Since the 70s the quality of the surface water in the Netherlands has been seriously improved thanks to new regulations. European regulations have also contributed to cleaner water. Even though we are moving in the right direction, there is no time to sit back and relax. Our rivers, lakes and groundwater are unfortunately still burdened with a broad spectrum of micro-pollutants, such as drug residues and pesticides. To make this water suitable and safe to drink, water companies have to invest in new purification techniques in order to guarantee the safety of drinking water.
To tackle these problems a European project has been launched called Biotreat, with the goal to develop sustainable and reliable biological purification techniques for water treatment. Bioclear earth has been asked to join this effort because of our expertise.
For this Biotreat project, a new technique has been developed based on the biological break down of the micro-pollutants. This technique involves the addition of specific bacteria, capable of breaking down the micro-pollutants, to the water treatment. The bacteria can be added directly or attached to a carrier material.
The use of biological over physical chemical techniques offers many advantages:
These biological techniques are most attractive for small production facilities, which produce up to 1 million m3 of water per year.
For more information on biological purification techniques for water treatment, please contact Marlea Wagelmans.
