Samenvatting

Direct emissions of emerging and well known contaminants via industrial wastewater treatment plants (IWTPs) considerably impact Dutch surface water concentrations with vulnerable drinking water functions. In this nationwide impact study, the impact of 182 Dutch IWTPs was modelled, whilst taking geographic distribution, climatic variation, impact from abroad and variable types of industries into account. Modelled contaminants were 1,2-dichloroethane, DEHP, dichloromethane, benzene, toluene and vinyl chloride. Large amounts of contaminant groups (nonylphenols/nonylphenol ethoxyphtales, phenols, halogenated organic carbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) follow the same emission path. Contaminant loads were estimated by normalizing emissions registered in the European Pollutant and Transfers Register (E-PRTR) over the Total Organic Carbon (TOC) emission per economic sector, and successively projecting these on actuals TOC emissions per IWTP. Only 13% of the IWTPs contribute to the impact regarding drinking water production. Between 65,6 and 80% of the average impact of all 6 modelled contaminants, on drinking water production volumes, originates from a single Dutch IWTP. Industrial sectors with the highest impact are the refined petroleum industry, paper industry and plastic industry.