A forthcoming conference by water experts, Aqua Enviro, is asking us to consider taking a look around your bathroom at the vast array of toiletries, perfumes, deodorants and skin care products. They want us to open our medicine cabinet and see the range of painkillers, contraceptive pills, analgesics and stomach care products - and then imagine the number of these products distributed throughout the UK and consider that all of them will eventually end up in the sewer via the toilet, sink or shower. Their ultimate fate is in the river and then the sea, and that is why concern is growing about the potential environmental impact of what are known as PPCPs (pharmaceuticals and personal care products).

Aqua Enviro point out that although water Companies continue to invest heavily and the chemical quality of UK rivers is continuing to improve (over the past three years 79% of river length is now of good quality) - by contrast, the more rigorous measure of biological quality has remained unchanged at 72% of river length over this same period.

More detailed analysis of aquatic environments has shown a widespread presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Their annual consumption ranges from a few kilograms to several hundred tons per individual. These compounds are a persistent presence due to their continual discharge into the aquatic environment.

Future UK obligations under the Water Framework Directive will require removal of these compounds to background levels and the investment required to achieve this will be large. As the problem is a worldwide one, there is a significant European interest in becoming a technology leader in view of the size of the global market.

Aqua Enviro’s conference is intended to ensure delegates will:

* be aware of the origin of PCP’s and their fate during wastewater treatment;
* understand the potential risk of PCP’s in sewage effluent to the aquatic environment;
* learn of the necessity to remove these compounds in order to meet our WFD obligations, and;
* identify the business opportunities for removal technologies and strategies.

The Fate of Pharmaceutical, Personal Care Products (PCPs) and Endocrine Disrupters in Wastewater Treatment Conference takes place on Tuesday 16th February in Leeds, northern England. It is organised by Aqua Enviro and Sponsored by MWH.

For more details: Web: www.aquaenviro.com, phone 01924 257 891 or email: events@aquaenviro.co.uk

Fees - Delegate Rate = £290 (+VAT). Students, Academics and Charities = £100 (+VAT)

View the conference programme here

Posted on Environment Times online on 25th January 2010