Understanding and developing locality with a non‐representational approach: Cases of waterfront spaces along the river Rhine

Much of the material dredged from the port of Rotterdam is contaminated to such a degree that it must be placed in specially constructed sites. The aim of Rotterdam is to ensure that the dredged material will once again be clean. This will entail the thorough cleansing of the sources of the contamination of the sediment in the harbours and in the River Rhine. The Rotterdam Rhine Research Project (RRP) is one of the means to achieve this based on: technical research, legal research, public relations and dialogues with dischargers. The programme for five selected heavy metals is almost complete. For many heavy metal discharge points between Rotterdam and Rheinfelden, a specially devised independent load assessment has been carried out four times. Balance studies were used to determine the relative contributions of the point discharges to the total. Currently the results are being used in an attempt to negotiate agreements with a selected number of the major dischargers. At present, more detailed balance studies are being set up and exploratory measurements carried out for organic micropollutants. It may be concluded that the research is progressing successfully and methods and techniques developed seem satisfactory and broadly applicable. The Rhine Action Programme encompasses an international effort to improve the quality of the Rhine water. Although the RRP plays a modest complementary role to the Rhine Action Plan, there is no doubt of the value of this Rotterdam initiative. The mode of work followed in the RRP contains elements that can be of use in combatting the contamination of the North Sea by rivers other than the Rhine.

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Experimental procedures characterizing transformations of wastewater organic matter in the Emscher river, Germany

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1995.0233 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 31 (7) ◽

pp. 201-212 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

H. Løkkegaard Bjerre ◽

T. Hvitved-Jacobsen ◽

B. Teichgräber ◽

D. te Heesen

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Wastewater Treatment ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Subsequent Treatment ◽

Treated Wastewater ◽

Batch Reactors ◽

River Rhine ◽

Quality Changes ◽

Ruhr District ◽

Wastewater Quality

The Emscher river in the Ruhr district, Germany, is at present acting as a large wastewater collector receiving untreated and mechanically treated wastewater. Before the Emscher flows into the river Rhine, treatment takes place in a biological wastewater treatment plant. The transformations of the organic matter in the Emscher affect the river catchment, the subsequent treatment and the river quality. This paper focuses on evaluation of methods for quantification of the microbial transformations of wastewater in the Emscher with emphasis on characterization of wastewater quality changes in terms of biodegradability of organic matter and viable biomass. The characterization is based on methods taken from the activated sludge process in wastewater treatment. Methods were evaluated on the basis of laboratory investigations of water samples from the Emscher. Incubation in batch reactors under aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic conditions were made and a case study was performed. The methods described will be used in an intensive study of wastewater transformations in the Emscher river. This study will be a basis for future investigations of wastewater quality changes in the Emscher.

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Principles of designing secondary channels along the river rhine for the benefit of ecological restoration

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1995.0334 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 31 (8) ◽

pp. 379-382 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

M. H. I. Schropp

Keyword(s):

Ecological Restoration ◽

Threshold Value ◽

Main Channel ◽

River Rhine ◽

Secondary Channel ◽

Frequency Curve ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Design Value ◽

Ecological Targets ◽

Flow Velocities

Secondary channels present a favourable opportunity for ecological restoration of the River Rhine and its branches. However, they have to be fitted into the landscape without affecting existing interests such as inland shipping and protection against flooding. Also the ecological targets have to be met with a minimum of human interference. In this article some design principles for secondary channels are presented in which these aspects are taken into account. To avoid silting up of the secondary channel it is recommended to prevent sediment from entering the channel at all. Flow velocities have to be below the threshold value for initiation of motion of sediment, but still high enough to satisfy the ecological targets. The secondary channel discharge is a function of the maximum allowable aggradation of the main channel. Discharge and flow velocities together determine the required cross-sectional area and thus the design value of the bank slopes. In order to have flowing water in the secondary channel all year round, the thalweg level is to be chosen on the basis of the water level frequency curve of the main channel.

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Evaluation and Avoidance of False Alarm by Controlling Rhine Water with Continuously Working Biotests

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1994.0102 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 207-209 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

H. Puzicha

Keyword(s):

Warning System ◽

Point Sources ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

River Rhine ◽

Wide Range ◽

River Test ◽

Continuous Working ◽

Range Of Variation ◽

Contaminant Load ◽

Rhine Water

Effluents from point sources (industries, communities) and diffuse inputs introduce pollutants into the water of the river Rhine and cause a basic contaminant load. The aim is to establish a biological warning system to detect increased toxicity in addition to the already existing chemical-physical monitoring system. To cover a wide range of biocides, continuous working biotests at different trophic levels (bacteria, algae, mussels, water fleas, fishes) have been developed and proved. These are checked out for sensitivity against toxicants, reaction time, validity of data and practical handling under field conditions at the river. Test-specific appropriate methods are found to differentiate between the normal range of variation and true alarm signals.

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Water Quality Prognosis and Cost Analysis of Pollution Abatement Measures in the Rhine Basin (The River Rhine Project: Ever)

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1994.0072 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 95-106

Author(s):

Alfred P. Benoist ◽

Gerard H. Broseliske

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Pollution Abatement ◽

Point Sources ◽

Management Tool ◽

River Rhine ◽

Priority Pollutants ◽

Rhine Basin ◽

Frame Work ◽

Water Quality Objectives ◽

Calculation Models

For priority pollutants, the international Rhine Action Programme (RAP) aims to meet the quality objectives for the Rhine, set by the International Rhine Commission (IRC), by the year 2000. An assessment must be carried out to define additional measures exceeding best available technology (BAT) for point sources and best environmental practice (BEP) for diffuse sources for those priority pollutants still violating the quality objectives of the Rhine after implementing BAT and BEP only. To carry out the required assessments, an excessive amount of work and money is needed, including the application of sophisticated calculation models. For prioritizing reasons, the Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment (RIZA) initiated a project called EVER, which was conducted by DHV Water BV. EVER is the abbreviation of the Dutch equivalent for Effective Distribution of Emission Reductions (Effective Verdeling van Emissie Reducties). The aim of this project is to carry out a first and crude evaluation of the impact of abatement measures (BAT and BEP), as set by the IRC for the period 1985-1995. For those pollutants still showing a violation of the quality objectives for the Rhine in the year 1995, a range finding method is used, to predict the costs and impact of abatement measures exceeding BAT and BEP on the water quality of the Rhine. So, EVER is a management tool to prioritize the work to be done within the frame-work of the IRC, triggering the application of e.g. sophisticated calculation models for a selected number of priority pollutants. In EVER, the prognosis of the reduction of specific discharge rates for approximately forty priority pollutants is given for twelve sub-catchment areas for the year 1995. This prognosis is used to predict concentrations at eight international monitoring locations in the Rhine basin, using the discharges and concentrations of the year 1985 as a reference. The predicted concentrations for the year 1995 are compared with the (preliminary) water quality objectives as set by the IRC. The results indicate, that for six of the selected pollutants the number of available data is too small for sound predictions. Fifteen of the selected pollutants will satisfy the water quality objectives in 1995. Twenty (half) of the selected pollutants will still violate the quality objectives at several monitoring locations. These twenty pollutants are the basis for priorities to be set within the frame-work of the IRC for phase 3 (1995-2000) of the RAP. For these pollutants, additional abatement measures exceeding BAT and BEP are selected in EVER for the manageable groups of sources (anthropogenic non-point sources, industrial sources and municipal sources). Each measure is analyzed separately for costs and effectiveness. Finally the results of this project are integrated into a matrix system which will enable us to select the most effective mix of pollution abatement measures at the lowest costs. The result of the selected additional measures exceeding BAT and BEP shows that 17 pollutants will still violate the quality objectives.

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Present Status of the Salmonids Atlantic Salmon and Sea-Trout in the Dutch Part of the River Rhine

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1994.0057 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 37-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

W. G. Cazemier

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Salmon ◽

Salmo Trutta ◽

Natural Populations ◽

River Rhine ◽

Sea Trout ◽

The Past ◽

The North ◽

Trout Population ◽

The North Sea ◽

Heavy Pollution

In the past, the anadromous salmonids, Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and sea-trout (Salmo trutta), have formed natural populations in the river Rhine. From the beginning of the nineteenth century onwards, the greater part of the drainage area of the river has been gradually altered from a more or less rural and agricultural area, into a highly industrialised one with subsequent industrialisation, river-engineering and heavy pollution. These developments are considered to be the major cause for the disappearance of the populations of anadromous salmonid fish in the 1950s. The water quality has recovered significantly during the past 25 years. From about 1975 onwards, this process gave rise to a recovery of the anadromous trout population. Results of recent studies of the sea-trout migration pattern are presented. They reveal that nowadays these salmonids can complete their up- and downstream migrations from the North Sea to places, situated at hundreds of kilometres upward the river and vica versa. The numbers of recorded Atlantic salmon and catch locations in inland waters are presented. They show a significant increase since 1989. These phenomena can be understood as promising signs of the recovery of the Rhine aquatic ecosystem.

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Storage reservoirs – a first barrier for pathogenic micro-organisms in the Netherlands

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1998.0147 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 37 (2) ◽

pp. 253-260 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lambert W. C. A. van Breemen ◽

Henk A. M. Ketelaars ◽

Wim Hoogenboezem ◽

Gertjan Medema

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Agricultural Waste ◽

Quality Criteria ◽

River Rhine ◽

Total Production ◽

River Meuse ◽

Storage Reservoirs ◽

Microbiological Water Quality ◽

Micro Organisms

Production of drinking water from river water, abstracted either directly from river or from storage reservoirs, requires the application of barriers for pathogenic micro-organisms. About one third of the total production of drinking water in the Netherlands is derived from surface water, mainly the River Meuse and branches of the River Rhine. The results of extensive monitoring programmes show that the microbiological water quality of the River Rhine and River Meuse is strongly influenced by domestic and agricultural waste water discharges, with respect to the River Meuse mainly in the Liège-region in Belgium. Densities of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in both rivers are comparable; the highest density was found in the Belgian Meuse basin. Elimination rates of 1.7- to 3.1 10log-units for pathogenic micro-organisms were found in Dutch storage reservoirs, which can thus be considered as an important first barrier for pathogenic microorganisms. The elimination capacity of reservoirs is influenced by retention time and contamination by waterfowl. To meet the proposed quality criteria for pathogens in drinking water, however, additional barriers are required.

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Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Clams—A Study on Mussels in the River Rhine

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics10050571 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 571

Author(s):

Nicole Zacharias ◽

Iris Löckener ◽

Sarah M. Essert ◽

Esther Sib ◽

Gabriele Bierbaum ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Infections ◽

Sewage Treatment ◽

Sewage Treatment Plant ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

River Rhine ◽

Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria ◽

Surrounding Water ◽

Antibiotic Resistant

Bacterial infections have been treated effectively by antibiotics since the discovery of penicillin in 1928. A worldwide increase in the use of antibiotics led to the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains in almost all bacterial pathogens, which complicates the treatment of infectious diseases. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria play an important role in increasing the risk associated with the usage of surface waters (e.g., irrigation, recreation) and the spread of the resistance genes. Many studies show that important pathogenic antibiotic-resistant bacteria can enter the environment by the discharge of sewage treatment plants and combined sewage overflow events. Mussels have successfully been used as bio-indicators of heavy metals, chemicals and parasites; they may also be efficient bio-indicators for viruses and bacteria. In this study an influence of the discharge of a sewage treatment plant could be shown in regard to the presence of E. coli in higher concentrations in the mussels downstream the treatment plant. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, resistant against one or two classes of antibiotics and relevance for human health could be detected in the mussels at different sampling sites of the river Rhine. No multidrug-resistant bacteria could be isolated from the mussels, although they were found in samples of the surrounding water body.

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