Ulrich Zeidler and Shelley Mc Millan Regional Conference on Integrated Nutrient Reduction Management in the Danube - Black Sea Basin October 23-25, 2007, Ankara, Turkey Wastewater Treatment and Nutrient Reduction

Conventional wastewater treatment – and its contribution to nutrient reduction Session Overview and Context 1.Special Focus: Tertiary Treatment

Wastewater treatment in all parts of Europe has improved significantly since the 1980s Tertiary Wastewater Treatment in Europe In central Europe – > 60% of population connected 1.In southern Europe and New Member Countries – still somewhat limited level of tertiary level wastewater treatment (< 50%) In north-western Europe – a marked increase in the population connection to tertiary wastewater treatment in the 1990s resulting in significant reduction in phosphorus and nitrogen discharges (> 80%)

Tertiary Wastewater Treatment in Europe Development in North-Western Europe Countries

Compliance to national and EU legislation (e.g. Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). Challenges Tertiary treatment obligatory for discharge into sensitive water bodies For large cities > 150,000 inhabitants tertiary treatment is also obligatory for discharge into normal waters Increase in the quantities of sewage sludge Urban-to-rural continuum Investment and O&M costs Agriculture

Project Objectives: Case Study – Hungary GEF Nutrient Reduction Project (i)Reduce Budapest’s discharge of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) into the Danube River, and consequently into the Black Sea; Enhance the nutrient trapping capacity of Gemenc and Beda- Karapancsa wetlands situated in the lower Hungarian part of the Danube River; and Serve as a model for similar nutrient reduction initiatives in Hungary and other Danube basin countries. NOTE: Very interesting project with a unique opportunity to study and compare both approaches to nutrient reduction!

Thank you for your attention and the nice and clean water !!!