Search

The present report summarizes the benefits of the eleven digital solutions demonstrated within DWC-WP2 in the form of fact sheets. The document aims to help cities and water utilities in finding appropriate solutions for their operational, environmental or public health deficits. The report is the final version which was submitted in Nov. 2022 after incorporating the recommendations and amendments by the EC.

The use of RNA sequencing from wastewater samples is a valuable way for estimating infection dynamics and circulating lineages of SARS-CoV-2. This approach is independent from testing individuals and can therefore become the key tool to monitor this and potentially other viruses. However, it is equally important to develop easily accessible and scalable tools which can highlight critical changes in infection rates and dynamics over time across different locations given sequencing data from wastewater. Here, we provide an analysis of lineage dynamics in Berlin and New York City using wastewater sequencing and present PiGx SARS-CoV-2, a highly reproducible computational analysis pipeline with comprehensive reports. This end-to-end pipeline includes all steps from raw data to shareable reports, additional taxonomic analysis, deconvolution and geospatial time series analyses. Using simulated datasets (in silico generated and spiked-in samples) we could demonstrate the accuracy of our pipeline calculating proportions of Variants of Concern (VOC) from environmental as well as pre-mixed samples (spiked-in). By applying our pipeline on a dataset of wastewater samples from Berlin between February 2021 and January 2022, we could reconstruct the emergence of B.1.1.7(alpha) in February/March 2021 and the replacement dynamics from B.1.617.2 (delta) to BA.1 and BA.2 (omicron) during the winter of 2021/2022. Using data from very-short-reads generated in an industrial scale setting, we could see even higher accuracy in our deconvolution. Lastly, using a targeted sequencing dataset from New York City (receptor-binding-domain (RBD) only), we could reproduce the results recovering the proportions of the so-called cryptic lineages shown in the original study. Overall our study provides an in-depth analysis reconstructing virus lineage dynamics from wastewater. While applying our tool on a wide range of different datasets (from different types of wastewater sample locations and sequenced with different methods), we show that PiGx SARS-CoV-2 can be used to identify new mutations and detect any emerging new lineages in a highly automated and scalable way. Our approach can support efforts to establish continuous monitoring and early-warning projects for detecting SARS-CoV-2 or any other pathogen.

Ozonation is an established solution for organic micropollutant (OMP) abatement in tertiary wastewater treatment. Biofiltration is the most common process for the biological post-treatment step, which is generally required to remove undesired oxidation products from the reaction of ozone with water matrix compounds. This study comparatively investigates the effect of filter media on the removal of organic contaminants and on biofilm properties for biologically activated carbon (BAC) and anthracite biofilters. Biofilms were analysed in two pilot-scale filters that have been operated for50,000 bed volumes as post-treatment for ozonated wastewater treatment plant effluent. In parallel, the removal performance of bulk organics and OMP, including differentiation of adsorption and biotransformation through sodium azide inhibition, were carried out in bench-scale filter columns filled with material from the pilot filters. The use of BAC instead of anthracite resulted in an improved removal of organic bulk parameters, dissolved oxygen, and OMP. The OMP removal observed in the BAC filter but not in the anthracite filter was based on adsorption for most of the investigated compounds. For valsartan, however, biotransformation was found to be the dominant pathway, indicating that conditions for biotransformation of certain OMP are better on BAC than on anthracite. Adenosine triphosphate analyses in the media-attached biofilms of the pilot filters showed that biomass concentrations in the BAC filter were significantly higher than in the anthracite filter. The microbial communities (16S rRNA gene sequencing) appeared to be similar with respect to the types of organisms occurring on both filter materials. Alpha diversity also exhibited little variation between filter media. Beta diversity analysis, however, revealed that filter media and bed depth substantially influenced the biofilm composition. In practice, the impact of filter media on biofilm properties and biotransformation processes should be considered for the design of biofilters.

The use of RNA sequencing from wastewater samples is a valuable way for estimating infection dynamics and circulating lineages of SARS-CoV-2. This approach is independent from testing individuals and can therefore become the key tool to monitor this and potentially other viruses. However, it is equally important to develop easily accessible and scalable tools which can highlight critical changes in infection rates and dynamics over time across different locations given sequencing data from wastewater. Here, we provide an analysis of lineage dynamics in Berlin and New York City using wastewater sequencing and present PiGx SARS-CoV-2, a highly reproducible computational analysis pipeline with comprehensive reports. This end-to-end pipeline includes all steps from raw data to shareable reports, additional taxonomic analysis, deconvolution and geospatial time series analyses. Using simulated datasets (in silico generated and spiked-in samples) we could demonstrate the accuracy of our pipeline calculating proportions of Variants of Concern (VOC) from environmental as well as pre-mixed samples (spiked-in). By applying our pipeline on a dataset of wastewater samples from Berlin between February 2021 and January 2022, we could reconstruct the emergence of B.1.1.7(alpha) in February/March 2021 and the replacement dynamics from B.1.617.2 (delta) to BA.1 and BA.2 (omicron) during the winter of 2021/2022. Using data from very-short-reads generated in an industrial scale setting, we could see even higher accuracy in our deconvolution. Lastly, using a targeted sequencing dataset from New York City (receptor-binding-domain (RBD) only), we could reproduce the results recovering the proportions of the so-called cryptic lineages shown in the original study. Overall our study provides an in-depth analysis reconstructing virus lineage dynamics from wastewater, and that our tool can be used to identify new mutations and to detect any emerging new lineages with different amplification and sequencing methods. Our approach can support efforts to establish continuous monitoring and early-warning projects for detecting SARS-CoV-2 or any other pathogen.

The challenge for the development of a sustainability assessment for management purposes is that many boundary conditions are to be considered (Koplin, Nachhaltigkeit im Beschaffungsmanagement. Ein Konzept zur Integration von Umwelt- und Sozialstandards. Dissertation. Universitat Oldenburg, Oldenburg. Wirtschaftswissenschaften, 2006; Wilkens, Multikriterielle Analyse zur Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung von Energiesystemen. Von der Theorie zur Praktischen Anwendung. Dissertation. Technische Universitat Berlin, Berlin. Fakultat III- Prozesswissenschaften, checked on 2/14/2017, 2012). Even if national and supra-national regulations are fulfilled the needs of the local management are additionally influencing indicators in decision-making. In this work the bottom-up approach of superjacent indicators was applied to the specific procurement requirements in the urban water management of the public water system in Berlin. The indicators from the Agenda 2030 complemented with sectoral frameworks formed an indicator pool, which was later used to build a Multi-indicator system (MIS) in an iterative process. The resulting MIS was tested on case examples using value benefit analysis, Dashboard of Sustainability and partial order for a Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA). The value benefit analysis and the Dashboard of Sustainability showed applicability for the support of the decision-making in the procurement process: The partial order method could not compare the variants but displayed an option to critical evaluate the MIS itself. For next implementation phases both indicators and MCDA should undergo a critical review. With a higher number of variants partial order might yield different result due to a better ratio between objects and attributes. To statistically secure the analysis of the MIS the amount of data needs to be increased.

Biological communities present in the subsurface are essentially involved in processes influencing the water quality. Characterising the temporal and spatial dynamics of microbial communities is key to understand processes in place and their influence on water quality – particularly when used for drinking water production. Due to limitations in automation of sampling and detection of conventional, cultivation-based microbial methods, a fully automatic flow cytometer (FCM) was employed in combination with sampling for DNA sequencing at a water works in Berlin, where drinking water is derived from groundwater recharged via infiltration basins. The DNA sequencing enables a complete "meta genomic" analysis and taxonomic profiling including bacterial, archaea, viral, eukaryotic DNA and the identification of antibiotic resistance genes. The FCM determines the total number of bacterial cells in a water sample (total cell count, TCC), the number of cells that have lost membrane integrity (defect cell count, DCC) and allows statements about the ratio of low nucleic acid content to cells with high nucleic acid content (LNA/HNA). In this study, FCM was installed in a continuously flowing sampling line measuring surface water (basin water) and groundwater (observation and abstraction well) along a flow path for high-frequency microbial monitoring. The combination of automatic FCM with DNA sequencing aims at i) optimizing monitoring strategies, and ii) developing a (quantitative) microbial risk assessment for managed aquifer recharge systems.

Environmental science / Water research & technology 7(1), 232-232 (2021). doi:10.1039/D0EW90056G, Published by Royal Soc. of Chemistry, Cambridge

Due to their lower energy consumption, permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) submersible pumps have been introduced in ground water well field operation. Besides direct savings of energy, the introduction of PMSM pumps together with the required variable frequency converters offers new operational scenarios to meet the seasonally varying water demand. In this work, potential energy savings of variable speed submersible pumps were investigated. A ground water well field consisting of 13 wells and their transport pipes was modeled in the hydraulic modeling software EPANET 2.0. Using MS visual basic for applications, EPANET was coupled with MS Excel and a genetic algorithm to identify the most energy efficient combination of pump speeds. For the simulated well field, the total specific energy demand required for pumping was significantly lower in partial load operation as compared to nominal pump speed operation. For low and moderate flow scenarios, energy savings in the range of 20% compared to nominal speed operation can be achieved. These findings were confirmed by a monitoring campaign in the well field. Combining hydraulic simulation and optimization using genetic algorithms, the best efficiency scenario for operation of ground water well fields can be found.

Wasserrechtlich existieren momentan noch keine mikrobiologischen Anforderungen an Kläranlagenabläufe. Obwohl die Reinigungsleistung von kommunalen Kläranlagen bereits sehr hoch ist, enthält das Klarwasser noch eine große Anzahl an Bakterien und anderen Mikroorganismen, bei denen es sich um potenzielle Krankheitserreger handeln kann. Eine weitergehende Reduzierung der Mikroorganismen kann deshalb nötig sein. In der EG-Badegewässerrichtlinie [1] werden Grenzwerte für zwei Parameter vorgegeben: die intestinalen Enterokokken und Escherichia coli. Im Rahmen eines FE-Projektes der Berliner Wasserbetriebe wurden die Abwasserdesinfektionsverfahren UV-Bestrahlung, Ozonung und die chemischen Desinfektion (Perameisensäure) hinsichtlich ihrer bakteriellen Reduktionsleistung verglichen. Dabei wurden die Untersuchungen auf folgende weitere potenzielle Krankheitserreger und Mikroorganismen erweitert: Clostridium perfringens, somatische und F+-spezifische Bakteriophagen, humanpathogene Adenoviren, Cryptosporidien und Giardien. Hier werden erste Ergebnisse mit der chemischen Desinfektion ausgeführt, da dieses Verfahren in Deutschland bisher nicht etabliert ist. In den mehrmonatigen Untersuchungen des chemischen Desinfektionsverfahrens DEX-135® konnte gezeigt werden, dass die in der EU-Badegewässerrichtlinie [1] geforderten Grenzwerte eingehalten werden können. Dabei waren Reduktionsraten von im Mittel 3 log-Stufen bei E.coli und 2,6 log-Stufen bei den Enterokokken zu beobachten. Die Reduktion war geringer als bei den anderen untersuchten Verfahren. Im Hinblick auf den erweiterten Parametersatz (Clostridien (Ø 0,2 log-Stufen) und somatischen Phagen (Ø 1,9 log-Stufen) zeigten sich sehr geringe oder keine Entfernungen. Die Verringerung der Viren kann als relativ gering bewertet werden, andere Verfahren wie die UV-Bestrahlung zeigten deutlich bessere Reduktionsraten. Die chemische Desinfektion zeichnet sich im Vergleich zur UV-Desinfektion durch geringe Investitionskosten, dafür jedoch mit auf die Abwassermenge bezogenen höheren spezifischen Betriebskosten aus, die überwiegend auf den Chemikalienkosten beruhen. Eine Wirtschaftlichkeitsbetrachtung ist daher für jeden Anwendungsfall separat durchzuführen.

Emissions of many organic micro-pollutants (OMP) into the aquatic environment can be efficiently reduced with advanced treatment at wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). Post-treatment with activated carbon is currently considered as one of the most promising options, but powdered activated carbon (PAC) could also be dosed into the existing biological treatment process instead. Due to much greater concentrations of suspended and dissolved constituents the adsorptive OMP removal was expected to be severely hindered. Systematic comparative adsorption tests with samples from different process steps of a large conventional WWTP were conducted to investigate differences in adsorption competition and removal efficiencies. The results show that much greater competition occurs in the WWTP influent and in the anaerobic tank but removal efficiencies in the anoxic and aerobic tank and in the WWTP effluent were more similar than expected. Suspended solids thus seem not to severely affect OMP adsorption. Similar results were obtained in a comparison of different commercial PAC in all for the respective matrices. OMP removals showed a relation with the PAC dosage normalized to the concentration of dissolved organic carbon. In the anoxic and aerobic tank and in the WWTP effluent, a uniform correlation of OMP removals and reductions of UV light absorption was observed.

An increasing number of organic micropollutants (OMP) is detected in anthropogenically influenced water cycles. Source control and effective natural and technical barriers are essential to maintain a high quality of drinking water resources under these circumstances. Based on the literature and our own research this study proposes a limited number of OMP that can serve as indicator substances for the major sources of OMP, such as wastewater treatment plants, agriculture and surface runoff. Furthermore functional indicators are proposed that allow assessment of the proper function of natural and technical barriers in the aquatic environment, namely conventional municipal wastewater treatment, advanced treatment (ozonation, activated carbon), bank filtration and soil aquifer treatment as well as self-purification in surface water. These indicator substances include the artificial sweetener acesulfame, the anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen, the anticonvulsant carbamazepine, the corrosion inhibitor benzotriazole and the herbicide mecoprop among others. The chemical indicator substances are intended to support comparisons between watersheds and technical and natural processes independent of specific water cycles and to reduce efforts and costs of chemical analyses without losing essential information.

In urban areas, water often flows along a partially closed water cycle in which treated municipal wastewater is discharged into surface waters which are one source of raw waters used for drinking water supply. A number of organic micro-pollutants (OMP) can be found in different water compartments. In the near future, climatic and demographic changes will probably contribute to an increase of OMP and antibiotic-resistant pathogens in aquatic ecosystems. The occurrence of OMP, possible adverse effects on aquatic organisms and human health and the public perception must be carefully assessed to properly manage and communicate potentially associated risks and to implement appropriate advanced treatment options at the optimum location within the water cycle. Therefore, the interdisciplinary research project ASKURIS focuses on identification and quantification, toxicological assessment and removal of organic micro-pollutants and antibiotic-resistant pathogens in the Berlin water cycle, life cycle-based economic and environmental assessment, public perception and management of potential risks.