Best H2O article 2014: pharmaceutical spreading via WWTPs

Transport and degradation of contaminants elucidated

According to the jury, he authors provide a ‘clear description of a model system which shows, for all of the Netherlands, how two pharmaceuticals end up in surface water via wastewater treatment effluent, and then can have an impact on ecological water quality or drinking water abstraction. Through a combination of hydraulic and technological models, the transport and degradation of the compounds are elucidated during their route from the consumer, via sewerage and treatment, and then to surface water and groundwater. The article reveals where in the Netherlands drinking water abstraction or Natura 2000 sites can be impacted by pharmaceutical residues in WWTP effluent discharges. The method can also be applied to other substances, other water functions and other research questions. The impacts of the watercycle on the water system and drinking water production that are brought to light offer an important and practically usable basis for policy decisions in the areas of water treatment and quality management.’

Second prize also for KWR

Congratulations were also in order for the authors of the article that took second prize, ‘Fecale verontreiniging in zwemwater identificeren met DNA-merkers’ (Identifying faecal contamination in bathing water using DNA markers) by Leo Heijnen, Kimberly Learbuch, Edwin Kardinaal (KWR), Serge Rotteveel, Hans Ruiter (Rijkswaterstaat, WVL) and Imke Leenen (Grontmij). This article describes a new method, which uses DNA analysis of surface water samples to establish whether a faecal infection in the water is of human, animal or waterfowl origin. According to the jury, this information is important in determining the measures to take to combat the infection.

Met bloemen in de hand; de trotse prijswinnaars! Vlnr: Monique Bekkenutte (directeur KWN), Lieke Coppens (KWR), Peter de Jong, juryvoorzitter (Witteveen+Bos) en Annemarie van Wezel (KWR).