How Dutch drinking water production is affected by the use of herbicides on pavements

2004 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.D. Bannink
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Emission Reduction ◽  
Water Production ◽  
Limited Effect ◽  
Surface Water Pollution ◽  
Drinking Water Production ◽  
Reduction Of Emissions ◽  
Water Companies

About forty per cent of drinking water in The Netherlands is produced from surface water. Dutch water companies, that have to rely on this source, are dealing with major water quality problems due to the use of herbicides on pavements. Voluntary measures and bans have had only limited effect on the reduction of emissions of herbicides that runoff from pavements into surface water in The Netherlands. The effects on the production of drinking water from surface water should play a role in the authorisation of pesticides. Stricter regulations, including mandatory emission reduction measures and certification, are necessary. The enforcement of existing Dutch surface water pollution laws should solve part of the problem. Due to the international nature of most of the surface water used for drinking water supply, it is necessary that other countries take measures as well. European legislation brings a solution closer if implemented well and seriously enforced. The threat of strict legislation keeps pressure on the transition towards decreasing the dependence on chemicals for weed control on pavements.

Barcelona's water supply improvement: the brine collector of the Llobregat river

1994 ◽  
Vol 30 (10) ◽  
pp. 221-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordi Martín-Alonso
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Water Treatment Plant ◽  
Salt Mine ◽  
Water Production ◽  
Public Work ◽  
Drinking Water Production ◽  
Llobregat River

The Llobregat is a 156 km long river, which supplies 35% of the Barcelona's drinking water needs from the Sant Joan Despí Water Treatment Plant. Since the establishment of the Salt Mine Works in the Llobregat basin in 1923, a progressive salinization of the water sources has been recorded. The operation of the Brine Collector, as a public work carried out by Aigües de Barcelona (AGBAR), started in 1989; it enabled a very significant improvement in the quality of the surface water used for drinking-water production.

scholarly journals The Dutch secret: safe drinking water without chlorine in the Netherlands

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. M. H. Smeets ◽  
G. J. Medema ◽  
J. C. van Dijk
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Drinking Water Treatment ◽  
Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment ◽  
Safe Drinking Water ◽  
Microbial Risk Assessment ◽  
Production And Distribution ◽  
Water Companies

Abstract. The Netherlands is one of the few countries where chlorine is not used at all, neither for primary disinfection nor to maintain a residual disinfectant in the distribution network. The Dutch approach that allows production and distribution of drinking water without the use of chlorine while not compromising microbial safety at the tap, can be summarized as follows: Use the best source available, in order of preference: – microbiologically safe groundwater, – surface water with soil passage such as artificial recharge or bank filtration, – direct treatment of surface water in a multiple barrier treatment; Use a preferred physical process treatment such as sedimentation, filtration and UV-disinfection. If absolutely necessary, also oxidation by means of ozone or peroxide can be used, but chlorine is avoided; Prevent ingress of contamination during distribution; Prevent microbial growth in the distribution system by production and distribution of biologically stable (biostable) water and the use of biostable materials; Monitor for timely detection of any failure of the system to prevent significant health consequences. New developments in safe drinking water in the Netherlands include the adaptation of the Dutch drinking water decree, implementation of quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) by water companies and research into source water quality, drinking water treatment efficacy, safe distribution and biostability of drinking water during distribution and \\textit{Legionella}. This paper summarizes how the Dutch water companies warrant the safety of the drinking water without chlorine.

Prevention of bacterial growth in a long-distance water supply system: control of disinfection capacity

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 223-225
Author(s):  
R. Fischeder ◽  
W. Weber
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Redox Potential ◽  
Bacterial Growth ◽  
Chlorine Dioxide ◽  
System Control ◽  
Water Production ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Growth Measurement ◽  
Drinking Water Production

Drinking water has to be wholesome and clean, free from chemical and, most of all, microbiological contaminants. The German Landeswasserversorgung (LW), a long distance water supplier, uses surface water and water influenced by surface water as well as groundwater for drinking water production. A combination of several treatment steps including flocculation, sedimentation, ozonation, in-line filtration and, finally, disinfection with chlorine dioxide guarantees a drinking water of perfect quality. Since the water transport through several main and subsidiary pipes of an overall length of about 500 kilometres can take up to four days, the disinfection capacity must be sufficient to prevent bacterial growth. Measurement of the redox potential in addition to measurement of chlorine dioxide concentrations has proved to be a helpful parameter for the surveillance of the disinfection capacity. Many years of experience show that keeping the redox potential above a level of 650 mV guarantees the prevention of bacterial growth and an efficient disinfection.

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