Commission wants studies on pollutants in urban wastewaters

The European Commission, DG XI for Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection has published an invitation to tender regarding pollutants in urban wastewater and sewage sludge. In the context of the European Community water-protection and waste-management policies, the C...

The European Commission, DG XI for Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection has published an invitation to tender regarding pollutants in urban wastewater and sewage sludge.

In the context of the European Community water-protection and waste-management policies, the Commission is awarding a study on urban wastewater and sewage sludge. The study shall cover the 15 Member States of the European Union.

The aim of the study is to determine the sources of pollution in wastewater and sewage sludge due to products and materials used in households and production processes carried out by industry, as well as pollutants introduced into the sewer with run-off rainwater.

The contractor is asked to gather relevant information in the form of published articles, studies and statistics in order to:

- Make a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the concentrations of the heavy metals and organic compounds in materials and products of everyday use in households and shops that are discharged with urban wastewaters and end up in treated wastewater and sewage sludge;
- Make a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the concentrations of heavy metals and organic compounds in run-off rainwaters and in industrial wastewaters that end up in treated wastewater and sewage sludge;
- Evaluate the percentage of heavy metals and organic compounds concentrated in sewage sludge and the percentage of heavy metals and organic compounds released in the environment with treated effluents;
- Identify community and national measures which are likely to reduce the contamination by heavy metals and organic compounds in wastewater and sewage sludge;
- Suggest further research in those areas where there are no sufficient data for making an evaluation or an educated guess for determining the presence of pollutants. For the purpose of the study at least the following heavy metals have to be taken into account:

- Cadmium;
- Chromium (tri- and hexavalent);
- Copper;
- Mercury;
- Nickel;
- Lead and zinc.

The following organic compounds also have to be taken into account: PAHs; PCBs; DEHP; LAS; NPE; and PCDD/F.
For further information and request of documents, please contact:

Mr B Sinnott
DG XI.3 (marked re. XI/E3/ETU/990004)
European Commission
rue de la Loi 200
B-1049 Brussels
Tel. [phone] (financial matters); Tel. [phone] (technical matters); Fax [phone]