Minimization of the formation of disinfection by-products

The drinking water industry is required to minimize DBPs levels while ensuring adequate disinfection. In this study, efficient and appropriate treatment scheme for the reduction of disinfection by-product (DBPs) formation in drinking water containing natural organic matter has been established. This was carried out by the investigation of different treatment schemes consisting of enhanced coagulation, sedimentation, disinfection by using chlorine dioxide/ozone, filtration by sand filter, or granular activated carbon (GAC). Bench scale treatment schemes were applied on actual samples from different selected sites to identify the best conditions for the treatment of water. Samples were collected from effluent of each step in the treatment train in order to analyze pH, UV absorbance at 254 nm (UVA₂₅₄), specific UV absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA₂₅₄), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), haloacetic acids (HAAs) and trihalomethanes (THMs). The obtained results indicated that using pre-ozonation/enhanced coagulation/activated carbon filtration treatment train appears to be the most effective method for reducing DBPs precursors in drinking water treatment.     

河水受百年一遇大旱后城市降雨径流的污染与治理

2009年入秋至2010年春,中国西南地区发生了百年一遇的特大旱灾。为探讨河水受百年一遇大旱后降雨径流污染的状况,对昆明典型交通干道路面的降雨径流和河水水质进行了监测,分析了大旱后降雨径流污染的严重性和对河水水质的影响,并考察了曝气塘—浮石床水平潜流人工湿地复合系统处理大旱后由城市降雨径流污染导致的重污染河水的效能。结果表明,大旱后的前3场降雨径流污染程度较正常雨季降雨径流污染程度严重,SS、COD、TN及TP浓度平均高出1.3倍。大旱后的前3场降雨径流溢流会对河流造成严重污染。该复合系统在塘调蓄—循环处理运行工况下能有效处理大旱后的重污染河水,对SS、COD、TP、TN和NH4+-N的平均去除率分别为98%、90%、96%、60%和90%,出水均达《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》(GB 18918—2002)一级A标准。     

造纸白水处理的试验研究

本文针对某造纸研究所造纸车间的白水 ,采用絮凝 HK型净水器净化技术进行了研究 ,通过一系列条件试验 ,取得了最经济可行的絮凝处理配方 ;经现场运行处理后出水稳定 ,COD去除率达 98% ,符合国家排放标准     

超声强化电絮凝处理洗车废水的试验研究

针对洗车行业对水资源的浪费及污染现状,采用超声强化电絮凝处理洗车废水.考察了电流密度、初始pH、极板间距、处理时间等因素对洗车废水处理效果的影响,并讨论了超声强化电絮凝机制.结果表明,超声强化电絮凝处理洗车废水的最佳条件是电流密度1,500 mA/cm2、初始pH无需调节、极板间距为1.5cm、处理20 min,COD与浊度去除率分别为68.77％、96.89％,出水达到《城市污水再生利用城市杂用水水质》(GB/T 18920-2002)要求.可见,超声能改变电絮凝反应动力学过程,强化电絮凝去除污染物效果.     

Nutrient Abatement Potential and Abatement Costs of Waste Water Treatment Plants in the Baltic Sea Region

We assess the physical potential to reduce nutrient loads from waste water treatment plants in the Baltic Sea region and determine the costs of abating nutrients based on the estimated potential. We take a sample of waste water treatment plants of different size classes and generalize its properties to the whole population of waste water treatment plants. Based on a detailed investment and operational cost data on actual plants, we develop the total and marginal abatement cost functions for both nutrients. To our knowledge, our study is the first of its kind; there is no other study on this issue which would take advantage of detailed data on waste water treatment plants at this extent. We demonstrate that the reduction potential of nutrients is huge in waste water treatment plants. Increasing the abatement in waste water treatment plants can result in 70 % of the Baltic Sea Action Plan nitrogen reduction target and 80 % of the Baltic Sea Action Plan phosphorus reduction target. Another good finding is that the costs of reducing both nutrients are much lower than previously thought. The large reduction of nitrogen would cost 670 million euros and of phosphorus 150 million euros. We show that especially for phosphorus the abatement costs in agriculture would be much higher than in waste water treatment plants.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-013-0435-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Recent advances in the application of silica nanostructures for highly improved water treatment: a review

The demand for high-quality safe and clean water supply has revolutionized water treatment technologies and become a most focused subject of environmental science. Water contamination generally marks the presence of numerous toxic and harmful substances. These contaminants such as heavy metals, organic and inorganic pollutants, oil wastes, and chemical dyes are discharged from various industrial effluents and domestic wastes. Among several water treatment technologies, the utilization of silica nanostructures has received considerable attention due to their stability, sustainability, and cost-effective properties. As such, this review outlines the latest innovative approaches for synthesis and application of silica nanostructures in water treatment, apart from exploring the gaps that limit their large-scale industrial application. In addition, future challenges for improved water remediation and water quality technologies are keenly discussed.

     

Inactivation of Bacillus subtilis spores during ozonation in water treatment plant: influence of pre-treatment and consequences for positioning of the ozonation step

This study reports on quantitative methodology for rational selection of the ozone injection point within unit processes of conventional drinking water treatment plants to improve disinfection efficiencies. The method is based on the fact that a specific inactivation level of microorganisms is achieved at a unique value of ozone exposures, independent of ozone dose and type of water, and quantitatively described by a Delayed Chick-Watson model (C T(lag): 1.03mgl(-1), k: 1.44mg(-1)lmin(-1)). This study demonstrated this phenomenon by performing the inactivation of Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) spores with ozone in various types of water collected from a series of unit processes in a water treatment plant. Simple measurements of the ozone decomposition behavior in waters from each unit process of a water treatment plant can allow the quantitative evaluation of the ozone needed to achieve a required level of inactivation. This methodology will be useful for drinking water treatment plants which intend to improve the disinfection efficiencies of their ozonation process.     

冬季不同生境下菹草的水质净化效果研究

在室外通过人工构建静态模拟生态系统,研究冬季不同底质、水深、水质条件下,菹草对水体营养盐的吸收净化效果。结果表明,在不同水深或水质污染程度的相应组实验中,添加土壤改良剂的各组实验的TN、TP、NO3--N、高锰酸盐指数去除率均高于相应的未添加组,而NH4+-N去除情况相反;添加土壤改良剂有助于菹草对水体营养盐的综合去除,菹草在水深较深且营养盐负荷较高的水体中对营养盐的去除效果更好;水深35cm比水深25cm更适宜菹草的生长;菹草在实验设计的水质条件下能正常生长和对水质进行高效净化,适合在冬季运用于一般河道的水体修复。     

Estimation of the cancer risk to humans resulting from the presence of cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide in surface water

Background, aim, and scope  

Anti-tumour agents and their metabolites are largely excreted into effluent, along with other pharmaceuticals. In the past, investigations have focused on the input and analysis of pharmaceuticals in surface and ground water. The two oxazaphosphorine compounds, cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide are important cytostatic drugs used in the chemotherapy of cancer and in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Their mechanism of action, involving metabolic activation and unspecific alkylation of nucleophilic compounds, accounts for genotoxic and carcinogenic effects described in the literature and is reason for environmental concern. The anti-tumour agents cyclophosphamide (CP) and ifosfamide (IF) were not biodegraded in biodegradation tests. They were not eliminated in municipal sewage treatment plants. Degradation by photochemically formed HO radicals may be of some relevance only in shallow, clear, and nitrate-rich water bodies but could be further exploited for elimination of these compounds by advanced oxidation processes, i.e. in a treatment of hospital waste water. Therefore, CP and IF are assumed to persist in the aquatic environment and to enter drinking water via surface water. The risk to humans from input of CP and IF into surface water is not known.     

天然沸石在环境污染治理中的应用进展

在简要介绍天然沸石性能的基础上,着重综述了国内外天然沸石在大气污染治理、水污染治理、除臭抗菌和饮用水降氟软化等方面的最新研究和应用进展,并对其应用前景进行了展望。     

超临界流体技术在环境保护中的应用

简要介绍了超临界流体萃取和超临界水氧化的基本原理及优点 ,综述了超临界流体技术在废水处理、固体废物处理及污染监测中的开发和应用     

Effects of oxalic acid on the regrowth of heterotrophic bacteria in the distributed drinking water

Three laboratory-scale water pipe systems were set up to study the effects of adding oxalic acid on the bacterial regrowth and biofilm formation in the distributed drinking water. The results of water pipe experiment displayed that around 38% carbon in the oxalic acid could be converted to bacterial biomass. The maximum HPCs in biofilm were equal to 3.5x10(4), 3.38x10(5) and 2.8x10(6) CFUcm(-2) while the maximum HPCs of free bacteria were equal to 1.2x10(3), 2.54x10(3) and 3.78x10(4) CFUml(-1) for the blank and with addition of 10 and 50 micrograms OA eq-Cl(-1), respectively. These results imply that the addition of oxalic acid to distributed water has positive effect on the assimilable organic carbon content of drinking water and bacterial regrowth in water pipe. This effect is enhanced with addition of high-level oxalic acid. Batch tests were also conducted using water samples collected from a Taiwanese drinking water distribution system. The bacterial regrowth potentials (BRPs) of the blank were equal to 4.25x10(3), 1.46x10(4), 4.9x10(4) and 7.54x10(4) CFUml(-1) for water samples collected from treatment plant effluent, commercial area, mixed area, and residential area, respectively. These results show that the biological stability of distributed drinking water is the highest in treatment plant effluent, the moderate in the commercial area and mixed area, and the lowest in the residential area.     

Chlorinated phenols as contaminants of soil and water in the vicinity of two Finnish sawmills

Contamination of soil and water in the vicinity of two sawmills using preservative against blue staining fungi that contained chlorophenols was studied. The soil around the treatment basins was found to contain up to 70 mg chlorophenols per kg and that in the storage area for treated lumber up to 6 mg per kg. Contamination extended to a depth of at least 2 meters near the treatment basins. Surface water inside the sawmill area was found to contain the same chlorophenols as those used in wood preservation, plus some additional isomers. The ground water and lake water around the sawmill areas was found to be contaminated by wood preservative.     

Assessment of total concentrations of heavy metals in industrial sludges from the North of Vietnam and their potential impact on the ecosystem

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Industrial sludges from wastewater treatment plants of industrial parks and a drinking water treatment plant in northern Vietnam were investigated in...     

Influence of seasonal climate differences on the pharmaceutical,hormone and personal care product removal efficiency of a drinking water treatment plant

The potential presence of pharmaceuticals, hormones and personal care products in drinking water supplies has raised concerned over the efficiency with which these substances are removed by water treatment processes. In this work, we analyzed samples of raw, unprocessed water collected in different periods and found them to contain higher levels of these contaminants in the colder periods (viz. 12–314 ng L⁻¹ in autumn and winter as compared to 8–127 ng L⁻¹ in spring and summer) as a result of their biodegradation being favoured by high temperatures and solar irradiance. We also assessed the efficiency with which these contaminants are removed from drinking water by a water treatment plant operating in south-eastern Spain. Preoxidation with potassium permanganate and chloramination with sodium hypochlorite in the presence of highly concentrated ammonia were found to be the treatment steps most markedly contributing to the removal of pharmaceuticals, hormones and personal care products from drinking water (especially in the warmer periods, where these contaminants were completely removed from the water). By contrast, water treated in the colder periods (autumn and winter) still contained small amounts of ibuprofen and carbamazepine (0.09–0.5 ng L⁻¹) which, however, accounted for less than 0.2% of their original concentrations in the water prior to treatment.     

循环经济理念下的城市污水处理浅析

随着城市化和现代化进程的推进，污水回用处理技术问题困扰着城市的可持续发展，并影响着水资源的再生回用和可持续发展。文中以循环经济思想理念为基础，叙述了中国水环境的现状、国内外污水资源的研究进展、循环经济的含义以及在循环经济观念下的污水处理新思路，探求了城市污水处理的重要性，以变废水负价值的被动处理，转变为盈价值的资源化与经济化利用，形成新的经济增长点，实现环境效益、经济效益和社会效益的高度统一，真正实现可持续发展。     

Is Gray Water the Key to Unlocking Water for Resource-Poor Areas of the Middle East,North Africa,and Other Arid Regions of the World?

Support for the use of treated gray water as an alternative water resource in the Middle East and North Africa is high, especially given the lack of religious restrictions against its use, but several obstacles have kept application of treated gray water near 1 % in some areas. The largest of obstacles include the cost of treatment and the ambiguity surrounding the health safety of gray water and treated gray water. This paper aims to provide an overview of current gray water practices globally, with specific focus on household-level gray water practices in the Middle East and North Africa region, and highlight the need for cost reduction strategies and epidemiological evidence on the use of household-level gray water and treated gray water. Such actions are likely to increase the application of treated gray water in water-deprived areas of the Middle East and North Africa.     

Formation of cyanide ion or cyanogen chloride through the cleavage of aromatic rings by nitrous acid or chlorine. VIII. On the reaction of humic acid with hypochlorous acid in the presence of ammonium ion

Cyanogen chloride was formed by the reaction of humic acid with hypochlorous acid in the presence of ammonium ion. Furthermore, cyanogen chloride was also formed when ammonium ion and hypochlorous acid were added to raw water sampled at water treatment plants.     

上海市中长期发展的水环境制约分析

根据上海市水环境污染物排放的现状及有关统计数据,采用Sigmoid模型,对未来的变化趋势进行了预测。并通过上海市污水治理设施状况及其水环境质量状况的调查数据,研究了水环境质量与社会经济发展的关系,进一步分析了水环境质量对上海中长期发展的制约。在此基础上,对改善水环境质量以减少对未来发展的制约,提出了相应的对策与建议。     

Assessing the effects of tertiary treated wastewater reuse on a Mediterranean river (Llobregat,NE Spain), part III: pathogens and indicators

Purpose  

Need, coupled with advances in water treatment technology, is motivating a growing interest in augmenting drinking water supplies with reclaimed water. Using reclaimed water to increase the flow of the Llobregat River upstream the water catchment site of the complex multi-step drinking water treatment plant of Sant Joan Despí has been considered. The impact of reclaimed water discharges on the load of E. coli, spores of sulphite-reducing clostridia, somatic coliphages, cytopathogenic enteroviruses, and total and infectious Cryptosporidium oocysts in the Llobregat River water was assessed to gain information for funded decisions in potential future emergencies.