ZeroPM removal workshop: Challenges of persistent and mobile substances in water supply

Für Mensch & Umwelt Challenges of persistent and mobile substances in water supply ZeroPM Removal Workshop Aki Sebastian Ruhl et multi al. German Environment Agency Section II 3.3 − Water Treatment Persistent and mobile substances in water supply Challenges: •Source control measures primarily long-term option •Lack of data on concentrations of persistent and mobile substances in drinking •Correlations between micropollutant concentrations? •Toxicological evaluation of substances •Assessment of (new) treatment options •Authorization of substances Time frame of source control 3 •Complex interaction between different directives, regulations, ordinances et al. •Substantial time lag between legislation and impacts •Example of phosphor Time frame 4 Screening of German drinking waters 5 •Own screening campaign supported by volunteers •Analyses of PFAS and other persistent and mobile substances PFAS in German drinking waters 6 Correlations between micropollutants 7 •Grouping of substances with selected indicators very helpful •Potentially reduced efforts for chemical analyses Correlations between micropollutants 8 •No relations between individual PFAS •Weak relations with other parameters Non-regulated substances in drinking water •Toxicological evaluation by UBA section II 3.6 (“Drinking Water Toxicology”) •Health based guideline values (HBGV) 9 Treatment options − activated carbon 16 Treatment options − activated carbon 17 •Poor predictions based on substance properties Treatment options 19 •New adsorbents for PFAS and other persistent and mobile substances Treatment options 20 Batch tests with: •Activated carbon (AC) •Ion exchange resins (IX) •Alternative adsorbents (AA) Treatment options 21 •Different results for other substances •No solution for all targets Authorization of new substances 22 Assessment: •Efficiency •Toxicology •Secondary environmental impacts Authorization of new substances 23 Thank you for your attention! Aki Sebastian Ruhl akisebasti[email protected] www.uba.de