Removal efficiency of synthetic chemicals during full-scale drinking water production in the Netherlands
Summary
Removal efficiencies of emerging compounds have been studied extensively on lab-scale. The results of these studies show high variability. How these removal efficiencies translate to full-scale removal efficiencies is unknown. By using monitoring data from Dutch drinking water utilities to determine removal efficiencies, this study attempted to better understand full-scale removal efficiencies and their variability. The variability between different treatment technologies and between chemicals with various physical-chemical properties is analysed.
Results show a median removal efficiency of 33% overall. When comparing per treatment technology, the median removal ranges from 16% for the simplest drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) to 64% for the most advanced DWTPs. Compound properties Kow and solubility show a correlation with removal efficiency, but the goodness of fit is low. Diameter of the compound doesn’t show a correlation. Worst-case removal efficiencies are estimated based on these results. Worst-case removal efficiencies are close to 0 or below 0, due to high variability and low goodness of fit.