ConceptNote–CallforCaseStudyproposalson

EmergingPollutantsinWaterandWastewater

June 2015

Background:UNESCOProjectonEmergingPollutantsinWastewaterReuseinDevelopingCountries New and emerging pollutants present a new global water quality challenge with potentially-serious threats to human health and ecosystems. Scientific knowledge and understanding on potential human and ecosystem health risks posed by these pollutants is very scarce, as well as on their presence in water resources and wastewater and their pathways and accumulation in the environment. These new types of pollutants are not regulated in environmental, water quality and wastewater discharge regulations. Furthermore, developing countries lack access to scientific knowledge and research on emerging pollutants, as the existing scientific knowledge is available mainly in developed countries only. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop and strengthen scientific knowledge and appropriate technological and policy approaches to monitor new and emerging pollutants in water resources, assess potential human health and environmental risks, and control their disposal to water resources and the environment.

The UNESCO Project on “Emerging Pollutants in Wastewater Reuse in Developing Countries” aims to respond to this need. The project implemented under the ongoing eight phase of UNESCO International Hydrological Programme (IHP-VIII, 2014-2021) and the UNESCO-IHP International Initiative on Water Quality (IIWQ).

The project aims to support UNESCO Member States to strengthen their scientific, technical and policy capacities to manage human health and environmental risks caused by emerging pollutants in water resources and wastewater by improving water quality and wastewater management and promoting safe reuse of wastewater to enhance water and food security. This project is also highly relevant to the current UN Millennium Development Goals targets on reducing hunger, providing access to water and sanitation, health, and reducing poverty and will contribute to the future Sustainable Development Goals of the post-2015 development agenda.

Casestudyobjectivesandtopics The project’s first Component “Strengthening scientific research and policy on emerging pollutants in water and wastewater” aims to promote scientific research and strengthen the knowledge base on emerging pollutants in water and wastewater. Under this component, technical and policy case-studies on emerging pollutants in water and wastewater will be developed, focusing on major sources, their occurrences in water resources, wastewater and the environment, potential human health and environmental risks, and appropriate technological and policy solutions for their removal and control.

The objective of these case-studies is to collect and document existing scientific information and policy analysis on emerging pollutants in water and wastewater.

Main topics and key aspects that need to be addressed in the case-studies include:

• Definition and technical description of new and emerging pollutants • Occurrences of new and emerging pollutants in water, raw and treated wastewater,

groundwater, soil and the environment • Available methodologies and tools for monitoring emerging pollutants • Impacts and risks of new and emerging pollutants to human health and the environment • Effective ways to control the disposal of emerging pollutants into water resources and the

environment, protect water sources and water bodies in urban areas, industrialized zones and agricultural fields

• Available technologies to remove emerging pollutants from wastewater • Existing regulations and guidelines and effective regulatory frameworks • Policy options for action needed and relevant policy frameworks which are in place • Types and forms of existing awareness raising materials and capacity building activities • Key obstacles and challenges encountered in all the above points

Keyexpectedoutputsandoutcome The key expected outcome of the case studies is to strengthen the knowledge base on emerging pollutants in water and wastewater and to share and disseminate the existing scientific information and research with the aim to enhance the scientific and technical capacity of developing countries to develop and implement effective policies and programmes.

The case studies findings will contribute to the development of technical and policy guidelines on addressing emerging pollutants in water and wastewater. Case study results will also be integrated in an open access information system for broader sharing and dissemination of related scientific information and policy experiences. To this purpose, the case study findings are expected to be prepared and submitted in the format of technical reports (about 20-30 pages).

CallforProposals The UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme is inviting government agencies, research institutions and universities to submit proposals for case studies on emerging pollutants in water and wastewater. Case studies proposals will need to meet the following requirements:

• Topics: The proposed case studies should address at least one, or more, topics and key aspects listed above under ‘objectives and topics’.

• Geographical scope: Case studies can focus on any of the geographical regions. Proposals from developing country regions, including Asia, Africa, Middle East and North Africa, and Latin America, will be strongly encouraged.

• Environmental and socioeconomic settings: Case studies can focus on a specific sector (such as a watershed and basin, an urban area, agriculture, etc.) or adopt a multisector approach.

• Data: Case studies should be based on existing scientific and laboratory data, statistical information and policy analysis. Access to existing data and information is, therefore, crucial.

• Expertise: Case studies need to use, where possible and available, the local expertise. Scientific North-South or South-South cooperation will be encouraged.

• Languages: Case study proposals will be accepted in English and French. Case study countries will be selected based on these requirements, while ensuring a comprehensive thematic scope and a balanced geographical regional representation. The case-study proposals meeting these requirements are invited to be submitted using the enclosed template to waterquality@unesco.org before 05 July 2015. Contact persons: For further information on the Project on “Emerging Pollutants in Wastewater Reuse in Developing Countries” and case-studies proposals, please contact: UNESCO Division of Water Sciences, Sarantuyaa Zandaryaa (s.zandaryaa(at)unesco.org) and Ignacio Deregibus (i.deregibus(at)unesco.org)

CasestudyproposaltemplateUNESCO Project on Emerging Pollutants in Wastewater Reuse in Developing Countries: Case studies on emerging pollutants in water and wastewater Proposed title: Institution(s)/organization(s): List the key institutions and organizations to be involved, along with the names of Lead and contributing experts to be involved in the case-study team. Main and specific objectives (50 words): Describe the main objective of the case study and specific objectives/questions to be addressed by the case study. Background/rationale and context (150 words): Describe the background, context, rationale and related environmental and socioeconomic settings. Description of the case study (250 words): Describe the case study subject and its focus, outlining the approaches, tools, methodologies and technologies to be addressed. Expected outcome (100 words): Outline the key expected outcome of the case study and how it can contribute to the main project. Data availability and access: List the available and existing data and information to be used in the case study The case-study proposals are invited to be submitted to waterquality@unesco.org before 05 July 2015.