| Plants to stop the new threats |
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 Ultrafiltration is one of several steps in the purification of water. In Ostersund the technical staff search of the pipes in search of parasites. Several Swedish waterworks equips with new purification step. The cause is less water due to climate change. - The outbreak of Ostersund is a good wake-up call, says an expert. Heavy rain. More flooding increased temperature, Climate change increases the risk of various pollutants, bacteria, viruses and parasites will be in Swedish water. - All water utilities must review its microbiological safety. The outbreak in Ostersund is a good wake-up call, "says Mats Bergmark, development manager at Mid Sweden Water and leader for the project Climate Customize Sundsvall. In Ostersund, the situation is acute, and an additional disinfection step with UV light should be installed as soon as possible. But concerns about climate change means that several other water utilities are now investing in new purification step. The largest project is run by Gothenburg Water, which is investing 700 million on an expansion of Lackareback water utilities with an additional purification step with the ultrafilter. - We have made a number of risk assessments and concluded that climate change means we need an additional barrier against microorganisms, particularly parasites, "said Claes Wangsell, responsible for drinking water production at Goteborg Water. When the facility is completed in a few years it becomes one of the largest plants in Europe with ultrafiltration. The choice was between the filter, where the holes are so small that the microorganisms can not get through, and disinfection with ultraviolet light. - We chose the ultra-filter, even though the technology is expensive, but we estimate it to be safer, "said Claes Wangsell. Even in Linkoping planned an extra barrier against microorganisms. - We are planning for an extensive refurbishment of one of our waterworks, but what technology we choose is not yet clear, "says Anna Lovsen, Head of water at the Technical Office in Linkoping. Kenneth M. Pearson, director of research at Sydvatten and professor of water resources engineering at Lund University is closely monitoring the project in Gothenburg. - We already have multiple barriers against microorganisms, but to ensure that we do not have problems including parasites, we plan to complement our plants with UV light. He says that changes in water quality already observed by. The concentration of humic substances has nearly doubled in 15 years in Lake Bolmen, which is Sydvatten water source. Heavy rain increases the risk for both wastewater and manure from pastures and farmers end up in water supplies. - Higher water temperatures can also cause us to get new plant and animal species, making it easier for different parasites to survive, "said Kenneth M. Pearson. |
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