Prüf- und Entwicklungsinstitut für Abwassertechnik an der RWTH Aachen e.V.

In early 1999, the Development and Assessment Institute in Waste Water Technology at RWTH Aachen University (PIA) was founded as a non-profit organisation. Since October of the same year, PIA has been accredited as an affiliated institute of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at RWTH Aachen University. The goal of the organisation is to promote research and training in the fields of wastewater technology and environmental protection. The Ministry of Environment and Conservation, Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia significantly sponsored the setup of infrastructure at PIA. Through employment of the premises of former municipal wastewater treatment plant "Bildchen", the city of Aachen was able to lay the foundations for research and development, assessment and experiments concerning wastewater. PIA works closely with all other university faculties in the areas of training and research. This cooperation enables joint execution of national and international research projects. In the range of teachings, PIA offers to students of RWTH Aachen and Aachen University of Applied Sciences (FH Aachen), the possibility of conducting student research projects or bachelor, master and diploma theses in the filed of waste water disposal. Since 2003, tests of wastewater technology plants have been carried out PIA GmbH, a subsidiary company of PIA e.V.