The paper introduces an algorithm for a level dependent real-time control of sewage pump stations and states results from its evaluation based on a spectrum of simulations for three different catchments of the Berlin drainage system. The objective of the control function is to smooth the delivery of the pumps towards the wastewater treatment plant during storm weather events by throttling the flow and implicitly activating inline retention capacities of the sewer networks. The article comprises the definition and functioning of the control concept as well as operational constraints and boundary conditions and the derivation of optimal control parameters. The simulation-based evaluation of the concept shows that it is possible to manage available inline storage volume by applying the control function. However, only if an adequate retention volume of around 50.0 m³/ha Aimp or more is available a significant improvement of the flow characteristic towards the wwtp is possible.

Two configurations of membrane bioreactors were identified to achieve enhanced biological phosphorus and nitrogen removal, and assessed over more than two years with two parallel pilot plants of 2 m3 each. Both configurations included an anaerobic zone ahead of the biological reactor, and differed by the position of the anoxic zone: standard pre-denitrification, or postdenitrification without dosing of carbon source. Both configurations achieved improved phosphorus removal. The goal of 50µgP/L in the effluent could be consistently achieved with two types of municipal wastewater, the second site requiring in addition a low dose of ferric salt ferric salt < 3mgFe/L. The full potential of biological phosphorus removal could be demonstrated during phosphate spiking trials, where up to 1mg of phosphorus was biologically eliminated for 10mg BOD5 in the influent. The post-denitrification configuration enabled a very good elimination of nitrogen. Daily nitrate concentration as low as 1 mgN/L could be monitored in the effluent in some periods. The denitrification rates, greater than those expected for endogenous denitrification, could be accounted for by the use of the glycogene pool, internally stored by the denitrifying microorganisms in the anaerobic zone.

The Berlin Centre of Competence for Water (Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Berlin) together with its partners Berliner Wasserbetriebe and Veolia Water has started a pilot project about new sanitation concepts. In order to define the experiments for testing new, sustainable sanitation concepts a pre-study has been performed. This study included a cost comparison between two new sanitation concepts with gravity and vacuum separation toilets and the conventional system. It could be demonstrated that the new sanitation concepts may have cost advantages depending on the situation. This was a further motivation starting a pilot project near Berlin testing the above mentioned toilet systems under realistic conditions. The operation of the gravity separation toilets concept started in October 2003.

The Berlin Centre of Competence for Water (Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Berlin) together with its partners Berliner Wasserbetriebe and Veolia Water has started a demonstration project about new sanitation concepts. In order to define the experiments for testing new, sustainable sanitation concepts a pre-study has been performed. This study included a cost comparison between two new sanita-tion concepts with gravity and vacuum separation toilets and the conventional sys-tem. It could be demonstrated that the new sanitation concepts may have cost advantages depending on the situation. This was a further motivation to start a Demonstration project near Berlin testing the innovative toilet systems under realis-tic conditions. Operation of the gravity separation toilet concept started in October 2003.

Due to the sensitive situation of watercourses in the urban area of Berlin the water authorities have set special conditions for discharge especially from combined sewer overflows. To meet the legal requirements a central task is to reduce the pollutant load discharged into receiving waters and for this purpose the intelligent utilisation of the available capacities of the entire waste water system. Measures of local real-time control have already been implemented in the Berlin drainage system. This paper is focusing on the potential of an additional superior global control concept. Comparative simulations for three interconnected subsystems are carried out to evaluate different operational alternatives.

L'Erdre, rivière de l'ouest de la France, a subi ces dernières années une prolifération massive de cyanobactéries, avec des répercussions négatives sur les activités touristiques étant donné le danger potentiel pour la santé humaine lié au rejet de toxines. A la demande de l'établissement public territorial "Entente pour le Développement de l'Erdre Navigable", E.D.E.N., un consortium de spécialistes (SETUDE, Anjou Recherche, KWB, UBA, Bi-Eau, BCEOM, Eco-Environnement Ingénierie) a participé à une étude détaillée sur l’équilibre écologique de l’Erdre, la croissance des cyanobactéries ainsi que le relargage de toxines, afin de développer des stratégies pour limiter ce phénomène. Au sein de ce consortium, le Centre de Compétence des Eaux de Berlin (KompetenzZentrum Wasser Berlin gGmbH, KWB) et l'Agence Fédérale de l'Environnement d’Allemagne (Umweltbundesamt, UBA) ont réalisé des travaux de recherche en laboratoire. Le projet a été mené de fin 2002 à début 2004 par les partenaires scientifiques français et allemands. Les expériences en laboratoire réalisées par les deux partenaires à Berlin ont pour but d’identifier l’influence de trois facteurs sur le développement des cyanobactéries et la libération de leurs toxines : l’impact d’une limitation en nutriments (azote, phosphore), l’influence de la vitesse d’écoulement, et le rôle des sédiments. L’étude porte sur la cyanobactérie filamenteuse Planktothrix agardhii et la toxine microcystine, qui prédominent dans l’Erdre.

The effect of oscillating pumping regimes at the bank filtration site in Berlin Tegel is examined via a scenario based modelling study. There are several scenarios for the pumping regimes, some adopted from the operation of the plant by the Berlin Water Works (BWB), some hypothetical with a regular oscillating regime. A horizontal 2D model of the lower aquifer is set-up, in which the third type boundary condition is used to mimic the influence of an irregularly shaped till layer, overlying the main aquifer. Model results in form of flowpaths are presented for several pumping scenarios. They reveal that there is a substantial influence of the pumping regime on the flowpaths in the vicinity of the well gallery, while in the farfield, including the bank of the surface water body (here: Lake Tegel) the oscillating effect is rather small. It depends very much on the infiltration position on the bank, whether traveltime through the aquifer changes as effect of irregular pumping.

The Berlin Centre of Competence for Water (Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Berlin) together with its partners Berliner Wasserbetriebe and Veolia Water has started a pilot project about new sanitation concepts. In order to define the experiments for testing new, sustainable sanitation concepts a pre-study has been performed. This study included a cost comparison between two new sanitation concepts with gravity and vacuum separation toilets and the conventional system. It could be demonstrated that the new sanitation concepts may have cost advantages depending on the situation. This was a further motivation starting a pilot project near Berlin testing the above mentioned toilet systems under realistic conditions. The operation of the gravity separation toilets concept started in October 2003.

Bank fillration provides an important drinking water source to the city of Berlin. 56% of the drinking water is derived from bank filtration (the remainder is 14% replenished groundwater and 30% natural groundwater) [1]. At most bank filtration sites, the surface water contains portions of sewage treatment plant effluent (Lake Tegel 10-30%, [2]). Due to water recycling, the introduction of effluent organic matter (EfON) and persistent trace pollutants in the drinking water may be a concern. The project "Organic Substances in Bank filtration and Groundwater Recharge Process Studies" at the Department for Water Quality Control (DWQC) at the Technical University of Berlin is part of the "Natural and Artificial Systems for Recharge and lnfiltration (NASRI)' - project of the Berlin Centre of Competence for Water [3]. The research objectives of this part of the project are to study the removal of bulk organics (dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and EfOM) and trace organics at three field sites with different characteristics. Since the processes during bank filtration are very complex, it is difficult to predict bulk organic composition in the bank filtrale or to estimate important factors of influence for the degradation of trace compounds. For instance, it was shown in previous studies, that iodinated x-ray contrast medias are deiodinated under teductive conditions. Therefore, a bank filtration under anoxic or even anaerobic conditions would provide the removal of these trace pollutants. In addition to lhe redox state, factors such as retention time, initial degradable carbon . concentration, soil properties and hydrogeologlcal conditions may affect the final concentration. In order to be able to prevent the intrusion of persistent pollutants into the drinking water, lhe factors of influence are studied for a few model compounds that represent groups of trace pollutants. This will provide a tool that can be merged with hydrogeological models and soil properties to predict the removal efficiency of a given field site. To fulfill these objectives this research is presently investating: (i) the differences in bulk organic composition and trace organic concentration related to bank filtration conditions at three different field sites in Berlin, (ii) the simulation of a bank filtration site with a 30m soil column (elimination of hydrogeological variables).