Micropollutant analysis has shaped our work since the first TZW colloquium in 1996. Many topics are more relevant today than ever before – and new challenges are emerging. A review and outlook on three decades of research and practice.
On 4 December 1996, the first TZW colloquium took place under the title ‘From Analysis to Problem Solving’. Even then, it was clear what a central role micropollutant analysis plays for the TZW: the first lecture in the new series of events was devoted to the occurrence of micropollutants in the aquatic environment.
In his presentation ‘Type and Origin of Non-Natural Organic Compounds in Various Water Bodies,’ Heinz-Jürgen Brauch classified substance classes such as synthetic organic complexing agents, aromatic sulfonates, phosphonic acids, glyphosate and AMPA, aliphatic amines and pharmaceutical active ingredients in terms of their relevance to drinking water supply.
Thirty years later, the substances and substance classes discussed at that time are still relevant today and continue to shape the research and consulting activities of TZW.
- Complexing agents and aromatic sulphonates: Their concentrations in water have hardly changed over three decades. Compounds such as EDTA can still be detected in trace amounts in drinking water in isolated cases.
- Organic phosphonic acids: Originally originating mainly from detergents and cleaning agents, they have gained additional importance through their use as antiscalant agents in membrane processes.
- Glyphosate and AMPA: Both as degradation products of phosphonates and as a frequently used plant protection agent and its main metabolite, they remain in focus.
- Aliphatic amines: Their release from materials in contact with drinking water is currently the subject of debate in the water industry.
- Pharmaceutical residues: Substances such as iodinated X-ray contrast media or the metabolite oxipurinol continue to pose challenges for drinking water treatment. Although the predicted sharp increase in concentration has not materialised, experience shows that when the concentration of one active ingredient decreases, that of a substitute often increases – without any real benefit for water bodies or drinking water supplies.
In addition, there are new groups of substances, such as PFAS or the so-called PMT substances.
Conclusion: Thirty years after the first colloquium, the question of whether all problems have been solved can be answered with a clear ‘no’. Some ‘old’ issues may fade into the background at times, but a sustainable solution for drinking water supply requires one thing above all else: a significant reduction in the pollution of raw water resources. So, there is still much to be done in the next 30 years.
