Helping ports weather the storm

The company, which was founded in 2004, works with port authorities to design and produce systems for stormwater treatment to help decrease the level of pollution created in port areas – something the StormwaterItalia says has been ignored in the past and is now becoming more of a problem in the industry.

Stefano Biondi, founder and CEO of StormwaterItalia, told GreenPort: “Rainwater on impervious port areas’ surfaces has the potential to flush pollutants, settled during dry periods, directly to receiving water bodies. This process exerts a significant environmental impact, contaminating seawater and port sediments with solids, organic and inorganic compounds, oils, fats and, most of all, heavy metals.”

“It is scientifically demonstrated that the potential flush of pollutants has a negative impact on the seabed sediments. Stormwater also mobilises pollutants both in the dissolved and suspended form, with the risk of discharging them on surface waters,” Mr Biondi added.

So far, the company has helped various European ports including Marina di Carrara, Bari, La Spezia and Livorno Ports. It also designed the largest European plant for stormwater treatment for Venice Port Authority.

More recently, it’s developed a new system called SWerm03 (Stormwater environment risk management) which features a control unit that, when risk of pollution is detected, activates an emergency pneumatic system that closes the sewerage access or opens the spills tank. At the same time, an alarm signal is sent to the operation centre, SW-ERM grid, so staff can stay on top of the situation. In addition, the plant manager can also remotely operate the emergency pneumatic system.

The company’s systems treat 95% of annual rain flow, don’t require any pumps or chemicals and are said to be simple in terms of maintenance, as well as being cost effective.

Going forward, StormwaterItalia told GP it’s looking to move into new areas. “A new field of growing activity is the development of continuous monitoring systems and devices that remotely transmit water-quality data,” Mr Biondi said.

Speaking of the upcoming GreenPort Congress, which takes place in Copenhagen from 7 to 9 October 2015, and of which the company is Silver Sponsor, Mr Biondi concluded: “We are hoping that this experience will enrich and enhance our knowledge on the environmental impact of ports and on the effects that stormwater run-off has on the areas.”