Countering threats to drinking water quality

Countering threats to drinking water quality

Van Overveld, P.

Thissen, W.A.H. (mentor)
Van Dijk, J.C. (mentor)
Hermans, L.M. (mentor)
Verliefde, A.R.D. (mentor)
Koppenjan, J.F.M. (mentor)
Zantkuijl, N.T.C. (mentor)

Civil Engineering and Geosciences

Watermanagement

Sanitary Engineering

2008-10-20

Organic micropollutants, like pesticides and pharmaceuticals, are frequently detected in surface water as a result of emissions from sources like agriculture, industry and households. Surface water is an important drinking water source. Due to their specific physical and chemical properties, micropollutants cannot be completely removed in drinking water treatment plants and are therefore occasionally detected in drinking water. Although they only occur in very low concentrations in surface and drinking water (ng/l up to ?g/l), adverse effects on ecology (surface water) and public health (drinking water) cannot be ruled out due to many gaps in knowledge. To reduce the risk of organic micropollutants, legislation has been developed via decision-making processes at the level of the European Union (EU) to restrict their emissions. Initiated by the Water Framework Directive in 2000, over the last decennium Priority Substances (PS) have been identified – including several pesticides – which are bound to maximum acceptable surface water concentrations (Environmental Quality Standards, EQS). To protect their interests, many stakeholders – like the association of Dutch water companies, Vewin – attempt to influence EU decision-making. The research question answered is this thesis is: “Which recommendations can be formulated for Vewin to counter drinking water quality threats from organic micropollutants, based on a decision-making reconstruction regarding Priority Substances and given the European multi-stakeholder setting?” Pesticide emissions to surface water have been identified for decennia, while pharmaceuticals are an emerging problem for drinking water production. Nevertheless, their potential risk to or via the aquatic environment is regulated via the same legislative context as pesticides: the Water Framework Directive, specifically the identification of PS (1997 – 2001) and derivation of EQS (2002 – 2008). By reconstructing the decision-making processes regarding PS and EQS, factors that have a significant impact on the decision-making outcome can be identified and not only be used to counter the threat from pesticides, but the emerging threat of pharmaceuticals – and other micropollutants – as well. A theoretical model has been selected to assist in structuring the technical-substantive and social-strategic complexity. After careful consideration, the Advocacy Coalition Framework – initially developed by Paul Sabatier in 1988 – has been chosen because of its focus on stakeholder perceptions and the role of technical information within arguments. Advocacy coalitions are formed by stakeholders with a comparable belief system, and they have a lobby strategy to influence the decision-makers using their resources. To collect the data, document analysis has been undertaken and thirty interviews were conducted with representatives from coalitions and formal decision-makers.

organic micropollutants
drinking water
pesticides
pharmaceuticals
Vewin

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:892055f4-ada6-4c87-a291-5709c12bda6b

Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2008 Van Overveld, P.