Anthropogenic organic micro-pollutants and pathogens in the urban water cycle: assessment, barriers and risk communication (ASKURIS)

In urban areas, water often flows along a partially closed water cycle in which treated municipal wastewater is discharged into surface waters which are one source of raw waters used for drinking water supply. A number of organic micro-pollutants (OMP) can be found in different water compartments. In the near future, climatic and demographic changes will probably contribute to an increase of OMP and antibiotic-resistant pathogens in aquatic ecosystems. The occurrence of OMP, possible adverse effects on aquatic organisms and human health and the public perception must be carefully assessed to properly manage and communicate potentially associated risks and to implement appropriate advanced treatment options at the optimum location within the water cycle. Therefore, the interdisciplinary research project ASKURIS focuses on identification and quantification, toxicological assessment and removal of organic micro-pollutants and antibiotic-resistant pathogens in the Berlin water cycle, life cycle-based economic and environmental assessment, public perception and management of potential risks

Investigating the redox sensitivity of para-toluenesulfonamide (p-TSA) in groundwater

The groundwater downstream of a former sewage irrigation farm in Berlin is contaminated with ammonium (NH4+) and para-toluenesulfonamide (p-TSA), besides other anthropogenic pollutants. In the field, in situ removal of NH4+ by gaseous oxygen (O2) and air injection is currently being tested. A laboratory column experiment using aquifer material and groundwater from the site was performed to determine whether this remediation technology is also feasible to reduce high p-TSA concentrations in the anoxic groundwater. First, the column was operated under anoxic conditions. Later, compressed air was introduced into the system to simulate oxic conditions. Samples were collected from the column outlet before and after the addition of compressed air. The experiment revealed that whereas p-TSA was not removed under anoxic conditions, it was almost fully eliminated under oxic conditions. Results were modelled using a transient one-dimensional solute transport model. The degradation rate constants for p-TSA increased from 2.8E-06 to 7.5E-05 s–1 as a result of microbial adaption to the change of redox conditions. Results show that O2 injection into an anoxic aquifer is a successful strategy for p-TSA remediationInstitute of Geological Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, AlemaniaDepartment of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, AlemaniaUnidad de Sevilla, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, EspañaDVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser, AlemaniaDepartment of Laboratories, Berliner Wasser Betriebe, Alemani

Trace Organic Removal during River Bank Filtration for Two Types of Sediment

The process of bank filtration acts as a barrier against many anthropogenic micropollutants, such as pharmaceuticals and industrial products, leading to a substantial improvement of groundwater quality. The performance of this barrier is, however, affected by seasonal influences and subject to significant temporal changes, which have already been described in the literature. Much less is known about spatial differences when considering one field site. In order to investigate this issue, two undisturbed cores from a well-investigated bank filtration field site were sampled and operated in the course of a column study. The ultimate aim was the identification and quantification of heterogeneities with regard to the biodegradation of 14 wastewater derived micropollutants, amongst others acesulfame, gabapentin, metoprolol, oxypurinol, candesartan, and olmesartan. While six of the compounds entirely persisted, eight compounds were prone to degradation. For those compounds that were subject to degradation, degradation rate constants ranged between 0.2 day−1 (gabapentin) and 31 day−1 (valsartan acid). Further, the rate constants consistently diverged between the distinct cores. In case of the gabapentin metabolite gabapentin-lactam, observed removal rate constants differed by a factor of six between the cores. Experimental data were compared to values calculated according to two structure based prediction models

Anthropogenic organic micro-pollutants and pathogens in the urban water cycle : assessment, barriers and risk communication (ASKURIS)

Gedruckt erschienen im Universitätsverlag der TU Berlin, ISBN 978-3-7983-2814-3Im Forschungsprojekt ASKURIS wurden das Auftreten und die Entfernung organischer Spurenstoffe und resistenter Krankheitserreger in urbanen Wasserkreisläufen erforscht. Neueste analytische Methoden wurden eingesetzt, um entlang des Wasserkreislaufes bekannte Substanzen in kleinsten Konzentrationen zu quantifizieren und unbekannte Spurenstoffe zu identifizieren. Deren Entfernung durch bestehende und zusätzliche technische Barrieren (Aktivkohle und/oder Ozon) wurde an unterschiedlichen Stellen des Wasserkreislaufes untersucht. Für eine Bewertung der technischen Barrieren wurden Kosten und Auswirkungen auf die Umwelt bilanziert. Toxische Effekte auf Mensch und Umwelt wurden untersucht, um ein eventuelles Risiko abschätzen zu können. Mit empirischen, sozialwissenschaftlichen Methoden wurde die Wahrnehmung von Risiken in der Bevölkerung analysiert. Die Forschungsergebnisse aus ASKURIS wurden in das Risikomanagementsystem des größten deutschen Wasserver- und -entsorgers integriert.A partially closed water cycle may exist in urban areas, whereby treated municipal wastewater is discharged into surface waters used as a source for the drinking water supply. A number of organic micro-pollutants (OMP) can be found in the different water compartments. In the near future, climatic and demographic changes probably contribute to an increase of OMP in aquatic eco-systems. The occurrence of OMP, possible adverse effects on aquatic organisms and human health and the public perception must be carefully assessed to properly manage and communicate potential risks and to implement advanced treatment options (activated carbon or ozone) at the optimum point within the water cycle. Therefore, the interdisciplinary research project ASKURIS focused on the identification and quantification of OMP, on the toxicological assessment and removal of organic micro-pollutants and antibiotic-resistant pathogens in the Berlin water cycle, on life-cycle based economic and environmental assessments, the public perception and management of potential risks.BMBF, 02WRS1278, RiSKWa - Verbundprojekt ASKURIS: Anthropogene Spurenstoffe und Krankheitserreger im urbanen Wasserkreislauf: Bewertung, Barrieren und Risikokommunikatio