The newsletter from TZW: DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser

Editorial

Dear colleagues,

this newsletter focuses on projects at TZW that affect the essential current topics of the water sector. The condition-oriented flushing strategy, which TZW played a major role in promoting, supports a sustainable asset management of drinking water networks. We also report on the determination of substances from matrices that are difficult to treat and on the latest results in the determination of coronaviruses and their variants in wastewater.

The topics of climate change, asset management and water quality are also part of the "Innovation Programme Water", which was launched by DVGW for the drinking water sector. It was initiated in order to identify and close remaining knowledge gaps in various research projects, studies and investigations, to develop and test innovative solutions and to support their sustainable use by water suppliers.

Have an inspiring reading

Dr. Josef Klinger

Condition-based flushing strategy is now a recognised procedure

In order to provide drinking water of the highest quality at all times, water supply companies flush their drinking water pipes. The "condition-based flushing strategy" is now a procedure recognised by the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water (DVGW). DVGW Rule W 291 "Cleaning and disinfection of drinking water distribution pipes" was revised and published in December 2021. Compared to the previous version, it now includes, among other things, the findings and experience of TZW: DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser (German Water Centre) and of water supply companies on condition-based flushing strategy.

Not only water - Analysis of organic micro-pollutants in complex en-vironmental samples

TZW’s name „German Water Centre“ does not reflect fully its program anymore when it comes to the analysis of organic micropollutants. Since years, TZW’s experts deal with the analysis of considerably more complex environmental samples than just water. While analysis of drinking water most often does not entail major difficulties, analysis of wastewater, soil, sludge or of vegetable and animal biota samples exhibits a variety of challenges with regard to sample preparation and measurement.

Detection methodology for SARS CoV-2 in wastewater

Since the beginning of the pandemic, TZW has been involved in the monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. The detection methodology for SARS-CoV-2 RNA (wild-type and variants of concern) in wastewater was developed based on the detection of different target genes by PEG precipitation and digital droplet PCR. The suitability of different primer and probe systems was investigated and gene copy numbers from wastewater monitoring were compared with reported COVID-19 cases. Overall, the investigations showed that wastewater-based epidemiology is a sensitive and robust approach to detect trends in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 at an early stage, contributing to successful pandemic management. The results of this study have now been published as an open access article.

News in brief from TZW

ZeroPM website

ZeroPM is a Research and Innovation Action project funded by the EU Horizon 2020 program. TZW is a partner in this project, which links strategies for the prevention, prioritisation and elimination of persistent and mobile substances. The official website is now online www.zeropm.eu

Water Europe

Dr Josef Klinger was appointed to the Vision Leader Team “Circular Water” of Water Europe on 22.11.2022. Water Europe (WE) is the voice and promoter of water-related innovation and RTD in Europe. All WE activities are guided by our Water Vision “The Value of Water”. Link to the website

Staff

Dr Nicole Zumbülte is the new head of the Water chemistry research section at TZW. Her predecessor, Dr Marco Scheurer, is leaving TZW to pursue new professional challenges. Personnel change in the test centre as well: Bernhard Stulz is succeeded by Stefan Zimmer as the new head of the section for Mechanical testing and processes. Link to TZW organisational chart

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TZW: DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser (German Water Centre)
Karlsruher Straße 84, D-76139 Karlsruhe, Germany
phone: +49 721 9678-0, e-Mail: info@tzw.de, www.tzw.de

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