Umweltbundesamt

Drinking Water

UV-disinfection plant destroys germs in water
© Siemens AG

Germany supports the United Nations in its quest to supply people worldwide with drinking water and in creating the suitable sanitary basic prerequisites for this. These measures are aimed at helping fight poverty and disease, preventing social unrest and avoiding mass exoduses of refugees.
Drinking water is water that is suitable for drinking, cooking and washing. The quality requirements of drinking water are correspondingly high. Raw (untreated) water only rarely exhibits the required quality when it is extracted. Purification is necessary, in particular due to the water's appearance, colour, cloudy substances, smell, taste, bacteria, viruses, germs, aggressive carbonic acids, oxygen deficiency, iron content, manganese content, water hardness and excessive concentrations of health-relevant substances.


In this country, regional spring water, ground water, dam water and surface water serve as raw water. In central waterworks, water is purified using various processes before it is transported through the pipelines to individual households and businesses. Drinking water is rarely drawn from so-called domestic wells.
Some of the most important drinking water purification processes include
• filtration,
• oxidation (e.g. iron removal, demanganisation),
• deacidification,
• central softening,
• sedimentation,
• germ removal and sterilisation.
Due to the high degree of chemical use in the agricultural sector, existing contaminated sites and continuous water pollution, it is becoming increasingly difficult in Germany to provide sufficient high-quality water.
The main objective of the projects on this topic is to optimise the hygienic safety of drinking water and simultaneously minimise the environmental pollution resulting from the treatment processes.


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Project-IconAdvanced oxidation processes in drinking water treatment for elimination of disinfectants and the reduction of potential for reinfection: comparison of oxidation processes
Ozonisation, peroxone, ozone/UV and hydrogen peroxide treatment processes have been applied to three representative waters for the purposes of drinking water treatment. Results obtained for the degradation of trace materials, the formation of disinfection by-products and the tendency towards reinfection have been compared and documented in a comprehensive tabular compilation. Expand…
Source:  Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
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Project-IconAdvanced oxidation processes in drinking water treatment for the elimination of disinfectants and the reduction of potential for reinfection: analysis of potential applications for the combined hydrogen peroxide/ozone oxidation process
In laboratory and semi-industrial tests, the combined oxidation method has proved to be a fundamentally suitable pre-treatment process. Particular strengths have been observed in the removal of impurities from water containing mineral oil hydrocarbons. In consequence, this method is primarily suitable as a standby process for potential surges in the pollution load. Expand…
Source:  Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
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Project-IconArsenic removal in drinking water treatment: process optimization for suitable treatment methods
The iron hydroxide developed is superior to activated alumina as an adsorption medium for arsenate (V). For arsenate (III), which is resistant to removal, manganese dioxide has been identified as a solid oxidising agent which is suitable for use in fixed bed filters and which provides an alternative to doping with oxidising agents such as ozone or permanganate. Expand…
Source:  Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Categories: 
Project-IconBehaviour of microorganisms and viruses during drinking water treatment: Biofilm
Biofilms in drinking water treatment systems provide a habitat for potentially pathogenic bacteria. The method developed can be used for the rapid and reliable identification of the cultivable fraction of complex biofilm flora. The results of investigations conducted have also been used for the constitution of a spectral library of drinking water bacteria. Expand…
Source:  Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Categories: 
Project-IconBehaviour of single substances (sulfonic acids and halogenated carbon acids) during river bank infiltration
Naphthyl sulphonates and chloroacetic acids in the Upper Elbe originate from man-made sources. The main process for the elimination of these compounds in the aquifer is biodegradation. While naphthyl sulphonate can be adsorbed by activated carbon, which is typically used in waterworks, this method does not achieve the removal of chloroacetic acids from raw waters which are to be processed as a source of drinking water. Expand…
Source:  Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Categories: 
Project-IconBiocer for uranium separation - highly-active biocer
The participants in the project optimise a new type of biosorption material on the basis of pearl cellulose, which acts as a carrier for bacteria. This biocer-filter can achieve a high flow rate and can also separate uranium complexes from drinking water. Expand…
Source:  Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)
Keywords:  Trinkwasseraufbereitung, Uranoxid, Bioakkumulation, Cellulose
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Project-IconBiocer for uranium separation - material development
In the project, a new type of heavy metal filter for separating uranium from drinking water is developed. The filter consists of a bio-component, which absorb uranium carbonate complexes present in water quite well. The main focus of this project is the area of material development, the composition of nano-particulate brine to be used, and the use potential of functional groups and bio-components. Expand…
Source:  Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Keywords:  Trinkwasseraufbereitung, Uran, Biofilter, Nanotechnik More keywords , Silikat
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Project-IconCharacterisation of biofilms after technical manipulation of drinking-water supply systems
The project examines biofilms in the drinking water supply system in regard to their composition, metabolic activity and repair potential. Characterisation is carried out under varying technical conditions – different pipe materials, processes and disinfection methods. Expand…
Source:  Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Keywords:  Trinkwasserversorgung, Biofilm, Desinfektion
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Project-IconCompilation of odour-forming agents in reservoirs and treatment of odour-containing raw water – subproject 1: molecular basis
The purpose of the current project is to analyse cyanobacteria to determine their effect on odour formation in drinking water sourced from reservoirs. The outcome shows that the gene geoA plays a particularly important role in smell formation. A further section of the project will include the testing, optimisation and adaptation of a photo-oxidative water treatment process to eliminate odours. Expand…
Source:  Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Keywords:  Wassergewinnung, Staugewässer, Talsperre, Geruchsstoff More keywords , Blaualgen, photochemische Reaktion, Ozonung
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Project-IconConditioning of waterworks sludge by ultrasonic treatment
Ultrasonic has been used for the successful conditioning of sludges from various sources and containing various concentrations of solids. This treatment has a number of advantages over conventional processes: reduced consumption of energy and chemicals, with a simultaneous reduction in the quantity of sludge. Expand…
Source:  Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Categories: 
94 information in Drinking Water
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