Where Science Meets Community: Recap of the Lake Velnezers Treatment Week

From August 10 to 18, the TRUST ALUM information tent at Velnezers welcomed hundreds of curious residents from the Jugla neighborhood. The tent provided an opportunity to learn and experience the innovative lake restoration method we are piloting, to understand the ecological status of Lake Velnezers, and to get familiar with the anticipated improvements to its health and usability.

Lake Velnezers treatment was more than a year long process with preparation works, modeling and collaboration between Swedish and Baltic partners.

One of the major tasks to ensure successful treatment was to develop dynamic model for the lake based on the monitoring results and calculate precise dose.

Community Engagement

Project manager Inta Dimante-Deimantoviča introduce to the principles of Lake Velnezers treatment.

The informative tent was on site thorough the week and attracted hundreds of visiotrs.

Residents showed large interest in the lake cleaning process, asking practical questions about future recreational opportunities such as swimming and fishing. Common inquiries included:

• When will swimming in the lake be safe again?
• Can pets safely drink from the lake?
• What will happen to the fish population?
• How often will such restoration work be required?

Hearing that the lake treatment would last only a week and that recreational use could resume shortly after sparked surprise and joy among the attendees. Not all visitors were immediately convinced. Some arrived with skepticism or concerns based on misconceptions, such as fears that the lakebed would be permanently altered or that the treatment might harm other local water bodies. However, discussions with experts from the Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology (LHEI) dispelled these myths. The information shared during the event reassured even the most doubtful, leaving them hopeful and confident in the project’s positive environmental impact.

The most frequently asked questions are thoroughly addressed in our Q&A section, available in English, Latvian, Estonian, and Lithuanian. Be sure to check it out!

Broader Interest

We experienced a large national media attention thorough the week.

TRUST ALUM team members gave lots of interviews.

The event also attracted visitors from other neighborhoods who learned about the lake restoration via social media. They were keen to explore the possibility of applying similar methods to water bodies in their own communities. The event gained significant attention from national media, with extensive coverage across major Latvian television programs. The innovative approach and community involvement in the TRUST ALUM project captured widespread interest, highlighting the importance of lake restoration and sustainable water management. This media exposure not only informed a broader audience about the project’s goals but also underscored the growing public interest in environmental initiatives like those at Velnezers.

Take a look at the video releases from LTV1, TV3 and 4.studija.

Public Demonstration

Jar test demonstration of how PAC captures phosphorous in lake sediments.

Stakeholders could experience ALUM treatment in action and visit the treatment boat.

Building on the success of the information tent, a broader public event was held at Velnezers on October 15 and 16. Representatives from local municipalities, scientific institutions, lake management authorities, and other stakeholders from Baltic countries were invited to witness the lake cleaning process in action. The demonstration highlighted the restoration techniques, shared insights on expected results, and provided a close-up look at the project’s methodology. Approximately 30 people attended each day of this informative event.

About the TRUST ALUM Project

The TRUST ALUM project, supported by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme, focuses on sustainable and innovative methods to restore eutrophic water bodies like Lake Velnezers. The project demonstrates the use of aluminum salts (in our pilot case PAC or polyaluminium chloride) to reduce excessive nutrient levels in hevily polluted lakes, improving water quality and enabling their return as valuable natural and recreational resources. By combining scientific expertise with local community engagement, TRUST ALUM aims to set a precedent for sustainable water management across the Baltic Sea Region with emphasis on Baltic countries.

Our project has developed a range of educational and support materials to promote the effective use of ALUM water treatment in heavily polluted lakes:

• Expertise linking HUB | Eutrophication. This document explains eutrophication, with emphasis on lakes, that results in algal blooms, oxygen depletion, biodiversity loss, and economic impacts on sectors like fisheries, tourism, and water management.
• Expertise linking HUB | ALUM treatment concept. The document discusses ALUM treatment for lakes, a method used for nearly 60 years to improve water quality by binding excess phosphorus in the sediment, preventing its release and subsequent eutrophication.
• Expertise linking HUB | Key literature. This document provides a review of the essential literature on eutrophication and proposed mitigation measure for heavily polluted lakes, with the emphasis on the ALUM water treatment method application.
• Expertise linking HUB | Target group database. The Target group database provides a comprehensive list of identified stakeholders that could be involved in the application of the ALUM treatment method in the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania).
• Expertise linking HUB | Technical regulation. This document outlines the implementation of the ALUM treatment method in Baltic countries, focusing on water quality improvement. It details the legislative requirements and procedural steps necessary for applying the method in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, including environmental impact assessments and permits.

Programme Manual Online

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