We have recently started a collaboration with the group of Dr. Estilita Ruiz and Dr. Iñaki Antigüedad from the University of the Basque Country on the spatio-temporal assessment of the impact of contaminants on urban watersheds affected by wastewater discharges. One of the main objectives of the “Debased” project is to evaluate the expected beneficial effect of recently established wastewater treatment plants on the impact of contaminants (mainly, trace elements and nutrients) on the river ecosystem, at a watershed scale, with special emphasis on the sediments. An integration of physicochemical, hydrological and biological tools will be used for a better assessment of the impact of contaminants on urban watersheds. Our group will be involved in the molecular assessment of the microbial communities in the river sediments, in close collaboration with Dr. Miren Martínez from the University of the Basque Country.
