European Commission logo
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Innovative Integrated Tools and Technologies to Protect and Treat Drinking Water from Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs)

Project description

Innovative drinking water disinfection

What happens when disinfectants like chlorine interact with natural organic materials in water? It results in disinfection by-products (DBPs) such as chlorinated and bromated compounds. The EU-funded H2OforAll project will develop fast, cost-effective and accurate DBP sensor monitoring devices and model the spread and fate of these contaminants through drinking water distribution systems. It will also study DBP toxicity and environmental impact and propose measures to safeguard the drinking water chain. Furthermore, the project will develop innovative water treatment methods to remove DBPs or prevent their formation during water disinfection. H2OforAll will produce a central knowledge base with reliable data on the occurrence of DBPs in Europe and their effects.

Objective

Water purification and disinfection are crucial processes to provide safe water to citizens, but the low quality of water sources due to soil/freshwater increasing contamination makes this goal very challenging. Disinfection byproducts (DBPs), produced when chlorine disinfectant reacts with organic matter in water, have a serious impact even at low concentrations on the environment and human health, still not well understood. Effects on human’s liver activity and neurotoxicity were already reported. H2OforAll project aims to assess main DBPs sources and fate through the development of fast, cost-effective and accurate sensor monitoring devices and also by modelling their spread through drinking water distribution systems. In addition, DBPs toxicity and environmental impact will be studied in this project and measures will be proposed to protect drinking water chain. On the other hand, breakthrough water treatments to remove DBPs or avoid their formation during water disinfection processes will be developed, paying attention to their life cycle analysis, costs and risks. A central knowledge base with reliable data on the occurrence of DBPs in Europe and their effects will be created to increase awareness of society and governmental organizations about these drinking water contaminants in order to draw new policy responses and guidance.

Coordinator

UNIVERSIDADE DE COIMBRA
Net EU contribution
€ 352 498,75
Address
PACO DAS ESCOLAS
3004-531 Coimbra
Portugal

See on map

Region
Continente Centro (PT) Região de Coimbra
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 352 498,75

Participants (15)

Partners (2)