PURE Rivers
PURE Rivers (Pollution Understanding and Restoration Effort for Rivers; project code BSB01319) is a transnational environmental research project co-financed by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme (Interreg VI-B). It began on 28 February 2026 with a duration of 30 months and a total budget of €1,522,117.80, of which 90 percent is drawn from Interreg funds. Four public institutions from Turkey, Greece and Georgia participate in the project, which examines river pollution in the Sakarya River, the Evros River and the Supsa River.[1]
Context
The Black Sea receives approximately 350 cubic kilometres of river water annually from more than twenty countries. Research conducted under the EU-funded Environmental Monitoring in the Black Sea (EMBLAS) project identified four transboundary environmental problems in the region: eutrophication, changes in marine living resources, chemical pollution and biodiversity loss.[1] Because rivers cross national borders before reaching the sea, pollution in the basin has been characterised as a transboundary governance problem requiring coordinated international response.[1]
PURE Rivers was approved under Specific Objective RSO2.7 of the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme, which concerns the preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure alongside the reduction of pollution.[1]
Rivers under study
Sakarya River
The Sakarya River, approximately 720 kilometres long, drains parts of northwestern Anatolia and discharges into the Black Sea. The river basin contains industrial zones and agricultural land. Recorded pollution sources include industrial and domestic wastewater discharges, pesticide runoff and uncontrolled water extraction.[1]
Evros River
The Evros River (Turkish: Meriç) rises in Bulgaria and forms the border between Greece and Turkey before emptying into the Aegean Sea. Its lower reaches and wetlands have been affected by agricultural runoff, municipal solid waste and microplastic accumulation.[1] The Evros Delta holds Ramsar status as a wetland of international importance.
Supsa River
The Supsa River has a catchment of approximately 1,130 square kilometres in the Guria region of western Georgia and flows approximately 108 kilometres westward into the Black Sea near Lanchkhuti Municipality. The river has no wastewater treatment infrastructure in its catchment area; untreated domestic sewage, partially treated industrial and medical wastewater and agricultural runoff enter the river directly.[1] A sewerage failure in 2011 resulted in a localised outbreak of water-related infection in the Lanchkhuti area.[1]
Partner institutions
| Organisation | Country | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa | Turkey | Lead partner |
| Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality | Turkey | Project partner |
| Democritus University of Thrace – School of Engineering (DUTH-SARF) | Greece | Project partner |
| Lanchkhuti Municipality | Georgia | Project partner |
Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, as lead partner, is responsible for overall coordination, scientific methodology and programme reporting. Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality holds administrative responsibility for waste management on the Sakarya River. Democritus University of Thrace leads research on the Evros River. Lanchkhuti Municipality is responsible for environmental management in the Supsa River catchment.[1]
Research activities
Sampling teams collect water and sediment from each river four times per year, following a standardised methodology based on ISO standards. Measured parameters include indicator bacteria (total coliform, E. coli, enterococci), microplastics (per ISO/CD 16094), heavy metals (by ICP-MS), nutrients (phosphate, nitrogen compounds, silica), chlorophyll-a, dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature.[1]
A pilot bioremediation installation is operated on a section of the Sakarya River. The system uses microorganisms, constructed wetlands and biofilters to reduce pollutant concentrations. Results and data are compiled into scientific reports published in English and in the national languages of the partner countries.[1]
Policy framework
The project relates to the Water Framework Directive, under which EU member states are required to assess the ecological and chemical status of water bodies and maintain river basin management plans. It also corresponds to the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea and the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030.[1]
Funding
| Partner | Budget (€) |
|---|---|
| Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa | 457,425.00 |
| Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality | 369,727.80 |
| Democritus University of Thrace | 357,915.00 |
| Lanchkhuti Municipality | 337,050.00 |
| Total | 1,522,117.80 |
The EU contribution (90 percent) is €1,369,906.02. The remaining 10 percent is provided as public co-financing by the partner institutions.[1]
References
External links
Category:Environmental remediation Category:Water pollution Category:Black Sea Category:Interreg Category:2026 in the environment
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