An electrochemical cell (100; 300) for wastewater treatment comprising: a. a solid polymer electrolyte membrane; b. an anode catalyst layer adjacent to a first side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and a cathode catalyst layer adjacent to a second side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, opposite to the first side; c. a first open pore mesh (108; 208; 308) adjacent to the anode catalyst layer and a second open pore mesh (110; 210; 310) adjacent to the cathode catalyst layer, the first open pore mesh (108; 208; 308) and the second open pore mesh (110; 210; 310) being made of conductive materials; d. a first compression frame (112; 212; 312), adjacent to the first open pore mesh (108; 208; 308) and a second compression frame (114; 214; 314), adjacent to the second open pore mesh (110; 210; 310), each of the compression frames (112, 114; 212, 214; 312, 314) having compression arms (107, 118; 307, 318) spread within the area delimited by the perimeter of the frame, the compression arms (107, 118; 307, 318) being connected to each other at connection sites (120, 121), the first compression frame (112; 212; 312) and the second compression frame (114; 214; 314) being made of conductive materials; e. fasteners (122; 222; 322) which protrude through holes (119, 123) provided in the compression arms (107, 118; 307, 318) of the first and second compression frames (112, 114; 212, 214; 312, 314) at the connection sites, through holes (115, 116) provided in the first and second open pore meshes (108, 110; 208, 210; 308, 310) and through the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and the anode and cathode catalyst layers, the fasteners (122; 222; 322) being made of non-conductive materials, wherein the fasteners (122; 222; 322) provide the force to compress the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, the catalyst layers and the open pore meshes (108, 110; 208, 210; 308, 310) between the two compression frames (112, 114; 212, 214; 312, 314) and wherein each of the first open pore mesh (108; 208; 308) and the second open pore mesh (110; 210; 310) comprises a flat surface and an embossed surface which is raised from the flat surface, wherein each embossed surface of the first open pore mesh (108; 208; 308) and of the second open pore mesh (110; 210; 310) comprises embossed areas (150, 160; 250, 260; 350), each embossed area surrounding a hole (115, 116; 215, 216; 315) provided in the open pore mesh (108, 110), and wherein the embossed area surrounding a hole in the open pore mesh comprises a raised flat area (154, 164; 254, 264; 354, 364) and an inclined area (156, 166; 256, 266; 356, 366) which connects the raised flat area to the flat surface of the open pore mesh. a. a solid polymer electrolyte membrane; b. an anode catalyst layer adjacent to a first side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and a cathode catalyst layer adjacent to a second side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, opposite to the first side; c. a first open pore mesh (108; 208; 308) adjacent to the anode catalyst layer and a second open pore mesh (110; 210; 310) adjacent to the cathode catalyst layer, the first open pore mesh (108; 208; 308) and the second open pore mesh (110; 210; 310) being made of conductive materials; d. a first compression frame (112; 212; 312), adjacent to the first open pore mesh (108; 208; 308) and a second compression frame (114; 214; 314), adjacent to the second open pore mesh (110; 210; 310), each of the compression frames (112, 114; 212, 214; 312, 314) having compression arms (107, 118; 307, 318) spread within the area delimited by the perimeter of the frame, the compression arms (107, 118; 307, 318) being connected to each other at connection sites (120, 121), the first compression frame (112; 212; 312) and the second compression frame (114; 214; 314) being made of conductive materials; e. fasteners (122; 222; 322) which protrude through holes (119, 123) provided in the compression arms (107, 118; 307, 318) of the first and second compression frames (112, 114; 212, 214; 312, 314) at the connection sites, through holes (115, 116) provided in the first and second open pore meshes (108, 110; 208, 210; 308, 310) and through the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and the anode and cathode catalyst layers, the fasteners (122; 222; 322) being made of non-conductive materials,