Towards a Zero-Pollution Strategy for Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Urban Water Cycle
As part of its ambition to achieve a Water-Smart Society, Water Europe recently published a White Paper that presents a collective opinion of stakeholders from the European water sector on achieving zero pollution in water.
This must be done through:
● Recommendations for evidence-based policy development to address water pollution;
● An identification of knowledge gaps that hinder achieving a pollutant-free water environment.
Our quality of life depends on the use of a wide range of chemical compounds and microbes. However, many of these substances also pose acute health risks to humans and ecosystems, or have adverse effects following long-term exposure. The EU Action Plan foresees replacing toxic chemicals with inherently safe substances, but persistent and mobile chemicals will remain in the environment from their use in the past. Achieving the zero pollution ambitions by 2050 therefore requires a detailed and comprehensive understanding of the sources, pathways and fate of pollutants in water environments over long periods. We need this knowledge to develop appropriate actions to prevent further pollution and protect people and ecosystems.
[https://www.ltu.se /cms_fs/1.224184!/file/White-Paper-Zero-Pollution_document.pdf]
