SchussenAktivplus: reduction of micropollutants and of potentially pathogenic bacteria for further water quality improvement of the river Schussen, a tributary of Lake Constance, Germany

Abstract

The project focuses on the efficiency of combined technologies to reduce the release of micropollutants and bacteria into surface waters via sewage treatment plants of different size and via stormwater overflow basins of different types. As a model river in a highly populated catchment area, the river Schussen and, as a control, the river Argen, two tributaries of Lake Constance, Southern Germany, are under investigation in this project. The efficiency of the different cleaning technologies is monitored by a wide range of exposure and effect analyses including chemical and microbiological techniques as well as effect studies ranging from molecules to communities.

Selection of organic process and source indicator substances for the anthropogenically influenced water cycle

“…The selection of indicator substances has been identified as an important task in the German funding program RiSKWa (risk management of emerging compounds and pathogens in the water cycle) and its individual projects Huckele and Track, 2013;Jekel et al, 2013;Triebskorn et al, 2013). A group of experts from different joint projects within evaluated OMP as indicator substances with regard to specific functions, relevance and interpretation, as indicated below.…”

From agricultural fields to surface water systems: the overland transport of veterinary antibiotics

“…As a result, in 2011, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) initiated the funding framework RiSKWa: Risk Management of Emerging Compounds and Pathogens in the Water Cycle. RiSKWa was comprised of 12 joint research projects, including: (i) Anthropogenic Trace Organic Compounds and Pathogens in the Urban Water Cycle: Assessment, Barriers and Risk Communication (ASKURIS; Jekel et al 2013); (ii) Reduction of Micropollutants and Potentially Pathogenic Bacteria for Further Water Quality Improvement of River Schussen, a Tributary of Lake Constance (SchussenAktivplus; Triebskorn et al 2013); and (iii) Hazard-Based Risk Management of Anthropogenic Trace Substances for Protection of the Drinking Water Supply (TOX-BOX; Grummt et al 2013).…”

Fish embryo tests with Danio rerio as a tool to evaluate surface water and sediment quality in rivers influenced by wastewater treatment plants using different treatment technologies

“…Such activity is of great importance for sustainable water management, since current wastewater treatment does not completely eliminate these substances (Abegglen 2010), thus resulting in their continuous discharge into the aquatic environment (da Silva et al 2011). The efficiency of additional wastewater treatment technologies such as, for example, ozonation or adsorption by sand filters and/or activated carbon with respect to reducing micropollutant releases is currently under research (Abegglen 2010;Triebskorn et al 2013a). In addition to WWTPs, storm water overflow basins (SOBs) also contribute to the discharge of pollutants into surface waters (Steinmetz and Dittmer 2010) because untreated wastewater may reach surface waters after heavy rainfall events.…”

“…In addition to WWTPs, storm water overflow basins (SOBs) also contribute to the discharge of pollutants into surface waters (Steinmetz and Dittmer 2010) because untreated wastewater may reach surface waters after heavy rainfall events. New technologies to improve the elimination of pollutants in these systems are also under investigation (Triebskorn et al 2013a).…”