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Media & Public Relations » Media Releases » Archive » 2007 » Using ozone to combat micropollutants
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Using ozone to combat micropollutants

Using ozone to combat micropollutants

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9 July 2007

Wastewater treatment plants are designed primarily to eliminate nutrients. However, attention is increasingly being focused on organic micropollutants, since even low concentrations of these synthetic trace substances can have adverse impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Ozonation of wastewater appears to be a promising option for removing substances of this kind at treatment plants. This method – already used for disinfection of drinking water – destroys complex compounds, making the substances more susceptible to biological degradation.

Thanks to the country’s well-equipped wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), the state of Switzerland’s waters has improved significantly over the past 30 years. However, residues of chemicals in everyday use are still entering waterbodies, as these substances cannot be removed by conventional WWTP technology. The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) is currently evaluating various ways of reducing inputs of such micropollutants from municipal wastewater into receiving waters. On behalf of the FOEN, Eawag – the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology – is conducting a pilot study at the Wüeri WWTP in Regensdorf (near Zurich) to investigate whether micropollutants can be eliminated with the aid of an additional treatment step involving ozonation of wastewater. At a media conference being held today at the Wüeri WWTP, the FOEN and Eawag will present information on the pilot study and on the national “Micropol” project.