction of “Carbon Footprint”. All project actionswill be implemented to keep reduction of “Carbon Footprint” as possible, mainly by:

- Reduced printing of documents and preferential use of electronic communication (e-mail) andpublishing of documents in electronic versions on the project website,

- Purchase of goods (equipment) and services (catering, refreshments during seminars, workshop,conference, meetings) to meet criteria of Green Public Procurement in accordance with EU policy -“Public procurement for a better environment” (COM (2008) 400),

- Prioritization of equipment classified within the energetic category “A”,

- Reduced need of transport services (e.g. by purchase of goods of local origin),

- Effective use of vehicles (cars) for travelling including reduction of travel distance (e.g. byinvolvement of local people into project implementation) and keeping maximum car occupancy,

- Using of recycled materials, e.g. printing paper…

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Within the project we plan to develop and install equipment for water re-carbonization. Their operationwill be based on solar system of photovoltaic panels as source of the electricity.

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STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED AND MAIN TARGET AUDIENCE OF THE PROJECT (OTHER THAN PROJECTPARTICIPANTS)

The most important stakeholder subject of the project is represented by the Regional Public HealthAuthorities in the Slovak Republic and respective departments of the Ministry of Health of the SlovakRepublic dealing with public health within their competences. These organizations will be included inthe project through regular consultative meetings during the implementation of all project actions.Their representatives will be involved into the project steering committee as members. An importantpart of our work will consist in the dissemination of the project results to competent EC and WHOauthorities responsible for legislative of drinking water guideline. This issue will be implemented byinternational hygienist as mediator in the process of commenting and suggesting the achieved results– importance of drinking water standards for Ca and Mg to be defined in EU legislative to theseauthorities.

One of the very important issues will be the achievement of the approval and written consent to theinstallation of technological equipment for water re-carbonization by national authorities. Within theimplementation of the project LIFE FOR KRUPINA (LIFE12 ENV/SK/094) also the regional hygienist forthe Slovak districts Zvolen, Detva and Krupina will be involved within the project staff. Based on thiscollaboration we have received preliminary consent to implementation of water treatment through re-carbonization of drinking water sources which are under the responsibility and professionalcompetence of the regional authorities involved.

The main output of this project should be elaboration of proposal for implementation of Ca and Mgdrinking water standards into national/international guidelines. This issue is in the competence ofnational Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic and/or Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic.Therefore both authorities are considered to be the most important stakeholders for this project. Inrelation to assumed project results and their discussion with related authorities – successfulimplementation of drinking water re-carbonization into practice and reaching of adequate Ca and Mgwater contents necessary to reach better health status of population, we expect the introduction oftransitional period (5–10 years) to provide time to water companies to implement the method of waterre-carbonization.

Water companies are also important partners – stakeholders within the project implementation. We willdisseminate this project to the water company representatives with focus on technical solution of waterre-carbonization. We will inform them on the project results including not only technological aspectsbut also health aspects. The main technologist of the Central Water Company will be external memberof the project staff so there is guarantee that the process of water re-carbonization will beimplemented correctly (waterworks-technological conditions…). He/she will be also a member of theSteering Committee.

Water sources in Slovakia are currently under the administration and management of municipalities orthey belong to respective private water companies. Local water sources which supply by drinking waterpopulations of about 500–1,000 residents are dominantly managed by respective municipalities. Largerwater sources supplying usually population of more than 1,000 inhabitants are managed by the watercompanies. Mostly they are in own of the cities/municipalities and water companies are operators.Therefore, other important stakeholders in addition to water companies are individualcities/municipalities. We will lead intensive discussions with respective municipalities which managewater sources suitable for treatment by re-carbonization. In several such municipalities in the Krupinadistrict (selected based on the project LIFE FOR KRUPINA) we have already preliminary written consentto water treatment of their drinking water sources. The opinion of mayors and the local council wasclear: “We fully agree if this can help our citizens and it is for the benefit of our municipality”.

In case of the water companies the situation is more complicated due to complex property relations.The owners of the water companies in Slovakia are mainly foreign companies and time-consumingprofessional dialogue to convince them and reach their approval will be necessary. For this dialogue wewill use the collaboration mainly with the local council and the Regional Public Health Authorities. Forexample, the mayor of the Krupina city together with the head of the city are keen to implement thewater treatment in their city. Since we assume no fundamental building interventions into watersources we expect to get approval also from the water companies to place technological equipment forwater re-carbonization and its further management and operation after the project completion.

Very significant stakeholders are the companies dealing with production and delivery of technologicalequipment for drinking water treatment. We will inform them about the project aim andimplementation of project actions and we will provide them with overall technical documentation

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related to water re-carbonization.

Other stakeholders are producers and distributors of bottled drinking water. In Slovakia, there arecurrently sold six main sorts of bottled water. In these waters Mg contents are within the range 8–32mg.l-1 and Ca contents within the range 24–58 mg.l-1. In case of one sort of bottled water Mg contentsare below recommended values within Slovak drinking water standards and in case of four sorts ofbottled water Mg contents are lower than optimal value derived within the project GEOHEALTH (>25mg.l-1). In case of Ca is the situation very similar. The producers and distributors will be provided withthe information on simple, effective and low-cost method of water treatment through re-carbonization.

The most important group of target audience is resident population living in two municipalities in whichwe will implement water re-carbonization. We plan to organize dissemination activities (informativemeetings, posters, website, local regional press etc.) to explain residents the project objectives andtheir output and benefit for their common life. Based on the previous experience achieved within theimplementation of the project LIFE FOR KRUPINA (information from informative meetings) we canconclude that residents agree with the treatment of their drinking water source by re-carbonization.

Next group of target audience include all inhabitants of the Slovak Republic living in the silicategeological environment and supplied by soft drinking water.

The mayors of respective municipalities will be addressed to warn them of this importantenvironmental-health issue, mainly through the project website and electronic communication (e-mail).We will invite them to participate in all organized events within the project, including informativemeetings, seminars and conferences. They will be informed how negative health impact of lowmineralized water can be reduced mainly in the form of environmental-health edification.

The last group of target audience is represented by the EU population living in the silicate geologicalenvironment and thus supplied with soft drinking water (deficient in Ca and Mg). It represents about20–25% of the EU territory and about 100 million of inhabitants. Information on related environmental-health issue including the proposal and method how it can be faced and solved will be given to thisaudience through electronic communication with national authorities, dissemination of technicalpublications of the project (Layman report etc.).

By elaboration of all data and results in GIS environment and their free access through the projectwebsite we will guarantee wide dissemination of project findings and outputs among Layman publicaudience as well as scientific communities. For those inhabitants who do not have access to internetcommunication (mainly elderly people) we will prepare series of educative-popular articles reportingthis issue in clear way. We plan to disseminate project findings and outputs widely as possible also innational and regional media.

The health status of population is influenced mainly by the lifestyle (way of life and work) within about50%. Genetic factors and the level of health care influence the human health within about 10–20%. Theenvironment is given about 20% rate of influence on human health. Within the project LIFE FORKRUPINA we have studied and assessed beside the environmental factors also the quality of lifestyleand the level of health care. Based on the achieved results we can conclude that the level of lifestyleand health care in individual Slovak regions are approximately the same and these factors practicallydo not have any significant influence on big differences in health status of the Slovak residents. Weassume that these differences are caused mainly by variances in character of geological environmentand the occurrence of more favourable (carbonate rock formations) and unfavourable geologicalenvironment (silicate rock formations) leading to differences in drinking water hardness.

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EXPECTED CONSTRAINTS AND RISKS RELATED TO THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND MITIGATIONSTRATEGY

The major risk within the project implementation is disagreement of water companies or local councilwith the installation of technological equipment for water re-carbonization. So far, we have preliminarywritten consents to the installation of such equipment in case of seven municipalities in whichinformative meetings within the project GEOHEALTH and LIFE FOR KRUPINA were organized. Thesewater sources are in the own possession and administration of municipalities and we will not need anyadditional approval except the one by regional hygienist. Bigger risk is receive of approval forinstallation of technological equipment into water source in the own possession and management ofwater companies. We have already discussed this issue with several representatives or competentemployees of these water companies, e.g. with the Director of Water Company in the Zvolen city, MainTechnologist of Central Slovak Water Company in Banská Bystrica, Director of Regional Public HealthAuthority in Zvolen, Mayor of the Krupina city and the Head of the Krupina city. All of them haveconfirmed their preliminary agreement with the installation of such equipment and gave us oralconsent. We also assume to involve a representative of a water company as a member of the projectsteering committee which will be helpful during the implementation of this issue. We have already inperspective one large drinking water (DW) source for public supply of the Krupina city. If we are notgiven the official approval to implement the technological equipment for water re-carbonization in thiscity we will search for another suitable water source. In Slovakia, there are more than 100 watersources of required yield and low water hardness that should be increased. We definitely believe that ifnecessary we are able to find other suitable water source with given approval by respectiveauthorities. That is why we take into account this potential constraint in advance and we plan asufficient time span for six months.

We also must expect possible technological risk related to new prototype of equipment. Certain riskconsists in construction of prototype solution for treatment of water public supply sources by re-carbonization. Such equipment has not been compiled yet nor even installed into operation. At first, wehave to “tune-up” mainly its effectiveness at various yields which can vary depending on local climaticconditions. We do not find constraint in the increased Ca and Mg DW contents. On the contrary therecan be problem with inadequately increased contents of both elements in water. It is necessary tocarefully implement pilot and testing operation. The agreement with the sub-contractor must be donein such a way that also removal of occasional defects will be included together with warranty and after-warranty service.

Administrative process of acquisition of all necessary licences and legal authorisations for installationof technological equipment into selected water sources. Administrative licence process in the SlovakRepublic is usually very lengthy because of many involved subjects. For the implementation ofrecarbonized equipment into testing a continuous operation we need at first the approvals of themunicipalities for DW treatment on their water sources, further we need approvals of respectiveRegional Public Health Authority and approval of Water company (the owner and operator). We providethese approvals as separate attachments. They should guarantee the acquisition of all necessarypermits/authorisation during the project implementation.

We were given support from the regional hygienist which was a member of the project staff of theproject LIFE FOR KRUPINA, he is fully in consent with the proposed project and environmental-healthissue proposed to be implemented, i.e. the health risks from low mineralized DW deficient in Ca and Mgfor residents of the district.

Since this is a pilot project in which new prototype equipment will be installed, applied in Slovakia forthe first time, we expect that mainly water companies will not be prepared to give us such approval.We were given promise that the main technologist of the Central Water Company in Banská Bystricawill be a member of the project staff. In addition water sources are in own of cities/municipalities andonly operated by water companies so mayors of municipalities are those responsible to give us theapproval for water treatment.

We will have to substantiate them the purpose of this method of water treatment with explanation ofall technological aspects. For this process we plan sufficient time span of about nine months. Besidethis we plan to initiate discussions and proceed in the consultations with respective authoritiesimmediately after the project beginning or even before the project start in case of given grantagreement by the EC.

Process of public procurement. Since we plan to ask co-financing contribution to the project by theMinistry of Environment of the Slovak Republic (MŽP SR) we have to respect all administrativeassociations involved in the process of public procurement. The process of public procurement is

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regulated by the Act of MŽP SR which defines the need of approval for all orders above 1,000 EUR bycompetent employees of MŽP SR before public procurement starts. This process of approval for thestart of public procurement is not time limited and often takes even 3–6 months. Beside this after theend of public procurement the agreement with the successful applicant must be again sent for controlto MŽP SR. We cannot influence this process; therefore we have included into all relevant actionsimplemented within the project time span of at least six months for realization of public procurement.

Additional data collection. Within the project we plan also to collect 70 samples of locally grownvegetables (35 samples from carbonate environment and 35 samples from silicate environment). Wecan face the unwillingness of residents to provide us with vegetable samples from their gardens. Thissituation will be solved by our collaboration with mayors of municipalities. We believe that they help usto convince their inhabitants and we collect planned number of samples without any constraint.

We also plan to confirm the impaired status of arterial system of residents living in the silicategeological environment. Therefore we need about 500 respondents which ought to participate in thearterial stiffness measurements. Again, we can face the unwillingness of residents to participate suchmedical survey. We will carefully explain these inhabitants in the presence of mayors of respectivemunicipalities the objective of our research and its significance to their common life to convince themto participate in the measurements of arterial stiffness.

The coordinating beneficiary and project staff have in disposition wide team of workers which arenecessary for the project implementation. The project team members will have a special contract sothey won´t be burdened with other work obligations. The coordinating beneficiary does not cover thepositions of medical-hygienist and technologist by members of its permanent staff. These workingpositions within the project team will be covered for the period of the project implementation bytemporary employees in external form. So far, both implemented geological-medical projects(GEOHEALTH, LIFE FOR KRUPINA) were successfully solved in this way.

Inadequate definition of competencies within the project team members and inadequate control ofactions will be prevented by the precise specification of the competencies, responsibilities andpositions of individual project team members. Project plan and implementation of respective deadlines,deliverables and milestones of individual actions will be continuously checked by the project manageror a person authorized by him. With respect to the range and variability of project actions an adequatecommunication environment for the project management will be required – in similar cases thecoordinating beneficiary to good experience in internet communication via the website with specialaccess for management sectors created for document preparation and decision process.

Disinterest of media about the project. After the experience within the project GEOHEALTH and LIFEFOR KRUPINA media are generally concerned in this environmental-health problem and its furthersolution. Media are continuously interested in this topic and contact us several times per year. Ifnecessary we contact the media but we have no doubt about the media disinterest. We believe we areable to increase their interest to publish projected relations (TV, radio). The issue of human health isalways the object of high concern.

Website will be visited to a lesser extent or its content will be difficult to understand. We will face thisconstraint in such a way that during each meeting with residents, officers and representatives ofmunicipalities we will distribute short leaflets or information with the project website. Link to theproject website will be located on the main page of the coordinating beneficiary (PRIF UK). The websiteof PRIF UK is frequently visited so we assume to attract visitors to attend also the project website.Difficulty in the website content understanding will be reduced or removed based on feedback andsuggestions by the users. These will be able to send their comments and proposal for the websiteimprovements through the e-mail given in the website. A special link for collection of feedback in theform of responses by website visitors will be created.

The main risk related to the proposed project is the fact that we are not able to guarantee theimplementation of the project results into Slovak and EU legislative during the project duration.However, we will continuously make proposals to Slovak and EU authorities which are responsible forimplementation of drinking water guideline. At first, our effort will be to reach the inclusion of Ca andMg among regulated chemicals with defined recommended limit values into drinking water legislativeby the competent Slovak and EU authorities. Later on, we assume the definition of transition period (5– 10 years) for water companies to be able to apply the drinking water enrichment by Ca and Mg intopractice. The environmental-health problem associated to deficient Ca and Mg drinking water contentsis really very up-to-date in the Slovak Republic as well as in many other countries in the world. In thelast revision of the Slovak drinking water guideline (Autumn 2017) note about the importance ofminimal required Ca and Mg levels in drinking water and the effort to increase them in case of theirdeficiency was added (also due to proposals elaborated within the previous projects GEOHEALTH and

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LIFE FOR KRUPINA). This issue will be arranged at national level by Slovak hygienist which will beresponsible for implementation of the project results into Slovak legislative. At international level (EU,WHO) this position will be represented by international hygienist. It will be person from the workinggroup of EC and WHO in the field of legislative process of drinking water quality guideline revision.He/she will have opportunity to highlight and discuss the project results during the EC meetings. Weare convinced that the project results will be substantial (based on risk analysis, drinking watereffective re-carbonization, improvement of health status in two municipalities), challenging othersimilar researches in other countries of the world. Thus the evidence of the implementedenvironmental-health issue can become much more higher to support the need of revision of drinkingwater quality guideline at international level to prevent potential health risks from deficient Ca and Mgcontents in drinking water to which Slovak (about 1 million of inhabitants) as well as EU population(about 100 millions of inhabitants) is exposed.

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CONTINUATION / VALORISATION AND LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROJECT'S RESULTS AFTERTHE END OF THE PROJECT

Which actions will have to be carried out or continued after the end of the project?

After the end of the project following actions will continue:

Action B7 Installation of two prototypes for water re-carbonization into continuous operation –sustainable operation of technological equipment for water re-carbonization,

Action C1 Monitoring of Ca and Mg contents in re-carbonized drinking water sources,

Action C2 Monitoring of the health impacts of the project actions,

Action C3 Monitoring of the socio-economic impacts of the project actions including projectdissemination among public and regional authorities and networking with national/internationalscientific audience,

Action D1 Dissemination of project results for Layman public and stakeholders via media work andproject website,

Action D2 Dissemination of research findings and knowledge transfer among scientific community andconcerned authorities, including:

- Legislative proposal,

- Technical publications,

- Proposals for enrichment of bottled drinking water by Ca and Mg,

- Educational activities on University/colleges,

- Presentation of project results at conferences/seminars.

How will this be achieved? What resources will be necessary to carry out these actions?

- Provision of the operation of technical equipment will be managed by respective municipality or watercompany covering related personal costs. Responsible worker will manage continuous addition ofcarbonate rock into treated water sources and will control and maintain the equipment for re-carbonization in good technique status. The material arrangements, mainly purchase of rock and CO2for system saturation, will be covered by the budget of the coordinating beneficiary. The municipalityor water company will authorize water manager responsible for the water source to operate this action.

- Monitoring of drinking water quality will be performed by competent water manager. He/she will belocal resident acting within the project staff as local water technologists, who will be educated in allnecessary measurements. No costs including those personal are assumed for this action.Measurements of electric conductivity are planned to be realized twice a month. The coordinatingbeneficiary will carry out monitoring plan. We assume that after the start-up of technologicalequipment operation, measurements of electric conductivity of water will be sufficient.Contemporaneously, monitoring of drinking water quality will be carried out in accordance with theSlovak legislation also by the Regional Public Health Authority as well as water company (at least twicea year).

- Monitoring and evaluation of the health status of residents in respective municipalities will be realizedfor the first time two years after the project end and for the second time four years after the projectend. This evaluation will be based on official health statistics elaborated and published by NationalCentre of Health Information as responsible national authority in the Slovak Republic. The results(changes in health status) will be elaborated in the form of short report and they will be also presentedon scientific conferences. Personnel costs for this action will be covered by the budget of thecoordinating beneficiary (CB).

- Monitoring of the socio-economic impacts of the project actions will include project disseminationamong public/regional authorities and networking with national/international scientific audience,

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- After the project end we will continue in communication with media and we expect to perform aseries of TV shows and radios sessions as well as publishing a series of newspaper/internet articles.Layman audience as well as media are generally highly concerned in the human health issues and theywill certainly disseminate project results. Personnel costs for this action will be covered by the budgetof the CB.

- Project website will be running long-term as part of the official website of the PRIF UK and will bemaintained within costs covered by the coordinating beneficiary. Results of the project will becontinuously published on the project website, including mainly the results of drinking water qualitymonitoring and operation of technological equipment for water re-carbonization, but also published inthe form of technical and popular articles and sessions in media.

- Elaboration and submission of proposals for inclusion of Ca and Mg among limited parameters indrinking water will be managed by members of project staff and covered by the budget of the CB.

- Technical publications of the project will be compiled for publishing in long-term horizon after theproject end. The project implementation will lead to collection of wide scientific data (material) of veryhigh significance and we will not be able to publish all results during the project duration. Personnelcosts for this action will be covered by the budget of the CB.

- Proposals for re-carbonization of bottled drinking water will be elaborated after the project end andsubmitted at least to five producers of bottled water. They will be also reminded the health impactsassociated to low mineralized bottled water with low Ca and Mg contents as well as possibility to enrichsuch waters by effective technology (water re-carbonization). We assume costs for enrichment ofbottled waters by Ca and Mg at level less than 1 cent per litre of water. These proposals will beelaborated and submitted not only at national level (within Slovak Republic) but also within the EUcountries. This action will be implemented by members of project staff (project manager incollaboration with Slovak and international hygienist) and covered by the budget of the CB.

- Within the educational activities on University/colleges, the members of the project team will includeinto their subject teaching also presentation of the project results. This action will be described in moredetail within the “After LIFE – Communication plan”.

- Even after the project end we assume that the project team members will participate in severalscientific conferences/seminars and actively present the project results. Personnel costs for this actionwill be covered by the budget of the coordinating beneficiary.

To what extent will the results and lessons of the project be actively disseminated after the end of the project tothose persons and/or organisations that could best make use of them (please identify thesepersons/organisations)?

The project results (monograph, Layman report) will be delivered after the end of the project mainly tothe Chief Hygienist, Director of the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic and they will bedistributed also to all Regional Public Health Authorities (about 20 offices). Further they will bedelivered to respective authorities and departments within the Ministry of Environment of the SlovakRepublic (MŽP SR) and Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic (MZ SR). The project results will bedistributed also among all universities, medical faculties of Comenius University and all academicinstitutions in Slovakia dealing with the implemented issue of environment and human health, e.g.Slovak Academy of Sciences, Water Research Institute, Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute, SlovakEnvironment Agency, World Health Organization – office in Slovakia as well as among Slovak non-governmental organizations (e.g. EKOFÓRUM). Obviously the project results will be submitted to allwater companies operating in the Slovak Republic in the form of technical publications (Layman report,monograph, etc.).

We will deliver project results also on the international level into WHO European Centre forEnvironment and Health in Bonn. The project results dissemination among individual member countriesof the EU will be provided through various international conferences. Every year tens even hundreds ofacademic members of permanent staff of the coordinating beneficiary participate at variousconferences. In this way project results will be distributed among academicians and researchers.Project results will be disseminated also through the project website which will be referenced in all ourpresentations and technical publications including Layman report and monograph. In this way everyperson interested in this topic will be able to find easily the project outputs.

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Part C – detailed technical description of theproposed actions


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LIFE17 ENV/SK/000036 - C0

LIST OF ALL PROPOSED ACTIONS

A. Preparatory actions (if needed)

B. Implementation actions (obligatory)

B1 Risk analysis

B2 Selection of two drinking water sources for water re-carbonization

B3 Laboratory tests

B4 Biomonitoring

B5 Construction of prototypes

B6 Installation of two prototypes into testing operation

B7 Installation of two prototypes for water re-carbonization into continuous operation

C. Monitoring of the impact of the project actions (obligatory)

C1 Monitoring of Ca and Mg contents in re-carbonized drinking water sources

C2 Monitoring of the health impacts of the project actions

C3 Monitoring of the socio-economic impacts of project actions

C4 Monitoring of the LIFE-cycle assessment

D. Public awareness and dissemination of results (obligatory)

D1 Dissemination management and communication activities for general public and stakeholders

D2 Dissemination of research findings and knowledge transfer among scientific community and concernedauthorities

E. Project management (obligatory)

E1 Project administration, management and planning

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LIFE17 ENV/SK/000036 - C1b

DETAILS OF PROPOSED ACTIONS

B. Implementation actions (obligatory)ACTION B.1: Risk analysis

Description and methods employed (what, how, where, when and why):Within this action risk analysis will be performed – Health risk assessment. So far, there are nolimits/recommended values set within WHO guideline for drinking water quality due to lack of reliable data –missing risk analysis for Ca and Mg content levels in drinking water based on which number of peopleexposed to health risk associated to deficiency/excess of both elements would be assessed (estimated).

Risk analysis will be performed for two groups of residents. The first group will include residents (at least tenmunicipalities, 50, 000 inhabitants) supplied with soft drinking water deficient in Ca and Mg contents. Thesecond group will include residents (at least ten municipalities, 50, 000 inhabitants) supplied with harddrinking water with adequate Ca and Mg levels. Our main advantage is that we will have in disposition realdata and we will know the real health status of resident population – number of deaths for various causes ofdeaths including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), oncological diseases (ODs), diseases of gastrointestinal tract(GT), respiratory system (RS) and endocrine system – diabetes (D). For these 20 municipalities all necessaryhealth indicators (lifetime expectancy and mortality for the main causes of deaths) for the period at least 15years will elaborate in detail by biostatistician. The calculated health risks (number of deaths per populationin accordance with EPA methodology, US EPA, 1989) can be subsequently compared to known real healthdata. We plan to make calculations of health risk at various Ca and Mg drinking water levels as well as levelsof water hardness (Ca + Mg). At first, we will use supposed limits as risk-based values (Ca – 50 mg . l-1, Mg –25 mg . l-1, water hardness – 2 mmol . l-1). Then we will use real concentrations measured in drinking waterused for public supply. We also perform risk estimates for recommended values defined in the Slovak drinkingwater guideline (Ca > 30 mg . l-1, Mg 10 mg . l-1, water hardness 1.1 mmol . l-1) for all 20 municipalities as wellas for residents of both evaluated groups of exposed population (soft vs. hard water). In this way we will beable to determine optimal limit values which are the most favourable for human health, i.e. the health risk isthe lowest. Based on risk analysis we will subsequently define optimal values for drinking water treatment –re-carbonization in two water sources (actions B2, B3, B6, B7).

Risk analysis will be based on methodological principles defined by US EPA (United States EnvironmentalProtection Agency) and in accordance with respective EU legislative (Commission Regulation (EC) No.1488/94, Commission Directive 93/67/EEC). We will perform calculations only for chronic risk from oralingestion of drinking water, including the above mentioned limit values for Ca and Mg as referenceconcentrations and pre-defined model exposure parameters for population (body weight, average exposureperiod, daily water intake, exposure frequency, exposure duration…). In the first step we will elaboratemethodology of calculations and mathematical models (senior statistician responsible for this action) whichwill be tested on model areas with focus on potential uncertainties and after then we will realize the finalcalculations. The final calculations will lead to determination of so-called hazard quotient (HQ) for single Caand Mg contents and levels of water hardness and determination of so-called hazard index (HI) for summaryrisks for all evaluated chemical parameters. Based on HQ/HI values we will be able to quantify health risklevel based on risk scale from low to very high based on calculated cases of diseases occurrence/mortality pernumber of inhabitants from < 1 per 1,000,000 inhabitants to > 1 per 1,000 inhabitants. The first two risklevels (very low, low) will be assumed as harmless Ca, Mg water hardness levels. The highest risk levels (high,very high risk at level 10,000 cases per 1,000 inhabitants and > 1 case per 1,000 inhabitants) will beconsidered as harmful. The results of health risk calculations will be subsequently compared to the real healthstatus of resident population. The part of risk calculations will be derivation of health-risk based levels, i.e.optimal Ca, Mg and water hardness levels for all evaluated main causes of deaths. These optimal values willrepresent target limit levels for water treatment by re-carbonization.

The main output of this action is calculated health risk at various Ca, Mg content in drinking water and levelsof drinking water hardness and definition of optimal levels for Ca, Mg and hardness in drinking water.

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This action will be monitored within the actions C1 and C2. The main measurable environmental output of thisaction is the quantification of optimal Ca and Mg drinking water contents as well as water hardness (Ca + Mg)and thus definition of quantitative limit criteria for adequate and required “chemical release” of these keychemical parameters from rock material into drinking water (including natural geological environment, addedrock material within the water treatment). This environmental output will cover directly at least 2,750residents living in area of about 30 km2 and indirectly about 500,000 inhabitants from total evaluated 1million inhabitants living in area of about 5,000 km2). Societal outputs of this action include dissemination ofthe achieved results (mainly through the website – publication of short report). The results of this action willbe reported in the form of short report and published on the project website as well as in the form of severaltechnical publications.

Proposed health risk assessment to define level of health risk represents innovative approach within riskanalysis. However, members of project staff is highly experienced in risk analysis (three current contentspublications) and we do not assume any constraints to face within the implementation of this action.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation:PRIF UK

Assumptions related to major costs of the action: Total cost of this action will consist only of personal costs for permanent as well as additional staff (47,670EUR). Personnel cost for project manager and permanent staff covers 3 employees (37,870 eur/340 days).Project manager (daily rate 125 eur/50 days) – 6,250 eur, assistant project manager (103 eur/40 days) –4,120 eur and coordinator for health issues (110 eur/250 days) – 27,500 eur. Personal cost for temporary staffcovers 2 employees (9,800 eur/70 days): senior biostatistician (140 eur/45 days) – 6,300 eur and seniorstatistician (140/25 days) – 3,500 eur.

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B1's PROJECT DELIVERABLE PRODUCTS

Deliverable name Deadline

Short report from results of risk analysis 12/2019

B1's PROJECT MILESTONES

Milestone name Deadline

Determination of optimal Ca and Mg drinking water contents 11/2019

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B. Implementation actions (obligatory)ACTION B.2: Selection of two drinking water sources for water re-carbonization

Description and methods employed (what, how, where, when and why):Within this action two drinking water sources for water re-carbonization will be selected including receive ofapproval for installation of re-carbonizing equipment into temporary operation. Our objective is the widestpossible application of the proposed methodology for water treatment by increase of Ca, Mg drinking watercontents into practice. We plan application of water re-carbonization method in two drinking water sources.The successful operation of this water treatment method on two water sources can be assumed as adequatelyverified. In case of one small drinking water source we will elaborate the methodology at relatively lowfinancial costs. In the case of the second one larger drinking water source the financial costs will beincomparably higher but the final output will be water treatment by re-carbonization for several thousands ofinhabitants.

Selected water sources must meet following main criteria:

- Qualitative,

- Quantitative,

- Technical.

In accordance with the qualitative criteria the treated water source must be low mineralized water with thetotal dissolved solids < 300 mg.l-1, Mg content 5–15 mg.l-1, Ca contents < 20–30 mg.l-1 and water hardness< 1.1 mmol.l-1.

In accordance with the quantitative criteria the treated water sources must have adequate yield for publicsupply of minimum 250 / 2,500 inhabitants, respectively. These water sources should have yield of about0.5–1.0 l.s-1 or 2.5–5 l.s-1, respectively.

In accordance with the technical criteria a spring water tapping or water reservoir must be built in a wayenabling the installation of technological equipment for water treatment, it means enough space is required.

We have in perspective several potentially suitable water sources which could be taken into consideration.During informative meetings organized within the project GEOHEALTH in 11 Slovak municipalities with softdrinking groundwater and impaired health status of residents we included into the questionnaires thefollowing question: “Would you agree with the increase of Ca and Mg water contents in your local drinkingwater source through water treatment?” Almost 100% were positive answers.

We have also written consent for eight water sources for the treatment by re-carbonization received by sevenmayors of seven municipalities. The approvals are provided in "Proposal Attachments". These water sourcesare in the own possession and administration of municipalities that is why we do not need any approval bythe respective water authority, only by the regional hygienist. The regional hygienist gave us also preliminaryoral consent to the installation of technological equipment.

In case that these perspective water sources will not be available for the water treatment operation due tosome reasons, we will have to search for some other water sources. We are in contact with Central WaterCompany, Banská Bystrica (water production and management company operating in the Central Slovakia)which also gave us preliminary support for the collaboration in water treatment operation by re-carbonization.Within the Slovak territory there are tens of large water sources (for about 2,500 inhabitants and more) andat least 100 small water sources (for about 100–1,000 inhabitants) which are from the qualitative aspect

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suitable for water re-carbonization. We believe to be given approval for water treatment for both perspectivetwo drinking water sources.

For the installation of technological equipment for water treatment an acquisition of legal authorisation by therespective water authority (water department within the regional office) is required in accordance with § 18 ofLaw No. 364/2004 of Coll. “Water Law” and its further amendments. Within this action the project team willprepare documentation for legal authorisation and license agreement for all respective authorities to installtechnological equipment for water re-carbonization into temporary operation within extent required by Slovaklegislation in force.

A short report dealing with detail hydrogeochemical and quantitative water characteristics of selecteddrinking water sources will be compiled and published on the project website as project deliverable.

Selection of two drinking water sources for water re-carbonization together with the acquisition of licenseagreements to installation of technological equipment into temporary operation represents the basicassumption to reach the main project objective. It will contribute to meet partial project objective“Development and compilation of prototypes of technological equipment for low mineralized drinking watertreatment by re-carbonization”.

This action has direct link to further project actions B3 – laboratory test, B6 “Construction and testing ofprototypes for water re-carbonization” and B7 “Installation of two prototypes for water re-carbonization intocontinuous operation“.

This action will be monitored within the actions C1 and C2. Its environmental output will cover at least 2,750residents living in area of about 30 km2. This action is directly linked to the objective “ImprovedEnvironmental Performance” related to “improved water quality” as monitored indicator. The estimatedimpact is improvement of water quality at level of more than 20,000 m3/year in case of small treated drinkingwater source (with average yield 0.75 l.s-1) and at level of more than 100,000 m3/year for larger watersource (with average yield 3.75 l.s-1). We expect about 40% change in drinking water quality related to theincrease Ca, Mg contents and water hardness. Societal outputs of this action include dissemination of theachieved results (D1, D2).

Selection of two drinking water sources and process of agreement can be time-consuming. We implementnew technologies and new methodologies of water treatment. Competent authorities did not face this issue sofar. That is why overcoming the administrative obstacles and related constraints will be solved ad hoc byconsultations with authorised administrative officers at all concerned offices. Within this action, for thepurpose of these potentially time-consuming consultations we plan a sufficient time as well as adequatetravel costs. We plan to initiate discussions and proceed in the consultations with respective authoritiesunofficially, immediately in case of given grant agreement by the EC, it means several months before theproject start.


Assumptions related to major costs of the action:The major costs of this action are related to personnel and travel expenditures.

Personnel costs represent the main expenditure in this action with total amount assumed on 14,630 EURincluding project manager, permanent staff (11,990 EUR/110 days) and additional staff (2,640 EUR/16 days).We assume personnel costs for project manager (daily rate 125 EUR per day x 30 days, i.e. 3,750 EUR in

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total) and coordinator for water sources from permanent staff (daily rate 103 EUR per day x 80 days, i.e.8,240 EUR in total). We assume personnel costs for two external employees within the additional staff – maintechnologist for 10 days at daily rates 165 EUR per day, i.e. 1,650 EUR in total and senior constructor for 6days at daily rate 165 EUR per day i.e. 990 EUR in total.

Travel costs in this action are estimated to 3,000 EUR (including main expenses - transport/fuel, dailysubsistence allowances, accommodation) for 3 persons x 5 trips x 2 days (total number of travels 15, nationaldestination).

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Short report on detail hydrogeochemical and quantitative water characteristics ofselected drinking water sources

06/2019



Selection of two water sources for drinking water re-carbonization 06/2019

Final approval of related authorities with temporary operation of drinking water re-carbonization

12/2019

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B. Implementation actions (obligatory)ACTION B.3: Laboratory tests

Description and methods employed (what, how, where, when and why):Within this action technological tests of leaching of carbonate rocks in the laboratory conditions will berealized. Further, certificate laboratory tests on selected rock types will be executed to reach legalauthorisation of their use for water quality treatment on drinking water sources used for public supply.

Laboratory tests of leaching of carbonate rocks must be executed mainly from two reasons:

- Determination of the most suitable rock composition,

- Quantification of leaching effect.

Several rock types can be used for water re-carbonization to increase Ca and Mg contents, e.g. limestone,dolomite, magnesite, “half-burnt” dolomite (HBD) or lime (Ca(OH)2). As acid reagents can be used CO2,hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid. From the point of view of health impacts but also technological difficulty themost suitable is the use of CO2. So far realized studies reported as the most suitable rock material HBD whichrepresents mixture of 50% CaCO3 and 50% MgO. By dolomite annealing at temperatures 650–800°C the Mgcomponent (MgCO3) is decomposed on MgO and CaCO3 remains intact. Following reactions run during thewater re-carbonization:

MgO + 2CO2 + H2O – Mg(HCO3)2

CaCO3 + CO2 + H2O – Ca(HCO3)2

Ca as well as Mg components is dissolved in water in the form of hydrogencarbonates, i.e. in the form inwhich both elements naturally occur in water and thus they are for human health the most suitable. HBD isfilled in various filters which represent reactor in which reaction between CO2 and HBP runs by course ofreactions mentioned above.

The most appropriate way how to perform the water re-carbonization is that only partial water volume istreated by re-carbonization to reach high water hardness and this treated water volume is subsequentlymixed with the rest of water to reach required Ca and Mg levels and levels of water hardness. The treatedwater is characterized by slightly alkaline reaction and thus there is no risk of aggressive CO2 occurrence. Theeffectiveness of water re-carbonization can be increased by the fluid technique, i.e. by the process in whichthe layer of particulate matter are kept floating in the column which leads to faster dissolution of solid rockmaterial. The effectiveness of water re-carbonization based on the fluid technique is 2.6 times highercompared to classical flow system. We attach the scheme of the fluidizing reactor together with so fardocumented results of the process of dissolution of rock material used for water re-carbonization as pictures.These results document that the stabilization of dissolution was reached after 76 hours at the level of waterhardness 88 mmol.l-1. During the short laboratory tests in fact only MgO was dissolved and CaCO3 remainsundissolved. We have to perform long-term laboratory tests (at least for 1 month) to document the dissolutionalso of CaCO3 and to measure reached Ca water concentrations. In case of Ca deficiency in dissolved form wepropose to use gypsum or anhydrite (Ca sulphates) as alternative rock material providing adequate Cacontents. The solubility of CaSO4 is 0.204 g per 100 g of solution, i.e. it is quite similar to the solubility ofHBD. The use of CaSO4 we must take into account increased contents of sulphate ions (SO42-) in treateddrinking water. Slovak guideline for drinking water defines limit value for sulphate ions at level 250 mg.l-1.The increase of SO42- water content due to dissolution of gypsum or anhydrite assumed at levels 40–50 mg.l-1 will not have any adverse health effect; probably we can even expect some positive health effects.

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From the above mentioned facts it is clear that the long-term laboratory tests are required to be used forvarious rock materials, including HBD, limestones and gypsum/anhydrite to find out the optimal amounts ofrock types and their granularity as well as needed CO2 amount.

The second part of this action will consist of certificate laboratory tests of added rock. In case of HBD they arenot needed because this rock material is officially approved for use in water treatment (mainly for decrease ofacid water aggressiveness). In case of the second rock type representing source of Ca leaching in water thishas to undergo certificate laboratory tests to prove its harmlessness to human health.

The coordinating beneficiary does not dispose of required laboratory equipment not even qualified watertechnologists to implement this action. Therefore this action will be implemented by sub-contractor selectedin the form of public tender.

Laboratory tests of leaching properties of carbonate rocks are necessary for the proper operation of twoprototypes of technological equipment for water re-carbonization. They contribute to meet specific projectobjectives “Development and construction of prototypes of technological equipment for low mineralizeddrinking water treatment by re-carbonization” and “Installation and operation of two prototypes for water re-carbonization and “Monitoring of drinking water quality status”. They are source of necessary backgroundinformation for the successful implementation of actions B5, B6 and B7.

Within this action we plan to organize one workshop (defined as project milestone) for about 25–30participants including invited key note speakers – specialists in the field of water treatment. The benefit ofthis event is exchange of experiences in the field of water treatment by process of re-carbonization amongexpert community. In addition, the presentations dealing with negative health impact of low mineralizeddrinking water will be presented.

Selection of suitable rock types (proper ratio in a mixture, optimal chemical composition of leachates, grain-size fractions) including their optimal amounts to be added into treated drinking water is the main output ofthis action. The results of laboratoty tests will be published in the form of short report and available to allinterested persons/experts for different applications: scientific, industrial, ...etc. They will be summarized inthe form of certificate lists for selected rock materials suitable for drinking water re-carbonization (defined asdeliverable of this action) with relevance to Replicability and Transferability Plan of the project.

This action will be monitored within the action C1 and C2. The main measurable output is quantification ofleaching effects of selected rock material suitable for water re-carbonization to guarantee optimal chemicalrelease of Ca and Mg from rock material into drinking water. Societal outputs of this action includegovernance (targeted to competent authorities within the authorization procedure, water companies, localcouncils of municipalities) as well as dissemination of the achieved results (mainly through the website –publication of short report, organisation of workshop etc.).


Assumptions related to major costs of the action:The main expenditures in this action fall into category of external assistance costs and include sub-contractedworks via public tender (20,000 EUR in total). They consist of two issues:

- Individual laboratory tests of leaching of carbonate rocks,

- Certificate laboratory tests of rocks for approval of their use in drinking water treatment process.

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Based on comparison of price lists for these tests provided by various laboratories, e.g. Water ResearchInstitute, Slovak Technical University, Stredoslovenská vodárenská prevádzková spoločnosť, a. s. BanskáBystrica (water company operating in the Central Slovakia) we estimate the costs for individual laboratorytests to 15,000 EUR. In case of certificate laboratory tests their prices range depending on the rockcomplexity between 3,000 – 6,000 EUR. Therefore we estimate the costs for this sort of tests to 5,000 EUR.

Beside these expenditures we plan within this action also personnel costs for project manager and twoemployees within the permanent staff (7,650 EUR in total, 70 days) including project manager (daily rate 125EUR per day x 20 days, i.e. 2,500 EUR in total), coordinator for water sources (daily rate 103 EUR per day x 30days, i.e. 3,090 EUR in total) and coordinator for dissemination (daily rate 103 EUR per day x 20 days, i.e.2,060 EUR in total).

Other major costs planned to this action include mainly consumables and travel costs.

We plan expenditures for consumables in total amount of 1,100 EUR namely rock material for laboratory tests(500 EUR) and refreshment (25-30 persons) for workshop (600 EUR).

Travel costs in this action are estimated to 1,200 EUR for 2 persons x 3 trips x 2 days (total number of travels6, national destination). Related works include sample packaging, transportation, consultations during theevaluation of results, etc.

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Ca and Mg dependence on time and water conductivityName of the picture:

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Comparison of Ca and Mg concentrations with timeName of the picture:

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Scheme of laboratory equipment - reactor with fluidised layerName of the picture:

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Analysis of measured parameters in re-carbonized waterName of the picture:

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Approval of rock types selected based on certificate laboratory tests for use in drinkingwater treatment process

01/2020

Certificate lists for rock materials used for drinking water re-carbonization 01/2020

Book of abstracts from workshop in electronic form 06/2019



Selection of suitable rock types for water re-carbonization 10/2019

Organisation of workshop 05/2019

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B. Implementation actions (obligatory)ACTION B.4: Biomonitoring

Description and methods employed (what, how, where, when and why):This action consists of two partial tasks, including the analysis of the contents of critical chemical elementssuch as Ca, Mg and SiO2 (to limited extent) in the locally grown vegetable (e.g. potatoes, carrot) andmeasurements of arterial stiffness on selected groups of respondents.

The analysis of Ca, Mg and SiO2 in locally grown vegetable will be realized to find out whether the deficiencyof Ca and Mg and increased SiO2 contents in geological environment are reflected in their content levels alsowithin the local food chain. Such findings were not reported so far in the world literature. We plan to collect 35samples of local vegetable grown on soils with silicate as well as carbonate rock bedrock (together 70samples) and analyse potential differences in contents of evaluated critical elements between both areas.

Within the project LIFE FOR KRUPINA measurements of arterial stiffness on group of 144 respondents suppliedby soft/hard water were realized. The results documented significant differences in arterial age of about fiveyears higher in case of residents drinking soft water. In this way the negative impact of low mineralizeddrinking water on human health of residents was confirmed by direct medical measurements. Therefore weplan to monitor the health status of residents by the method of arterial stiffness measurements. The impact ofdeficient Ca and Mg drinking water contents on incidence/mortality for CVDs was reported in many scientificpublications/papers. Among the first researchers dealing with this issue was in the 1960s was Schroeder –author of known compelling dictum: “hard water – soft arteries/soft water – hard arteries”. Currently, there ishigh evidence that people drinking soft water which does not contain necessary amounts of importantbiogenic elements – Ca and Mg, suffer for deficiency of these elements with health impacts on status ofarteries which lose their elasticity. These negative health impacts is manifested at first on status of thearteries and/or subsequently on incidence/mortality for CVDs even after several weeks or months (Rosborg etal., 2015). Here we provide three examples on very soon negative health impact of deficient Ca and Mgcontents in drinking water on CVDs:

1. There is experience of doctors from sanatorium for healing respiratory and pulmonary diseases in the HighTatras, Slovak Republic which is supplied with low mineralized/soft drinking water from granitoid rockenvironment (Ca 4–5 mg . l-1 a Mg:1–2 mg . l-1) that several patients began to have heart problems evenafter 1–2 week stay (instable blood pressure, heart weakness, arrhythmia). These people did not suffer similarhealth problems before.

2. There is personal experience of residents, e.g. one old person living temporarily in the Krupina district –Slovak district supplied with soft water, reported during the informative meetings (organized within theproject LIFE FOR KRUPINA) that approximately after ten days of stay at weekend house in Žibritov (one of themunicipalities in the Krupina district) he becomes to feel heart problems. When he returns home to Bratislava– region supplied with hard drinking water where he lives as resident these problems disappear.

3. There is experience of one reputable hygienist from the Czech Republic who was asked help by his friendwith heart problems. After discussion of his problems and background information he admitted that onemonth before he bought and began to use equipment for water filtration. This equipment is used to removepotential harmful compounds from water but unfortunately it removes also Ca and Mg (softens water). Thedoctor recommended to his friend to stop using this equipment. His friend almost immediately felt that hishealth problems have disappeared. Later on the same doctor met several patients (about 20 patients) usingthe filtration equipment with similar health problems.

The above mentioned experiences confirm that the health problems due to deficit Ca, Mg contents in drinkingwater appear very soon. Thus we can consider arterial stiffness to be very useful marker for potential risks of

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CVD diseases.

The measurements of arterial stiffness will be realized in four municipalities (overall at least 200respondents), including two municipalities where drinking water treatment by re-carbonization will be applied,in one municipality with soft water and one municipality supplied with hard water as reference area. Themeasurements will be performed before the 2nd year of the project implementation before drinking water re-carbonization. Later on we will repeat them within the action C2 “Monitoring of the health impacts of theproject actions” in two municipalities with re-carbonized drinking water and in the municipality supplied withsoft water.

The main benefit of this action is represented by the findings on differences in contents of Ca, Mg and SiO2 inlocally grown vegetable and status of arterial stiffness between silicate and carbonate geologicalenvironment. This action will not have direct link to other project technical actions. It represents separateaction with unique outputs which are very important to reach the main project objective “The improvement ofquality of low mineralized drinking water to reach better health status of resident population in selected areaswithin the Slovak territory”. Methodology of evaluation of status and changes of arterial stiffness of residentsaccording to levels of drinking water hardness represent a deliverable with relevance to Replicability andTransferability Plan of this project. The results of biomonitoring (chemical analyses of vegetable,measurements of arterial stiffness) will be reported in respective short reports and published on the projectwebsite as well as in the form of technical publications (scientific articles).

This action will be monitored within the action C2. Its environmental output will cover about 270 residents.Societal outputs of this action include dissemination of the achieved results (mainly through the website –publication of short reports, scientific articles, TV sessions).

We can face the unwillingness of residents to provide us with vegetable samples from their gardens (ofweight about 0.25 kg). We have already performed such sample collection several times within our pastresearches and we have enough experience to solve this situation by intensive communication with mayors ofrespective municipalities. Measurements of arterial stiffness can be also constrained by the unwillingness orfears of residents to take part in such survey. Again we will prevent this constraint by careful explanation ofsignificance of use this method in health prevention as well as by intensive dissemination of the projectobjectives within resident population to increase public awareness. We take into account these potentialconstraints in advance within planning action timetable, with time span for at least three months.


Assumptions related to major costs of the action:The main expenditures in this action fall into categories of personnel costs (28,340 EUR in total/260 days) andexternal assistance costs related to sub-contracted works via public tender (7,800 EUR in total).

Assumed personnel costs include project manager and 3 employees within the permanent project staff:project manager (daily rate 125 EUR per day x 20 days, i.e. 2,500 EUR in total), coordinator for water sources(daily rate 103 EUR per day x 50 days, i.e. 5,150 EUR in total), coordinator for health issues (daily rate 110EUR per day x 160 days, i.e. 17,600 EUR in total) and coordinator for dissemination activity (daily rate 103EUR per 30 days i.e. 3,090 EUR in total). They cover capacities for sample collection, evaluation of chemicalanalyses, selection of respondents for measurement of arterial stiffness, assessment of the measurements ofarterial stiffness, etc.).

The expenditures within the external assistance costs include sub-contracted chemical analyses of vegetables

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(70 samples) and measurements of arterial stiffness (200 respondents). Costs for chemical analyses range inSlovakia around 8 EUR per determination of one parameter. We assume total cost for this item (chemicalanalyses of vegetable) on 1,800 EUR. The price for one measurement of arterial stiffness on site (not in theambulance) is about 30 EUR per respondent. We estimate total costs for this item to 6,000 EUR.

Travel costs in this action are estimated to 4,000 EUR for 2 persons x 10 trips x 2 days (total number oftravels 20, national destination).

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Methodology and results of measurements of arterial stiffness 01/2020

Report on evaluation of chemical analyses of localy grown vegetable 12/2020



Performance of measurements of arterial stiffness 08/2020

Performance of chemical analysis of vegetable 10/2020

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B. Implementation actions (obligatory)ACTION B.5: Construction of prototypes

Description and methods employed (what, how, where, when and why):Overall principle of water re-carbonization is to obtain water with high concentration of Ca and Mg ions inresulting water. Highly efficient re-carbonization process can be developed by the combination of chemicalprocess with advanced fluidised bed re-carbonization reactor (FBRR). Higher volumetric chemical reactionrates, lower space requirements, and potentially lower capital costs can be achieved in FBRR in comparison toreactors operated in fixed bed mode.

Fluidised bed equipment is in principle cylindrical vessel with diameter determined by required liquid flow rateand linear velocity of water which is higher than minimum fluidisation velocity. A height of the vessel isdetermined by residence time) contact time) of water and solid particles. Therefore, the FBRR consists of 2parts: under distributor and above the distributor where fluidised bed is created. The distributor supposed tohave reasonable hydraulic resistance (pressure drop) to reach conditions for fluidised bed uniformity and alsothe part of the column bellow distributor must have sufficient volume for creating uniform water flow rate.The upper part of the vessel must have sufficient active volume and also reasonable head space. The activevolume ensures required residence time and head space is important for primary separation of solids andliquid. The water after one pass is collected in reservoir with volume which is larger than volume of thereactor. It is recirculated through the bed to reach prescribed concentration of cations. The CO2 gas isintroduced into the reservoir to saturate the water for improving effectiveness of re-carbonization.

The system for drinking water re-carbonization will consist of FBRR, reservoir and liquid pump for waterrecirculation to reach hydrodynamic conditions for effective reaction (attached as picture). The treated waterfrom the reservoir will be transported to the drinking water piping system by separate pump or using by-passof circulating water system.

We plan to develop and produce 2 FBRRs: one small and simple for treatment of small drinking water sourcesupplying about 500 residents and one bigger for treatment of large drinking water source supplying about2,500–5,000 residents (details attached in picture).

Within this action following three main work areas will be implemented:

- proposal, development of design for 2 prototypes,

- elaboration of technical documentation for the construction of two prototypes,

- construction of prototypes.

Specialists (senior/junior constructor) who will propose and compile technical design of the prototypes willhave to be highly experienced in the entire philosophy of the process of water re-carbonization includingunderstanding which material is the most suitable for the production of “reactor” where the mineralisationprocesses occur. They will have to understand the entire process of technologies of water re-carbonizationincluding the idea on fluidizing technique, source of energy, type of pump etc.

There is assumption that during the process of preparation of technical documentation intensive consultationsbetween the project staff and contractor of technical documentation will be made. Various options oftechnical designs and solutions will be certainly taken into account to make the final decision and selection. Itis possible that the technical documentation will need to be modified based on the remarks and comments ofthe authority within the authorization procedure. CO2 required for saturation of treated waters will besupplied into the system from pressured bottles with volume about 30–50 kg. According to our

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calculations we assume that one bottle will be sufficient for small water source treatment for duration about2–3 weeks and in case of larger water source about 6–7 days. We assume to use 2 bottles and 4 bottles incase of small water source and larger water sources, respectively. Specialists with technical educationalbackground/experience will be authorised with the elaboration of technical documentation for prototypeconstruction. They will be employed in the external form.

The construction of 2 prototypes will be realized in the form of sub-contraction based on the public tender(procurement). We will address this issue to companies adequately experienced in the production of waterequipment. In case the prototypes for water re-carbonization would not meet required criteria andparameters, the sub-contractor will have to make technical corrections/modifications to reach requiredeffectiveness and qualitative parameters. A testing operation of both prototypes with duration of 9 months isassumed (within action B6) during which we will be able to catch and remove all potential defects andfailings.

The construction and installation of two prototypes for water re-carbonization are the main expected resultsof this action (project milestones). This action is necessary for successful implementation of main projectobjectives:

- The improvement of quality of low mineralized drinking water to reach better health status of residentpopulation,

- Development and construction of prototypes for drinking water treatment by re-carbonization.

This action has direct link to the implementation of actions B6, B7 and monitoring actions C1, C2. Itsenvironmental output will cover directly about 2,750 residents living in area of about 30 km2 and indirectlyabout 500,000 inhabitants from total evaluated 1 million inhabitants living in area of about 5,000 km2).Societal outputs of this action include governance (targeted to supervisory/enforcement bodies – competentauthorities within the authorization procedure, water companies, local council of involved municipality) as wellas dissemination of the achieved results (mainly through the website – e.g. technical publications). Itseconomic output is linked to running/operating costs during the project.

We are aware of certain constraint in the quality of compiled prototype at the very start of its installation intotesting operation. Therefore, special stipulation that during testing operation all quality defects/operativefailings including warranty/after-warranty service must be guaranteed in the agreement with selected sub-contractor of works.

The selection of sub-contractor for construction of the prototypes by public tender can represent certainconstraint. We assume a certain constraint with finding required number of candidates (at least three) sincethe compilation of the prototypes is highly specific technological item. That is why we will start the process ofpublic procurement in adequate time advance. We also have to take into account possible constructionaltechnical arrangements on drinking water sources for which we allocate additional costs.

Technical documentation of constructed prototypes is defined as project deliverable with high relevance forReplicability and Transferability Plan. The potential of its use will be highly disseminated within theactions D1, D2.


Assumptions related to major costs of the action:

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The major cost is assumed for construction of two prototypes for water re-carbonization includingwarranty/after-warranty service (100,000 EUR). Both prototypes shall be made of water resistant material(stainless steel), plastic or Teflon pipes with set collectors, they shall dispose of pumps, gas bottles,continuous analyzer of Ca and Mg water contents etc. The overall assumed cost should cover material costs48,000 EUR, manufacturing 24,000 EUR, analysers of Ca and Mg 22,000 EUR, collectors 6,000 EUR.

Personnel costs for project manager and one employee from permanent staff (8,090 EUR/70 days) areassumed as follows: project manager (daily rate 125 EUR per day x 40 days, i.e. 5,000 EUR) and coordinatorfor water sources (daily rate 103 EUR per day x 30 days, i.e. 3,090 EUR).

Personnel costs for temporary staff cover four employees (48,000 EUR in total/330 days) responsible fordesign and technical documentation of the prototypes and preparation of the financial budget, namely juniorconstructor (daily rate 110 EUR per day x 90 days, i.e. 9,900 EUR in total), senior constructor (daily rate 165EUR per day x 120 days, i.e. 19,800 EUR in total), designer (daily rate 150 EUR per day x 100 days, i.e. 15,000EUR in total) and the main technologist (daily rate 165 EUR per day x 20 days, i.e. 3,300 EUR in total).

Travel costs in this action are estimated to 4,000 EUR for 2 persons x 1trips x 2 days (total number of travels20, national destination).

Other costs cover the insurance of equipment for water re-carbonization in amount of 2,500 EUR.

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Parameter values for design of small/large fluidised bed re-carbonation reactor (FBRR)Name of the picture:

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Schematic diagram of recarbonization systemName of the picture:

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Technical documentation on the constructed prototypes 01/2020



Installation of two prototypes on drinking water sources 06/2021

Construction of two prototypes for drinking water re-carbonization 01/2021

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B. Implementation actions (obligatory)ACTION B.6: Installation of two prototypes into testing operation

Description and methods employed (what, how, where, when and why):Within this action two developed and constructed prototypes for water re-carbonization will be installed intotesting operation together with achievement of the approval (licence agreement) for their installation intocontinuous operation.

The produced prototypes for drinking water re-carbonization will be placed into two water sources selectedwithin the Action B2 “Selection of two drinking water sources for water re-carbonization”, based on the givenapprovals of their installation into temporary operation. Before their installation all necessary and requiredconstruction and technical designs will be performed. The prototype installation will be realized by theproducer. It will be supervised by “senior constructor” from the point of view of correct technical installationand by “senior technologist” from the point of view of water management.

In case the prototypes for water re-carbonization would not meet required criteria and parameters, theproducer of prototypes will have to make technical corrections and modifications to reach requiredeffectiveness and qualitative parameters. A testing operation of both prototypes with duration of 9 months isassumed. This time horizon is adequate for removal of potential defects and failings. There will be seniortechnologist experienced in water management practices who will be responsible for monitoring andmanagement of all technical actions related to testing operation (as well as further continuous operation). Weassume to employ in the external form (within temporary staff) for this project action water technologistworking directly in water management company. He/she will elaborate operating rules for the testingprototype operation including monitoring of water quality, proposal for water sample collection, list ofmeasured parameters, intervals for addition of carbonate rocks into the system, etc. Therefore he/she willprovide technical assistance, monitoring and management including remarks and comments during testingoperation. He/she will be assisted for each prototype by one employee from the local municipality which willaccording to his instructions perform field works like addition of carbonate rock, water saturation by CO2,water sample collection, realization of measurements, etc. We assume year consumption of carbonate rockfor two treated water sources at level about 2.5 t and consumption of compressed CO2 about 1,500 kg.

During testing operation necessary steps for acquisition of the license agreement for the prototypeinstallation must be realized to reach the approved continuous prototype operation. All needed and requireddocumentation for respective water authority will be elaborated.

The installation of two prototypes for water re-carbonization and implementation of testing operation are themain expected results of this action defined as project milestones. This action is necessary for the successfulimplementation of main project objectives:

- The improvement of quality of low mineralized drinking water to reach better health status of residentpopulation in selected areas within the Slovak territory,

- Development and construction of prototypes of technological equipment for low mineralized drinking watertreatment by re-carbonization,

- Installation and operation of two prototypes for water re-carbonization and monitoring of drinking waterquality status.

This action has direct link to the implementation of action B8 “Installation of two prototypes for water re-carbonization into continuous operation“.

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This action will be monitored within the actions C1 and C2. Its environmental output will cover directly at least2,750 residents living in area of about 30 km2 and indirectly about 500,000 inhabitants from total evaluated 1million inhabitants living in area of about 10,000 km2). Societal outputs of this action include governance(targeted to supervisory/enforcement bodies – competent authorities within the authorization procedure,water companies, local council of involved municipality) as well as dissemination of the achieved results(mainly through the website – e.g. technical publications). Its economic output is linked to running/operatingcosts during the project.

We are aware of certain constraint in the quality of compiled prototype at the very beginning of its installationinto testing operation. This presumption will be treated in the agreement with selected sub-contractor ofworks including special stipulation that during testing operation all quality defects and operative failingsincluding warranty and after-warranty service must be guaranteed.


Assumptions related to major costs of the action:The major costs will include personnel costs (48,970 EUR), external assistance (26,800 EUR), consumables(8,000 EUR) and travel (8,000 EUR).

Personnel cost cover project manager and 2 employees within permanent staff (21,770 EUR/190 days):project manager (daily rate 125 EUR per 100 days, i.e. 12,500 EUR, assistant of project manager (daily rate103 EUR per 70 days, i.e. 7,210 EUR) and coordinator for dissemination (daily rate 103 EUR per 20 days, i.e.2,060 EUR). Personnel cost for temporary staff will cover 5 employees (27,200 EUR/230 days in total): seniorconstructor (165 EUR/20 days, i.e. 3,300EUR), junior constructor (110 EUR/40 days, i.e. 4,400 EUR), maintechnologist (165 EUR/60 days, i.e. 9,900 EUR), local water technologist 1 and 2 (2 x 80 EUR/60 days, i.e.9,600 EUR).

External assistance costs (26,800 EUR in total) include potentially needed technical and built arrangementson water sources, including construction proceedings and electricity distribution (22,000 EUR). In addition, thetransport of rock material and CO2 (4,800 EUR) will be realized through public tender.

Costs for consumables (8,000 EUR in total) include rock material (4,000 EUR), CO2 (4,000 EUR).


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Short report on the results of prototype testing operation 04/2022

Licence agreement for the installation of two prototypes into continuous operation 03/2022



Installation of two prototypes into testing operation 07/2021

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B. Implementation actions (obligatory)ACTION B.7: Installation of two prototypes for water re-carbonization into continuous

operationDescription and methods employed (what, how, where, when and why):Within this action two developed and constructed prototypes for water re-carbonization will be installed intocontinuous operation. The continuous operation must last at least nine months before the project end. Withinthis time horizon the operative rules of technological equipment for water re-carbonization will be optimized.The group of monitored chemical parameters in treated drinking water together with frequency of watersample collection and field measurements shall be realized directly at the water source. The continuousoperation will be managed by the project team. Two local workers will be educated to monitor the prototypesincluding their effectiveness and correct functioning. The additional need of purchase of carbonate rocktogether with CO2 for operation of water re-carbonization is of high probability and it will be covered alongwith all operative costs.

Continuous operation of water re-carbonization by two prototypes on two drinking water sources in durationof at least nine months is the main expected result of this action. These expected results meet the mainproject objective “The improvement of quality of low mineralized drinking water to reach better health statusof resident population in selected areas within the Slovak territory”.

This action will be monitored within the actions C1 and C2. Its environmental output will cover directly at least2,750 residents living in area of about 30 km2 and indirectly about 500,000 inhabitants from total evaluated 1million inhabitants living in area of about 10,000 km2). Societal outputs of this action include governance(targeted to supervisory/enforcement bodies – competent authorities within the authorization procedure,water companies, local council of involved municipality) as well as dissemination of the achieved results(mainly through the website – short report). Its economic output is linked to running/operating costs duringthe project as well as expected costs during continuation after the project period.

Some unexpected cases of installed prototypes failure may occur during their continuous operation. They willbe faced ad hoc together with technologist for water treatment and in collaboration with the local watermanager.

Eventual repairs and controls will be covered within the warranty service by sub-contractor and in relation tothem we plan adequate financial amount within planned travel costs.

We are aware of the importance of wide dissemination to reach replicability and transferability of the projectresults to other Slovak regions and EU countries. Within this action we plan to compile “Replicability andTransferability Plan” as the project deliverable. This plan will consist in elaboration/presentation of all newresults and outputs achieved within the project in the form "friendly" to wide public and scientific audience toensure their replicability and transferability, including:

- Methodology of the calculations within risk analysis together with given examples of calculations fromevaluated areas (results within the action B1),

- Detail characteristics of the most suitable rock material to be used for drinking water re-carbonization,including the certificate lists providing all relevant administration and technical/scientific data, including rockproperties, chemical composition, exposure, solubility in water etc. (results within the action B3),

- Methodology of evaluation of changes in arterial stiffness of residents in association with levels of drinkingwater hardness (results within the action B4),

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- Detail technical documentation of fluidized reactors for drinking water re-carbonization (results within theaction B5),

- Summary of experiences, findings and knowledge including advantages/disadvantages and potentialproblems encountered during the installation and operation of drinking water re-carbonization based ondeveloped and constructed prototypes presented in the form of operational manual for drinking water re-carbonization and its monitoring (results within the actions B6 and B7).

One of the dissemination tools will be the project website where all relevant information on technicaldocumentation on constructed prototypes including the evaluation of their effectiveness monitored during theproject implementation as well as operating costs, etc., will be published and directly available for anyconcerned person. We also plan to communicate the project results directly to representatives of big watercompanies operating in the Slovak Republic as well as in the EU. We will point out potential health effectsassociated with the consumption of low mineralized drinking water and the solution of increase of Ca and Mgcontents by water re-carbonization. The replicability and transfer of use of our proposed technologicalmeasure (prototype for water re-carbonization) will be related not only to re-carbonization of drinking waterused for public supply (natural water sources) but also to treatment of low mineralized bottled water. Withinthe EU including Slovakia about 25 – 30 % of bottled water are those with low mineralization and deficiency inCa and Mg contents associated with their natural origin (from silicate geological environment). The lowest Caand Mg contents are typical for bottled drinking water exploited from sea and treated by the process ofdesalinization.

The Replicability and Transferability Plan will include the list of EU countries/regions with high occurrence ofsilicatogenic mineral waters or where bottled water is produced through desalinization to which we willaddress our results on application of the developed technology for increase of Ca and Mg drinking watercontents into practice. In this way we will reach the transfer of our knowledge into other countries which facesimilar environmental-health problem and where our developed technology can be applied.


Assumptions related to major costs of the action:The major costs will personnel costs, external assistance, consumables and travel. The personnel costs areassumed for permanent and additional staff (50,550 EUR in total 440 days).

Personnel costs cover project manager and 2 employees within permanent staff (22,800 EUR/200 days) asfollows: project manager (daily rate 125 EUR/100 days i.e. 12,500 EUR), assistant of project manager (dailyrate 103 EUR/70 days i.e. 7,210 EUR) and coordinator for dissemination (daily rate 103 EUR/30 days i.e.3,090).

Personnel costs for temporary staff cover 5 employees (27,750 EUR/240 days): senior constructor (165EUR/20 days i.e. 3,300 EUR), junior constructor (110 EUR/30 days i.e. 3,300 EUR), main technologist (165EUR/70 days i.e. 11,550 EUR), local water technologist 1 (80 EUR/60 days i.e. 4,800 EUR), local watertechnologist 2 (80 EUR/ 60 days i.e. 4,800 EUR).

External assistance includes transport of rock material and CO2 – 4,800 EUR.

Cost of consumables (8,000 EUR in total include 2 items): rock material (4,000 EUR) and CO2 (4,000 EUR).

Travel costs for 2 persons/20 trips/2 days (total number of travels 40 national destination) – 8,000 EUR.

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Short report on the results of continuous operation of installed prototypes for water re-carbonization

12/2022

Replicability and Transferability Plan 10/2022



Installation of two prototypes for water re-carbonization into continuous operation 04/2022

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LIFE17 ENV/SK/000036 - C1c

C. Monitoring of the impact of the project actions (obligatory)ACTION C.1: Monitoring of Ca and Mg contents in re-carbonized drinking water sources

Description and methods employed (what, how, where, when and why):This action includes monitoring of indicators related to environmental outputs of the project actions on humanpopulation. They are reviewed in the excel table of the LIFE performance indicators attached to the projectproposal including time frame for the end of the project and 5 years after the end of the project.

Within this action we will monitor Ca and Mg contents in re-carbonized waters as well as other parameters ofchemical composition of drinking water, namely: pH, electric conductivity (EC), water hardness, HCO3(alkalinity) and sulphates. There is no relevant assumption for the impact to other parameters/chemicalspresent in water due to drinking water re-carbonization. In addition, they are monitored within regularmonitoring of drinking water quality performed by Regional Authorities of Public Health as well as WaterCompanies in accordance with Slovak drinking water legislative. Before the start of drinking water treatmentby re-carbonization we will document the initial qualitative (chemical) status of waters based on oldermeasurements/chemical analysis as well as new performed measurements within this action. Monitoring ofCa, Mg, pH and EC on large water source will be continuous (continuous analyser of evaluated parameters willbe installed, please see action B5 “Construction of two prototypes” and measurements will be controlled byPC with outputs of the results in interval of 1–2 hours. Monitoring of Ca, Mg, pH and EC on small water sourcewill be realized by direct field measurements manually. We bought one pH meter and conductivity meter toarrange these measurements. The contents of Ca, Mg or water hardness and alkalinity will be analysed inlaboratory in selected intervals: 1st day each hour, 2nd-7th day every four hours, 2nd-4th week once per day.

Based on the achieved results we will subsequently optimize the measurements, probably to onemeasurement per week. We assume the total number of about 1,000 chemical analyses for each monitoredparameter. Approximately after two – three months we will pass to semi-qualitative measurements of Ca andMg drinking water contents by colorimetric method since there is no need to define Ca and Mg contents withaccuracy of decimals. Chemical data with accuracy of 1–2 mg.l-1 is enough for the aim of the monitoring. Bigadvantage is fact that even in case of occasional short exceeding of optimal Ca and Mg contents in treatedwater or in case of not reaching optimal contents for short period any health impacts on residents areassumed. We will elaborate dependency curve for Ca, Mg contents and EC and after the 1st year of drinkingwater re-carbonization we will pass to monitor dependency between pH and EC.

The environmental output of this action will refer to at least 2,750 inhabitants. The main measurable outputwill be increased Ca and Mg contents in treated drinking water. The results of monitoring of Ca and Mg andother parameters in water will be reported every six months in the form of short report and published on theproject website. We assume to elaborate three such short reports within this action. The results of this actionwill be also published in the form of scientific papers and also their dissemination in the form of TV-shots andnewspaper articles are assumed.

The output of action has direct link to the main project objective „The improvement of quality of lowmineralized drinking water to reach better health status of resident population in selected areas within centralSlovakia“. It will be directly linked to project action B6 “Installation of two prototypes into testing operation”and B7 “Installation of two prototypes for water re-carbonization into continuous operation”.

We do not assume any serious constraints related to the implementation of this action. During the stage oftesting operation we will set the amounts of carbonate rock and stream of necessary amount of CO2 toensure required effectiveness of re-carbonizing reactor to reach adequate Ca and Mg drinking water contents.

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Assumptions related to major costs of the action:The major cost of this action are related to personnel costs (24,380 EUR), external assistance (7,000 EUR),travel costs (4,000 EUR) and consumables (2,000 EUR).

Personnel costs covering project manager and 2 employees from permanent staff (18980 EUR/180 days) arefollowing: project manager (daily rate 125 EUR/20 days i.e. 2,500 EUR), assistant of project manager (dailyrate 103 EUR/140 days i.e. 14,420 EUR) and coordinator for dissemination (daily rate 103 EUR/20days i.e.2,060 EUR). Personnel costs for temporary staff cover 5 employees (daily rate 5,400 EUR/55 days): seniorconstructor (daily rate 165 EUR/5 days i.e. 825 EUR), junior constructor (daily rate 110 EUR/5 days i.e. 550EUR), main technologist (daily rate 165 EUR/5 days i.e. 825 EUR), local water technologist 1 (daily rate 80EUR/20 days i.e. 1,600 EUR), local water technologist 2 (daily rate 80 EUR/20days i.e. 1,600 EUR).

External assistance include shortened chemical analyses of water (about 1,000 determinations for eachparameter) in total amount 7,000 EUR (one parameter determination = 7 EUR).

Travel costs in this action are estimated for 4,000 EUR, for 2 persons x 10 trips x 2 days (total number oftravels 20, national destination).

Cost for consumables (2,000 in total) include laboratory test kits, chemical for testing.

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C1's PROJECT DELIVERABLE PRODUCTS


Updated tables of LIFE performance indicators 1 - environmental impacts 11/2019

Updated tables of LIFE performance indicators 2 - environmental impacts 03/2023

Short report on changes of Ca and Mg drinking water contents one year after the startof water re-carbonization

07/2022

Short report on changes of Ca and Mg drinking water contents 18 months after thestart of water re-carbonization

12/2022

Short report on changes of Ca and Mg drinking water contents six months after thestart of water re-carbonization

01/2022

C1's PROJECT MILESTONES


Start of the monitoring 04/2021

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C. Monitoring of the impact of the project actions (obligatory)ACTION C.2: Monitoring of the health impacts of the project actions

Description and methods employed (what, how, where, when and why):The health impacts will be monitored in two ways. At first we will perform the measurements of arterialstiffness in two municipalities with treated drinking water by re-carbonization and after then we will monitorchanges in health status of residents based on available statistical data from national databases on healthstatus of Slovak population. Positive changes in arterial stiffness as mentioned in the action B4“Biomonitoring” can be expected almost during several months. The measurements of arterial stiffness willbe performed after 9 months and 18 months after operation of drinking water re-carbonization, includingrespondents from the two municipalities with treated water as well as from the third selected referencemunicipality supplied with untreated soft drinking water. We will do our maximum to monitor the samerespondents included in the measurements performed within the action B4 “Biomonitoring” to be able toanalyse and assess changes in the status of arteries and level of arterial age for each individual separately.According to the need (someone will move to another region or will die etc.) we will substitute the missingrespondents by similar individuals (i.e. similar age, sex). In this way we will be able to monitor based on theresults of three measurements (one measurement before drinking water treatment – action B4 and twomeasurements after water treatment – this action) the progress of changes in status of arteries whichrepresent very important predictive factor of CVDs.

Changes in health status (based on statistical health data excerpted from national statistics) can bemonitored only in long-term time horizon to evaluate the impact of implemented project objective on healthof resident population (living in 2 involved municipalities). At first we need to know the “initial health status”of residents before water treatment by re-carbonization is applied and after then the prototype will becontinuously operated in time horizon of about three and five years after the project end. Therefore,throughout the project duration the “initial health status” of residents living in two involved municipalities willbe evaluated based on health data collected within the action B1. A short report documenting the “initialhealth status“ before applied technological measures will be compiled. After the project final implementationwe will perform other two monitoring steps, after three years and five years, respectively. The evaluation ofexpected changes in health status of residents will be based on health data source of National HealthInformation Centre in the Slovak Republic. We will focus mainly on cardiovascular and oncological diseasesrepresenting about 75% of all death causes. We do not assume constraints in collaboration with thisinstitution considering our good cooperation during the implementation of the project LIFE FOR KRUPINA. Theevaluation of changes in health status of residents will be performed within the After-LIFE Plan (Action E1).

Key monitoring indicators and parameters for this action are following:

- adequate chemical release, namely of Ca, Mg content from added carbonate rock into drinking water toreach defined required minimum values of these elements necessary for good health status.

- range of environmental-health impact on human population – we expect positive direct effect of projectactions on at least 2,750 residents (B1, B4, B6, B7, D1, D2) and indirect positive effect on about 500,000population (B1, B4, D1, D2) living in similar unfavourable geological environment for which application ofdeveloped prototype for water re-carbonization into practice can be suitable solution for faced environmental-health problem (drinking water deficiency in Ca, Mg). By the specific partial objectives implemented withinthe action B4 about 270 residents are expected to be affected in terms of identification of environmentalimpact of unfavourable geological environment, including 70 affected residents within the analysis of Ca, Mgcontents in local vegetables and 200 affected residents involved in arterial stiffness measurements.

- range of environmental impact on territory: total area affected by the project directly is about 30 km2 for 2municipalities (B6, B7, B8) and indirectly is about 5,000 km2 for 330 municipalities.

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Assumptions related to major costs of the action:The expenditures in this action fall into categories of personnel costs (38,220 EUR in total/350 days), externalassistance costs related to sub-contracted works via public tender (9,000 EUR in total) and travel costs (4,000EUR in total).

Assumed personnel costs include project manager and four employees within the permanent project staff:project manager (daily rate 125 EUR per day x 40 days, i.e. 5,000 EUR in total), coordinator for water sources(daily rate 103 EUR per day x 20 days, i.e. 2,600 EUR in total), coordinator for health issues (daily rate 110EUR per day x 250 days, i.e. 27,500 EUR in total), coordinator for dissemination (daily rate 103 EUR per day x20 days, i.e. 2,060 EUR in total) and technician (daily rate 80 EUR per day x 20 days, i.e. 1,600 EUR in total).

The expenditures within the external assistance costs include sub-contracted measurements of arterialstiffness in total amount of 9,000 EUR (300 measurements for 30 EUR per each).


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Updated tables of LIFE performance indicators 1 - health impacts 11/2019

Updated tables of LIFE performance indicators 2 - health impacts 03/2023

1st report on the results of measurements of arterial stiffness after operation ofdrinking water treatment by re-carbonization

05/2022

2nd report on the results of measurements of arterial stiffness after operation ofdrinking water treatment by re-carbonization

12/2022



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C. Monitoring of the impact of the project actions (obligatory)ACTION C.3: Monitoring of the socio-economic impacts of project actions

Description and methods employed (what, how, where, when and why):This action includes monitoring of the project indicators related to societal and economic outputs andnetworking. They are reviewed in the summary excel table of the project performance indicators attached tothe project proposal including time frame for the project duration and 5 years after the end of the project.

Within this action behavioural changes of residents living in two municipalities with treated drinking watersources in relation to their awareness of existing environmental-health problem will be monitored. We assumethat the public awareness on this issue (negative health impacts of low mineralized drinking water deficient inCa and Mg) is very low. Monitoring of behavioural changes will be performed in the form of questionnaireswith assumed total amount at least 200 (100 per municipality) and their evaluation in two stages, includinginitial status and final status before and after the operation of technological measures and dissemination oftheir results. Mayors or local water technologists of both involved municipalities will be authorized todistribute these questionnaires and they will be involved in the project team (in external form). Thequestionnaires will be compiled and evaluated by the corresponding member of permanent staff of theproject team.

We can face a constraint related to unwillingness and disinterest of local people in the questionnaires. We areprepared to solve this situation by direct interviews of mayors with their residents.

The main deliverable of this action is summarizing report on socio-economic impact of the project actions onthe local economy and population. This report will provide summary information of positive effects of theproject actions including societal and economic output directly related to implemented environmental-healthproblem.

C3.1 Societal and economic output

The socio-economic output of the project actions include following key indicators and parameters:

- Governance (related actions B4, B7, C1, C2),

- Information and awareness raising to general public (all implementation actions),

- Running/operating and expected costs (related actions B6, B7, C1).

Project results are targeted directly to local authorities (local councils of municipalities), regional authorities(public health authorities), private water management companies, producers of water devices/equipment,NGO (e.g. EKOFÓRUM). The most relevant results for this target audience include approval of suitable rockmixture tested by certificate laboratory for use in drinking water treatment process, determination of Ca andMg drinking water contents and levels of drinking water hardness (Ca + Mg) which are optimal for humanhealth, construction and installation of the prototypes for water re-carbonization and testing and continuousoperation of these prototypes.

Information and awareness raising to general public is necessary to keep layman population informed on theexistence of environmental-health problem related to deficient Ca and Mg contents in low mineralizeddrinking water and associated health impacts as well as on the measures to be developed and applied intopractice (through water re-carbonization). Main dissemination tools include the project website (assumed

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10,000 visitors for project duration), other tools like publications (scientific articles, technical papers), reports,newsletter, leaflets, print media (TV, radio shows, newspaper articles), events (e.g. informative meetingswithin the action D1). These activities including mainly publication of scientific articles and presentation ofresults among public community, stakeholders and scientific platforms will be continuously realized also afterthe end of the project. Their detail plan and review for three and five year period after the end of the projectis summarized in excel table of the project performance indicators.

Running/operating costs of applied technological equipment for drinking water re-carbonization during theproject is about 1,000 EUR per year in case of small treated drinking water source and 2,500 EUR in case oflarger treated water source. Expected costs related to continuation after the project period is at the sameamount. We find these costs negligible in comparison with expected health benefits of applied measureswhich are planned to be monitored within the action C1 and After-LIFE Plan.

C3.2 Networking

This sub-action within this project is basically targeted to professionals (scientific community) to get feedbackmainly by scientific community involved in research of environmental-health issues. Special group ofaudience are representatives of relevant authorities including e.g. Regional Public Health Authorities andprivate water companies as well as resident layman population. Following tools will be used as key indicatorsfor related actions C1, C2, D1 and D2: Networking, Professional training, Education of layman population andstudents. These are summarized in the excel table of the project performance indicators with specification ofNo. of individuals trained.

Overall we assume to train about 1,000 individuals within networking (scientific platforms, conferences,seminar, workshop), 50 individuals within professional training (excursion, events), 200 individuals trained(informative meetings) and 500 individuals within education of students (through presentations).


Assumptions related to major costs of the action:Total costs of this action include mainly personnel costs. These represent the main expenditure in this actionwith total amount assumed on 15,315 EUR (145 days) including project manager, permanent staff (12,315EUR/115 days) and additional staff (3,000 EUR/30 days). We assume personnel costs for project manager andthree employees within permanent staff as follows: project manager (daily rate 125 EUR per day x 15 days,i.e. 1,875 EUR in total), coordinator for water sources (daily rate 103 EUR per day x 20 days, i.e. 2,060 EUR intotal), coordinator for health issues (daily rate 110 EUR per day x 20 days, i.e. 2,200 EUR in total) andcoordinator for dissemination (daily rate 103 EUR per day x 60 days, i.e. 6,180 EUR in total). We assumepersonnel costs for 3 external employees within the additional staff. Slovak hygienist for 10 days at daily rate140 EUR per day, i.e. 1,400 EUR in total and for 2 local water technologists (distribution and collection ofquestionnaires) for 2 x 10 days at daily rate 80 EUR per day i.e. 1,600 EUR.

Travel costs in this action are estimated to 1,200 EUR (including main expenses - transport/fuel, dailysubsistence allowances, accommodation) for 3 persons x 2 trips x 2 days (total number of travels 6, nationaldestination).

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Updated tables of LIFE performance indicators 1 - socio-economic impacts 11/2019

Updated tables of LIFE performance indicators 2 - socio-economic impacts 03/2023

Short report on the evaluation of the questionnaires 06/2022



Collection of questionnaires 05/2022

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C. Monitoring of the impact of the project actions (obligatory)ACTION C.4: Monitoring of the LIFE-cycle assessment

Description and methods employed (what, how, where, when and why):This action includes monitoring of the Life-cycle assessment. In this action will be monitored the positive andnegative environmental impacts at all steps of the technology development and operating of the reactor forrecarbonization of drinking waters. The effectiveness of fluid bed reactor for releasing Ca and Mg from rockmaterial is about 2.6 times higher compared to fixed bed reactor. We will compare the fluid bed reactor withfixed bed reactor for example in following parameters:

- space requirements (it will be lower for fluid bed reactor),

- total weight of equipment/steel with regard to the volume of treated water (this relates to raw material,energy and emissions needed for its production),

- transport (the closer the better) and installation of the technology: demands on fuel, energy, emissions,

- use of raw materials for operation (how much “dolomite” is needed (2.5 t per year), how far is the source –this relates to transport fuel and emissions, is there enough “dolomite” available and is its use for this reasonmore effective than other use?),

- operational and maintenance demands regarding energy consumption, emissions, CO2 (1,500 kg per year)and its transport, waste/sludge amount and the foreseen way of its disposal,

- end-of-life: how long can the technology stay operational, can be the old technology/steel easily recycledafter replacement?

Therefore, the C4 report could summarise what were the “environmental costs” of production and operation.The foreseen result could also be that fluid bed rector has lower adverse effects on environment than fixedbed reactor.

Key monitored indicators and parameters for this action are following:

- Reduction of amount of material for construction of fluid bed reactor,

- Reduction of amount of rock material and CO2,

- Reduction of costs for transport of rock material and CO2,

- Emissions CO2. We suppose that CO2 emissions will be minimal or no, since fluid bed reactor representclose system and the whole volume of added CO2 is consumed on dissolution of Ca and Mg from rock materialto liquid phase.

The results of the Life–cycle assessment will be reported in respective short report and published on theproject website. We plan to implement this action in the form of external assistance. The short report,including the evaluation of environmental cost for construction and operation of reactor, will be a projectdeliverable.

Short report will be written in both, Slovak as well as English language and will be revised by two independent of 115


reviewers (one from Slovakia and one from other EU country).


Assumptions related to major costs of the action:The expenditures in this action fall in category external assistance costs related to sub-contracted works viapublic tender (6,900 euro in total). The costs relate to elaboration of short report of LCA (6,100 EUR) and tworeviews (2 x 400 = 800 EUR) provided by compiler of this report.

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Short report of the results of the Life-cycle assessment 09/2022



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LIFE17 ENV/SK/000036 - C1d

D. Public awareness and dissemination of results (obligatory)ACTION D.1: Dissemination management and communication activities for general public

and stakeholdersDescription and methods employed (what, how, where, when and why):The most important target audience is resident population living in two municipalities in which we willimplement water re-carbonization on two drinking water sources used for public supply. Drinking watertreatment may be perceived, despite its main objective to improve the health status of residents, amonggeneral public as sensitive issue. For this reason we plan to actively disseminate project objectives andoutputs to local community of residents to raise general public awareness including local stakeholders(residents, mayors of the municipalities, members of local council etc.). The main objective of this action is toraise general public concern on implemented solution of drinking water quality improvement and the benefiteffect of increased Ca and Mg contents by water treatment on human health. Wide, active and properdissemination is crucial to avoid misunderstanding of the implemented project actions and negativedisapproving opinion of local community on the prototype installation and subsequent water treatment by re-carbonization. They must be carefully informed on positive health effects of implemented method of drinkingwater treatment and clearly explained that beside the chemical composition also sensory properties ofdrinking water will be improved. To reach the main objective of this action we plan to organize fourinformative meetings in two involved municipalities. Two of them will be organized at the beginning of theproject implementation to explain public the general background of concerned environmental-health issueand the other two meetings will be organized after the installation of technological equipment (prototypes) forwater re-carbonization. Residents and local stakeholders will be given information on the project results andeffectiveness of the prototype operation. We expect the participation of at least 50 residents per one meetingon average; it means at least 200 residents all together. We plan to distribute at least 500 leaflets amonglocal residents to provide them summarizing information on the environmental-health problem in theirmunicipality.

Other target audience within this sub-action include all inhabitants of the Slovak Republic living in the silicategeological environment and supplied by soft drinking water. The dissemination of the project results amongthis public audience is important to highlight the significant role of environmental factor (low mineralizeddrinking water deficient in Ca and Mg) for the health status of residents in these areas and to share proposedsolution of this environmental-health problem by special technology of drinking water treatment by re-carbonization which is developed and tested within this project. We plan to disseminate project findings andoutputs widely as possible for this extensive target audience mainly through national and regional media (fiveTV shows – three in national and two in regional broadcasting, two radio shows and five newspaper articles –three in national and two in regional press). Target human population supplied by soft (low mineralized)drinking water due to unfavourable silicate geological environment in the Slovak Republic is about 1,000,000persons.

Within the EU we assume that about 20% of EU population is supplied with soft drinking water with deficientCa and Mg contents. During the project implementation we do not plan to include this part of EU population.This will be possible only after the project end. We plan to distribute Layman report among Ministries ofHealth of all 28 EU countries with short accompanying letter with brief and clear explanation ofenvironmental-health issue highlighting the negative health impacts of low Ca and Mg contents in drinkingwater on exposed resident population.

We plan also to disseminate project outputs among representatives of water companies operating in theareas with drinking waters deficient in Ca and Mg. We will warn them about the health risks threateningresident population. We plan to organize at least two presentations dealing with this issue for the employeesof water companies. We will provide also written information to the main producers of technologicaldevices/equipment for drinking water treatment. According to their interest we are prepared to provide them

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the technical documentation for water re-carbonization. We also intend to raise awareness on relatedenvironmental-health problem among producers and distributors of bottled waters. We do not suppose theirbig interest due to “market philosophy”. The increase of their interest can be expected after relevant HealthAuthorities (Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic, National Authority for Public Health of the SlovakRepublic) will publish our results on their official websites.

This action will be monitored within the actions C1, C2. One of the key measured indicators will be No. ofvisitors of the project website where all published documents (reports, articles etc.), media work,presentations and other outputs will be available to targeted audience.

D1.1 Dissemination tools

The main dissemination tools of the project objectives/results represent the project deliverables: noticeboards, website, leaflets, posters, presentations, Layman´s report.

We will display three notice boards presenting the main project objectives with highlighted information onfinancial donors and LIFE logo at strategic and easily accessible places, including the campus of thecoordinating beneficiary (PRIF UK) and two involved municipalities. They will be constructed from plastic orwood material and iron frame with dimensions 2 x 1 m.

Project website is crucial dissemination tool presenting regularly actualized information on the projectimplementation and outputs. All planned dissemination activities as well as project results/reports will beregularly published on the project website. The website will be in Slovak and English version, with the LIFElogo and it will be created under the existing website of the coordinating beneficiary. We expect to reach10,000 visitors for the entire period of the project implementation.

In the last year of the project implementation we will prepare and print leaflets and posters providing theinformation on the project results and we will distribute them among public audience. According topossibilities and interest we will organize propagation presentations about the project objectives and resultsto the widest public and relevant stakeholders.

Layman´s report will be compiled at the end of the project implementation and published in electronic as wellas paper form. This report targeted to Layman audience will be published in Slovak language (200 papercopies) and English language (200 paper copies) and will be distributed to all competent/concernedauthorities/communities by post/e-mail (e.g. water companies, NGO, WHO headquarters in Bonn) orpersonally during attended events organized at national as well as international levels.


Assumptions related to major costs of the action:The expenditures within this action include personnel, external assistance, consumables, travel and othercosts.

The major cost is assumed for personnel including project manager, permanent and additional staff (50,630EUR in total/435 days). Personnel costs for project manager and three employees within permanent staff(39,630 EUR in total/360 days) are as follows: project manager (daily rate 125 EUR per day x 100 days, i.e.12,500 EUR in total), coordinator for water sources (daily rate 103 EUR per day x 90 days, i.e. 9,270 EUR intotal), coordinator for health issues (daily rate 110 EUR per day x 50 days, i.e. 5,500 EUR in total) andcoordinator for dissemination (daily rate 103 EUR per day x 120 days, i.e. 12,360 EUR in total). Personnel

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costs for temporary staff cover two employees (11,000 EUR in total/75 days), namely main technologist (dailyrate 165 EUR per day x 20 days, i.e. 3,300 EUR in total) and Slovak hygienist (daily rate 140 EUR per day x 55days, i.e. 7,700 EUR in total).

Other costs are assumed in total on 2,500 EUR in total and include propagation materials for meetings (250participants.

External assistance costs include three notice boards (11,500 EUR) in total and include printing of Layman´sreport in 400 copies (1,500 EUR), printing of leaflets, posters and brochures in 1,000 pcs. (2,500 EUR) andthree notice boards (5,000 EUR) and organisation of meetings (2,500 EUR).

Travel costs in this action are estimated to 4,800 EUR for 3 persons x 8 trips x 2 days (total number of travels24, national destination).

Costs for consumables (2,500 EUR in total) include purchase of refreshment for participants in meetings for250 persons (2,500 EUR) and rent of meeting room within the organization of informative meetings.

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D1's PROJECT DELIVERABLE PRODUCTS


Project website 02/2019

Layman´s report 10/2022

Notice board displayed at campus of the coordinating beneficiary 02/2019

Notice boards displayed in two municipalities with treated drinking water source 09/2019

D1's PROJECT MILESTONES


Organization of introductory meetings in two municipalities where drinking water re-carbonization will be operated

05/2020

Organization of informative meetings in two municipalities where drinking water re-carbonization was operated

05/2022

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D. Public awareness and dissemination of results (obligatory)ACTION D.2: Dissemination of research findings and knowledge transfer among scientific

community and concerned authoritiesDescription and methods employed (what, how, where, when and why):The main objective of this action is the “transfer” of project findings to scientific community and concernedauthorities to share potential of water re-carbonization for improving health status of residents supplied bysoft drinking water and its replicability into practice in other areas of the Slovak Republic. At national level,the target audience will include wide range of subjects, mainly Public Health Authorities, the environmentdepartments of the district authorities, respective departments within the Ministry of Environment of theSlovak Republic (MŽP SR) and Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic (MZ SR), private water companies,Slovak Universities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), etc. Dissemination of research findings amongscientific community at international level will be also very important since the developed technology willhave potential to be applied into practice also elsewhere within the EU countries where people face similarenvironmental-health problem.

The partial project results will be continuously disseminated through technical publications in relevantmagazines focused on the environment health issue (at least 3 papers in international current contentsmagazines, 10 publications in the Slovak magazines/conference books, 15 conference abstracts). We planfinal monograph of about 200–250 pages as project deliverable.

Within the implementation of this action we can face unwillingness or disinterest of respective authorities toparticipate in planned dissemination activities. We will continuously raise awareness and concern of targetaudience in the project results by regular publishing of project newsletter providing the main project newsand highlights in attractive graphical design.

Besides the foreseen expert exchange events (conferences, workshops, etc.), the transfer of project results toother EU countries will be managed by international hygienist. He/she regularly participates the workshops,training programmes, seminars for different health authorities form the EU countries. He/she is authorized tocomment WHO (World Health Organisation) guidelines for drinking water under the revision process. His/hermain role is to mobilize respective health authorities from other EU countries and WHO through presentations,written proposals etc. and to promote the use of the achieved results within legislative actions of WHO. Ofcourse, his/her competences will cover the invitations of different persons interested in this topic fromdifferent EU countries on field excursions including transfer of knowledge. For the transfer of the projectresults within the territory of the Slovak Republic will be responsible Slovak hygienist. He/she will activelypromote the project results on different events (workshops, seminars, session of committees, …) amongmedical-hygienic-epidemiological communities and will also act in the direction to support the inclusion andtightening of the limits for Ca and Mg in Slovak drinking water guideline. We also assume that the Slovakhygienist will organize field excursions for representatives of respective health authorities in the SlovakRepublic – Ministry of Health and Public Health Authority.

There is one milestone planned for this action, organization of the final international conference for about 100specialists and representatives of scientific community and also concerned authorities.

This action will be monitored within the action C1 and C2.

D2.1 Networking with other projects

Networking with other similar projects (dealing with the environment-health issue, specifically Ca and Mg

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health effects, definition of their limits in drinking water, datasets of health indicators, water re-carbonization)is important to increase project implementation effectiveness. This sub-action is also necessary for successfultransfer of knowledge among scientific community to get adequate feedback.

Information exchange activities among relevant projects will be implemented on three levels: - LIFE+programme, - Outside LIFE+ programme, mainly at World Health Organization stage (WHO), - Knowledge andexperience transfer on international scientific platforms (e.g. Society for Environmental Geochemistry andHealth, Medical Geology, etc.). This sub-action is highly dependent on interest of other relevant entities andproject teams in collaboration and exchange of experience.

After the revision of all LIFE projects as well as projects within other programmes (HORIZON 2020 etc.) we didnot find similar projects dedicated to such interdisciplinary topic including environment, human health,hygienic-epidemiologic, chemical-technologic and water field of research. Marginally this topic is dealt withinfollowing LIFE projects:http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=6197(LIFE16 ENV/ES/000533)http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=6003(LIFE16 NGO/BE/200013).

Within networking activities, we will create two main groups/networks according to the specific topic. The firstone will cover the researchers and experts involved in the topic of the impact of low mineralized drinkingwater on human health (doctors, hygienists, geochemists – medical-geochemical field). In the EU as well asworldwide there are several experts with which we communicate and collaborate (e.g. prof. Bencko, Dr.Kožíšek from Czech Republic, Dr. Rosborg form Norway, prof. Finkelman from USA, prof. Rylander formSweden, prof. Vorman from Germany and of course WHO members and others.

The second network will consist of experts dealing with chemical-technological and water topics. Nowadays insome EU countries drinking water treatment based on addition of carbonatic rock is running (Scotland, CzechRepublic, Germany, Slovakia, …). In major cases, very low mineralized surface waters are treated. However,water companies did not publish their results even they keep them private. On the contrary, we will provideall information and all the results to each person interested in the topic. We will invite the representatives ofWater companies to field excursion where the equipment – recarbonizing reactors will be demonstrated.

Contact with both networks will be managed by the website and newsletters. For both groups of experts, thee-mail group will be created to cover the exchange of information on events (excursions, seminars, …).

We plan to participate in six international interdisciplinary conferences dealing with the environmental-healthissue where we will present project results. Each participant from the project team will have oral or posterpresentation and will discuss presented research findings with other conference delegates. We find scientificdiscussion forum as relevant platform to share knowledge, experiences and search for links to other projectsfor networking.


Assumptions related to major costs of the action:The major costs are assumed for personnel (71,820 EUR), travel (30,200 EUR) and other costs (14,600 EUR)and external assistance (10,000 EUR).

Assumed personnel costs include project manager and four employees from the permanent staff (44,320 EURin total/410 days): project manager (daily rate 125 EUR per day x 100 days, i.e. 12,500 EUR in total),

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coordinator for water sources (daily rate 103 EUR per day x 120 days, i.e. 12,360 EUR in total), coordinator forhealth issues (daily rate 110 EUR per day x 50 days, i.e. 5,500 EUR in total), coordinator for dissemination(daily rate 103 EUR per day x 120 days, i.e. 12,360 EUR in total) and technician (daily rate 80 EUR per day x20 days, i.e. 1,600 EUR in total). Personnel costs for temporary staff cover 4 employees (27,500 EUR intotal/175 days): Slovak hygienist (daily rate 140 EUR per day x 55 days, i.e. 7,700 EUR in total), internationalhygienist (daily rate 165 EUR per day x 40 days, i.e. 6,600 EUR in total), main technologist (daily rate 165 EURper day x 30 days, i.e. 4,950 EUR in total), senior constructor (daily rate 165 EUR per day x 50 days, i.e. 8,250EUR in total).

Travel costs cover participation in 6 conferences (2 persons x 5 days, 12 travels inside EU, total cost 15,200EUR), 1 kick-off meeting (2 persons x 2 days, inside EU, 1,600 EUR in total), 2 LIFE+ events (3 persons x 3days, inside EU, 5,700 EUR in total), 1 field excursion (8 persons x 2 days, national, 1,600 EUR in total), 2national seminars (3 persons x 3 days, 1,500 EUR in total), 1 visit in WHO central in Bonn (3 persons x 4 days,inside EU, 3,000 EUR in total).

Other costs (14,600 EUR in total) include publishing fees for 3 papers in international magazines (2,100 EUR),conference fees (6 international/3 national events x 2 persons, 6,500 EUR) and translations (5,000 EUR).

External assistance covers technical editing of final monograph (2,000 EUR), printing of final monograph(4,000 EUR) and organization of the final conference 4,000 EUR.

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D2's PROJECT DELIVERABLE PRODUCTS


Organization of the final international conference 09/2022

D2's PROJECT MILESTONES


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LIFE17 ENV/SK/000036 - C1e

E. Project management (obligatory)ACTION E.1: Project administration, management and planning

Description and methods employed (what, how, where, when and why):The proposed project deals with multidisciplinary topic including environment, health status of residentpopulation, chemical-technological aspects and water management. At present, it is practically impossiblefrom various reasons to include into project implementation organisations operating in individual fields of thismultidisciplinary study. In case of water companies the reasons relate to generally complicated propertyrelations (the owners of water companies are big international/multinational organisations with foreign headsfrom which is in reality is impossible to achieve approvals). Research, public and/or private organisations arenot able to share co-financing of the project. From these reasons there is only one (coordinating) beneficiaryon this project, i.e. PRIF UK. All necessary specialists for the project implementation operating in otherorganisations will be contracted as additional project staff. In this way, the project administration issignificantly simplified and the project manager will be able to administrate and manage the overall projectstaff more easily.

E1.1 Project administration and management

The main project staff will be formed by members of the previous staffs responsible for the implementation ofthe projects GEOHEALTH and LIFE FOR KRUPINA who will be employed by the coordinating beneficiary PRIF UKwithin its permanent/additional staff.

The project staff will include technical and administrative staff with project manager as leading authority.Technical project staff will consist of four key employees, including following positions:

- Coordinator for water sources,

- Coordinator for health issues,

- Coordinator for technology,

- Coordinator for dissemination.

These four basic project staff members will be employees of the coordinating beneficiary PRIF UK and theywill have special employment contracts for the project implementation. The rest of project team members willbe contracted as additional staff. The employment of project team members in external form is moreconvenient compared to the sub-contraction of works based on public procurement, e.g. we are able tomanage more effectively works of all project team members.

Since the project team is relatively small (less than 20 members), some of the above mentioned fouremployees will hold two functions and will be responsible for the implementation of several project actions.

Project manager will be contemporaneously the scientific coordinator as well as coordinator for technology(actions B3, B5, B6, B7, E1). He will be also responsible for the compilation of all official reports of the project.

Coordinator for water sources will hold also the position of assistant of the project manager withresponsibility for the project actions B2, C1 and C3.

Coordinator for health issues will be responsible for the implementation of the project actions B1, B4 andC2.

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Coordinator for dissemination will be responsible for the implementation of the project actions D1 and D2,including preparation and realization of public tenders as well as the organization of all meetings, workshop,excursion, and conference.

Financial manager will be subordinated to the project manager. He/she will be responsible for the projectfinance and accountancy administration and control in accordance with the LIFE+ regulations. Theaccountancy of the project will be performed within the coordinating beneficiary staff and financed throughthe costs planned for project overheads.

The four key project staff members will manage and will be responsible for the rest project team members asfollows:

Project manager will manage senior/junior constructors, designer, main technologist and financial manager,

Assistant of project manager will manage coordinator for website, two local water technologists andtechnician,

Coordinator for health issues will manage senior biostatistician and senior statistician,

Coordinator for dissemination will manage Slovak and international hygienists.

All involved project team members are adequately qualified (prof., DrSc., PhD., MUDr.) and highlyexperienced in the field of environmental-health issues implemented in the proposed project (includingexperience in the scope of the previous LIFE+ projects GEOHEALTH, LIFE FOR KRUPINA).

Project staff will regularly meet at consultative meetings once per month. The presence of four keycoordinators will be required while the other project team members will be invited during the projectimplementation according to related implemented actions. During the consultative meetings quality control ofimplemented actions (provided they reach specific project objectives) together with the timetable of plannedand realized framework will be monitored and evaluated including the definition of further project objectivesto be implemented.

Steering committee for the project will be established at the very beginning of the project implementation assupervisor organ for the project management. The members of the steering committee will berepresentatives of several relevant authorities, including Ministry on Environment of the Slovak Republic (MŽPSR), Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic (MZ SR), Water Research Institute (VÚVH), Public HealthAuthority of the Slovak Republic (UVZ SR) and Faculty of Natural Sciences (PRIF UK). The membership will behonourable. The steering committee will meet once per year, it will be chaired by the project manager.

At the end of the project financial audit will be performed by independent authorized auditor organization,selected through public procurement (six months before the end of the project).

E1.2 After-LIFE Plan

At the end of the project an After-LIFE plan will be elaborated by the project manager and included asseparate chapter in the final report. It will be presented in English language in paper as well as electronicformat. This plan will consist of steps and actions which guarantee the project continuation and effective useof its results, including the financial sources and way of dissemination. Exploitation plan which takes part ofthe After-LIFE Plan, specifying technical and financial resources covering the planned activities, is provided asscheme (in picture) and included in After-LIFE Plan deliverable.

The key indicators of the project continuation are continuous drinking water treatment by re-carbonization ontwo water sources and analysis of health status changes and their monitoring (actions B7, C1 and C2) anddissemination and communication of the results (actions D1, D2). We assume the transfer of the competency

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on operation of water re-carbonization from the coordinating beneficiary to competent municipalities or watercompanies which will subsequently cover operating costs. Dissemination will be implemented and financiallycovered by the coordinating beneficiary including mainly the website running and maintenance, presentationand publication activities, educational activities (including Diploma and PhD. works) etc.


Assumptions related to major costs of the action:The main expenditures for this action are the personnel costs (97,690 EUR/870 days) and other costs (7,300EUR).

Assumed personnel costs include project manager and five employees within the permanent project staff:project manager (daily rate 125 EUR per day x 240 days, i.e. 30,000 EUR in total), coordinator for watersources (daily rate 103 EUR per day x 130 days, i.e. 13,390 EUR in total) and coordinator for health issues(daily rate 110 EUR per day x 100 days, i.e. 11,000 EUR in total), financial manager (daily rate 110 EUR perday x 200 days, i.e. 22,000 EUR in total), coordinator for website (daily rate 110 EUR per day x 100 days, i.e.11,000 EUR in total) and coordinator for dissemination (daily rate 103 EUR per day x 100 days, i.e. 10,300EUR in total).

Other costs (7,300 EUR in total) cover auditor costs in total amount of 7,000 EUR and postage 300 EUR.

We also plan expenditures for equipment (including 2 PC with operating system and basic office suiteapplications) in total amount of 4,000 EUR and 1 dataprjector (400 EUR). Both PCs will be used within theimplementation of all planned technical actions.

Travel costs are assumed for 2 persons and 5 trips (10 travels) in amount of 2,000 EUR.

There are no costs planned for the compilation of the After-LIFE plan. This will be covered by the capacities ofthe permanent staff of the coordinating beneficiary.

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Exploitation planName of the picture:

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Project management staffName of the picture:

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E1's PROJECT DELIVERABLE PRODUCTS


After-LIFE plan including exploitation plan 11/2022

Audit report 01/2023

E1's PROJECT MILESTONES


Establishment of the project staff 11/2018

Establishment of the project steering committee 02/2019

Selection of auditor 06/2022

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DELIVERABLE PRODUCTS OF THE PROJECT

Name of the Deliverable Number of theassociated action Deadline

Notice board displayed at campus of thecoordinating beneficiary

D 1 01/02/2019

Project website D 1 01/02/2019

Book of abstracts from workshop in electronicform

B 3 30/06/2019

Short report on detail hydrogeochemical andquantitative water characteristics of selecteddrinking water sources

B 2 30/06/2019

Notice boards displayed in two municipalitieswith treated drinking water source

D 1 15/09/2019

Updated tables of LIFE performance indicators 1- environmental impacts

C 1 30/11/2019

Updated tables of LIFE performance indicators 1- health impacts

C 2 30/11/2019

Updated tables of LIFE performance indicators 1- socio-economic impacts

C 3 30/11/2019

Short report from results of risk analysis B 1 31/12/2019

Approval of rock types selected based oncertificate laboratory tests for use in drinkingwater treatment process

B 3 01/01/2020

Technical documentation on the constructedprototypes

B 5 01/01/2020

Certificate lists for rock materials used fordrinking water re-carbonization

B 3 31/01/2020

Methodology and results of measurements ofarterial stiffness

B 4 31/01/2020

Report on evaluation of chemical analyses oflocaly grown vegetable

B 4 15/12/2020

Short report on changes of Ca and Mg drinkingwater contents six months after the start ofwater re-carbonization

C 1 31/01/2022

Licence agreement for the installation of twoprototypes into continuous operation

B 6 31/03/2022

Short report on the results of prototype testingoperation

B 6 30/04/2022

1st report on the results of measurements ofarterial stiffness after operation of drinkingwater treatment by re-carbonization

C 2 01/05/2022

Short report on the evaluation of thequestionnaires

C 3 01/06/2022

Short report on changes of Ca and Mg drinkingwater contents one year after the start of water

C 1 31/07/2022

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re-carbonization

Organization of the final international conference D 2 30/09/2022

Short report of the results of the Life-cycleassessment

C 4 30/09/2022

Layman´s report D 1 31/10/2022

Replicability and Transferability Plan B 7 31/10/2022

After-LIFE plan including exploitation plan E 1 01/11/2022

2nd report on the results of measurements ofarterial stiffness after operation of drinkingwater treatment by re-carbonization

C 2 15/12/2022

Short report on changes of Ca and Mg drinkingwater contents 18 months after the start ofwater re-carbonization

C 1 15/12/2022

Short report on the results of continuousoperation of installed prototypes for water re-carbonization

B 7 31/12/2022

Audit report E 1 31/01/2023

Updated tables of LIFE performance indicators 2- environmental impacts

C 1 31/03/2023

Updated tables of LIFE performance indicators 2- health impacts

C 2 31/03/2023

Updated tables of LIFE performance indicators 2- socio-economic impacts

C 3 31/03/2023

MILESTONES OF THE PROJECT

DeadlineName of the Milestone Number of theassociated action

Establishment of the project staff E 1 30/11/2018

Establishment of the project steering committee E 1 28/02/2019

Organisation of workshop B 3 31/05/2019

Selection of two water sources for drinking waterre-carbonization

B 2 01/06/2019

Selection of suitable rock types for water re-carbonization

B 3 01/10/2019

Determination of optimal Ca and Mg drinkingwater contents

B 1 01/11/2019

Final approval of related authorities withtemporary operation of drinking water re-carbonization

B 2 15/12/2019

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Organization of introductory meetings in twomunicipalities where drinking water re-carbonization will be operated

D 1 31/05/2020

Performance of measurements of arterialstiffness

B 4 31/08/2020

Performance of chemical analysis of vegetable B 4 31/10/2020

Construction of two prototypes for drinkingwater re-carbonization

B 5 01/01/2021

Start of the monitoring C 1 01/04/2021

Installation of two prototypes on drinking watersources

B 5 30/06/2021

Installation of two prototypes into testingoperation

B 6 01/07/2021

Installation of two prototypes for water re-carbonization into continuous operation

B 7 01/04/2022

Collection of questionnaires C 3 01/05/2022

Organization of informative meetings in twomunicipalities where drinking water re-carbonization was operated

D 1 31/05/2022

Selection of auditor E 1 30/06/2022

ACTIVITY REPORTS FORESEEN

Please indicate the deadlines for the following reports:

• Progress Reports n°1, n°2 etc. (if any; to ensure that the delay between consecutive reportsdoes not exceed 18 months)• Mid term report payment request (for project longer than 24 months or with Eu contibutionof more than EUR300,000)• Final Report with payment request (to be delivered within 3 months after the end of theproject)

Type of report Deadline

Progress report 30/11/2019

Midterm report 30/11/2020

Progress report 31/12/2021

Final report 31/03/2023

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TIMETABLE

Action

Actionnumbe Name of the action

2018

I II III IV

2019

I II III IV

2020

I II III IV

2021

I II III IV

2022

I II III IV

2023

I II III IV

A. Preparatory actions (if needed)B. Implementation actions (obligatory)

B.1 Risk analysisB.2 Selection of two drinking water sources for water re-carbonizationB.3 Laboratory testsB.4 BiomonitoringB.5 Construction of prototypesB.6 Installation of two prototypes into testing operation

B.7 Installation of two prototypes for water re-carbonization into continuousoperation

C. Monitoring of the impact of the project actions (obligatory)C.1 Monitoring of Ca and Mg contents in re-carbonized drinking water sourcesC.2 Monitoring of the health impacts of the project actionsC.3 Monitoring of the socio-economic impacts of project actionsC.4 Monitoring of the LIFE-cycle assessment

D. Public awareness and dissemination of results (obligatory)

D.1 Dissemination management and communication activities for generalpublic and stakeholders

D.2 Dissemination of research findings and knowledge transfer amongscientific community and concerned authorities

E. Project management (obligatory)E.1 Project administration, management and planning

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FINANCIAL APPLICATION FORMS

Part F – financial information


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LIFE17 ENV/SK/000036 R1 - Budget

Budget breakdown cost categories Total cost in € Eligible Cost in € % of total eligiblecosts

1. Personnel 551,955 551,955 58.40%

2. Travel and subsistence 74,400 74,400 7.87%

3. External assistance 107,300 107,300 11.35%

4. Durable goods

Infrastructure 0 0 0.00%

Equipment 6,400 3,200 0.34%

Prototype 100,000 100,000 10.58%

5. Land Not applicable

6. Consumables 19,100 19,100 2.02%

7. Other costs 27,300 27,300 2.89%

8. Overheads 61,820 61,820 6.54%

Total 948,275 945,075 100.00%

Contribution breakdown In € % of total % of total eligiblecosts

EU contribution requested 566,950 59.79% 59.99%

Coordinating Beneficiary's contribution 381,325 40.21%

Associated Beneficiaries' contribution 0 0.00%

Co-financers contribution 0 0.00%

Total 948,275 100.00%

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LIFE17 ENV/SK/000036 - R2 - Costs per Action

Cost category in Euro

Project action

Pers

onne

l(D

ays)

Trav

el

Exte

rnal

assi

stan

ce

Infr

astr

uctu

re

Equi

pmen

t

Prot

otyp

e

Cons

umab

les

Oth

er

Total

B1 Risk analysis 47,670

(410)

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 47,670

B2 Selection of two drinking watersources for water re-carbonization

14,630

(126)

3,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 17,630

B3 Laboratory tests 7,650

(70)

1,200 23,500 0 0 0 1,100 400 33,850

B4 Biomonitoring 28,340

(260)

4,000 7,800 0 0 0 0 0 40,140

B5 Construction of prototypes 56,090

(400)

4,000 0 0 0 100,000 0 2,500 162,590

B6 Installation of two prototypes intotesting operation

48,970

(430)

8,000 26,800 0 2,000 0 8,000 0 93,770

B7 Installation of two prototypes forwater re-carbonization into continuousoperation

50,550

(440)

8,000 4,800 0 0 0 8,000 0 71,350

C1 Monitoring of Ca and Mg contentsin re-carbonized drinking watersources

24,380

(235)

4,000 7,000 0 0 0 2,000 0 37,380

C2 Monitoring of the health impacts ofthe project actions

38,220

(350)

4,000 9,000 0 0 0 0 0 51,220

C3 Monitoring of the socio-economicimpacts of project actions

15,315

(145)

1,200 0 0 0 0 0 0 16,515

C4 Monitoring of the LIFE-cycleassessment

0

(0)

0 6,900 0 0 0 0 0 6,900

D1 Dissemination management andcommunication activities for generalpublic and stakeholders

50,630

(435)

4,800 11,500 0 0 0 0 2,500 69,430

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LIFE17 ENV/SK/000036 - R2 - Costs per Action

D2 Dissemination of research findingsand knowledge transfer amongscientific community and concernedauthorities

71,820

(585)

30,200 10,000 0 0 0 0 14,600 126,620

E1 Project administration,management and planning

97,690

(870)

2,000 0 0 4,400 0 0 7,300 111,390

Overheads

Total551,955

(4,756)

74,400 107,300 0 6,400 100,000 19,100 27,300

61,820

948,275

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LIFE17 ENV/SK/000036 - R2a

Costs per Beneficiary

Short name

Pers

onne

l(D

ays)

Trav

el

Exte

rnal

assi

stan

ce

Infr

astr

uctu

re

Equi

pmen

t

Prot

otyp

e

Cons

umab

les

Oth

er

Ove

rhea

ds

EU c

ontr

ib.

Tota

l elig

ible

cost

s

% o

f tot

alel

igib

le c

osts

PRIF UK 551,955

(4,756)

74,400 107,300 0 3,200 100,000 19,100 27,300 61,820 566,950 945,075 100.00%

Total

Share of totaleligible costs

551,955

(4,756)

58.40%

74,400

7.87%

107,300

11.35%

0

0.00%

3,200

0.34%

100,000

10.58%

19,100

2.02%

27,300

2.89%

61,820

6.54%

566,950

59.99%

945,075

100.00%

100.00%

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LIFE17 ENV/SK/000036 - FC

Coordinating Beneficiary's contributionCountry code Beneficiary short name Total costs of the

actions in €(includingoverheads)

Beneficiary's owncontribution in €

Amount of EUcontribution

requested in €

Associated Beneficiaries' contributionCountry code Beneficiary short name Total costs of the

actions in €(includingoverheads)

Associatedbeneficiary's owncontribution in €

Amount of EUcontribution

requested in €

TOTAL Associated Beneficiaries

TOTAL All Beneficiaries

Co-financers contributionAmount of co-financing in €Co-financer's name

TOTAL

SK PRIF UK 381,325 566,950948,275

0

0 0

381,325 566,950948,275

0

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LIFE17 ENV/SK/000036 - F1

Direct Personnel costs

Calculation => A B A x B

Beneficiaryshort name

Actionnumber Type of contract Category/Role in the project

Daily rate(rounded tothe nearest

Number ofperson-days Direct personnel

costs (€)PRIF UK B 1 Additional staff Senior biostatistician 140 45 6,300

PRIF UK B 1 Additional staff Project manager 125 50 6,250

PRIF UK B 1 Additional staff Senior statistician 140 25 3,500

PRIF UK B 1 Permanent staff orcivil servant

Coordinator for health issues 110 250 27,500


Assistant of project manager, Coordinator for water sources 103 40 4,120

PRIF UK B 2 Additional staff Senior constructor 165 6 990

PRIF UK B 2 Additional staff Main technologist 165 10 1,650





Coordinator for dissemination 103 20 2,060











PRIF UK B 5 Additional staff Junior constructor 110 90 9,900


PRIF UK B 5 Additional staff Designer 150 100 15,000

PRIF UK B 5 Additional staff Senior constructor 165 120 19,800


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costs (€)PRIF UK B 5 Permanent staff or

civil servantAssistant of project manager, Coordinator for water sources 103 30 3,090

PRIF UK B 6 Additional staff Local water technologist 2 80 60 4,800




















PRIF UK C 1 Additional staff Local water technologist 2 80 20 1,600

PRIF UK C 1 Additional staff Local water technologist 1 80 20 1,600

PRIF UK C 1 Additional staff Junior constructor 110 5 550

PRIF UK C 1 Additional staff Senior constructor 165 5 825

PRIF UK C 1 Permanent staff orcivil servant


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costs (€)PRIF UK C 1 Permanent staff or

civil servantAssistant of project manager, Coordinator for water sources 103 140 14,420

PRIF UK C 1 Additional staff Main technologist 165 5 825

PRIF UK C 1 Additional staff Project manager 125 20 2,500





Technician 80 20 1,600





PRIF UK C 3 Additional staff Local water technologist 2 80 10 800



PRIF UK C 3 Additional staff Slovak hygienist 140 10 1,400






PRIF UK C 3 Additional staff Local water technologist 1 80 10 800

PRIF UK D 1 Permanent staff orcivil servant


PRIF UK D 1 Additional staff Slovak hygienist 140 55 7,700

PRIF UK D 1 Additional staff Main technologist 165 20 3,300



PRIF UK D 1 Additional staff Project manager 125 100 12,500

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costs (€)PRIF UK D 1 Permanent staff or

civil servantCoordinator for dissemination 103 120 12,360

PRIF UK D 2 Additional staff Slovak hygienist 140 55 7,700






Technician 80 20 1,600

PRIF UK D 2 Additional staff International hygienist 165 40 6,600



PRIF UK D 2 Additional staff Senior constructor 165 50 8,250

PRIF UK D 2 Additional staff Project manager 125 100 12,500

PRIF UK D 2 Additional staff Main technologist 165 30 4,950

PRIF UK E 1 Permanent staff orcivil servant



Coordinator for website 110 100 11,000

PRIF UK E 1 Additional staff Project manager 125 240 30,000






Financial manager 110 200 22,000

TOTAL => 4,756 551,955

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Travel and subsistence costs

Calculation => A B A X B


Act

ion

nu

mb

er

DestinationExplanations of assumptions

Travel andsubsistence

rateNumber of

travels

Total travel andsubsistence

costs

PRIF UK B 2 National 3 persons x 5 trips for selection of water sources x 2 days, destinationfrom/to: Bratislava/Central Slovakia, 1 trip/600 km

200 15 3,000

PRIF UK B 3 National 2 persons x 3 trips for water collection for laboratory testing x 2 days,destination from/to: Bratislava/Central Slovakia, 1 trip/600 km

200 6 1,200

PRIF UK B 4 National 2 persons x 10 trips for sample collection and realization of arterial stiffnessmeasurements x 2 days, destination from/to: Bratislava/Central Slovakia, 1trip/600 km

200 20 4,000

PRIF UK B 5 National 2 persons x 10 trips related to construction of prototypes x 2 days, destinationfrom/to: Bratislava/Central Slovakia, 1 trip/600 km

200 20 4,000

PRIF UK B 6 National 2 persons x 20 trips related to prototype installation and testing x 2 days,destination from/to: Bratislava/Central Slovakia, 1 trip/600 km

200 40 8,000

PRIF UK B 7 National 2 persons x 20 trips related to prototype installation into continuous operationx 2 days, destination from/to: Bratislava/Central Slovakia, 1 trip/600 km

200 40 8,000

PRIF UK C 1 National 2 persons x 10 trips for water quality monitoring x 2 days, destination from/to:Bratislava/Central Slovakia, 1 trip/600 km

200 20 4,000

PRIF UK C 2 National 2 persons x 10 trips x 2 days for health data collection including arterialstiffness measurements, destination from/to: Bratislava/Central Slovakia, 1trip/600 km

200 20 4,000

PRIF UK C 3 National 3 persons x 2 trips for questionnaires distribution and collection x 2 days,destination from/to: Bratislava/Central Slovakia, 1 trip/600 km

200 6 1,200

PRIF UK D 1 National 3 persons x 8 trips for organization of informative meetings x 2 days,destination from/to: Bratislava/Central Slovakia, 1 trip/600 km

200 24 4,800

PRIF UK D 2 Inside EU 3 persons x 1 visit of WHO central in Bonn x 4 days, destination from/to:Bratislava/Bonn

1,000 3 3,000

PRIF UK D 2 Inside EU 3 persons x 2 events organized within the LIFE+ programme x 3 days,destination from/to: Bratislava/EU country

950 6 5,700

PRIF UK D 2 Inside EU 2 persons x 1 kick-off meeting x 2 days, destination from/to: Bratislava/EUcountry

800 2 1,600

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Travel and subsistence costs

Calculation => A B A X B


Act

ion

nu

mb

er

DestinationExplanations of assumptions

Travel andsubsistence

rateNumber of

travels

Total travel andsubsistence

costs

PRIF UK D 2 National 3 persons x 2 seminar participation x 3 days, destination from/to:Bratislava/selected Slovak city, 1 trip/600 km

250 6 1,500

PRIF UK D 2 Inside EU 2 persons x 6 conferences x 5 days, destination from/to: Bratislava/EU country 1,400 12 16,800

PRIF UK D 2 National 8 persons x 1 field excursion x 2 days, destination from/to: Bratislava/CentralSlovakia, 1 trip/600 km

200 8 1,600

PRIF UK E 1 National 2 persons x 5 trips related to project management x 2 days, destinationfrom/to: Bratislava/Central Slovakia, 1 trip/600 km

200 10 2,000

Total 74,400

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External assistance costs


Actionnumber Procedure Description Costs (€)

PRIF UK B 3 public procurement certificate laboratory tests 5,000

PRIF UK B 3 direct treaty 5 invited keynote presentations for workshop 2,500

PRIF UK B 3 public procurement laboratory tests 15,000

PRIF UK B 3 direct treaty travel and subsistence costs for 2 foreign keynote speakers in workshop 1,000

PRIF UK B 4 public procurement arterial stiffness measurements (200 measurements) 6,000

PRIF UK B 4 public procurement chemical analyses of vegetable (70 samples) 1,800

PRIF UK B 6 public procurement truck transport of rock material and CO2 (about 1,200 km) 4,800

PRIF UK B 6 public procurement constructional technical arrangements on two drinking water sources includingconstruction proceedings and electricity and CO2 distribution

22,000

PRIF UK B 7 public procurement truck transport of rock material and CO2 (about 1,200 km) 4,800

PRIF UK C 1 public procurement control shortened chemical analyses of water samples (about 1,000 individualdeterminations)

7,000

PRIF UK C 2 public procurement arterial stiffness measurements after drinking water treatment by re-carbonization (300measurements)

9,000

PRIF UK C 4 public procurement reporting the environmental costs of reactor construction and operation 6,900

PRIF UK D 1 public procurement notices boards (3 pcs.) 5,000

PRIF UK D 1 public procurement printing of Layman´s report (400 copies) 1,500

PRIF UK D 1 public procurement printing of leaflets, posters and brochures (1,000 pcs.) 2,500

PRIF UK D 1 public procurement organization of meetings - refreshment for 250 participants, rent of meeting room 2,500

PRIF UK D 2 public procurement technical editing (text/design correction) of the final monograph 2,000

PRIF UK D 2 public procurement printing of final monograph (300 copies) 4,000

PRIF UK D 2 public procurement organization of final international conference (100 participants) - refreshment, rent formeeting room

4,000

TOTAL => 107,300

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LIFE17 ENV/SK/000036 - F4b

Durable goods: equipment costs


Actionnumber Procedure Description

Actual cost(€)

Depreciation(eligible cost)

PRIF UK B 6 public procurement 2 devices: 1 pH meter, 1 conductivity meter 2,000 1,000

PRIF UK E 1 public procurement 2 PC with operating system and basic office suite applications 4,000 2,000

PRIF UK E 1 public procurement 1 data projector for support of project management and dissemination 400 200

TOTAL => 6,400 3,200

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LIFE17 ENV/SK/000036 - F4c

Durable goods: Prototype costs


Actionnumbe Procedure Description Costs (€)

PRIF UK B 5 public procurement construction of 2 prototypes for dinking water re-carbonization in accordance withdeveloped design and technical documentation (including warranty and after-warrantyservice)

100,000

TOTAL => 100,000

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Consumables



PRIF UK B 3 public procurement rock materials for laboratory tests 500

PRIF UK B 3 public procurement organization of workshop - refreshment (25-30 participants) 600

PRIF UK B 6 public procurement rock material and CO2 8,000

PRIF UK B 7 public procurement rock material and CO2 8,000

PRIF UK C 1 public procurement laboratory test kits and chemical for testing 2,000

TOTAL => 19,100

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Other costs



PRIF UK B 3 public procurement organization of workshop - propagation materials (25-30 participants) 400

PRIF UK B 5 public procurement insurance of equipment for water re-carbonization 2,500

PRIF UK D 1 public procurement organization of meetings - propagation materials for 250 participants (T-shirts, pens,bags etc.)

2,500

PRIF UK D 2 public procurement organization of final international conference (100 participants) - purchase ofpropagation materials

1,000

PRIF UK D 2 public procurement publishing fees for 3 papers (international current contents magazines) 2,100

PRIF UK D 2 public procurement translations 5,000

PRIF UK D 2 public procurement conference fees (2 persons x 6 international conferences / 3 national events) 6,500

PRIF UK E 1 direct treaty postage to 26 EU countries - dissemination of results, postage to Brussels - reports,stamps, documents

300

PRIF UK E 1 public procurement audit 7,000

TOTAL => 27,300

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Overheads

Beneficiary short name Total direct costs of the project in € Overhead amount (€)

61,820PRIF UK 883,255

61,820883,255

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LIFE17 ENV/SK/000036 - Attachments

Proposal attachments

Included?

Attachment title Attachment type Yes Nodeclaration of support (other than form A8)Declaration of support (other than form A8)

public body declarationPublic body declaration

other documentApproval of Water Company owner

other documentApproval of Water Company operator

other documentSupporting document for action A7

other documentApprovals of mayors for drinking water treatment in their municipalities

other documentSupporting document for action A7

other documentApproval of Regional Public Health Authority

project performance indicatorsProject performance indicators

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LIFE Environment and Resource Efficiency TECHNICAL ... · The Faculty of Natural Sciences of...

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