Fate of organic micropollutants during riverbank filtration
Determination of the potential purification performance of bank filtration/underground passage with regard to the elimination of organic contaminants under site-specific boundary conditions
Abstract
In Germany, several waterworks use riverbank filtration and underground passage with its diverse spectrum of purification mechanisms in the treatment of river water for water supplies. In order to prepare a manual for its planning and management and to support its worldwide utilization, the knowledge and experiences of this water technology in Germany and other countries are collected within a combined project. Within the project part, that is presented here and worked on by the TZW, the knowledge concerning the elimination of organic micropollutants is put together and evaluated by means of selected target compounds [complexing agents (NTA, EDTA, DTPA), aromatic sulfonates, pesticides and pharmaceuticals (antibiotics, endocrine disruptors, iodinated X ray contrast media)]. Criteria for the selection of single target compounds were their widespread application, their detectability in the aquatic environment, and a spectrum of physico-chemical properties as broad as possible. Within the framework of knowledge evaluation, the influence and variability of boundary conditions (eg. redox medium, concentration of micropollutants, water temperature) is established and evaluated particularly with regard to the transferability of this technology to potential sites in third-world countries. Distinct information lags concerning the elimination of micropollutants, which are partly a result of deviating boundary conditions in other countries (eg. climate, spectrum of micropollutants), will be reduced by utilizing practice oriented laboratory investigations on sorption processes (batch experiments) and microbial degradation (test filter systems according to Sontheimer) and by field studies on suitable river water/groundwater infiltration systems.
In Germany, several waterworks use riverbank filtration and underground passage with its diverse spectrum of purification mechanisms in the treatment of river water for water supplies. In order to prepare a manual for its planning and management and to support its worldwide utilization, the knowledge and experiences of this water technology in Germany and other countries are collected within a combined project. Within the project part, that is presented here and worked on by the TZW, the knowledge concerning the elimination of organic micropollutants is put together and evaluated by means of selected target compounds [complexing agents (NTA, EDTA, DTPA), aromatic sulfonates, pesticides and pharmaceuticals (antibiotics, endocrine disruptors, iodinated X ray contrast media)]. Criteria for the selection of single target compounds were their widespread application, their detectability in the aquatic environment, and a spectrum of physico-chemical properties as broad as possible. Within the framework of knowledge evaluation, the influence and variability of boundary conditions (eg. redox medium, concentration of micropollutants, water temperature) is established and evaluated particularly with regard to the transferability of this technology to potential sites in third-world countries. Distinct information lags concerning the elimination of micropollutants, which are partly a result of deviating boundary conditions in other countries (eg. climate, spectrum of micropollutants), will be reduced by utilizing practice oriented laboratory investigations on sorption processes (batch experiments) and microbial degradation (test filter systems according to Sontheimer) and by field studies on suitable river water/groundwater infiltration systems.
Funding
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
