新兴的微污染解决方案将有助于解决污染物问题

随着政府、活动家和消费者越来越意识到水源中微污染物对环境和健康的影响，该部门需要快速可靠地做出反应。为了支持该行业应对这些挑战，英国水务公司于2023年3月28日在曼彻斯特举办了第二届水和废水微污染物年度会议。国家环境毒理学中心前首席科学家John Fawell教授发表了主题演讲，会议集中讨论了三个关键领域:法律框架、生物资源和商业考虑。欧洲法律框架最近的变化针对环境质量标准、监测以及最近的四元处理义务路线图等方面的微污染物。会议探讨了这些变化，以及它们将如何成为新兴经济体解决微污染物问题的支柱。生物固体不能再被视为废物，而必须被视为资产。物质资源的回收和能源的产生是生物资源提供的产量的典型例子。发言者谈到了污泥中积累的微污染物是如何阻碍创新的，必须在制定解决方案时加以考虑。随着监管制度继续针对微污染物，市场越来越多地采用新的解决方案。会议为技术供应商提供了一个平台来解释和展示他们在这个新兴行业的成就。Regulatory actionThe welcome increase in regulatory action dominated the agenda,and the importance oflegislative developments was clearly represented by the contribution of DrinkingWaterInspectorate’sprincipalinspector, Ann Bunting.The engagement of regulators in industry-led events is critical and, for the second year in a row, the DWI demonstrated their unwavering commitment to the public discourse onmicropollutants. While regulatory and industry responses need to prioritise those classes of micropollutants posing greater risk to the environment and human health, proactive action is required to ensure the water sector is prepared to address this timely issue. The conference offered an opportunity for the industry to seize the moment and demonstrate itis ready and willing to work closely with the supply chain, business and government in the development of novel solutions. Environmental challenges The endemic challenge posed by Per-and polyfluoroalkylsubstances, often referred toas ‘forever chemicals’ because of their persistence in the environment,remained an important talking point. The severity of antimicrobial resistance was extensively covered and nanoplastics joined the dialog. What is also clear from thediscussionstaking place across the event, is that the link between micro-and nano-plastics-namely the potential of plastic particles to act as carriers ofmicropollutants adsorbed on their aged surfaces-is going to gain momentum.Critical communication Public discourse on micropollutants is important to continue informing the supply chain about market drivers. Solutionspresentedbydelegatesat the conference demonstrated the achievements in research, development and commercialisation from novel biological treatmentto sophisticated engineering technologies. Furthermore, open and frank conversation allows the discovery of collaboration potential between analogous sectors, for instance the contribution by Martin Rose of Fera Science, are search centre for sustainable agriculture, showed the considerable opportunities for cross-sectoral synergy. Overall, the event was a testament of the commitment of regulators, researchers and technologyproviders alike toward the challenge of micropollutants.