project

DPWE treatment robustness: test set-up and substance selection

Organic micropollutants have no place in drinking water. Work is therefore conducted on an ongoing basis within the (dune water) DPWE utilities on improving the treatment steps that form a barrier to these pollutants. And this is why, every five years, the robustness of the treatment is tested for new organic micropollutants. The present project focuses on a selection of substances and on a test set-up for robustness testing for the period 2022-2023.

Substance list for new DPWE dosing round

With the present project we are in the fourth five-year cycle. Based on the precautionary principle, we would like to know how effectively organic micropollutants are being removed, especially since these substances are featured in the news with some regularity. For the substance selection, we are applying the previously employed method, which takes into account aspects such as their presence in the sources over the last five years (input HWL and Aqualab Zuid), toxicity, expected treatment efficiency, overlap with earlier DPWE tests, and possibilities for analyses.

Test set-up

Besides the substance list, a test set-up will also be made for the new DPWE dosing round. Consideration will be given to applicable treatment processes, conditions and analysis type (target, non-target, bioassays).

How robust is the existing treatment?

The selected organic micropollutants will be tested in test set-ups of the treatment processes at the DPWE utilities. This will clarify how robust the existing treatment is against these new substances, and whether any adjustments may be required.

Example of pressure filter with activated carbon for the removal of organic micropollutants.