Aus der Einleitung: "Xenobiotika werden durch den Menschen in die Stoffkreisläufe der Natur eingebracht, sie sind dort ursprünglich nicht anzutreffen. Dazu zählen auch Medikamente, die der menschliche Körper in kurzer Zeit wieder ausscheidet ohne diese abzubauen. Die bestehenden Abwasserreinigungsanlagen sind derzeit nicht in der Lage diese Frachten vollständig zu eliminieren, sodass sie unweigerlich in die Umwelt gelangen und dort undefiniert Einfluss nehmen. Xenobiotika können bereits in den großen Wasserreservoirs der Erde detektiert werden, die Prognose für die nächsten Jahre zeigt eine 30% Steigerung der Emissionen auf. In Deutschland gelangen z.B. jährlich 63 Tonnen des Schmerzmittels Diclofenac in die Flüsse (Bundesumweltamt 2014). Der Mensch hinterlässt regelrechte anthropogene Fußabdrücke, bestehend aus Schmerzmitteln, Antibiotika und Hormonen. Die problematischen Emissionen einiger Xenobiotika treten anhand von Folgeerscheinungen weltweit immer gravierender zutage (Bundesumweltamt 2014). So müssen das globale Artensterben (Geier in Indien), die Verweiblichung von Tierpopulationen in aquatischen Systemen und Krebserkrankungen mit partiell hohen Xenobiotika-Belastungen in der Umwelt in Zusammenhang gebracht werden. Die Entfernung von Xenobiotika insbesondere aus den Wasserkreisläufen stellt eine große ökonomische als auch ökologische Herausforderung zum Schutz der Lebensräume dar. ..."

M.Ing. / Rietvlei Dam was completed in 1933, and has been utilized as a drinking water source for the City of Pretoria since then. The original process configuration operated for almost 50 years before being upgraded in 1988. This upgrading was mainly due to the eutrophication of the impoundment. The new plant worked excellently under normal conditions but certain serious problems did occur and full production could not be maintained at all times. Activated Carbon and Ozone are two possible solutions to these problems. This study was directed at investigating the possible implementation of Preozonation, Granular Activated Carbon, and Ozone and Granular Activated Carbon in combination (case study), and it was shown that: All these processes are beneficial to the final water quality. Pre-ozonation proved to be the most cost effective process, but the least effective process in improvement of the water quality. Ozone and Granular Activated Carbon in combination proved to be the least cost effective process, but should be the most effective in improvement of the water quality. Granular Activated Carbon proved to be the optimun process with regard to cost and water quality improvement. The final recommendation is the implementation of Granular Activated Carbon with an empty bed contact time of 10 minutes.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. Johannesburg 2016 / Horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSSF CWs) are being considered in South Africa as an alternative waste water treatment technology which is low in capital costs and typically requires less operational infrastructure when compared to conventional treatment technologies. HSSF CWs may thus be a potential solution for solving the challenge of ensuring reliable access to clean water for rural communities whose municipalities may not be able to afford the construction of a waste water treatment plant as well as not being able to supply sufficient technical expertise for the operation thereof. Proper design of HSSF CWs requires a detailed investigation into the hydraulic behaviour as it has a direct effect on the treatment performance in these systems. In this study, three available hydraulic modelling methodologies for HSSF CWs were compared and these are the impulse, step change integral and step change derivative modelling methodologies. Hydraulic data were generated from planted and unplanted pilot scale HSSF CWs using residence time distribution (RTD) studies and the modelling results using each methodology were compared. It was found that each methodology was capable of suggesting a different hydraulic behaviour for the same system being studied and since it is not possible to evaluate an analytical answer to the problem independently it was not possible to determine which modelling methodology was the most accurate. Practical limitations of the experiments used to feed hydraulic data to the respective methodologies were also highlighted. Despite a well-designed sampling regime it was not possible to capture sufficient data surrounding the peak of the impulse response curve and may have impacted negatively on the modelling results. No such difficulties were encountered with the step change tracer experiments. The mathematical techniques which each methodology employs were also critically assessed. It was found that numerical differentiation in the step change derivative modelling approach introduced noise into the RTD curve and may have affected subsequent results. Ultimately each methodology has its own associated strengths and weaknesses and choice of methodology may be dictated by other factors such as cost to set up the hydraulic experiment as well as equipment availability. Tasks two and three of this dissertation dealt with how Biomimicry can be used as a tool to develop more sustainable HSSF CW designs and hydraulic modelling processes. In task two, hydraulic data generated from the first task were used to develop estimates of the velocity profiles inside a planted HSSF CW to identify regions most prone to clogging, a phenomenon which would be a serious concern for rural communities whose sole water treatment system would be the CW. Biomimetic design principles were combined with the modelling results to develop a modular system design allowing for sections of the CW to be removed for cleaning while still allowing for continuous treatment of the waste water. Task three explored the use of heat as a hydraulic tracer. Heat is considered more environmentally friendly when compared to chemicals as tracers as the CW can equilibrate to ambient conditions post study and the effluent does not require dedicated disposal infrastructure. Heat is non-conservative in these systems and processes such as absorption by the subsurface media and loss to the surroundings distort the hydraulic response curve from which the hydraulic behaviour cannot be directly obtained. In this study a mathematical model was developed which maps a heat tracer response curve to one which would be obtained if a conservative chemical tracer were used. It was tested by conducting a combined heat-chemical tracer study on an unplanted laboratory-scale HSSF CW and the predicted chemical response curve was compared with the actual experimental response curve. The model performed satisfactorily indicated by a 5% and 6% relative difference in the Peclet number (Pe) and mean of the RTD respectively. In each of these chapters, an abstract is provided which summarizes the main findings of the study. / MT2017

As estações de tratamento de água são indústrias nas quais a água bruta (matéria prima)deve ser transformada em água potável (produto final) através da aplicação de produtos em operações e processos. Esta indústria é uma das poucas à qual todos os seres humanos fazem uso do seu produto. Nos últimos tempos tem-se constatado aumento na demanda que, aliado a sensível piora da qualidade da água bruta, conduz a necessidade de funcionamento eficiente das estações, tanto do ponto de vista técnico quanto do econômico. Essa eficiência só será atingida através do gerenciamento adequado. Com vistas às necessidades de nosso país nesse setor, levantou-se informações sobre algumas estações de tratamento de água de abastecimento através de visitas técnicas e aplicação de questionário elaborado. Analisou-se formas de gerenciamento para estas estações de modo que o resultado possibilitasse melhoria do produto e do serviço. Cabe salientar que este trabalho não apresenta uma análise quantitativa dos custos. O desenvolvimento do trabalho permitiu algumas sugestões: de maneira geral não tem existido por parte dos sistemas gerenciadores grandes preocupações com a qualidade dos mananciais; a aquisição dos produtos químicos é realizada pelo menor preço; um número pequeno das ETAs visitas adotam critério técnico para fazer a dosagem de produtos químicos; os resíduos gerados nos decantadores e filtros são descartados nos cursos d'água próximos as ETAs; entre outras. A partir dessas conclusões pôde-se propor medidas para o melhor funcionamento destas estações.

A utilização de polímero natural como auxiliar de floculação pode ser alternativa interessante para o aumento da capacidade de estações de tratamento de água para abastecimento. O polímero natural é um produto de baixo custo, de fácil preparo e aplicação. Por ser produzido em larga escala e utilizado nos mais diversos setores da indústria, o polímero natural apresenta-se como alternativa aos polímeros sintéticos que, de maneira geral, são produtos de elevado custo e produzidos com matéria prima geralmente importada. No presente trabalho procurou-se demonstrar a eficiência dos polímeros naturais de fécula de batata e de fécula de mandioca na clarificação da água, mediante a realização de ensaios de laboratório e testes de campo - realizados na estação de tratamento ETA-2 de Valinhos (SP) - para diferentes características da água bruta. A gelatinização dos polímeros foi feita à temperatura ambiente, utilizando-se hidróxido de sódio. Para os testes na ETA-2, foram aproveitadas as instalações existentes e executadas pequenas adaptações para aplicação dos polímeros naturais. Conclui-se que, apesar de alguns ajustes que devem ser feitos, principalmente nos filtros, é possível utilizar os polímeros naturais na ETA-2 com grande probabilidade de êxito, com vistas ao aumento da capacidade de tratamento. Os resultados demonstraram que, tanto o polímero de fécula de batata como o de fécula de mandioca, foram eficientes como auxiliares de floculação na clarificação da água. / Natural polymer utilization as flocculation aid may be an effective alternative for upgrading the capacity of water treatment plants with low cost, easiers to prepare and apply. As natural polymers are large scale produced and applied in many different industrial sectors, it comes as a fesiable alternative for synthetic polymers that are generally high cost and made of imported materials. On this work it was tried to show the efficiency of natural polymers such as potato and manioc starch, for clarifying water by jar-test evaluations and field tests - carried out on water treatment plant WTP-2 of Valinhos (SP - Brazil) - for different characteristics of raw water. The polymer gelatinization was obtained by sodium hydroxide application. For the tests at WTP-2 the existing facilities were utilized and only small adaptations were made to apply natural polymers. The conclusion was, in despite of needing filters adjustments which must be made on water treatment plant for polymer application, it is possible to utilize the product with high successful probability for upgrading the capacity of water treatment plant. The results showed that even potato as well as cassava starchs were efficient on plant clarified water.

Inserção da metodologia de Produção Mais Limpa em Estações de Tratamento de Efluentes (ETE) de indústrias no geral. O conceito fornecido pela Produção Mais Limpa permite sua aplicação aos tratamentos de fim de tubo, não se restringindo somente ao processo produtivo. A aplicação desta ferramenta visa um incremento e a melhoria contínua do sistema de gestão ambiental englobando o tratamento de todo o tipo de poluição gerada, especificamente neste trabalho, os efluentes industriais. As ETE, com um gerenciamento e operação adequados, além de minimizarem os efeitos poluidores dos efluentes gerados nas indústrias a níveis exigidos pela legislação aplicável ou a padrões de qualidade requeridos internamente em seu processo, podem controlar todo o processo produtivo interno a fábrica. Há a possibilidade de através dos diversos parâmetros processuais de controle detectar grande parte dos desvios produtivos ocorridos no interior da fábrica. Com a aplicação da ferramenta de Produção Mais Limpa em Estações de Tratamento de Efluentes Industriais, demonstra-se através de suas diversas metodologias: - A melhoria contínua em todos os processos produtivos e de tratamento de efluentes envolvidos na indústria; - O aumento progressivo das eficiências processuais; - Que investimentos e meio ambiente estão fortemente atrelados para o desenvolvimento da indústria e seu fortalecimento tanto a nível comercial quanto na sociedade. Portanto, a abordagem dada para a Produção Mais Limpa neste trabalho é mais abrangente - enfocando os tratamentos fim de tubo - as Estações de Tratamento de Efluentes Industriais. / The insertion in industries of Cleaner Production Methodology in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WTP). The concept given from the Cleaner Production allows its application to the end of pipe treatment, not restraining it to the productive process. The application of that tool aims the development and the continuous improvement of the environmental management system gathering the treatment of any type of generated pollution, specifically in this dissertation, the industrial wastewater. The WTP, with a suitable supervision and operation, not only minimizes the polluting effects of the effluents generated by the industries to levels demanded by the applicable legislation or to patterns of quality required internally in its process, but also can control the whole factory intern productive process. There is the possibility of detecting great part of the productive deviation that occurred in the interior of the factory through many controlling processual parameters. With the application of the tool of Cleaner Production in the Treatment Stations of Industrial Effluents, it demonstrates through many of its methodologies: - The continuous improvement in all of the productive and treatment processes of effluents involved in the industry; - The progressive enlargement of the processual efficiency; - Which investments and environment are strongly related to the development of the industry and its strengthening both on commercial and social levels. Therefore, the approach given to the Cleaner Production in this dissertation is wider - focusing the end of pipe treatment - the Treatment Stations of Industrial Effluents.

A poluição dos recursos hídricos vem agravando-se a cada ano, em quase todos os países, inclusive no Brasil. Providências vêm sendo tomadas, principalmente nas grandes cidades, no sentido de combatê-la. Dentre os meios utilizados para a proteção da qualidade da água, destacam-se as Estações de Tratamento de Esgotos - ETE.s. Nestas ETEs trabalham diversos profissionais, dentre os quais os operadores. Estes, exercem variadas atividades, geralmente em todas as suas unidades. Com o aumento progressivo do número de Estações de Tratamento de Esgotos, a quantidade de operadores, anteriormente pouco significativa, tende a se tornar cada vez maior no Brasil, e deverá atingir um número considerável, em futuro bem próximo. Estes trabalhadores, como os de qualquer outra atividade industrial, estão expostos a riscos os mais variados, os quais são agravados ainda mais, devido à presença dos esgotos no local de trabalho. Procurou-se, neste trabalho, levantar os riscos existentes nas unidades das ETEs pesquisadas, e fazer recomendações, no sentido de minimizá-los. Aplicou-se, para tal fim, um questionário em 11 Estações de Tratamento de Esgotos, levantando-se dados relacionados com as condições sanitárias do ambiente de trabalho; hábitos higiênicos dos operadores; medidas preventivas, de caráter individual e coletivo, para evitar a ocorrência de acidentes nas ETEs; atividades do Serviço Especializado em Segurança e em Medicina do Trabalho; e Segurança Patrimonial nas ETEs. Foi feita, ainda, uma avaliação dos veis de iluminamento, à noite; ruído; explosividade; e concentração do gás sulfídrico, em algumas unidades das ETEs incluídas na pesquisa. / The pollution of water resources has become worse every year in almost every country of the world, including Brasil. Among the measures taken to correct it, installation of Sewage Treatment Plants, specially in big cities, stand out. Many professionals work at these Sewage Treatment Plants, among these are operators performing a variety of activities. With the increasing number of Sewage Treatment Plants installed, the number of operators, of little significance at the beginning, tends to become greater and greater in Brazil and it is antecipated that in the near future it will become considerable. These workers, like those in any other industrial activity, are exposed to a great variety of risks, that in this case are increased even more by the existence of sewage at their place of work. This paper intends to survey the existing risks in the Sewage Treatment Plants units studied as well as to make recommendations that may minimize them. In this sense, a questionnaire was applied at eleven Sewage Treatment Plants, collecting data regarding sanitary conditions of the work environment, higienic habits of the workers, preventive measures - individual and collective - to avoid the occurrence of accidents, activities of the Specialized Safety Service and Labour Medicine and Patrimonial Safety. At the same time an evaluation was carried out to assess the levels of night illumination, noise, explosiveness and the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in some of the Sewage Treatment Plants units covered in this study

Largement utilisés par l’agriculture intensive, les pesticides sont aujourd’hui présents dans les différents compartiments environnementaux et ce à un niveau mondial. Les recherches de ces travaux de thèse se sont plus particulièrement portées sur deux grandes thématiques, l’une liée à l’écodynamique des pesticides en Garonne estuarienne par la caractérisation des sources, la présence et le devenir des molécules, et l’autre sur leur transfert dans les compartiments eau, air et sols d’un château viticole. Des méthodes d’analyse simples et rapides à mettre en oeuvre ont été optimisées, tout en étant sensibles afin d’être compatibles avec l’étude des milieux faiblement contaminés.Les pesticides les plus fortement quantifiés dans les stations d’épuration (STEP) bordelaises sont le diuron, l’imidaclopride et le fipronil (≈ 50-100 ng.L-1). N’étant pas éliminés par les différents traitements, ils sont présents dans les rejets (apports de l’ordre du g.j-1) qui peuvent alors être une source de contamination pour le milieu. Si les pesticides majoritairement présents dans la Garonne sont le métolachlore et ses métabolites (≈ 10-800 ng.L-1), qui présentent des pics printaniers en lien avec l’application de la molécule, les pesticides caractéristiques de STEP sont également quantifiés. Les concentrations sont plus faibles (0,5-20 ng.L-1) et moins variables mais ne peuvent cependant pas être négligées, certaines molécules étant fortement toxiques même à faible concentration, comme le fipronil (PNEC = 0,77 ng.L-1).Les sols du château viticoles sont caractérisés par des pics printaniers (50-1000 ng.g-1) en pesticides en lien avec les applications, comme le boscalid ou l’azoxystrobine. Des molécules non utilisées depuis plusieurs années, comme le diuron, ont également été mis en évidence à plus faibles niveaux de concentrations (ng.g-1) et moins variables ce qui témoigne de la persistance de certaines molécules. Le compartiment atmosphérique est également caractérisé par des pics saisonniers en lien avec l’application et la volatilité des molécules, comme le folpel ou le chlorpyrifos-methyl. Des pesticides non utilisés par le château mais potentiellement appliqués par des exploitations voisines comme le métolachlore ont également été détectés, ce qui démontre bien du transport des molécules. Des pesticides interdits (diuron), non utilisés (métolachlore) et utilisés (boscalid) par le château ont été mis en évidence dans la nappe phréatique. / Intensive use of pesticides led to a widespread contamination of water, air and soils compartments. The present study focused on two main subjects, one based the ecodynamic of pesticides in Garonne River by characterization of sources, presence and outcome of these molecules and one other based on their transfer to air, water and soil compartments of a vineyard. Easy and fast methods of extractions were optimized although they were sensitive in order to be applied for mildly contaminated samples.Most quantified pesticides in Bordeaux wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) were diuron, imidaclopride and fipronil (≈ 50-100 ng.L-1). As treatments were not efficient to remove pesticides, effluents are a significant source for the Garonne River (daily discharge around 5 g). Even if major pesticides in Garonne River were metolachlor and its metabolites (≈ 10-800 ng.L-1) which showed spring peaks, typical WWTP pesticides were also quantified. Concentrations were lower (0,5 - 20 ng.L-1) and variable but they cannot be neglected as they can be highly toxic. Fipronil was for instance detected at concentrations sometimes exceeding its PNEC (0.77 ng.L-1).Vineyard soils were characterized by spring peaks of pesticides (50-1000 ng.g-1) that can be related to applications, like boscalid or azoxystrobine. Pesticides forbidden for a long time have also been detected, like diuron but in lower concentrations levels (ng.g-1) and less variable, that highlighted persistence of such molecule. Atmospheric compartment was also characterized by spring peaks than can be related to applications and molecule volatility, with the presence of folpet and chlorpyrifos-methyl. Pesticides non used by the vineyard were also detected such as metolachlor, which highleted the transport of such molecules. Forbidden (diuron), non-used (metolachlor) and currently used (boscalid) pesticides were detected in the aquifer.

A poluição dos recursos hídricos vem agravando-se a cada ano, em quase todos os países, inclusive no Brasil. Providências vêm sendo tomadas, principalmente nas grandes cidades, no sentido de combatê-la. Dentre os meios utilizados para a proteção da qualidade da água, destacam-se as Estações de Tratamento de Esgotos - ETE.s. Nestas ETEs trabalham diversos profissionais, dentre os quais os operadores. Estes, exercem variadas atividades, geralmente em todas as suas unidades. Com o aumento progressivo do número de Estações de Tratamento de Esgotos, a quantidade de operadores, anteriormente pouco significativa, tende a se tornar cada vez maior no Brasil, e deverá atingir um número considerável, em futuro bem próximo. Estes trabalhadores, como os de qualquer outra atividade industrial, estão expostos a riscos os mais variados, os quais são agravados ainda mais, devido à presença dos esgotos no local de trabalho. Procurou-se, neste trabalho, levantar os riscos existentes nas unidades das ETEs pesquisadas, e fazer recomendações, no sentido de minimizá-los. Aplicou-se, para tal fim, um questionário em 11 Estações de Tratamento de Esgotos, levantando-se dados relacionados com as condições sanitárias do ambiente de trabalho; hábitos higiênicos dos operadores; medidas preventivas, de caráter individual e coletivo, para evitar a ocorrência de acidentes nas ETEs; atividades do Serviço Especializado em Segurança e em Medicina do Trabalho; e Segurança Patrimonial nas ETEs. Foi feita, ainda, uma avaliação dos veis de iluminamento, à noite; ruído; explosividade; e concentração do gás sulfídrico, em algumas unidades das ETEs incluídas na pesquisa. / The pollution of water resources has become worse every year in almost every country of the world, including Brasil. Among the measures taken to correct it, installation of Sewage Treatment Plants, specially in big cities, stand out. Many professionals work at these Sewage Treatment Plants, among these are operators performing a variety of activities. With the increasing number of Sewage Treatment Plants installed, the number of operators, of little significance at the beginning, tends to become greater and greater in Brazil and it is antecipated that in the near future it will become considerable. These workers, like those in any other industrial activity, are exposed to a great variety of risks, that in this case are increased even more by the existence of sewage at their place of work. This paper intends to survey the existing risks in the Sewage Treatment Plants units studied as well as to make recommendations that may minimize them. In this sense, a questionnaire was applied at eleven Sewage Treatment Plants, collecting data regarding sanitary conditions of the work environment, higienic habits of the workers, preventive measures - individual and collective - to avoid the occurrence of accidents, activities of the Specialized Safety Service and Labour Medicine and Patrimonial Safety. At the same time an evaluation was carried out to assess the levels of night illumination, noise, explosiveness and the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in some of the Sewage Treatment Plants units covered in this study

<p>The presence of human pathogens in water indicates the sanitary risk associated with different types of water utilization. This study surveyed the sources of human pathogens in urban waters. In order to evaluate the microbiological water quality of urban water, the enumeration of various indicator bacteria (total coliform, fecal coliform, E.coli and enterococci) is usually used.</p><p>The abundance of indicator bacteria in urban water indicates the level of fecal contamination and the presence of other human pathogens such as protozoan pathogens (Giardia lamblia & Cryptosporidium parvum).</p><p>Fecal pollution of urban waters can be from human and animal origin. Point sources of fecal contamination in an urbanized area are the effluents of urban wastewater treatment plants. While non-point sources are usually originated from diffuse sources such as (runoff from roads, parking lots, pets, leaks, failing septic systems and illegal sewer connections to storm drains). urban stormwater is considered as a major carrier for delivering human pathogens from diffuse sources to receiving waters. Increases in urban stormwater volumes have resulted from increasing urbanization and growth of impervious surfaces.</p><p>In order to reduce high amounts of human pathogens in urban waters, different methods are used nowadays to develop urban wastewater treatment plants technologies and urban stormwater management practices.</p>