MikroModell

Considering the legal requirements concerning the handling of priority substances, it becomes obvious that micro-pollutants have an immense environmental relevance. Since micro-pollutants, through pharmaceuticals and industrial goods, get into our sewage systems and eventually also partly into our waters, the environmental relevance is not only regional for the respective catchment area, but across extensive areas. In the project “MikroModell”, the role of wastewater treatment plants and outlets from the sewer system for the water’s quality progression regarding priority substances and the respective environmental quality standards will be determined based on different densely populated regions in Saxony. Potential improvements for the water’s quality progression through measures in the wastewater system or reduction measures on a higher level (federal level, water catchment areas, municipalities) will be researched in order to foster an efficient and sustainable development. By assessing the discharge paths and identifying potential hot spots (industrial dischargers), it becomes possible to make an impact on the use of relevant pollutants by regulation or substitution measures.

The Chair of Sustainability Management and Environmental Accounting subjects the individual reduction measures to an economical-ecological assessment in order to provide an objective decision support for the reduction of ecological risks from micro-pollutants in a concrete application. Regarding the available reduction measures, we differentiate between the two fundamental options "minimisation at the source" and "end-of-pipe". For the economic comparison, the necessary costs for action (reduced by transferable costs) will be determined by means of literature research, statistical data, and expert surveys for selected substances. In contrast to this, the benefit, or even lost benefit, for the company and the environment will be shown.

Leadership

• Prof. Dr. Peter Krebs Institut für Siedlungs- und Industriewasserwirtschaft (ISW)

Sub-project Leadership

• Prof. Dr. Edeltraud Günther

Researchers

• Christin Seifert, M.Sc.
• Teresa Krannich, M.Sc.

Cooperation

• Institut für Siedlungs- und Industriewasserwirtschaft (ISW), TU Dresden
• Institut für Hydrobiologie (IHB), TU Dresden
• Institut für Wasserchemie (IWC), TU Dresden
• Lehrstuhl für Öffentliches Recht – insbesondere deutsches und europäisches Wirtschafts- und Regulierungsrecht, HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management
• Stadtentwässerungen Dresden (SEDD), Chemnitz (eins - eins energie in sachsen GmbH & Co KG) und Plauen (ZWAV - Zweckverband Wasser und Abwasser)

Term

• 09/2015 - 12/2018

Financing

• Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt
• Sächsische Staatsministe­rium für Umwelt und Landwirtschaft
• Stadtentwässerungen Dresden, Chemnitz und Plauen
• Gelsenwasser AG

Press

• Bericht in brand eins wissen vom 23.12.2016
• Bericht im Medienservice Sachsen vom 29.01.2016
• Bericht im Dresden Fernsehen vom 30.01.2016
• Bericht im EUWID Wasser und Abwasser vom 29.10.2015
• Bericht im Oiger vom 30.01.2016
• Bericht in der DNN vom 30.01.2016
• Bericht in der GFA vom 20.10.2015