Project PRESTO (Project on Reduction of the Eutrophication of the Baltic Sea Today) tackled the eutrophication which is the main environmental problem of the Baltic Sea. Eutrophication is caused by excess load of nutrients - nitrogen and phosphorus - to the sea mainly from land-based sources.Main objectives and related activities of PRESTO project:1. To improve water quality along River Daugava and River Neman and the Baltic Sea by direct investments into municipal waste water treatment – reduction of nutrient load up to 500 tons per year.Main actions:- cost efficient and high-impact pilot investments in wastewater treatment plants in Grodno, Molodechno and Vitebsk - development of the existing processes in Kaunas and Daugavpils2. To increase the competence of operating staff of the WWTPs, plant designers and university staff who train the future wastewater engineers. Main actions:- development of educational course and materials for the three Belarusian technical universities (Brest, Minsk and Polotsk) - workshops for operative, administrative and educational experts on modern waste water treatments technologies 3. To increase awareness in the BSR about the harmful effects of nutrients in watercourses and how to tackle the problem. Main actions:- forums aiming at exchange of information between the authorities, decision makers and other relevant actors about the tools and legislation needed to improve water quality in Baltic Sea Region;- promotion of good practices in nutrient removal and sustainable sludge handling in the Baltic Sea RegionProject consortium:Union of the Baltic Cities Commission on Environment (LP), John Nurminen Founadtion, Technical University of Berlin, Baranovichi Municipal Unitary Manufacturing Enterprise, Grodno Municipal Unitary Manufacturing Enterprise, Molodezhno Municipal Unitary Manufacturing Enterprise, Vitebsk Municipal Unitary Manufacturing Enterprise, Brest State Technical University, Belarussian National Technical University, Polotsk State University, Daugavpils Water Ltd., Kaunas Water Ltd. Achievements: Reduction of 200 tons of phosphorous (P) was achieved through investments realized in three Belarusian WWTPs. For these investments, the technical audits and the investment plans where done as well as the localization of the plans. Based on these the permits where applied and issued. Open international tenders for the equipment supplies, installations and construction works were launched in April 2013 and supplies were delivered installed successfully by the end of the project. In addition, technical audits and tender documents for Baranovichi and Lida WWTPs were finalized by end of 2013. Realization of these will result 100 tons reduction of P.Daugavpils WWTP tendered and contracted consultant to conduct a feasibility study on improved sludge handling and to prepare the tendering documents for the chosen method. The work was finalized in winter of 2014. Daugavpils and Kaunas WWTPs made also small investments on laboratory and measurement technology to improve their WWT processes.The project partners and associated partners are have up-to-date skills on modern wastewater treatment (nutrient removal) through a series of capacity building workshops and site visits. Results of the workshops have been also introduced into the academic education in Belarus.A framework paper for development of the education on waste water treatment in Belarus was drafted and on that basis a common academic course was organised in December 2013 together with all partner universities and two other Belarusian technical universities. Also, study material package on modern waste water treatment was developed. Awareness on reasoning for and needs (technological and political) of modern waste water treatment (nutrient removal) was raised significantly through the four thematic public forums. Each forum (environmental, technological, policy and Belarusian country forum) attracted approximately 100 international participants including e.g. decision makers, scientists, NGOs and other stakeholders. On basis of the forums, a booklet was produced: Eutrophication - Environment, Policy & Technology. Booklet is also part of the study material package for universities.Cooperation with the Belarusian water association AquaBel has been established in order to disseminate the results of PRESTO to all Belarusian waste water treatment operators and to develop a lifelong learning concept for Belarusian water professionals on basis of the experiences gained in PRESTO. Also, cooperation between Aquabel and DWA (Deutch Water Association) has been established and some of the DWA standards have been translated by the University partners and introduced into the Belarusian standards.