PR: A focus on new challenges to water quality at the Stockholm World Water Week

The Malin Falkenmark Seminar: Emerging pollutants in water resources – A new challenge to water quality

On 5 September 2010, UNESCO International Hydrological Programme (UNESCO-IHP), the European Union of National Associations of Water Suppliers and Waste Water Services (EUREAU), and the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) will co-organise the “Malin Falkenmark Seminar: Emerging Pollutants in Water Resources - A New Challenge to Water Quality” at the World Water Week in Stockholm.

Water is a vital element for all forms of life. However, the increasing release of chemicals such as pharmaceuticals and fertilizers into water resources poses a new challenge to water quality. The Malin Falkenmark Seminar will address the main challenges and approaches to monitoring, preventing, controlling and removing of emerging pollutants in water and wastewater.

This seminar will bring together international experts and will feature a keynote lecture by Prof. Malin Falkenmark, which will focus on the abatement of xenobiotics. The seminar’s first part will present UNESCO case studies, addressing the occurrence and fate of emerging pollutants in water and wastewater, as well as in wastewater reuse and soils irrigated with untreated wastewater. The second part will focus on European experiences on pharmaceuticals in waters.  

The seminar highlights the importance of addressing new challenges to water quality and protecting the quality of our precious water resources:

“For human populations and ecosystems to thrive, that water must be clean, it must stay clean and, most importantly, it must be accessible to all. A key approach to addressing water quality challenges should be based on pollution prevention, control and restoration strategies.” From UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova’s message on the World Water Day 2010.

“EUREAU believes that action should be taken now in order to prevent the emission of pharmaceuticals into drinking water sources as well as to prevent future bottlenecks: “Prevention rather than cure” says Pierre-Yves Monette, EUREAU Secretary General.

”The increased spreading of pollutants from diffuse sources, such as household and consumer products, and in particular pharmaceutical residues, might be a ticking time bomb that eventually will affect the water ecosystems on a large scale. We don’t know all the effects today, but we definitely know enough to act.” states Anders Berntell, SIWI.

Contact Person:

• EUREAU - Marta Gomez, Communications Officer +32 491 05 08 93;
• UNESCO - Sarantuyaa Zandaryaa, Ph.D, +33 (0)1 45 68 40 54.

Notes to the editor:

• UNESCO's International Hydrological Programme (UNESCO-IHP) is an intergovernmental scientific programme aimed at promoting water sciences and capacity-building, and the only broadly-based science programme of the UN system in this area. (UNESCO-IHP Website)
• EUREAU is the European Federation of National Associations of Water and Wastewater Services. Our members provide sustainable water services to more than 400 million people in Europe. They reflect the full diversity of the European water services sector and represent public, private and mixed operators. As the focus point of a European water network, EUREAU represents a unique concentration of technical, scientific and managerial knowledge and practical experience in water services and is the voice of water and wastewater operators in Europe. (EUREAU Website)
• The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) is a policy institute that contributes to international efforts to combat the world's escalating water crisis. SIWI develops and promotes future-oriented and knowledge–integrated policies, towards sustainable use of the world’s water resources leading to sustainable development and poverty eradication. (SIWI Website)
• The World Water Week in Stockholm is the annual meeting place for the planet’s most urgent water-related issues. Organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), it brings together 2500 experts, practitioners, decision makers and business innovators from around the globe to exchange ideas, foster new thinking and develop solutions. (World Water Week Website)
• Donwload the pdf leaflet and the pdf poster here.