From risk to resource: enhancing blue-green infrastructure for advanced treatment of stormwater runoff

Water scarcity and water quality deterioration are major global challenges of the 21^st century. Climate change-related extreme events including severe storms and extended droughts exert increasing stress on water supplies and aquatic ecosystems. In addition, drinking water resources are compromised by an ever-increasing number of pollutants from insufficiently treated municipal and industrial wastewater, as well as untreated agricultural and urban runoff. Man-made chemicals such as pesticides, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals raise particular concern as they can cause adverse effects on ecosystems and human health even at trace levels. To eliminate these chemicals from water, advanced water treatment technologies are employed in wastewater and drinking water treatment. However, it remains a major challenge to capture and treat contaminated stormwater runoff for safe discharge into water bodies or use in the water supply.

In my talk, I will illustrate that stormwater runoff contains diverse and often unknown chemicals that can pose risks as complex mixtures. To promote sustainable and climate-resilient stormwater management, blue-green infrastructure elements such as biofilters or ponds are increasingly installed in cities. However, such nature-based water treatment systems often fail to remove organic contaminants, especially those that are persistent and mobile in water. I will present novel approaches to improve the treatment of stormwater runoff using bio-based adsorbent materials and chemical oxidants. Finally, I will highlight ongoing research activities to evaluate the reactivity of organic contaminants with oxidants and to assess effects of water matrix components on the treatment efficiency. My research aims to promote innovation for the circular use of stormwater and wastewater while ensuring the production of safe drinking water.