BMBF funding measure Risk Management of Emerging Compounds and Pathogens in the Water Cycle Handbook of good practice Contents 1 Introduction 4 5 Management concepts for dealing with micropollutants and pathogens 54 in the water cycle 2 Occurrence of micropollutants, pathogens and antibiotic resistances 8 Key messages 54 in the water cycle 5.1 Introduction 55 Key messages 8 5.2 Development and implementation of management concepts within RiSKWa 58 2.1 Chemical contaminants 8 5.3 Development of measures for avoiding/reducing risks 61 2.2 Microbiological contaminants 19 5.4 Bibliography 66 2.3 Bibliography 23 6 Communication and educational measures 67 3 Risk characterization und risk assessment: drinking water, wastewater, 24 ground and surface water Key messages 67 Key messages 24 6.1 Introduction 67 3.1 Toxicological and eco-toxicological assessment 25 6.2 Public relations 69 3.2 Microbiological assessment 33 6.3 Risk communication/risk perception 73 3.3 Mobility and persistence 36 6.4 Crisis communication 76 3.4 Bibliography 38 6.5 Consultations 79 6.6 Education 79 4 Technologies for reducing organic micropollutants and pathogens 39 6.7 Bibliography 82 in aquatic environments Key messages 39 Annex 84 4.1 Introduction 40 4.2 Technologies for the elimination of organic micropollutants and pathogens 41 4.3 Technologies for the reclamation and treatment of drinking water – 46 micropollutants and pathogens 4.4 Application of emission reduction technologies in wastewater treatment 48 4.5 Conclusion 52 4.6 Bibliography 52 2 3 1 Introduction 1 Introduction With a view to chemical substances, every- sion on whether and where such treatment day commodities are meanwhile causing a is to be introduced in the future. As protec- problem, like for example shampoos and tion against harmful effects of pathogens fragrances, pharmaceuticals, hormones, new processes were developed that allow sunscreens, detergents, but also biocides for an easy detection and evaluation of such and flame retardants from textiles with such substances. Communication and educa- finishes. All these substances which do tional measures were central elements of not normally occur in nature but are man- RiSKWa as well. made and found in the environment in small amounts are referred to as “anthropogenic Overall, the funding measure produced new micropollutants”. They can nowadays be insights and progress in the fields of “risk detected in very small concentrations in the identification”, “risk management“ and “risk water. Some of them are not biodegradable communication”. The quintessence for wa- and accumulate in the food chain. Assess- ter management practice has now been ing their effects on human health and the compiled in this handbook. For a sustain- environment represents an important task able management of our valuable resource for the future. Climate and demographic “water”, it recommends various optional change alter the risk potential of patho- measures to avoid and reduce the input of gens as some of them are not eliminated in pollutants and pathogens into water bodies. wastewater treatment plants. The relevance Concrete case studies illustrate a preventive of antibiotic resistances is on the rise as water conservation. well. This handbook of good practice addresses These challenges were addressed within all actors in water and wastewater man- the BMBF funding measure “Risikoman­ agement, local governments and public au- agement von neuen Schadstoffen und thorities. It is structured along the different Krankheitserregern im Wasserkreislauf phases of risk management. Each chapter (RiSKWa)“ (Risk Management of Emerging is preceded by RiSKWa’s key messages to Compounds and Pathogens in the Wa- the practitioners. They are followed by the ter Cycle, RiSKWa): over a period of five main results of the twelve joint research © corky46 - Fotolia years, scientists, industry, public authorities projects. This structure provides the users and practice cooperated closely and, in a of this handbook with a quick overview on dialog with all relevant stakeholders from the solutions offered by RiSKWa for practi- Drinking water must be clean – just like the rivers, lakes and groundwater from which it is water management, healthcare and public cal application. sourced. To ensure this also in the future, water utilities and wastewater treatment plant sectors, elaborated the results presented operators are managing all these resources with foresight. They use the latest methods herein. They developed new approaches for Interested users are invited to also contact and technologies available to identify, assess and eliminate risks as early as possible, evaluation, technology and management, the RiSKWa experts: Table 1.1 shows a and to address their consequences. The main challenge to cope with is the diversity of and tested them under real-life conditions. list of the coordinators of the joint research pollutants and pathogens in terms of both, their assessment and their elimination. But RiSKWa produced interesting innovations, projects. Such dialog will certainly provide also every individual citizen can, and must, contribute. Due to our modern and rapidly for example in the field of “micropollutants”: further insights – after all, all joint research changing world new disruptive factors continually arise, also from private households: in this context, some of the projects ex- projects acquired extensive knowledge and residues of pharmaceuticals, traces of pollutants or newly spreading pathogens. panded the to date very difficult detection experience reaching well beyond the frame- of unknown substances. Others collected work of this handbook of good practice. data on the impact of advanced wastewater treatment and thereby facilitated the discus- 4 5 RiSKWa-Handbook of good practice 1 Introduction Table 1.1: Overview on the joint research projects, broken down by their thematic priorities Name of the joint research project Project coordinator Name of the joint research project Project coordinator Urban areas Catchment areas ASKURIS: Anthropogenic trace organic Prof. Dr. Martin Jekel Sichere Ruhr (Safe Ruhr): Bathing water and Dr.-Ing. Wolf Merkel compounds and pathogens in the urban TU Berlin drinking water for the Ruhr Area IWW Water Centre, water cycle; assessment, barriers and risk email: [email protected] Mülheim an der Ruhr communication email: [email protected] SAUBER+: Innovative concepts and Prof. Dr. Johannes Pinnekamp SchussenAktivplus: Reduction of micro- Prof. Dr. Rita Triebskorn technologies for the separate treatment RWTH Aachen pollutants and bacteria by further treatment Eberhard-Karls-University, Tübingen of wastewater from healthcare facilities email: [email protected] of wastewater treatment plant effluents and email: [email protected] mixed water from rain overflow basins of ANTI-Resist: Analysis of antibiotics and Prof. Dr. Joachim Fauler different sizes to further improve the water antibiotic resistances in the urban wastewater TU Dresden quality of the River Schussen, a tributary to and development of suitable strategies and email: [email protected] Lake Constance an early warning and monitoring system taking the example of the City of Dresden Drinking water supply Rural areas PRiMaT: Preventive risk management Dr. Frank Sacher in drinking water supply TZW: DVGW Water Technology Center, AGRO: Risk management of micropollutants PD. Dr. Tobias Licha Karlsruhe and pathogens in rural karst catchments Georg-August-University, Göttingen email: [email protected] email: [email protected] RiMaTH: Risk management of drinking water Dr. Wolfgang Fritzsche Risk AGuA: Risks posed by wastewater from Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Dott in building installations – fast detection Leibnitz Institute of Photonic intensive animal farming for ground and RWTH Aachen methods for bacterial contaminants and Technologies e.V., Jena surface water in agricultural areas email: [email protected] monitoring of decontamination measures email: [email protected] aachen.de TOX-BOX: Hazard-based risk management Dr. Tamara Grummt of anthropogenic trace substances for Federal Environmental Agency (UBA), Catchment areas protection of the drinking water supply Bad Elster email: [email protected] TransRisk: Characterization, communication Prof. Dr. Thomas Ternes and minimization of risks associated with the German Federal Institute of Hydrology, occurrence of emerging contaminants and Koblenz pathogens in the urban water cycle email: [email protected] RISK-IDENT: Assessment of previously Dr. Marion Letzel unknown anthropogenic trace contaminants Bavarian Environment Agency, and action strategies for risk management in Wielenbach aquatic systems email: [email protected] 6 7 2 Occurrence of micropollutants, pathogens and antibiotic resistances in the water cycle 2 Occurrence of micropollutants, pathogens tal compartments soil, groundwater and A heavy metal screening of three biogas surface water. A nationwide screening of plants confirmed that, with the exception of and antibiotic resistances in the water cycle biogas plants only in isolated cases pro- copper and zinc which are regularly used as duced antibiotics concentrations of more animal feed additives, no further metal ions than 1 mg/kg of utilized waste. Especially are found in relevant concentrations. How- for representatives from the generic group ever, the copper and zinc concentrations in Authors: Prof. Dr. Thomas Ternes, Dr. Frank Sacher, Dr. Marion Letzel, Prof. Dr. Martin