Access to microbiologically and chemically safe water is limited not only in developing countries, but also in transition Countries and even in remote areas of some developed countries. For these cases, point-of-use (POU) technologies can be promising alternatives to centralized treatment concepts. Membrane-based treatment systems have gained importance for drinking water treatment in the developed countries and can be considered as the dominant technology for new applications at present. Due to the high retention of pathogens and the possibility of downscaling (modular construction) membrane technology seems to be attractive also for application as POU system in developing and transition countries. However, no scientific publications on such systems are available and application is limited. Therefore we conducted an extensive literature and state-of-the art review to evaluate relevance, current use and the research and development needs of membrane-based POU systems in developing and transition countries. POU technologies are widely being used to produce safe and high quality drinking water in rural areas of industrialized countries, where access to centralized supply is not available, or for additional treatment of tap water. However, the cost level of POU systems applied in industrialized countries is in general not acceptable in other cases. Therefore simple low cost systems were developed and applied in developing and transition countries. In a range of case studies, described in literature, these systems show themselves as an appropriate short term solution, but often fail to provide improved access to necessary amounts of safe water. Economical growth of developing and transition countries leads to increasing public concern, affordability and requires long term sustainable solutions of the drinking water problem. Membrane-based POU/POE systems are especially attractive for application in developing and transition countries while they can provide high removal of bacteria, protozoa and viruses, have modular design and can be operated with a range of different energy sources, including mechanical and hydrodynamic energy. But, for their application in developing and transition areas, the cost level is in general not acceptable. Furthermore, the source water quality is often very low and can differ regionally as well as seasonally, and the POU/POE systems should be able to treat this kind of waters. Another critical factor in transition and especially in developing countries is the maintenance and control. Not only the level of education of the local population may be insufficient, but also structural financial means for maintenance and control may be lacking.

Indicator bacteria and coliphages along the transects of Lake Tegel, Lake Wannsee and the artificial recharge pond Tegel The indicator microorganisms, Escherichia coli, intestinal enterococci, and coliphages were analysed in water samples from both transects for bank filtration at the Lakes Tegel and Wannsee as well as from the artificial recharge pond of Tegel. Surface water samples of both lakes were examined from May 2002 to December 2004. In addition, samples were analysed from four shallow observation wells and three pumping sites for drinking water supply along the transect Wannsee, as well as four deep and seven shallow observation wells and 2-3 pumping sites along the transect of Lake Tegel. Sampling at the artificial recharge pond of Tegel was carried out during four field surveys (August 2002-December 2002) in two shallow, three deep wells and one pumping well for drinking water supply. In addition, the microbial flora was studied in the sand filter of the recharge pond in Tegel.

The ENREM project aims at demonstrating a novel wastewater treatment process based on the technology of membrane bioreactor (MBR), set up in a configuration to enable enhanced biological elimination of nutrients. A new plant, and the related sewer system, was built in a unsewered periurban area of Berlin. The plant is to be operated over more than one year, and the process to be optimised. Performances and costs of the treatment system will be then assessed for the size 250 – 10,000pe, corresponding to semi-central schemes. The plant was started on 28 February 2006 with 8 month delay on the program identified in the LIFE proposal. As a consequence, a project extension request of 8 months will be lodged, in order to match the initial duration of 18 months for the optimisation, evaluation and dissemination phase. This delay incidentally caused also a 6 month delay for the preparation of this Interim Report. Despite these aspects, the management of the project has been achieved according to the organisation identified in the LIFE proposal. Annex 7.1 presents and discusses the key deliverables and milestones depending on the LIFE proposal and the current status. In relation to the technical content, Task 2 “Site and process definition” and Task 4 “Detailed design” were completed early 2005. Task 3 “Preliminary testing on representative site” was completed in September 2005 and enabled to validate the design, operation and start-up criteria of the MBR demonstration plant. The public tenders for the construction of the sewer network and the MBR container unit occurred during the first semester of 2005, and the construction of the scheme was completed by end 2006. In parallel, the required legal permits were acquired (for plant construction & operation, water discharge), as well as the parcel hosting the treatment unit. A relationship with the inhabitants of Margaretenhöhe was maintained in order to ensure a smooth construction phase, and a quick connection to the new sewer system. The dissemination activities covered several communication vectors (Tri-lingual website www.kompetenz-wasser.de, press-release and articles and bi-lingual KWB Newsletter, local press, scientific press, plant visits and inauguration, communication material etc). The project results will be widely communicated in the national and international medien, and a final project workshop will be organised in June 2007. The main task in 2006 will be the operation, optimisation and technical / economical evaluation of the low sewer system and the MBR demonstration plant. So far, the budget is generally in line with the expectations, or slightly below. The project finances allow the project extension of 8 months, required to achieve all announced technical outcomes of the project. After the 8 month extension the final project budget is expected to remain about 20% below the planned proposal, i.e. approx. € 600,000 savings on the total budget should be recorded, corresponding to a subvention reduction of approx. € 100,000 (also close to 20% reduction).