Berlin,
Germany
Source Number:
2.5.2
Source Description
Personal communication, Mr. Rob Sage, Vivendi, Watford, England
Key Words
Bank filtration; microbiota; coliform bacteria; viruses; endocrine disruptors;
pharmaceutically active compounds; Berlin, Germany
Executive Summary
Berlin, Germany obtains all of its water supply from groundwater. A
substantial part of this is through bank filtration from the Havel and
Spree Rivers and associated lakes. In addition, both natural and artificial
recharge of the glacial alluvial aquifer contribute to the total supply.
The amount from each recharge source varies on an annual basis, as does
the quality of the rivers, which can contain significant volumes treated
wastewater from upstream discharges, providing a potential source of
contaminants.
Beginning in June 2002, Berliner Wasserbetriebe, the local water supplier,
in association with several universities in the Berlin area and Vivendi
Water, started a three year research program regarding the effectiveness
of bank filtration and groundwater recharge (infiltration basins) as
a pretreatment mechanism for a wide range of constituents, including
microbiota. Seasonal water temperature variation is typically within
a range of 2 to 25°C. Residence time in the bank filtration system
is typically about two to three months. As far as some hydrological
trends and development of anthropogenic pollutants may threat the future
of the ground water resource in Berlin, it is important to measure the
capacity of ground filtration to answer to such developments, and to
secure the use of bank filtration and water recharge systems through
the development of the most appropriate practices and the related technologies.
Moreover, there is an interesting opportunity to promote bank filtration
and groundwater recharge technologies in other parts of the world answering
to challenges according to the protection of groundwater resources.
Bank filtration has been a common practice in Europe for decades. This
is probably the largest and most comprehensive investigation to date
in Europe regarding the treatment provided by bank filtration natural
processes. Data has been requested and will be added to this database
as it becomes available.
Graphics and
Tables
A map of the study area and a project logo are provided in a single
Adobe .pdf file. Click below to download the files.
Map
Logo
Contact Information
Ms. Stefanie Ring-Pfifer, Vivendi (project manager)
Mr. Rob Sage, Vivendi, Watford, England
phone: 011-44-192-381-4365
rob.sage@gup.co.uk
