introduction to water scarcity - csic to water... · introduction to water scarcity damià barcel...

Analysis, fate and risks of organic contaminants in river basins under water scarcity Valencia, 7-8 February 2011

Introduction to water scarcity

Damià Barceló

IDAEA-CSIC, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Barcelona, Spain

ICRA - Catalan Institute for Water Research, Girona, Spain

Collaborators:

IDAEA-CSIC:Mira Petrovic, Miren Lopez de Alda, Silvia Diaz-Cruz, Cristina Postigo, Marina Kuster, Susana Gonzalez,Mª Jesús García-Galán, Marianne Köck, Sandra Perez, Antoni Ginebreda

UPCJesús Carrera, Xavier Sànchez-Vila, Carlos Ayora, Jordi Cama, Manuela Barbieri

IdG-ICRA, UBSergi Sabater, Isabel Muñoz

ACAToni Munne, Lluis Tirapu, Teresa Garrido , Josep Fraile

UPVEnrique Cabrera

CETAGUA/AGBARCarlos Campos , Joana Tobella Fernando Rayon I col.laboradors.

Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)

InternationalHydrologicalProgramme (IHP)

•The water cycle is changing?•Increased risks?•Growing vulnerability?•More disasters ?•Less water for people?•Crisis is looming?•What crisis?•Global or local?

Humans are changing the global water system in a globally-significant way

without…..adequate knowledge of the system and thus its response to change

First message:

Global change drivers• Population growth, movement and age

structures• Geo-political changes and realignments• Trade and subsidies• Technological changes• Climate change

U.S. B

ureau of the Census

From: Steffen et al. 2004

• Water CyclingDeeply Embedded in Earth System

• Interconnections are Strong

• Change to One Part Reverberates Throughout

The Global Water System

Impact of climate change

• Increased frequency of water shortages and decline in water quality(Reductions in water availability would hit southern Mediterranean countries the hardest)

• Increase in extent and severity of desertification

• Increase in erosion, salinisation and fire hazard and reductions in soil quality

• Loss of valuable ecosystems

• Falls in production and world price rises resulting in threatened food security

The climate change: water – energy nexusStationarity Is Dead: Whither Water Management? (Science, Febrer 2008)

Water and energy in California

Cambio climático, primeros auxilios

Introduction – Mediterranean Area• The Mediterranean Sea is the largest semi-enclosed European sea, characterized by a

narrow shelf, a narrow littoral zone and a small drainage basin especially in the northern part.

• 82 million people live in coastal cities (by 2025 there will be an estimated 150-170 million)

• 32 % of the region's population lives in the southern countries (by 2025 that is expected to have reached 60 %).

• Expected increase in environmental pressure in the immediate future (the rise in population will be mainly concentrated in the countries in the southern and eastern Mediterranean)

• Human activity in coastal areas is leading to serious pollution problems, caused by the large quantities of industrial and urban waste that are produced, in a sea with a low capacity for self-decontamination and a slow water renewal cycle

• Seasonal population pressures are also very high (tourism)

12

THE MEDITERRANEANIS OUR HEAVEN

British airwaysBussiness life

OCTOBER 2004

THE MAIN DIMENSION OF THE PROBLEM: URBAN POPULATION TENDENCY

PUTING THE PROBLEM IN CONTEXT

Year

Pop

ulat

ion

(bill

ions

)

1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 20500

2

4

6

8

10

PUTTING THE PROBLEM IN CONTEXT:A “YOUNG” PROBLEM

Putting the problem in context:Land planning.

The example of Benidorm (1960/2000)

Access to safe drinking water and sanitation(source: UN-SDMI,OMS-Unicef, 2003)

It is estimated that 30 million Mediterranean people live without access to clean drinking water

Growing demand in the South and East

Irrigation represents 63 % of total demand (42% in North and 81% in the South and East)

Total Demand: Irrigation, the main consumer, is growing rapidly

Source : Plan Bleu, 2002

Leakages & poor use efficiency

Water quantity withdrawn but lost or unused

• Water quantity withdrawn but lost or unused estimated at 111 km3 per year (38 % of total demand)• Irrigation: 20% transport losses, 60% efficiency• Drinking water: 30% transport losses, 20% user leaks

Resource and ecosystem degradation

Main rivers subjected to chronic pollution

Water scarcity

• The regions included in the Mediterranean basin are amongst the world areas most suffering of water scarcity

• Irregular water supply and rising water demands.

• Water scarcity has a direct impact on citizens and economic sectors that use and depend on water, such as agriculture, tourism, industry, energy and transport.

• Example: 2007-2008 drought in NE Spain, with an extremely high societal, economical and environmental cost.

Potential alternatives and needs with respect to existing water resources

• Culture of water-saving and valuing ecosystem services

• Improvement of wastewater treatment quantitatively and qualitatively

• Reuse of treated effluents and sludge• Treatment of drinking water - Desalination • Protection of aquifers

1. Culture of water-saving and valuing ecosystem services

• Requires an active public awareness from citizens and economic sectors. Potential savings can be stabilized into the future andthese savings extended to domestic and agricultural needs.

• Water savings in irrigation is essential.

• Valuing ecosystem services can provide a framework for understanding that societal needs and natural capital are not separated. Public education is critical to achieve the goal of compatible use of water resources and the conservation of our natural heritage.


Why is necessary to be efficient?

Natural resources demands Two benefits for the environment

THE PARADIGM OF THE SUSTAINABILITY: VERY FEW WATER CONSUMPTION

2. Improvement of wastewater treatment

• Any choice of treatment technology performed should rely on those not entailing excessive costs and providing the best environmental practice and option

• New and innovative control strategies could be adopted in order to improve the biological process performance and reach a proper water quality and energy consumption.

• Adoption of new technologies for wastewater treatment will help to face up these goals.

• An interesting strategy to improve water treatment along with maintaining power consumption under control is to consider the combination of different technologies (biological and physico-chemical) in a single wastewater treatment plant according to the different effluent characteristics.


Innovative environmental technologies under research and development in the MPC countries

for industrial wastewaters treatment

- Olive mill wastewaters. The major innovative technologies employed for the treatment of this effluent are: Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP), AOP electrocoagulation/electroxydation, advanced anaerobic degradation, etc.

- Dyeing textile effluents. AOP, Membrane treatment and pre-treatment, ozonation/AOP, integrated photochemical and biological treatment, combined electrocoagulation, etc.

- Landfill leachate. Ozone catalysed with solids, combined anaerobic fluidized bed reactor and Fenton´s oxidation treatment, Sharon-anammox treatment ,

- Food processing effluents. Membrane for wastewater treatment and water reuse, lagoon/reverse osmosis system, biological (aerobic and anaerobic) treatments, etc.

- Pharmaceutical effluents. Chemical and biological integrated treatment, AOP, MBR technology, etc.

- Tannery industry effluents. Electro Fenton, AOP, etc.- General industrial and domestic wastewaters. Combination of Fenton´s

peroxidation and coagulation treatments, AOP, Alternating Anaerobic Anoxic treatment, etc.

- -Soil Aquifer Treatment- Controlled Redox Conditions

1-naproxen, 2-ketoprofen, 3-ibuprofen, 4-diclofenac, 5-indomethacin, 6-acetaminophen, 7-mefenamic acid, 8-propyphenazone, 9-ranitidine, 10- loratidine, 11-carbamazepine, 12- ofloxacin, 13- sulfamethoxazole, 14- erythromycine, 15- atenolol, 16- metoprolol,17- hydrochlorothiazide, 18- glibenclamide, 19- gemfibrozil, 20- bezafibrate, 21- famotidine,22- pravastatin,23-sotalol,24-propranolol,25-trimethoprim.

Problem: Poor or no-elimination of some pharmaceuticals in both CAS and pilot-scale MBR

00

20

40

60

80

100

10

30

50

70

90

CAS elimination, %

MB

R e

limin

atio

n, %

2

10-70% >70%<10%

20 40 60 80 10010 30 50 70 90

1

3

4

6

57

8

9

10

11

14

17

12

13

15

16

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

Case study (8): Artificial recharge - pharmaceuticals

Atenolol

0

1

10

100

0 50 100 150 200 250Time [d]

C/C

0 [%

]

NO3-redFe-redSO4-redNatural ConditionMn-redLDet

SOIL(Natural,

from Test Site)

Gas phase

additionale- acceptor:

O2 orNO3

- orMn(IV) orFe(III) orSO4

2-

WATER(Synthetic, similar to

water at Test Site)

micropollutants

e- donor:

easily degradableorganic substrate

(Na-acetate & Methanol)

Redox conditions – emergingmicropollutants –IDAEA-UPC(GHS)

Elimination of atenolol by controlled redox conditionsSoil Aquifer Treatment (SAT)

M. Barbieri et al. Submitted to Journal of Hydrology

Elimination of atenolol by artificial recharge

Atenolol

0

1

10

100

0 50 100 150 200 250Time [d]

C/C

0 [%

]

NO3-redFe-redSO4-redNatural ConditionMn-redLDet

Case study (8): Artificial recharge - pharmaceuticals

0

4

8

0.01 0.1 1 10 100time [d]

C [m

M]

0

50

100

[%]

NO3‐NO2‐Diclofenac

7

7.5

8

8.5

9

0.0 0.1 1.0 10.0 100.0time [d]

pH

0

50

100

[%]

pH

Diclofenac

NO3 – reducing experiment

someBIOTIC PROCESSoccurring,related to NO2or pH or … ?

FATE OF Diclofenac

3. Reuse of treated effluents

• Reuse of sewage waters can be considered as an adequate water source for urban, tourism and agricultural uses.

• With proper treatment, sewage water can even be used for drinking water.

• There exist several techniques adequate for the improvement of chemical and microbiological quality that could help to provide these uses.

• The solutions are linked, however, to available energy; this sometimes becomes the critical limitation.

• Public perception and cultural issues also needs to be evaluatedand improved when this source of water is considered. Thus public consultation would help to early detect future misunderstandings

• In Catalonia, up to 101 Mm3 (2027) for water reuse (average energy costs 3.8 kWh/m3)


Treated wastewater reuse for agricultural and landscape irrigation

Advantages include:• Source of additional irrigation water.• Savings of high quality water for other beneficial uses.• Low-cost source of water supply.• Economical way to dispose of wastewater and prevent pollution and sanitary problems.• Reliable, constant water source.• Effective use of plant nutrients contained in the wastewater, such as nitrogen and

phosphorus.• Provides additional treatment of the wastewater before being recharged to groundwater.Disadvantages include:• Wastewater not properly treated can create potential public health problems.• Potential chemical contamination of the groundwater.• Some of the soluble constituents in the wastewater could be present at concentrations toxics

to plants.• The treated wastewater could contain suspended solids at levels that may plug nozzles in

the irrigation distribution system as well as clog the capillary pores in the soil.• The treated wastewater supply is continuous throughout the year while the demand for

irrigation water is seasonal.• Major investment in land and equipment.• Final key question: who will pay the bill ?

Treated wastewater reuse for agricultural and landscape irrigation

Key issues:

• Boron• Salinity • Exchangeable cations • Trace Metals• Organic contaminants (Important issue: EMERGING CONTAMINANTS)• Pathogens

Treated wastewater reuse for groundwater recharge

The purposes of groundwater recharge using treated wastewater: • To establish saltwater intrusion barriers in coastal aquifers. • To provide further treatment for future reuse. • To augment potable or non potable aquifers. • To provide storage of treated water, or to control or prevent ground

subsidence.

There are four major water quality factors to be considered in groundwater recharge with treated wastewater:

• Pathogens• Total minerals • Heavy metals• Organic contaminants

Treated wastewater for direct and indirect potable reuse

Perhaps you have seen: “ This property is irrigated with reclaimed water. Do not drink”

Requires Advanced Environmental Technologies (like the one in Advanced Water Purification Facility, California)

Micro-filtration Reverse Osmosis Membranes Hydrogen peroxide and UV light, Aquifer recharge by Injection to wells (travels up to six month to drinking water well)

“ As waters supplies tighten, perhaps more communities will be asked to put their faith in chemistry and accept recycled water into drinking water supply”

Treated wastewater for direct and indirect potable reuse

Potential constraints

• Potentially toxic chemicals• Public health• Public acceptance

Sampling points location in the lower stretch of the Llobregat River. Point #1Llobregat River at Molins de Rei; Point #2 Llobregat River at Sant Joan Despí;

Point #3 WWTP El Prat de Llobregat

# 1

# 2

# 3

Monthly flow (monthly mean values) of the Llobregat river at point #2 (Sant Joan Despí, Barcelona), during the period 2000-2008.

a*) 1- Analgesics and antí-inflammatories, 2- Psychiatric drugs, 3- β-blockers, 4- Histamine H2 receptor antagonists, 5-Sulfonamide antibiotics, 6- Fluoroquinolone antibiotics, 7- Macrolide

antibiotics, 8- Other antibiotics, 9- Tetracycline antibiotics, 10- Antihypertensives, 11-Antidiabetics, 12- Lipid regulators and cholesterol lowering statin drugs, 13- Diuretics, 14-

Barbiturates,15- B-agonists

3A. Reuse of sewage sludge

Options for sludge re-use include• Sewage sludge reuse for agriculture• Sewage sludge reuse for biogas production• Sewage sludge reuse for co-incineration and co-firing• Biosolids production• Sewage sludge composting


3A. Reuse of sewage sludge

• The reuse of sludge on agriculture has beneficial plant nutrients.• Sewage sludge also contains pathogenic bacteria, viruses and

protozoa along with other parasitic helminthes which can give rise to potential hazards to the health of humans, animals and plants.

• Sewage sludge contains, in addition to organic waste material, traces of many pollutants used in our modern society.

• Some of these substances can be phytotoxic and some toxic to humans and/or animals so it is necessary to control the concentrations in the soil of potentially toxic elements and their rate of application to the soil.


Results of a JRC-Coordinated surveyon background valuesB. M. Gawlik and G. Bidoglio (Eds.)

0.01

0.1

1

10

100

1000

10000

100000

1000000

10000000

100000000

PharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals

EstrogensEstrogens

IllicitdrugsIllicitdrugs

UV Filters

UV Filters

Br-FlameRetardantsBr-Flame

Retardants

PerfluorinatedPerfluorinated

SurfactantsSurfactants

0.100.10

15801580

0.640.64

406406

44

300

10

18740

0.20

58800

0.40

3390

1000

52333000

Con

cent

ratio

n (µ

g/kg

d.m

.)

Levels of emerging contaminants classes in sludge

Source: M.S. Díaz-Cruz et al. Analysis and occurrence of selected emerging contaminants in sewage sludge. TrAC-Trend. Anal. Chem. 28 (2009) 1263-1275)

4. Treatment of drinking water -Desalination

• The decrease in desalinated water costs have been achieved as a result of a combination of technological development and changes in macro-economic parameters such as the prices of fuel and capital, and the transition to larger units that enjoy the "advantages of size".


Desalinization treatment plant El Prat – Barcelona

• in operation since july 20th 2009.• production of 200,000 m3/day (60 Hm3/year), which is at the

present, one of the largest plants using reverse osmosis in Europe and in the world

• will produce between 17% and 20% of drinking water consumed in the city of Barcelona

• Total desalinization capacity in Catalonia of 190 Mm3 (2027) (average energy costs 3.4 KWh/m3)

• Seawater desalination is raising significantly the overall energy intensity and cost of water.

• Despite improved technology and reduced costs, desalinated water remains highly expensive and sensitive in particular to increases in energy costs.

• Our knowledge of impacts is largely based on limited research from relatively small plants operating in relative isolation from each other.

• The future being indicated by public water authorities and the desalination industry is of ever larger plants that will frequently be clustered together in the relatively sensitive coastal environments that most attract extensive settlement

Potential issue of desalinisation: Environmental impacts of large scale processing

5. Protection of aquifers

• Use of ground waters requires adequate protection of aquifers. • Overexploited aquifers affect available water for surficial aquatic

ecosystems and may create problems of subsidence and salt water intrusion.

• Recharging aquifers requires good chemical and microbiological quality of the waters.

• Some techniques to improve the water quality of underground waters exist, even at the large scale.

• Recovered ground water wells can provide additional resources (up to 25 Mm3 in Catalonia which could be raised to 90 Mm3 during extreme droughts).


: Surfactants in groundwaters in the Barcelona area

Levels of acidic degradation products of non-ionic surfactants NPEOsNonyl phenoxy carboxylates (NPECs)

Surfactants in groundwaters in the Barcelona area

0

1

2 - 3

4 - 5

14

LAS (ppb)

Levels of non-ionic surfactants linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS)

Surfactants in groundwaters in the Barcelona area

Levels in STP and surface waters

0.00

200.00

400.00

600.00

800.00

1000.00

STP River STP River

El Prat Llobregat Besos Besòs

ng/L

MCPA Mecoprop 2,4 D Bentazone Propanil Fenitrothion

Levels in STP and surface waters

0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

STP River STP River

El Prat Llobregat Besos Besòs

ng/L

MCPA Mecoprop 2,4 D Bentazone Propanil Fenitrothion

General sampling campaign

Freq. GW Conc. max Average St. Dev(%) ng/L ng/L ng/L

MCPA 18 15.15 4.14 5.20Mecoprop 24 123.00 21.10 33.602,4 D 3 7.62 6.04 2.22Bentazone 40 22.05 5.78 6.84Propanil 14 3.04 1.06 0.89Fenitrothion 0 0.00 - -TOTAL 15.06 28.22

Freq = % of positive samples

Case study (3): Polar pesticides in groundwater from Barcelona

Ocurrence of medium to polar pesticides in groundwater

of Catalonia

Individual pesticide concentration >100 ng/L

Total pesticides concentration >500 ng/L

Girona

Barcelona

Tarragona

Lleida

C. Postigo et al. (2010) J. Hydrol. (doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.07.036)

Case study (2): Polar pesticides in groundwater of Catalonia

SAMPLING SITES: LLOBREGAT AND ANOIA RIVERS

Case study (7): Occurrence of nitrates and sulfonamide antibiotics in twoground water bodies of Catalonia

Descriptive univariate statistics of the data. SD, standard deviation and �, municipalities and ground water bodies correspond to the location of the maximum concentration value

detected for each sulfonamide.

SAMPLING SITES: LLOBREGAT AND ANOIA RIVERS

Case study (7): Occurrence of nitrates and sulfonamide antibiotics in twoground water bodies of Catalonia

Box plots for the distribution of the concentrations of the corresponding sulfonamides in the sampling sites of Plana de Vic (A) and La Selva (B). In A, each variable has

26 measured values. In B, each variable has 13 measured values. S1, sulfisomidin; S2, sulfanitran c; S3, sulfaguanidine; S4, sulfamerazine; S5, sulfaquinoxaline; S6, sulfadoxine; S7, sulfacetamide; S8, sulfabenzamide; S9, sulfadiazine; S10,

sulfadimethoxine; S11, sulfamethazine; S12, sulfamethizole; S13, sulfamethoxazole; S14, sulfamethoxypyridazine; S15, sulfapyridine; S16, sulfathiazole; S17, sulfisoxazole and S18, N4-acetylsulfamethazine.

Barcelona Process: Union for the MediterraneanDeclaration of the Euro-Mediterranen ministerial conference on water

Stress:• the degradation of resources both from a quality and quantity point of view;

• the necessity to design and implement strategies and plans to achieve sustainable water resources management through integrated approaches comprising all kinds of water and all its uses ;

• the growing gaps between water consumption and availability of resources (likely to be worsened by the effects of climate change, economic development and demographic growth)

• that water supply measures (traditional or alternatives) might be considered once the projected impact of water savings prove insufficient;

• the imbalances in access to water supply and sanitation,

• the need to prepare a comprehensive and detailed assessment of water resources in the Mediterranean and of management policies

• the necessity to promote the development of science-based technologies that will provide inter alia for efficiency in water use and supply measures;

Recommendations of the Water Directors

• Efforts should be pursued so as to downscale crucial climate related data/information at the lowest possible level throughout the region.

• With respect to the climate�water�energy nexus, the rising cost of conven-tional energy sources (in particular oil) should be considered when developing new water resources (eg. desalination and transfers). -Due consideration should be given to impacts on the environment. �

• The level/degree of water quality needed for the various usages (agriculture,drinking water, ecosystems) has to be assessed in the light of the differentwater treatment technologies available and their respective cost.

• encourage the necessary diversification of economic activities towards activi-tiesless impacted by climate change, keeping in mind the need for equityconsiderations in tackling climate change.

The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and sustanable water management

• Environment - De-pollution of the Mediterranean is identified as one of the six priority areas (programmes) of the Union for the Mediterranean and listed in the Anex of the Paris Declaration.

• The Programme ‘Sustainable Water Management and De-pollution of the Mediterranean’ aims to promote sustainable water management policies in the context of increasing water scarcity. In total €22 million is allocated for 2009-2010. Part of the funds will be dedicated to support the Mediterranean Water Strategy and the implementation of the ‘Horizon 2020’ Programme. This initiative is built around 4 elements: – Projects to reduce the most significant pollution sources focusing on

industrial emissions, municipal waste and urban waste water, responsible for up to 80% of pollution in the Mediterranean Sea

– Capacity-building measures to help neighboring countries create national environmental administrations that are able to develop and police environmental laws.

– Using the Commission's Research budget to develop and share knowledge of environmental issues relevant to the Mediterranean.

– Developing indicators to monitor the success of Horizon 2020.

Conclusions (1)

• Working for a culture of water-saving and efficiency is essential.

• This requires an active public awareness from citizens and economic sectors. Potential savings can be stabilized into the future and these savings extended to domestic and agricultural needs.

• Developing water savings in irrigation, within general planning for the economical needs of the whole territory, is essential.

Conclusions (2)

• Added value of the Ecosystem services: Improved urban amenity, through irrigation and fertilization of green spaces for recreation (parks, sports facilities) and visual appeal (flowers, shrubs and trees adjacent to urban roads and highways).

• Valuing ecosystem services can provide a framework for understanding that societal needs and natural capital are not separated.

• Public education is critical to achieve the goal of compatible use of water resources and the conservation of our natural heritage.

Conclusions (3)• Reuse of treated sewage waters can be considered as an adequate

water source for urban, tourism and agricultural uses.

• With proper treatment, sewage water can even be used for drinking water.

• Major environmental pollution such as dissolved oxygen depletion, eutrophication, foaming, and fish kills can be avoided by, for instance, planning the reuse of treated wastewater.

•• Advantages of wastewater reuse are :

– Reduction of fertilizers– The organic matter added through wastewater irrigation serves as a soil

conditioner over time, increasing its water holing capacity. – Increased protection of the aquifers. (the increasing use of wastewater for

irrigation help to decrease the degree of groundwater exploitation thus avoiding seawater intrusion in the coastal areas).

Conclusions (4)• Desalination for drinking water treatment is a current option to obtain

water resources that could be considered as independent of potential changes in climate.

• Energy needs and costs are high.

• Desalination should not be considered the only option.

introduction to water scarcity - csic to water... · introduction to water scarcity damià barcel...

Documents