The HuMeWaTri research project conducted by TZW focuses on a challenge that has received insufficient attention to date: the presence of human pharmaceuticals, and particularly their metabolites, in the water cycle. This project aims to identify these previously overlooked substances and assess their relevance for drinking water supplies. Using innovative analytics and targeted production of metabolites, the project provides a new data basis and valuable insights for environmental and health protection, making an important contribution to the implementation of the recast of the EU urban wastewater treatment directive.
The HuMeWaTri research project (Occurrence and significance of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites in the water cycle for drinking water supply) investigates the occurrence and significance of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites in the water cycle and drinking water supply.
- Pharmaceuticals and their metabolites enter the environment via municipal wastewater.
- Current monitoring methods mainly detect pharmaceuticals, while potentially relevant metabolites are often overlooked.
- The project supports the implementation of the revised EU urban wastewater directive.
Using innovative analytical methods, HuMeWaTri identifies and quantifies both known and previously unknown compounds in the water cycle. This involves a combination of non-target and suspected-target screening using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Sampling covers the entire urban water cycle – from urban wastewater treatment plant effluent to raw water for drinking water supply.
Since many metabolites are not commercially available, they are specifically produced in vitro from the respective pharmaceuticals using liver enzymes (S9 mix) and are used as reference substances. Targeted screening is based on a comprehensive list of relevant pharmaceuticals, which is derived from literature research and the Drug Prescription Report, among other sources.
The data obtained provide a sound basis for assessing the relevance of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites for drinking water supplies and thus contribute significantly to an understanding and risk assessment of this group of substances.
The project addresses a significant gap in the monitoring of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites in the water cycle. By combining innovative analytical methods and targeted substance assessment, it provides practical data that is particularly important for water suppliers—for example, regarding public communication and regulatory requirements. In addition, the project supports political and technical decision-making processes, especially in the context of the new EU wastewater directive, and thus actively contributes to the further development of water quality assurance.
