Source control for emerging contaminants is an area that the qldwater Consortium for Research and Advocacy on Contaminants (qCRAC) has targeted for future action. This is because for some contaminants, for which treatment processes are complex and potentially costly, the most effective control method may be to control the chemical at the source before it enters the wastewater system. Interest in this area prompted this workshop, jointly hosted by qCRAC and SWEAP.
The workshop ran as a webinar on 21 October 2021 with six speakers providing a range of views on source control:
- Dr Shaun Thomas (South Australia EPA)
PFAS and Biosolids – update to the PFAS National Environment Management Plan (PFAS NEMP 3.0) - David Sheehan (Vic Water)
Understanding contaminant risks at Victoria wastewater treatment plants in an era of general environment duty - Dr Brad Clarke (Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants)
PFAS in Australian WWTPs and Biosolids - Professor Jochen Mueller (Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences)
Why source control is key for (some) emerging contaminants of concern - Dr Susi Vardy (Department of Environment and Science) (presentation withheld on request)
Contaminants of Emerging Concern – GBR Catchments Preliminary results - Colin Hester (Urban Utilities)
Using trade waste agreements to manage contaminants in sewers
Click on the speaker name to download the presentation (if available)
Watch the recording
The workshop was summarised by our facilitator Dr Rob Fearon into the following, which fits into the portfolio approach to emerging contaminants SAFETI framework:
Source control
- ECs can’t be banned but lifecycle cost needs to be ‘baked in’ (block chain approach?)
- Residential vs Trade - variable but needs to be incorporated into risk assessments and responses including regulation
- Update and use ‘old powers’ (e.g. Trade waste legislation)
Assessment
- Methodologies and tools are continuously growing but so is the number and diversity of contaminants of (emerging) concern
- We are unlikely to be able to keep pace (particularly given substitution)
Fate & Risks
- Not well understood, desire for better links between guidelines and health and environmental targets
- How relevant are these questions given pressure for no additional chemicals?
Education & Communications
- DAWE is looking at education but there is no focus on labelling at present
- Who is the polluter and how do they pay for ‘forever chemicals’?
Treatment
- Split between biosolids and water – variability some unknowns
- Balance between environmental costs of treatment and removal needs
- Biosolids remediation – see SWEAP Treatment Workshop, CRC CARE, ARC Biosolids Centre, ALEC
Influence
- ?? Can we work together more as a sector ??