New report assessing chemical risks in nature-based water treatment systems
A new MULTISOURCE report will see the light, evaluating how well Enhanced Nature-Based Treatment Systems (ENTS) can reduce chemical contaminants in urban water management. The report, covering seven pilot sites across six European countries and the United States, will provide insights into the performance of these systems using different treatment technologies and water types.
The assessment applies two complementary methodologies: Cumulative Risk Assessment (CRA) and Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA). These approaches help measure pollution levels and identify persistent chemical risks.
Key Findings:
- Risk Reduction: While most pilots successfully lowered contamination levels from influent to effluent water, some systems still showed pollutants exceeding safety thresholds.
- Main Pollutants: The key contaminants identified include metals, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, and personal care products.
- Advanced Analysis: The CRA method calculates cumulative risk levels, while the PRA method uses Bayesian Network modeling to account for uncertainties. The combined approach provides a more balanced risk estimation.
- Site-Specific Performance: Effectiveness varies widely between systems. Some pilots demonstrated strong risk reduction, while others showed limited impact, highlighting the need for tailored treatment solutions.
Assessing treatment performance by risk reduction is a novel approach, combining visualization of treatment percentage with an easily interpretable risk quotient (RQ). The findings of the report suggest that risk reduction performance is highly site-specific. Some pilots demonstrated effective mitigation, while others showed limited potential. These insights help optimize nature-based treatment solutions for sustainable urban water management.
