Research Impact

In 2019, Prof. Scholz was awarded EURO 7,000,000 for the EU H2020 REA project “Water Retention and Nutrient Recycling in Soils and Streams for Improved Agricultural Production (WATERAGRI)”. In the previous year, he received EURO 1,520,000 for the JPI Water 2018 project “Research-based Assessment of Integrated approaches to Nature-based SOLUTIONS (RAINSOLUTIONS)”.

Prof. Scholz’s SFRB concept assesses the multi-functionality of large water bodies with an emphasis on flood and diffuse pollution control potential. A novel and unbiased classification system allow all stakeholders to clearly define the purpose of a water body that can be classed as an SFRB. Communication among stakeholders regarding the most appropriate management of SFRB is greatly enhanced. Moreover, the SFRB concept addresses the need to assess the flood control potential of all European water bodies as part of new legislation.

It is noteworthy to mention that many results from Prof. Scholz’s research activities have contributed to the national and international guidelines on wetland and sustainable drainage systems. Prof. Scholz’s greatest impact in the wetland guidelines was performed in the area of ICW, in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England, where he contributed to the design of the guidelines for wetland systems, as a research consultant.

As the world population rises and faces increasing water scarcity challenges, traditional solutions are no longer an option for addressing the water demand. This simple rationale led Prof. Scholz to consider the use of non-conventional water resources to match the clean fresh water growing demand. For instance, wastewater is often seen as an appropriate alternative for overcoming potential future shortages in water supply. However, environmental and public health problems are expected in the future, due to an insufficient provision of sanitation and wastewater disposal facilities. For that reason, wastewater treatment and recycling methods have been identified by Prof. Scholz and his group as fundamental for providing sufficient fresh water in the coming decades. Indeed, water resources are limited mostly because more than 70% of water is consumed for irrigation purposes, while wastewater is freely available.

The use of wetlands was selected as one of the most suitable technologies in terms of pollutant removal among the current treatments applied for urban wastewater reuse for irrigation. Their low maintenance costs and energy consumption are among its most attractive advantages. Different research activities carried out in the field have shown that some specific wastewater characteristics determine the wetlands’ design for optimal treatment. The wetland behaviour and efficiency concerning wastewater treatment are mainly linked to the macrophyte composition, the substrate, the hydrology, the surface loading rate, the influent feeding mode, the microorganism availability, and the temperature. Prof. Scholz’s research showed that constructed wetlands are very effective in removing organics and suspended solids, but fail in the removal of nitrogen, which is relatively low unless special media with high sorption capacity are used. However, Prof. Scholz has shown that nitrogen removal can be improved by using a combination of different types of constructed wetlands.