Science at UM [S03-ep01]: A New Decree for REUT

[Podcast] - Published on September 21, 2023 in Science and Society

In this episode of the third season of "Science at the UM," we’re discussing wastewater reuse with Marc Heran, a researcher at the European Membrane Institute (IEM) and Vincent Moulia, a PhD student atIEM, G-Eau, and the LBE in Narbonne. The report takes you to the membrane filtration hall with Omar Samhari, a postdoctoral researcher atIEM. Finally, Gautier Desmoulins from the Montpellier University Hospital introduces you to World Heart Days.

On August 30, just as you were finishing your last few mojitos and putting away your suitcases and swimsuits, the government issued a decree —long awaited by local authorities—that finally eased regulations on the reuse of wastewater for agricultural purposes.

So why has it taken so long? First, because it was announced back in March during the presentation of the major water plan. Second, because France is lagging far behind in this area. In France, less than 1% of treated wastewater is used for irrigation, compared to 8% in Italy, 14% in Spain, and as much as 80% in Israel. At a time when drought is affecting more and more regions in France and when 62% of groundwater levels were below their normal average as of September¹, it is no longer sustainable to go without such a resource.

So what does this decree allow for, what are the benefits in terms of water conservation, and what are the potential impacts on soil? These are just a few of the questions we’ll be asking our two guests over the next 20 minutes. Marc Heran is a researcher at the European Membrane Institute (IEM) and Vincent Moulia is a doctoral student atIEM, G-Eau, and the LBE in Narbonne. Both have been participating in an experiment that has been underway for several years in the Montpellier metropolitan area in Murviel-lès-Montpellier. They are co-authors of a paper in the journal Science of The Total Environment:“Short-term effect of the quality gradient of reclaimed wastewater on the soil microbiome during irrigation.”

In the second half of the program, we’ll take you to the European Membrane Institute—specifically, to the membrane filtration facility. This facility allows for the implementation of various filtration techniques, ranging from bench-scale to pre-industrial-scale operations. Omar Samhari,IEM postdoctoral researcher atIEM shows us how seawater can be desalinated to produce drinking water using reverse osmosis. 

Finally, our guest for the last three minutes is Gautier Desmoulins, who is here to tell us about World Heart Day, a public awareness event focused on cardiology taking place on September 29 in Antigone.

At UM Science, you’ve got the program—let’s get started!

Co-production: Divergence FM / University of Montpellier
Host: Lucie Lecherbonnier
Interview: Aline Périault / Lucie Lecherbonnier
Reporting and editing: Aline Périault
Director: Tom Chevalier

Tune in to the show “A l’UM la science” on Divergence FM 93.9

Keywords: Science at UM, Research, Science, Company