Wastewater analysis - Pollution measurement

Water is a vital source for mankind. This complex and fragile medium is used for a wide range of purposes: food, domestic, industrial, agricultural and tourism. However, population growth and the often uncontrolled management of water resources are leading to a worrying situation, not only in terms of quantity, but even more so in terms of quality. Human activities produce wastewater containing fecal micro-organisms and various contaminants (organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, mineral and organic micropollutants, etc.) whose load often exceeds the self-cleansing capacity of the receiving waters (rivers, etc.), thus posing a risk to human health and ecosystems.

Aquifers (groundwater) are no exception to this contamination, in this case linked to the use of nitrates and pesticides in agriculture. A vicious circle is thus set in motion, in which the need for and use of freshwater increase, while, by feedback, water pollution seriously worsens.

Rational resource management and pollution prevention are therefore top priorities for the international community. In addition, the water sector requires substantial funding, which public budgets alone will not be able to meet. The involvement of users and consumers is therefore essential as part of a global policy of effective water protection and management. To paraphrase Riccardo Petrella, founding president of the European Institute for Water Policy Research (IERPE), water is not a commodity like any other, but a heritage that must be protected, defended and treated to avoid the problem of "petrolization", which makes water inaccessible to the poorest.

Community policy on wastewater treatment is governed by European Directives 91/271/EEC and 98/15/EC. More recently, Europe published a directive establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (2000/60/EC). This directive imposes integrated water management by river basin district, and sets very strict environmental objectives to be achieved by 2015. These include a drastic reduction in discharges of pollutants or groups of pollutants presenting a significant risk to, or via, the aquatic environment. Lastly, three directives deal specifically with the discharge of hazardous substances into the aquatic environment. Directive 2006/11/EC lays down rules for the protection and prevention of pollution of inland surface waters, territorial seas and coastal waters. Directive 2006/118/EC lays down specific measures to prevent and control groundwater pollution. Finally, Directive 2008/105/EC establishes environmental quality standards for priority substances and certain other pollutants.

This dossier is a revision of the article published in 1997 by Jean-Claude Boeglin. Its aim is to present the characteristics...