The use of groundwater treatment in Denmark to what extent and for what purposes have excemptions been granted?

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1 The use of groundwater treatment in Denmark to what extent and for what purposes have excemptions been granted? Deputy Head of Division Martin Skriver

2 Danish water supply Water supply is based on the abstraction of clean groundwater, requring no advanced treatment Extensive groundwater protection scheme by delineation of vulnerable areas within strategic drinking water resources! WFD, Art. 7, 3: Member States shall ensure the necessary protection for the bodies of water identified with the aim of avoiding deterioration in their quality in order to reduce the level of purification treatment required in the production of drinking water Water supply structure is highly decentralised: public supplies, wells Large number of small private wells (approx ) Danish Water Forum - January SIDE 2

3 Regulation on treatment of drinking water Administrative reform 1. January 2007: the authority to grant water treatment plants permits for advanced water treatment was transferred from the counties to the municipalities Danish water supply law, 21: Water supply wells and installations must not be established or significantly modified without permission by the municipality. Danish order on water abstraction and water supply, 14, sct. 3: permit not required if water treatment by only aeration (normal air-water ratio) granular filtration neutralisation of aggressive carbon dioxide Danish Water Forum - January SIDE 3

4 Analysis of permits from Report on permits for further water treatment : 48 (of 98) municipalities have considered 81 applications for further water treatment (total number registered 118) Reasons for application for further water treatment: major components of the drinking water inorganic trace elements organic micropollutants microbiological parameters Danish Water Forum - January SIDE 4

5 Permits from : ratio Public water supplies without further treatment Public water supplies with further treatment Danish Water Forum - January SIDE 5

6 Permits Development over time Excemptions granted by regional counties and municipalities Danish Water Forum - January SIDE 6

7 Permits granted Main components of the drinking water: 18 permits, seven for aggressive carbon dioxide, 11 for other components. In case of aggressive carbon dioxide, the water treatment plants will typically apply for addition of sodium hydroxide. Inorganic trace elements: 30 permits, one rejection, almost exclusively arsenic and the most common permits are for addition of iron chloride, iron sulphate or adsorption filters with iron oxide Organic micropollutants: nine permits or renewals, one rejection. 5 cases for treatment of BAM, 1 both chlorinated solvents and BAM, and 4 for chlorinated solvents. For BAM by carbon filters, for chlorinated solvents also intense stripping Microbiological parameters: 20 permits, one rejection, 8 permits for UV disinfection in connection with coliform bacteria or germs, 12 for preventive UV disinfection either in connection with reconstruction, recycling of filter rinse water or safety precaution for discharge at the water treatment plants Danish Water Forum - January SIDE 7

8 Permits and plants in operation in 2012 Number permits Plants in operation 2012 Annual treated water amount, m 3 a - major components ,257,000 b - inorganic trace elements ,669,500 c - organic micropollutants ,380,000 d - microbiology ,317,600 Total further treatment Total abstraction in DK ,474, ,000,000 Danish Water Forum - January SIDE 8

9 Permits geographical distribution Danish Water Forum - January SIDE 9

10 Geographical variation in cases Danish Water Forum - January SIDE 10

11 Case administration by the municipalities The following aspects is included in the consideration of the application: Substances and concentrations Experience with treatment methods Reasons for problems Alternative supply Routine conditions Complaint guidelines Time limits Danish Water Forum - January SIDE 11

12 Case administration by the municipalities Case handling time: Handling time from 1 to days (median days) Case handling time is shortest for microbiological parameters, which are often of an acute character Few complaints: Since 2007, only one complaint about advanced water treatment (activated carbon) has been treated by the Danish Environmental Board of Appeal Three complaints have been filed, but no decisions have yet been reached Danish Water Forum - January SIDE 12

13 Guidance on water treatment Need for additional guidance within the legal framework; both for municipalities and water supplies Facilitate application for and granting of excemptions Checklists Issues: UV-radiation, Water-fit-4-use ( softening ) Guidance planned for 2015 Danish Water Forum - January SIDE 13

14 Haraldsgade København Ø Tlf: Danish Water Forum - January SIDE 14