Monitoring and modelling the occurrence of priority substances in wastewater
Jones, Lisa and Regan, FionaORCID: 0000-0002-8273-9970
(2011)
Monitoring and modelling the occurrence of priority substances in wastewater.
In: Pittcon 2011, 13-18 Mar 2011, Atlanta, GA..
In 2000 the Water Framework Directive (WFD), 2000/60/EC, was introduced and a group of 66 chemicals, including pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and metals were listed as chosen priority pollutants. The levels of these priority pollutants in the environment are regulated by set environmental quality standards (EQSs) and are affected by a number of emission factors including anthropogenic activities, population equivalents, and weather. In order for these EQSs to be enforced, regular monitoring of all water bodies must be carried out, a process which is both costly and time consuming. We have developed a model defining emission levels relating to priority pollutants occurrence in the environment. This is based on information collected from local authorities, Met Eireann and pollutant levels in waste water treatment plant (WWTP) effluents.