Long periods of drought and record-breaking heat are putting pressure on Germany's drinking water supply. Many water utilities are pessimistic about the future, as a “Report Mainz” survey shows.
Quelle: tagesschau.de
It has never been this hot at the end of June since weather records began. But the record-breaking heat is pushing the drinking water supply to its limits.
Source: ardmediathek.de
The search for more sustainable and cost-effective wastewater treatment technologies has gained prominence, aiming to combine efficiency, economic viability, and environmental responsibility. In that regard, recycling reverse osmosis end-of-life membranes, which would otherwise be discarded due to loss of performance in the filtration processes, has proven to be a low-cost and sustainable alternative. Although studies confirm the membrane recycling potential, further evaluations are needed regarding their application aimed at treating wastewater, especially those containing emerging pollutants. Therefore, this study investigates the performance of recycled ultrafiltration (UFr) membranes in an expanded granular sludge bed-membrane bioreactor (EGSB-MBR) for wastewater treatment, focusing on bisphenol A (BPA) and nutrient removal. Additionally, the technology's performance was evaluated about toxicity, environmental and human risks, and costs. The results demonstrated that the EGSB-MBR achieved an average BPA removal efficiency of 91.1%, surpassing the performance of conventional anaerobic technologies. Additionally, EGSB-MBR demonstrated COD and PO₄3− removals of 96% and 27%, respectively. Risk assessments confirmed that the permeate was free from high risks. Furthermore, the system had a cost of US$0.079 m−3, making it a competitive alternative to conventional treatment. These findings highlight the potential application of UFr membranes, transforming the way membranes are produced, consumed and disposed of.
Some cities and municipalities are responding to the ongoing drought and are asking everyone to use water carefully and sparingly. In Munich, appeals for conservation have not been effective enough, so the city has now imposed restrictions. We speak with Prof. Drewes.
Source: ardmediathek
Global environmental changes such as climate change, biodiversity loss and the increasing pollution of ecosystems are key security risks; they endanger people, societal stability, economic performance and the ability of states to act. It is therefore imperative that these issues be given priority in both national and international security strategies.
In its latest report section, 'The Environment Shapes Security', the WBGU shows that environmental protection serves to safeguard the provision of basic public services and therefore constitutes an indispensable component of forward-looking, interdisciplinary security policy. The Advisory Council recommends permanently incorporating environment-related threats into the work of the National Security Council and systematically integrating this issue into risk analyses alongside traditional military and economic security considerations. "Security begins with the protection of our natural life-support systems. Anyone who ignores climate risks, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution is underestimating the security-policy challenges of our time,” the WBGU emphasizes.
The report section then examines three areas of action in more detail:
In the WBGU's view, halting climate change and reducing global temperatures in the long term by removing CO₂ from the atmosphere are central building blocks of an integrated security architecture. “The most important prerequisite for this is to phase out the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas as quickly and completely as possible,” says Hans-Otto Pörtner, climate expert at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research in Bremerhaven and co-author of the report. Switching the world's energy systems to renewable sources such as solar or wind power could enhance resilience and the security of supply while simultaneously expanding geostrategic room for manoeuvre.
The WBGU defines natural infrastructure as ecosystems that contribute to civil protection, for example by mitigating heat, purifying the air or counteracting climate change. In order to do justice to the strategic importance of these areas for security, the Advisory Council considers a number of measures to be meaningful. For example, natural infrastructure should be prioritized by law, and its protection should continue to receive ambitious financial support, not only in Germany but also within the framework of international cooperation models such as the Green Climate Fund. Furthermore, it is important to further develop comprehensive early-warning systems that prevent creeping environmental threats from curtailing ecosystem services. To mitigate risks, it is also necessary to raise public awareness of the security relevance of natural infrastructure. In this regard, it could be helpful to create incentives for people to take on voluntary roles in civil protection or to participate in citizen science projects. “Such activities reinforce our own resilience and that of our society,” says Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann, Professor and Chief Physician for Environmental Medicine at the University of Augsburg and co-author of the report section. “In my consultations with patients, I emphasize every day that a healthy, safe life is only possible with intact ecosystems.”
Ecosystem conservation and the joint management of natural resources can contribute to mutual understanding and peace by increasing trust between governments or individual societal groups. Such approaches should therefore be systematically expanded in development cooperation and peace-building. The WBGU advocates cooperative, inclusive ecosystem protection led by local actors, incorporating local and indigenous knowledge wherever possible. Projects should be designed in such a way that they allow both the preservation of the natural life-support systems and the sustainable use of resources and land. “Otherwise, this can easily lead to new social tensions and conflicts,” explains Aletta Bonn, Head of the Department of Biodiversity and People at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig, professor at the University of Jena as part of iDiv, and co-author of the report section. In order to simultaneously strengthen intergovernmental or local cooperation and young people's societal responsibility, the WBGU recommends giving the 'ecological and social year' equal status to military service. “Environmental protection that contributes to security requires broad engagement from civil society,” says Bonn.
Outlook
The report section 'The Environment Shapes Security' is the first chapter of the flagship report 'Security – Sustainable and Integrated', the WBGU's current work-in-progress. In view of the dynamic debates on security policy, the Advisory Council has decided to publish individual chapters in advance. An initial Situation report providing an overview of the flagship report's overall concept was published in March this year; further report sections will follow in the coming months.
More about the WBGU report section 'The Environment Shapes Security' can be found at: http://www.wbgu.de/fr-security-chap1
Source: https://www.wbgu.de/en/
Anaerobic digestion (AD) is an essential technology for renewable energy production, yet process stability and methane yield remain sensitive to various factors, particularly under high organic loading rates (OLR). This study evaluates the effects of CO2 enrichment on methane production, hydrogen concentration, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), and pH in AD systems using food waste and maize silage as substrates. Under high OLR conditions, CO2 enrichment increased the methane yield by 6.9 % for food waste and 7.2 % for maize silage. Elevated hydrogen levels in CO2-enriched reactors are consistent with the hypothesis of altered methanogenic routing (e.g., increased relevance of hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis), which should be verified by targeted microbial and/or isotopic analyses. ORP values were consistently less negative, especially in food waste trials, where they also served as early indicators of process disturbances. No long-term pH alterations were observed. The findings highlight the potential of CO2 enrichment to enhance methane yield and improve process resilience. Monitoring CH4, H2, and ORP is essential to fully understand the underlying mechanisms and optimize AD performance under CO2-enriched conditions.
Applicant’s project: In this new pilot project we will test whether linking remote sensing/aerial top-down data with
bottom-up microbial and chemical data can enhance our understanding of the ecological drivers shaping the spatio- temporal variability of public health-related biomarkers. This project is a collaboration between TUM, the DLR (https://www.dlr.de/en/eoc/about-us/german-remote-sensing-data-center/geo-risks-and-civil-security/city-and-society) and the LGL (https://www.lgl.bayern.de). Specifically, this project builds upon the GIS-based surveillance structure we developed for wastewater-based epidemiology during the pandemic. This structure links the urban sewage network (catchment) and the connected population. In this project, we will test whether we can integrate and extend this framework into a 'One Health' context by combining the additional remote sensing data, which provides high-level, top-down information on various urban land uses, green spaces, roof runoff, building types, heat islands and air pollution, with the bottom-up data from wastewater biomarkers. This project will lay the groundwork for a future combined surveillance network integrating georeferenced wastewater and remote sensing data.
Our offer: The Technische Universität von München (TUM) is one of the most renowned universities in Europe. We
are offering excellent working conditions in a highly international research environment. The salary is in accordance
with the Public Sector Collective Agreement on Länder (TV-L E13 100%). The starting date of the position is not yet
defined and will be updated as soon as we receive the formal funding. We expect a starting date between September and December 2026.
Your application: Please send your application/letter of interest by electronic mail and preferably in one single pdf-
document to Christian Wurzbacher (c.wurzbacher@tum.de, +49 89 289 13797)
Postdoctoral researcher / research assistant (w/m/d) with experience in big data handling
Data Protection Information: When you apply for a position with the Technical University of Munich (TUM), you are submitting personal information. With regard to personal information, please take note of the Datenschutzhinweise gemäß Art. 13 Datenschutz-Grundverordnung (DSGVO) zur Erhebung und Verarbeitung von personenbezogenen Daten im Rahmen Ihrer Bewerbung. (data protection information on collecting and processing personal data contained in your application in accordance with Art. 13 of the General Data Protection Regulation(GDPR)). By submitting your application, you confirm that you have acknowledged the above data protection information of TUM.
Durch die zunehmende Wasserknappheit wird der Einsatz von aufbereitetem Wasser zur landwirtschaftlichen
Bewässerung sowie für städtische Grünflächen auch in bislang wasserreichen Regionen erforderlich. Wäh-
rend die Aufbereitung des Wassers gut untersucht ist, bestehen erhebliche Wissenslücken zum Verbleib und
zum möglichen Wiederaufwachsen von Krankheitserregern im Verteilungssystem während des Transports
und der Speicherung. Insbesondere dynamische Betriebsbedingungen mit längeren Stagnationsphasen kön-
nen mikrobielle Entwicklungen begünstigen. Im Projekt StaySafe wird erstmals experimentell untersucht, wie
sich Krankheitserreger und antimikrobielle Resistenzen (AMR) unter verschiedenen aufbereiteten Wasserqua-
litäten, Betriebsweisen und (Nach‑)Desinfektionsstrategien entwickeln. Ziel ist es, die Wiederverkeimung zu
minimieren, geeignete Desinfektionsstrategien unter instationären Bedingungen zu identifizieren und die Aus-
breitung von AMR zu verhindern, um durch optimierten Betrieb einen sicheren und stabilen Biofilm zu gewähr-
leisten.
Rahmenbedingungen:
• 10-15 Stunden pro Woche (nach Absprache)
• Arbeitsort:
o TUM-Campus Garching (Lehrstuhl für Siedlungswasserwirtschaft, SiWaWi)
o Pilotanlage in Schweinfurt
Start: so bald wie möglich
Thirty-one laboratories measured biochemical methane potential (BMP) of six substrates in a project aimed at improving BMP measurement quality. Laboratories used their established measurement procedures, with limited standardization. As in earlier studies, reproducibility was quantified, but here laboratories came from a wide geographic range, and the accuracy of BMP measurements was assessed by comparison with 6 experienced “reference” laboratories. Measurement reproducibility between the remaining “evaluation” laboratories was poor in the first test; relative reproducibility standard deviation was 21–33% for four substrates. Values improved to 9–19% in the second test following review of a detailed analysis of submitted data, troubleshooting meetings, and method modifications by some laboratories. Reference laboratories performed better, with reproducibility standard deviation of 5–12%. Repeatability within laboratories was also better for the reference group, with relative standard deviation of 2–4% vs. 3–7% for evaluation laboratories. Evaluation laboratory results showed a persistent negative bias of 4–16% compared to reference laboratories. Application of cellulose validation criteria improved reproducibility but not accuracy. Most of the extreme BMP values were associated with abnormal methane production curves, and a subjective visual evaluation proved valuable as a screening tool. The cause of measurement error was generally unknown, although data processing and volatile solids measurement errors caused some extreme results, and changes in inoculum source improved performance in two cases. There were no consistent differences among the diverse measurement methods and the sources of error probably vary among laboratories. Consistently accurate BMP measurement is possible for laboratories that follow established guidelines and develop experience.
In the paper, the advisory council argues in favour of a multidimensional security architecture. It should not only link the fight against environmental risks more closely with security policy instruments, but also incorporate other issues.
Overall, the WBGU has identified five areas of action that it considers crucial in the national and international security context:
🔹 1. Protection against climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution to preserve the viability of humanity.
🔹 2. Social cohesion to promote resilient societies.
🔹 3. Information integrity to make democracy resilient (wehrhaft).
🔹 4. Balanced use of technologies and raw materials to reduce dependencies.
🔹 5. Strategic, rules-based and fair collaboration to support international cooperation.
The WBGU has stimulated the security-policy debate further by developing specific recommendations for action in all five fields, for example on the topic of 'security through climate protection', on designing technological sovereignty, dealing with AI-generated misinformation and socially divisive communication, and on restructuring international cooperation.
Lead authors of the short paper are: Jörg E. Drewes, Anna-Katharina Hornidge, Aletta Bonn, Kai Maaz, Karen Pittel, Hans Pörtner, Sabine Dr. Schlacke, Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann, Joscha Wullweber.
Security – sustainable and integrated
Source: Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Klimaschutz, Naturschutz und nukleare Sicherheit (BMUKN)
The joint project "Water Resilience" shares its initial findings at the 59th Essener Conference with a talk and a poster presentation: "Requirements and structure of AI-supported optimisation of groundwater management and load management at Hessenwasser GmbH & Co KG".
Applying the counter-current principle, i.e. recirculating half-loaded PAC into the activated sludge process, will boost your process performance!
Curious?
Check out our open-access publication:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41545-026-00561-y
Big thanks to Max Zimmermann, all involved project partners and BMFTR for funding this study.
Calcium precipitation in granular sludge frequently threatens the stability and efficiency of biological nitrogen removal, yet most studies focus on slow, progressive calcification during long-term operation. Here, we report for the first time a transient calcification phenomenon in PD-HAP coupled granular sludge, where nitrite accumulation activity collapses within 24 h under fluctuating influent conditions (NO3−-N deficiency). Microstructural analyses revealed that amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) initially deposits on the granule surface and migrates inward through axial mineral channels driven by microbial metabolism. Through the Ostwald ripening process, ACP gradually transforms into hydroxyapatite (HAP), simultaneously forming the characteristic Liesegang ring patterns. When microbial activity declines and migration driving forces are insufficient, surface deposition outpaces inward transformation, generating a transient calcium crust that blocks substrate-bacteria contact and triggers rapid activity loss. Over time, the repeated occurrence of such surface deposits and mineral phase transformations can ultimately form a more compact and stable mineral coating, exhibiting characteristics of progressive long-term calcium accumulation. Notably, this granular system achieves self-regulation by fracturing into functional micro components (d < 0.2 mm), thereby restoring the system's exceptional nitrite accumulation capacity. These results elucidate the mechanistic basis of transient calcification, highlight the critical role of microbial metabolism in controlling calcium migration, and provide actionable strategies for mitigating calcification shocks in industrial wastewater treatment. Understanding these processes offers a foundation for designing granular sludge systems with enhanced resilience against sudden influent fluctuations and high-calcium wastewater.
Building products, like non-metal roofing materials, can contribute pollutants to stormwater. Laboratory leaching tests, particularly the dynamic surface leaching test (DSLT), are employed to evaluate the substance release, but are not designed to simulate field conditions. By comparing results from a DSLT and a 6-month field study for the same materials (clay tiles, concrete tiles, fiber cement sheets, bitumen shingles, treated wood shingles, and plastic tiles) and same analyzed inorganic and organic parameters we provided a basis for interpreting and translating the DSLT outcome to real weather conditions. The objective was to evaluate the reliability of the DSLT in predicting which parameter types are leached from non-metal roofing materials in the field, as well as its suitability for estimating the corresponding concentration levels. The comparison demonstrated that the DSLT reliably predicted more than 80% of pollutants released under environmental conditions, supporting its use for investigating new roofing materials or emerging pollutants to identify parameters contributing to stormwater pollution. Our results serve as a database for interpreting DSLT results and for developing and calibrating transfer models. However, no general pattern was observed between laboratory and field results: for fiber cement, clay and concrete tiles, the DSLT overestimated the concentrations; median concentrations exceeded those in the field, with factors of 2.6 to 115. For bitumen and wood shingles, the DSLT rather underestimated the substance release, resulting in median field concentrations that exceeded those in the laboratory by factors of 1.3 to 10.4. Consequently, transfer models must account for different surface properties of the materials.
Leachate infiltration into groundwater is an intensifying environmental and public health concern in many developing countries, where waste disposal systems are poorly engineered. Phenolic contaminants pose significant ecological and human health risks but remain understudied in sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigated the seasonal occurrence, distribution, and associated risks of four phenolic compounds, namely bisphenol A (BPA), hydroquinone (HQ), resorcinol (RE), and benzoquinone (BQ), in groundwater sources near municipal dumpsites across three Southwestern States in Nigeria. Groundwater samples were collected from rural and urban areas across Osun, Oyo, and Lagos States during both rainy and dry seasons. Solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UV) analysis were used to extract and quantify the target analytes, followed by multivariate statistical evaluation, human health risk assessment, and ecological risk assessment. Concentrations of BPA, HQ, RE, and BQ were generally higher during the dry season, especially in Osun and Lagos States. BPA recorded the highest values, peaking at 20.90 mg L−1 in urban Osun. RE and BQ also showed elevated levels during the dry season, particularly in urban Lagos and rural Oyo, respectively. HQ exhibited variable trends, with significant peaks in rural Oyo (11.93 mg L−1) and rural Osun (7.26 mg L−1). Multivariate analysis via principal component revealed clear seasonal differentiation and strong co-loading patterns consistent with leachate-driven contamination processes. Human health risk assessment indicated that estimated daily intakes in children frequently exceeded stipulated limits, while ecological risk assessment identified Daphnia magna as the most sensitive species, with acute and chronic risk quotients exceeding the reference dose in several locations. This study represents the first year-long, multi-state assessment of phenolic contaminants in Nigerian groundwater and provides critical evidence of contamination levels linked to unmanaged waste sites. These findings highlight the urgent need for improved waste management, groundwater protection policies, and expanded toxicological evaluation of phenolic contaminants in rapidly urbanizing regions of sub-Saharan Africa.