An European research project
The European Union plans to institute a new regulatory framework for drinking water by 2013. Under the new system, monitoring procedures will have to be adapted to the conditions obtained at a particular installation while still complying with prescribed standards. Each water producer, including small-scale facilities, will be required to identify their own risks and implement an appropriate site-specific protection plan. In the interest of devising an analytic protocol for these risks, the CIRSEE and SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT is participating, along with twelve partners, in a European research program known as MICRORISK (2002-2005).
The research mainly aims to elaborate a quantitative model for water quality evolution and the consequences of this evolution on the consumer, within the context of each site and its environment. Factors considered include resource characteristics, treatment system efficiency, type of distribution network, activities in the surroundings of the installation, and climate. The model will be based on data gathered at the pilot sites.
The CIRSEE is also working with the French Institut National de Veille Sanitaire (National Public Health Monitoring Institute) to integrate epidemiological data into the MICRORISK project. With the new tools developed by this project, it will be possible to evaluate risk for the entire water treatment process-chain so as to set priorities for investment and quality control (which parameters at which frequency and location).
To join the European project web site, click here.
