Today the worldwide energy consumption is dominated by non-renewable energies such as coal, oil and gas. For well-known reasons, the future energy consumptions should be based more and more on renewables. However, as learned from history a transition between different energy systems has always taken about one century. A dynamic model based on material flow analysis has been developed in order to simulate the implementation of renewable energy systems on a large scale. Simulated are number of installed units, number of new installations per year, net energy production per year, CO<small>_2</small> "saved" per year as well as different costs like costs for manufacturing and installation, for operation, interest, and cost per kWh in function of time. The model is applied for the case of photovoltaic energy systems and has been calibrated on existing data for such systems. The calibrated model has been used to simulate different possible implementation strategies.<br/><br/> The results show that fast implementation requires large production capacities, which are only necessary in the "implementation phase". In the "replacement phase" following the "implementation phase" much smaller production capacities are needed. This means that the implementation time is critical in terms of socio-economic behaviour. However, the implementation time is not critical concerning the costs. The model is easily applicable also to other kind of implementation of infrastructure.

With more than half the world population now urbanised, urban metabolism – defined as the throughput and transformation of material and energy flows to sustain human life in urban settlements – is responsible for consuming the majority of global resources and the impact that this has on the environment. The identification, quantification and analysis of the main stocks and flows of energy and matter can support decision-making for a more sustainable urban resource use.<br/><br/> Material Flow Analysis (MFA) is a method that has been widely used to study the metabolism of anthropogenic systems at a variety of scales. Yet the scale of the urban district has been addressed only scarcely. Often an established municipal unit for the purpose of planning, decision making and implementation, it is this district scale which is the subject of our study.<br/><br/> In this we first present a mathematical MFA model (MMFA) for the simulation of energy and matter flows within our chosen urban district (Matthäus, Basle). We then go on to describe how this model was calibrated to this district. Various scenarios (with a special focus on energy) for the future optimisation of this status quo are discussed. We conclude by suggesting some promising strategies for the more sustainable development of Matthäus during the next fifteen years.

As the largest water user, agriculture sector will face a big challenge to produce more food with less water in the 21^{<small>st</small>} century. As the escalation of water scarcity and the integration of world economy, there is an emerging need to support water and food policy and decision making at the global and national levels. A systematic tool that is capable of analyzing water-food relationships with high spatial resolutions would be very useful. Furthermore, the tool should provide the possibility to study the effects of other influencing factors, such as climatic conditions, soil nutrition, fertilizer management etc., on food production.<br/><br/> To meet the emerging requirements for global water-food studies, a GEPIC model has recently been developed by integrating a crop growth model EPIC with a Geographic Information System (GIS) with a loose coupling approach. The GEPIC model facilities the effective use of spatially distributed data such as climatic, soil, land use, irrigation and fertilizer to analyze water-food relationships at global and national levels with high spatial resolutions.<br/><br/> In this paper, the GEPIC model was applied to model crop yield and crop water productivity (CWP) for maize at a spatial resolution of 30 arc-minutes on a global scale. A comparison between simulated yields and FAO statistical yields in 124 countries shows a good agreement. The simulated CWP values are mainly in line with the measured values reported in literature. The comparisons of simulated results with the statistical and measured values indicate a good performance of the GEPIC model in simulating crop yield and CWP of maize.<br/><br/> The crop yield and CWP were simulated with the assumption of sufficient water and fertilizer supply, holding other factors unchanged. The simulation results show that many countries have the potentials in achieving high wheat yields and CWP. More than 80% of African countries have the potential to double their CWP. This reflects the current poor water and fertilizer management there. The large gap between the currently achieved yield and CWP and potential yield and CWP in many poor countries such as the African countries suggest that efforts have to be strengthened to improve water and fertilizer management should the malnutrition be reduced or even eliminated.

Through improved methods of chemical analysis, micropollutants, e.g. pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting compounds are increasingly being detected in our water bodies. In most cases these enter the wastewater after being excreted in urine and feces. In the sewage plant, a part of the substances is eliminated via sorption and biological degradation. The rest is discharged with the treated effluent. In surface water and during bank infiltration further elimination is observed but some micropollutants persist, acting as wastewater tracer in groundwater and are also detected in drinking water. This article describes possible measures for eliminating trace organics in waste and drinking water treatment. These include on the one hand, permanent measures at the source such as an eco-label for pharmaceuticals and personal care products as well as the separate treatment of strongly polluted wastewater, e.g. in hospital or industry. However, as most of these measures can only be implemented over the long term, it is expedient on the other hand, to also consider technical measures such as increasing the sludge age in the activated sludge tanks of WWTP and for crucial locations, additional treatment with ozone or activated carbon.

Studies have shown that herbicide losses often originate from only a limited part of a catchment. Controlled herbicide applications in a small agricultural catchment in Switzerland demonstrated the large heterogeneity of herbicide losses between fields in close proximity. This case study was used to test the predictability of critical source areas with a modified version of the hydrological model SMDR (Soil Moisture Distribution and Routing). Input data were only derived from easily available sources because this reflects the situation of practical applications. However, a state-of-the-art high resolution digital elevation model was necessary to capture the local sinks affecting surface runoff on about two thirds of the area. The predicted discharge from the catchment agreed fairly well with the measured values for the spring-summer period 2000 (Nash-Sutcliffe criterion = 0.88). The spatial distribution of critical source areas showed that fields with high predicted runoff losses corresponded to the fields with the highest observed herbicide losses. The model output was most sensitive to parameters characterizing the lower boundary, the efficiency of artificial drains and the hydraulic conductivity of macropores. Further 1-D simulations with the HYDRUS code indicated that soil type information could be used to constrain the parameters of the lower boundary more closely. Nevertheless, uncertainty will remain a typical feature of such predictions in the future. For practical applications we suggest a simple classification distinguishing between areas that a) have a high probability to contribute to diffuse losses, b) have a high probabilty to be non-contributing, and c) areas where the prediction in one or the other direction is uncertain and more detailed observations are needed.<br/><br/> Des études ont mis en évidence que les pertes diffuses d'herbicides proviennent souvent d'une partie limitée d'un bassin versant. Des applications contrôlées d'herbicides sur un bassin versant agricole de faible étendue, en Suisse, ont démontré la grande hétérogénéité des pertes diffuses d'herbicides dans des champs contigus. Cette étude de cas a servi à tester la prévisibilité de zones sources critiques à l'aide d'une version modifiée du modèle hydrographique SDMR (Soil Moisture Distribution and Routing - Diffusion et cheminement de l'humidité dans le sol). Les données d'entrée provenaient uniquement de sources facilement disponibles, comme c'est le cas en pratique dans les études de terrain. Cependant, un modèle numérique de terrain à haute résolution (2 m), et qui représente l'état de l'art dans ce domaine en Suisse, a été nécessaire pour identifier les zone « puits » locales afffectant le ruissellement sur près des 2/3 de la surface. L'écoulement prévisible depuis le bassin versant a assez bien corroboré les valeurs mesurées au cours de la période printemps-été 2000 (indice de référence Nash-Sutcliffe = 0,88). La diffusion dans l'espace de zones sources critiques a montré que les champs pouvant présenter d'importantes pertes par ruissellement correspondaient aux champs dont les pertes diffuses d'herbicides étaient les plus élevées. Les résultats de la modélisation ont été très sensibles aux paramètres caractéristiques de la limite inférieure, de l'efficacité de drainages artificiels et de la conductivité hydraulique de macropores. D'autres simulations en 1- D avec le code HYDRUS ont révélé que l'on pouvait utiliser les informations sur les types de sol afin de mieux maîtriser les paramètres de la limite inférieure. Il n'en reste pas moins que l'incertitude restera un élément essentiel de ces prévisions dans le futur. Pour des applications pratiques, nous suggérons une classification simple dissociant les zones a) ayant une forte probabilité de contribuer à des pertes diffuses, b) ayant une forte probabilité de ne pas y contribuer, et c) celles où la prévisibilité dans un sens ou dans l'autre est incertaine et nécessite des observations plus approfondies.

Diverse psychological findings were integrated in an agent based simulation model, on how situational cues affect behavior performance including the research areas of conviction-based behavior selection, norm-influences, prospective memory, habits, implementation intention and self-commitment. The model postulates, that a behavior selected for execution is the most preferred one between all remembered behavior alternatives. Whether a behavior is remembered or not depends mainly on its accessibility and habit strength. The stronger a person is committed to perform a behavior, the more certain situational cues remind and urge the person to perform it. To investigate the model time-series data was gathered on a daily base during a campaign in Santiago de Cuba promoting recycling behavior. The data confirmed the reminding and cognitive tension effect of prompts due to a commitment. Habits showed a reminding effect, but no effect on the preference. Implications of these results are discussed.

A formal model for investigating phenomena relating to forgetting the execution of intended behaviors in real-world settings is developed on the basis of literature findings. The model considers three events that raise accessibility (i.e. ease of remembering): the execution of the behavior, planning and preparing reminders (memory aids), and their effect. It also considers that the development of habits backs up memory tasks. The model takes into account that habit development is retarded by random fluctuations of the behavior performance and that habits are also built up for actions similar to those executed.<br/> A first empirical test is presented using time-series data gathered during a campaign in Santiago de Cuba promoting solid-waste recycling. Significant behavior changes resulted by only distributing simple reminders to the households. As several households showed characteristic dynamics in their behavior change, the model could be calibrated to the data and replicated the observed tendencies in the dynamics. Further tests of the model are discussed and a general guideline for developing models based on psychological theories for application in decision support and campaign planning is presented.

Until about 1950, the endemic "Edelfisch", a summer-spawning large-type coregonid, was the main object of the whitefish fishery in the inner (south-eastern) part of Lake Lucerne, central Switzerland. Catch statistics specifically report "Edelfisch" until 1978. Because of dwindling catches, "Edelfisch" were not reported as such but were included in the collective "large-type whitefish" catches after 1978. The species was considered extinct as of 1980. The likely reason for the assumed extinction was lake eutrophication, with oxygen depletion at the depth of 100–200 m where the "Edelfisch" used to spawn. From 1995 on, "Edelfisch" started to appear again in commercial catches, though very rarely. In summer 2004, test fishing with gillnets targeting the "Edelfisch" on its traditional spawning grounds yielded 27 fish, all mature and ripe or close to spawning. Eggs from the only female with running eggs were stripped and fertilised, and incubated at 8.3 and 4.2 °C. Stages and duration of embryonic development at both temperatures are reported for the first time. Larvae from the 8.3 °C batch were reared on dry food in an aquarium. Mortality during the first 50 days was 73%, and only 10% survived eight months. The presently favourable lake conditions, in combination with gradually decreasing fishing intensity, will allow the "Edelfisch" population to eventually expand further on its own.

Following an increase in phosphorus concentrations in many European prealpine lakes during the 1960s and 1970s, levels dropped at the end of the 20th century due to lake restoration measures, a process termed re-oligotrophication. In parallel, the characteristic salmonid fish communities were reestablished, which are generally dominated by coregonids. Reduced lake productivity at P<SUB>tot</SUB>-levels below 30 μg L<small><SUP>-1</SUP></small>, however, leads to slower growth of coregonids than under eutrophic conditions. At even lower nutrient levels (<10 μg P<small><SUB>tot</SUB></small> L<small><SUP>-1</SUP></small>), cohort size may decrease leading eventually to smaller harvests. To address the concerns of managers and scientists with regard to the perceived or actual impact of re-oligotrophication on whitefish fisheries, a workshop was held prior to the 9th ISBMCF in Olsztyn, Poland. The aims of the workshop were to analyse the effects of re-oligotrophication on whitefish populations, to evaluate and recommend appropriate management options, and to discuss economic aspects and marketing strategies. This paper summarizes the case studies presented at the workshop as well as the conclusions and recommendations reached by the discussion groups.

Coregonines are becoming a model system for studying rapid speciation and adaptive radiation. Radiations have occurred in large lakes throughout the Northern Hemisphere following deglaciation. Some radiations are characterized by limited genetic diversity and display either poorly and/or well differentiated ecotypes. Other radiations contain high levels of total genetic diversity, but little genetic differentiation between ecotypes. This variation in the relationship between total genetic diversity, the distribution of genetic variance and the degree of morphological divergence provides an interesting model for studying the origins of sympatric species diversity. We review the evidence for three alternative speciation scenarios within all three coregonine genera: <i>Prosopium</i>, <i>Stenodus</i> and <i>Coregonus</i>. Reviewing genetic, morphological and biogeographical data we estimate the relative importance of (i) geographic speciation where in situ diversity builds up by multiple invasions, (ii) speciation by divergent selection without geographical isolation from a single founder population, and (iii) speciation involving divergent selection during secondary contact with hybridization. In the context of this third scenario we discuss three alternative mechanisms: the maintenance and strengthening of allopatrically arisen reproductive isolation through classical reinforcement; the persistence of allopatrically arisen phenotypic differentiation in the absence of reproductive isolation; complete collapse of genetic and phenotypic structure into a hybrid swarm from which new incipient species arise in sympatry. Using the speciation mode predictions developed in this review, hybrid swarm and genomically-driven reinforcement appeared the most prevalent in the Coregoninae. Putative cases of sympatric speciation were also identified.

Veterinary medicines enter the aquatic environment either directly when used in aquaculture or via the terrestrial environment when treated animals graze or their manure is spread. VM enter surface waters (SW) primarily by fast transport processes. These include (i) surface runoff of substances dissolved in water or bound to manure particles during strong precipitation events (Burkhardt et al., 2005; Leu et al., 2004), (ii) soil erosion and the associated transport of bound substances or (iii) leaching of substances through preferential flow paths to drainage systems or shallow groundwater with subsequent recharge to SW (Stamm et al., 1998). Here, we only consider runoff of VM to SW.<br/> In higher tiers of the environmental risk assessment, runoff of VM to SW have to be accounted for in order to refine predicted environmental concentrations. A number of mechanistic models have been developed for this purpose and have been applied in regulatory contexts, e.g. PRZM (Carousel et al., 2005) or LEACHP (Hutson, 2003). All of these models require detailed input to be run, such as daily meteorological data and in-depth soil information, data that can usually only be provided for specific locations. In addition, some are computationally intensive and the number of modeled situations is limited. Predicting exposure to VM in large and diverse areas such as Europe therefore requires a reduction of the task by the selection of characteristic situations, so-called scenarios, under which VM enter the environment. Because of the tendency towards European or multi-national authorisation procedures, it is crucial to understand which scenarios are most critical and how representative they are in a European context.<br/> Here, we present a statistical approach to identify characteristic situation for runoff of VM to SW and a simple scoring system to select scenarios with a high contamination potential. More details on the methodology and the results can be found in a longer manuscript (Schneider et al., submitted).

Innovations tend to develop in a non-linear way as they are subject to a complex interplay of structures and processes within a specific innovation field as well as within its socio-technical context. These are, for instance, specific actor constellations and institutional settings at the producer and consumer side, developments in complementary innovation fields or developments at a societal level. Innovation processes are also characterized by cumulative or learning effects, which may lead to path-dependencies and 'lock-in' effects. As a result of this complex interplay, it is often uncertain, which pathway an innovation will take in the future. This holds particularly for innovations at an early development stage and which at the same time present a potentially radical innovation with respect to existing socio-technical structures. This is all the more true, if long-term developments are considered. Uncertainty may refer to the technical characteristics of an innovation, to the future application fields and the user segments and to the interpretation a society or different actor groups may attribute to a technology or service (Pinch & Bijker 1987), that is, to the future shape, function and meaning of an innovation. As a result, it is often uncertain, if an innovation will turn out as a sustainable innovation. This is to say, an innovation may not be considered as sustainable as such, but rather it depends on the specific variation of an innovation as well as its embedding in a specific context, if it will turn out as more or less sustainable.<br/><br/> In this paper we present a future-oriented approach for exploring a range of alternative inno-vation pathways an innovation may take. These pathways are characterised by different variations of the shape, function and meaning of an innovation and by specific developments within as well as in the context of the innovation field at hand, which may contribute to the preva-lence of one variation rather than another. The approach draws on the multi-level concept (Rip & Kemp 1998; Geels 2005). This multi-level concept is particularly well suited for the analysis of long-term developments. It has so far largely been applied for the analysis of transition processes in which a dominant socio-technical system - or regime - is gradually dis- placed by a different regime, either in a historical perspective or, in a future-oriented perspective, searching for possibilities to bring about a desired regime change. In this paper we propose to apply the multi-level framework with an analytical perspective that puts an innovation field centre stage and explores, what are relevant regimes, complementary and competing innovations and developments at the macro level that may influence, which pathway an innovation field will take.

Technological expectations play a significant role for innovation and the introduction of new technologies in society. These expectations largely appear in the form of a wide variety of future-oriented narratives, e.g. societal visions, scenarios of use or assumptions about socio-technical trends. These narratives guide innovation processes and shape the resulting socio-technical systems, they provide structure and legitimation to innovation actors and they structure the societal debate on new technologies. On the other hand, these narratives are themselves shaped by socio-technical systems that have materialised so far. Expectations are to some extent intentionally deployed by some to attract further actors and resources; but the structuring effect is also a non-intentional effect, when expectations become shared and part of an institutionalized repertoire. Hence, technological expectations are part of the de-facto governance of science and technology. In a first step, the paper gives an overview on the structuring – that is enabling and constraining, co-ordinating and orienting - effect of technological expectations. Then, the paper focuses on the interlocality of expectations, using interlocality in a broad sense. Expectations "travel" between localities, between various levels, between discourses and actor groups and they travel over time. By this they contribute to the co-ordination of actors and activities and, at the same time, they are themselves modified and adapted to local circumstances. Furthermore, they play an important role in the dynamics of expectations. Empirically, these translations and interlinkages are analysed for expectations on new information and communication technologies, which, in the middle of the 1990s, were rising high in different arenas (e.g. policy, business) and at different levels (global, regional).

Studies have shown that herbicide losses often originate from a limited part of a catchment only. These areas are characterized by fast flow processes. We test the predictability of such critical source areas with the modified hydrological model SMDR. The study area was a small agricultural catchment in Switzerland, where herbicide losses were monitored in previous field studies. Input data needed for SMDR are maps of digital elevation, land use and soil characteristics. The hydrological properties were determined from the soil map using pedotransfer functions. For the sensitivity and uncertainty analysis SMDR was linked with the system analysis software tool UNCSIM. The a priori predicted discharge agreed fairly well with the measured values for spring 2000 (Nash-Sutcliffe 0.8). Analysis of the spatial distribution of contributing areas showed that fields with high predicted runoff losses correspond to the fields with the highest observed herbicide losses. The most sensitive parameters turned out to be the percolation rate into groundwater and the hydraulic conductivity of macropores. This observation is critical because not much information is obtained from soil maps. Discharge data from the catchment had some value in constraining the parameter space of behavioural simulations affecting the spatial predictions of runoff formation.

Biocidal products are widely used in urban areas for material protection. Carbendazim and diuron are representatives for biocides in paints and plaster of facades. Factors influencing release of biocides and their fate in urban sewer systems are not well understood at present time. We therefore investigated several biocides at different scales: facades and roofs, effluent and sludge from wastewater treatment plants and receiving waters (project URBIC). Carbendazim, diuron and mecoprop were often detected in the different compartments. Bitumen sheets for roof waterproofing treated with the root protection agent mecoprop were investigated more specifically. Initial laboratory tests resulted in leaching rates differing by a factor of 100 between different products. The knowledge on leaching processes and occurrence of biocides from material protection products in urban water systems is a prerequisite for efficient implementation of technical measures or at-source controls.<br/><br/> Les biocide sont des produits employés couramment en milieux urbains pour la protection des matériaux. Les facteurs influençant le lessivage de ces substances et leur devenir dans les réseaux d'assainissement sont encore actuellement mal connus. Plusieurs biocides ont été suivis à différentes échelles de travail dans le cadre du projet URBIC, allant de l'étude de toiture et de façade, de la station d'épuration ou du milieu récepteur. Les produits les plus souvent détectés ont été la carbendazim, le diuron et le mecoprop. Des tests de lessivage de membranes bitumeuses, utilisées pour les toitures plates, ont été réalisés. Les taux de mecoprop (produit d'inhibition de la croissance racinaire) varient d'un facteur 100 entre plusieurs produits testés. La connaissance de ces processus de lixiviation et des quantités de biocides utilisés est indispensable pour une protection efficace des milieux récepteurs par le biais de mesures techniques ou de solution de contrôle à la source.

In the context of applied psychology modelling human behaviour is intensively discussed. There are various psychological theories that focus on psychological aspects of decision making and on communication aspects. It is obvious to analyze these questions by the means of modelling and simulation. In this situation, the modeller has two main problems: Firstly, there are lot of very detailed investigations on psychological phenomena but all these theories are quite isolated to each other and do not give an integrated and comprehensive view on the relevant process. Secondly, for formulating the model and for simulating it later on, there is no support on software level.<br/> In this situation an efficient software concept is needed which brings together the very special objectives of the innovative and continuously developing thematic scope and a scalable and payable software architecture to work with. This paper introduces such a software concept. Preconditions for the work are a communication network simulator and a psychological model for a human agent. The network enables the modeller to specify communication networks between the modelled individuals, the agents and executes a simple next-event-simulation mechanism with a discrete time-model. The agent model structures the psychological components and processes participating in decision making.<br/> The main part of the paper analyzes the use cases for the planned software system as initialize the network, initialize an agent, observe trajectories, simulate, analyze results, change parameter values, change agent behaviour, and focuses on the special problems caused by applying these tasks to the field of agent based communication models. On the base of these deliberations an adequate software architecture is proposed. Thereby, the following conflicts had to be solved: <ul><li>Complexity of the model versus design of the user interface.</li> <li>Universal software system versus easily adaptable simulation program.</li> <li>User interface versus highly specialized interventions on behaviour programming level.</li> <li>Object oriented programming paradigm versus (procedural) programming skills of the social scientists.</li></ul> These conflicts concentrate on a cost benefit problem concerning universal system and comfortable user interface on the one hand and on the problem of the access level for the inexperienced user on the other. The decisions made for models following the ATASIS meta model are as follows: The graphical user interface gives support only for simple standard functions. Higher functionality is accessible by the interface of the database system and its query language directly. For the model description level the argumentation is more complex. The solution is realized as follows: <ol><li>Model structure in strong analogy to the psychological theory.</li> <li>Strongly sequential runtime algorithm.</li> <li>Dataflow by message mechanism between the psychological components.</li> <li>Updating the model code by the use of a standard development environment.</li></ol> So far, the conflict between a proper object-oriented design of the modelling and simulation software environment for the ATASIS meta model and the usability by users without deepened programming skills is discussed. For the complete project of model development, this paper tries to motivate <ul><li>A sophisticated balance between user skills and higher concepts of object oriented programming paradigm: We just used the concepts of modularisation but no heritage and no method concepts.</li> <li>The cost benefit calculations for the user interface, which lead to very pragmatic solutions especially for non standard application areas of simulation methodology.</li> <li>The intensive analyse of user demands which leads to smaller and more efficient solutions.</li> <li>The concept of the expert-mode interface for access to model code and data base which leads to an open system architecture with only negligible cut backs in comfort.</li> <li>The acceptance and integration of user skills which has restricting effects concerning programming experiences however very positive effects concerning the use of the database interface including its query language.</li></ul>

Public wastewater utilities face the challenge of effectively exploiting their information and the systems that support it as valuable strategic assets. This means that considerable attention must be devoted to the way utilities design and implement Information Governance (IG) and to determining whether this process yields effective outcomes. Because of the increasing complexity of public wastewater utilities, effective management of information assets across business units and functions is knowledge-intensive and particularly complex. Thus, the effectiveness of IG relies heavily on the ability to capture, manage and systematically exploit the embedded tacit and explicit knowledge required by the IG process. This knowledge is currently fragmented, unequally distributed, tacit and difficult to share. In this paper, we identify the knowledge that is crucial for the success of IG in public wastewater utilities and present a model to structure and represent it consistently. We illustrate three case studies in which the developed model has been implemented and used to support IG. Finally, we explain to what extent capturing, storing and exploiting critical organizational knowledge can guide public wastewater utilities towards more effective management of their information resources.

To develop and implement Information Governance (IG) in a public utility is a challenging task. While many studies focus on the “what” question of IG, less attention is paid to how IG may be realized within the utilities. However, well-organized IG is essential to guarantee effective management of information resources. We argue that IG is a complex and knowledge-intensive process. The ability to manage critical knowledge and to systematically support IG knowledge work are presented as key issues for public utilities. Most of their critical organizational knowledge is currently fragmented, not explicitly documented and difficult to share. We formulate requirements for designing IG for public utilities from a knowledge perspective. On the basis of three case studies of Swiss wastewater utilities, we present an approach for supporting IG via an Organizational Knowledge Base (OKB). We provide a framework for representing critical organizational knowledge for IG in an OKB, illustrate how an OKB supports knowledge work and explain why it guides public utilities towards more effective management of their information resources.

Six phosphorous enriched substrates from conventional and non-conventional waste water treatment systems were analysed on their P-availability for plants in pot experiments. The P-fractions were MgP, FeP, NaAlP and three different Struvites precipitated from urine or sewage sludge and were compared with super phosphate, a conventional mineral fertilizer. The test plants were grass (<i>Lolium multiflorum italicum</i>) and clover (<i>Trifolum pratense</i>). The substrates showed a different P-availability: the lowest availability showed FeP (2.3%), the highest MgP (29.3%). The three Struvites and MgP showed different P availabilities and the availability correlated negatively with the crystallisation of the products. To produce a reliable P fertilizer from waste water treatment systems the crystallisation produce has to be stabile and known.

Fluctuations of arsenic and other groundwater constituents were studied over a time span of 14 month in the Holocene (qh) and Pleistocene (qp) aquifers south of Hanoi. The investigation was carried out in Hoang Liet and accompanied by analysis of cored sediments, leaching experiments, and sediment water interactions. The sediments in this area are rich in buried peat. The high water abstraction for Hanoi's drinking water supply is causing considerable drawdown of the groundwater in the Pleistocene aquifer. This is particularly severe in the west and south of the city where depression cones reach down as far as 30 m. Since ammonium concentrations steadily increased in the Pleistocene aquifer over the last 15 years, the authorities raised concern that arsenic follow the same trend, thereby posing further threat to the public drinking water supply. Hence, samples were collected from both aquifers, representing depths of 9–35 m (qh, median 24 m, n=19) and 53–100 m (qp, median 70 m, n=7), respectively. Arsenic concentrations ranged from 1–127 μg/L (average 63, median 69 μg/L). Concentration in the Pleistocene aquifer (average 74 μg/L) were in the same range as in the Holocene one (average 60 μg/L).<BR/> Despite the groundwater composition fluctuated during the 14-month study (e.g. As 17%, Fe 66%, NH4 37%), there was no tendency of increasing concentrations in both, the Holocene and Pleistocene aquifers. We suggest this finding should be verified by continuous monitoring of selected wells.

This paper presents the outcomes of pilot-scale experiments on anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) and polishing systems for the treatment of domestic blackwater, aimed at determining the treatment performance of different integrated low-cost wastewater treatment systems, comprising one ABR as first treatment step followed by three polishing steps operated in parallel, namely an anaerobic filter an intermittent sand filter and a vertical flow constructed wetland. A mixture of septage and domestic wastewater was used as influent wastewater, resulting in influent chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) concentrations of 1,000 and 300 mg/L, respectively. The ABR system operated at a HRT of 48h could achieve average COD, suspended solids (SS) and total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiencies of 90%, 93% and 50%, respectively. The highest treatment performances in the sand filter and constructed wetland units were reached at HLR of 7 – 10 and 6 – 10 cm/day, respectively, while HRT in the range of 3 - 4 days led to the highest treatment efficiencies in the anaerobic filter. The national effluent standards of Thailand were respected by all systems in terms of average TSS and BOD concentrations. Rather than concluding which system is the most appropriate, the paper discusses specific fields of application for the different systems.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are planned and designed for a lifespan of 25 to 40 years. The catchment area, discharge requirements, available technology, institutional conditions, operational procedures etc. of these plants may change drastically over this long time period. In the private sector such dynamic development would possibly be considered in the planning and design phase based on a scenario analysis. However, conducting a scenario process requires knowledge about the driving forces of this dynamic, which at the moment is very limited in the field of urban drainage. In this paper we take a first step in closing this gap. In a case study we analyzed the development of a WWTP and its environment for a time period of over a decade. From this investigation we identified the driving forces responsible for the observed strong dynamic and their effect on the development of the WWTP. Based on the analysis of these forces, we deduce important aspects that will have to be considered in the future if scenario planning is to be applied routinely in the field of urban drainage.

The scope of sewage treatment is changing: There is a shift from today's end of pipe treatment, having the aim to avoid eutrophication and hygienic health hazard in surface water, towards resource recovery (water, energy, nutrients, sludge), that demand an improved control and removal of micropollutants. The EU project NEPTUNE will focus its research mainly on centralized wastewater treatment via upgrading of existing infrastructure as well as new technologies.

Heute sind in der Europäischen Union (EU) etwa 100'000 verschiedene Chemikalien gemeldet, von denen rund 30'000 in einer Menge von mehr als einer Tonne auf dem Markt vertrieben werden [1]. Es ist unvermeidlich, dass bei der Herstellung und Entsorgung sowie beim Gebrauch der Stoffe auch Anteile in die Umwelt gelangen.<br/><br/> Durch die sich die ständig verbessernde chemische Analytik findet man im Abwasser, in den Gewässern und im Klärschlamm vermehrt Verbindungen in sehr niedrigen Konzentrationsbereichen (Mikro- und Nanogramm pro Liter), die als Mikroverunreinigungen bezeichnet werden. Dazu gehören bekannte Vertreter wie das Pestizid Atrazin, der Kunststoffzusatz Bispenol A und das Benzinantiklopfmittel Methyl-tertiär-butylmethyläther. Weniger bekannt ist, dass sich darunter auch sehr viele Verbindungen für den täglichen Gebrauch wie z.B. Arzneimittel befinden. Heute werden in der EU ca. 3'300 verschiedene Stoffe als Arzneimittel verwendet. Mengenmässig bedeutsam sind Wirkstoffe, die u.a. als Analgetika, Antibiotika, Antidiabetika, Betablocker, Kontrazeptiva, Lipidsenker, Psychopharmaka oder Zytostatika eingesetzt werden.<br/><br/> Arzneimittel gelangen in der Regel über die natürlichen Ausscheidungen wie Urin oder Fäkalien in das Abwassersystem. Ein nicht zu vernachlässigender Anteil der im Abwasser enthaltenen Arzneimittel wird aber auch durch unsachgemässe Entsorgung über die Toilette eingetragen. Eine deutsche Studie [2] untersuchte das Vorkommen von 55 Arzneimittelwirkstoffen und 9 Metaboliten im Ablauf von 49 Kläranlagen sowie in den jeweiligen Gewässern, in die die geklärten Abwässer eingeleitet werden (Vorfluter). Dabei konnten in den Kläranlagenabläufen 36 Wirkstoffe und 5 Metaboliten in Konzentrationen bis zu mehreren μg/l nachgewiesen werden. In den Gewässern wurden noch Spitzenkonzentrationen von über 1 μg/l (z.B. Betablocker und Antiepileptika) gemessen.<br/><br/> Darüber hinaus machen in den letzten Jahren neuartige Umwelteffekte, wie die Verweiblichung von Fischen, von sich reden. Sie werden zum Teil auf den chronischen Eintrag hormonaktiver (endokriner) Substanzen zurückgeführt. Dazu gehören neben den körpereigenen Hormonen, die ebenso mit dem Urin ausgeschieden werden, auch diejenigen Arzneimittel, die aufgrund ihrer hormonellen Wirkung eingesetzt werden wie z.B. die Kontrazeptiva und Antidiabetika. Einigen anderen Arzneimittelwirkstoffen, wie z.B. β-Sitosterol (zur Senkung des Cholesterinspiegels) und Clenbuterol (Asthmamittel), wird zusätzlich zu ihrer nichthormonellen Hauptwirkung, eine hormonelle Nebenwirkung zugeschrieben. Für die meisten Arzneimittel sind jedoch keine endokrinen Wirkungen bekannt. Das mag aber auch daran liegen, dass sie niemals auf etwaige hormonelle Wirkungen getestet wurden. Es ist daher nicht ausgeschlossen, dass die Gruppe der Arzneimittelwirkstoffe mit ungewollten hormonellen Nebenwirkungen viel grösser ist als angenommen.<br/><br/> Der vorliegende Artikel gibt anhand ausgewahlter Beispiele einen Überblick über die Eliminationsprozesse und stellt mogliche Massnahmen zur Diskussion.

Die Erfassung, Modellierung und Beurteilung von Stoff- und Energieflüssen ist ein zentraler Aspekt bei der Untersuchung von natürlichen und anthropogenen Systemen. Das Spektrum der Beurteilung reicht dabei von der Ökologie über die Ökonomie bis hin zur Nachhaltigkeit.<br/> Das Computerprogramm SIMBOX erlaubt die Modellierung von stationären und dynamischen Stoffflüssen. Mit dem entwickelten Modul SIMBOX-FUZZY können die Stoffflüsse nun zusätzlich bewertet werden und zwar auf der Basis von unscharfem Wissen.<br/> Als Vorlage für die Entwicklung diente SAMT-FUZZY. Der Berechnungsalgorithmus wurde dabei übernommen und mit zusätzlichen Funktionalitäten erweitert. Die graphische Oberfläche wurde neu entwickelt. Sie erlaubt die Generierung von neuen Fuzzy-Modellen, die Anpassung bereits bestehender Fuzzy-Modelle sowie die Berechnung und graphische Darstellung der Bewertung. Es können einerseits stationäre, rein mittelwertbasierte sowie wahrscheinlichkeitsverteilte Stoffflüsse, andererseits dynamische Stoffflüsse (Zeitreihen) bewertet werden.<br/> Illustriert wird das Modul an einem sehr vereinfachten Beispiel.<br/> Die Bewertungsmöglichkeit aufgrund von Expertenwissen ist wichtig für die Entscheidungsunterstützung bei der Evaluation von Verbesserungsmassnahmen.

Integrated approaches to environmental sanitation and urban agriculture could contribute to mitigating some of the urban challenges. Yet, city authorities do not recognise urban agriculture as a food production and organic waste reduction strategy. Information on urban and peri-urban organic material and nutrient flows is missing and tools to assess these flows are scarce. Based on nutrient balances, which have been developed for nutrient management purposes in agriculture, the paper suggests a conceptual approach for integrated nutrient management in urban and peri-urban areas. Different components of the conceptual approach are presented and discussed. Focus is placed on the methodological aspects of assessing the biophysical waste reuse potential. Advanced city planning instruments such as remote sensing and geographical information system could be combined with existing nutrient management approaches from agriculture. Besides the biophysical aspects, socioeconomic and policy aspects should form integral parts as well.

The goal of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness and benefits of partial ozonation of return activated sludge on sludge minimization, COD and nitrate removal. Possible negative impacts on treatment processes were examined. Sequencing batch reactors with two sets of aerobic and alternating anoxic/aerobic conditions were used. In each set, one reactor served as a control and the other was subject to the ozone treatment (doses in the range of 0.016-0.090 mg O3 (mg TSS)-1 of initial excess sludge were applied). The level of total suspended solids (TSS) in each reactor was controlled at 1800 mg l-1. After ozone treatment, the amount of TSS decreased linearly with ozone dose, resulting in less wastage from ozonated reactors. Biomass in the anoxic/aerobic was easier to destroy (up to 25% of the initial excess sludge) than in the aerobic (10%) reactor. Consequently, approximately twice as much soluble COD was generated due to ozonation in alternating reactor than in the aerobic one. Denitrification in the alternating reactor improved up to 60% due to generation of additional carbon from disintegrated cell material. Specific rates of ammonia utilization/nitrate production were decreased by ozone much more in aerobic than in alternating reactors. Nitrification deteriorated not only due to direct destruction of nitrifying autotrophs, but probably also because of competition created by growth of heterotrophs receiving additional COD from the ozonated sludge. Overall, ozonation had the greatest benefits and fewest disadvantages in the alternating anoxic/aerobic reactors.

The disposal of sewage sludge and the agricultural use of stabilized sludge are decreasing due to more stringent regulations in Europe. An increasing fraction of sewage sludge must therefore be dewatered, dried, incinerated and the ashes disposed of in landfills. These processes are cost-intensive and also lead to the loss of the valuable phosphate resources incorporated in the sludge ash. The implementation of processes that could reduce excess sludge production and recycle phosphate is therefore recommended. Disintegration of biological sludge by mechanical, thermal and physical methods could significantly reduce excess sludge production, improve the settling properties of the sludge and reduce bulking and scumming. The solubilized COD could also improve denitrification if the treated sludge is recycled to the anoxic zone. However, disintegration partly inhibits and kills nitrifiers and could therefore shorten their effective solid retention time, thus reducing the safety of the nitrification. This paper discusses the potential of disintegration on sludge reduction, the operating stability of nitrification, the improvement of denitrification and also presents an energy and cost evaluation.

Deterioration of surface water quality has become increasingly severe during the last decades, especially in developing and transitional countries. In spite of policy directives, strategy and action plans devised, efforts made so far have not brought significant improvement. This may be partly related to inadequate allocation of limited financial and personal resources, but is largely also due to insufficient understanding of the surface water quality system. In order to achieve tangible improvements, the key pollution sources need to be identified, and their relationships/interlinkages understood. There is a high need for tools to aid in impact-oriented planning and decision-making. Concrete, viable and prioritized measures must be devised, if the environmental problems are to be (cost-) effectively solved.<br/><br/> Material Flow Analysis (MFA) models are a promising approach to answer this need. The method was first applied to river water quality management in Europe, in a Swiss river catchment (Brunner et al., 1990); and on transnational scale for the Danube Basin (Somlyódy et al., 1997), proving to be a valuable tool for the early recognition of environmental problems, and evaluation of solutions to these problems. Belevi (2002), Huang et al. (2005) and Montangero et al. (2006) applied MFA to the context of urban waste and sanitation management in Ghana, Kunming and Vietnam, demonstrating its potential to address urban environmental problems in developing countries.<br/><br/> The purpose of the current study is to investigate the potential of MFA to tackle the increasingly severe river water quality deterioration in developing and transitional countries. Based on integration of system knowledge, available secondary and tertiary data, and orders-of-magnitude estimations, the (nutrient-) pollution flows through a river basin system are traced and quantified, and the key pollution sources identified. Scenario calculations allow then to determine most effective mitigation measures.<br/><br/> The objectives of this paper are to: <ul><li>Introduce the MFA modeling approach used for the Thachin River Basin (TRB), in Central Thailand, illustrated on the example of nutrient flows in <i>rice agriculture</i>;</li> <li>Present preliminary results on nutrient flows of rice farming on different spatial scales;</li> <li>Place nutrient loads of rice farming in the overall basin context; and discuss model validation.</li> <li>Discuss the potential of MFA for applications to comparable river basins.</li></ul>

Environmental research, Group members and publications.

Viele Schweizer Fliessgewässer sind verbaut und begradigt, ihre Morphologie ist durch den fehlenden Raum stark beeinträchtigt. Angesichts des enormen Handlungsbedarfs für die Aufwertung der Bäche und Flüsse ist eine umfassende und gezielte Planung unumgänglich. Mit der Methode Ökomorphologie Stufe S steht nun ein Instrument zur Verfügung, mit dem Massnahmen zur strukturellen Aufwertung systematisch geplant werden können. Die Methode liefert als Resultat ein Massnahmenkonzept, das Prioritäten setzt, um mit den zur Verfügung stehenden Ressourcen eine möglichst optimale Aufwertung der Gewässer zu erreichen.

The efficiency of arsenic removal from groundwater by chlorination coupled with adsorption on ferric hydroxide and sand filtration was evaluated in this study. Experiments were conducted at field using 5 groundwater resources containing total arsenic concentration of about 50 µg/L. The results showed that As (III) can be completely oxidized by chlorine in real waters containing low ammonia content (about 1 - 3 mgN/L). In cases of high ammonia concentration (8 - 20 mgN/L), As(III) oxidation was ineffective due to fast competitive reactions between ammonia and chlorine to form chloramines which reacts with As(III) much slower compared to chlorine. Following sand filtration can remove arsenic to some extent owing to As (V) adsorption on ferric hydroxide.

“Regional Infrastructure Foresight” enables municipalities, engineers and decision makers in regional sanitation systems to develop a mid- to long-term strategy for a sustainable sanitation infrastructure. Identification of uncertainties and future challenges of the regional infrastructure’s context is carried out in a participatory scenario process. A broad range of possible integrated solutions for the sanitation system is evaluated from different stakeholders’ views. This approach allows handling of uncertainties of frameworks, and of complexity of the system to find more adaptive system configurations for a sustainable sanitation system.

This book is the first to synthesise our knowledge of tropical streams and their ecology. It describes their major physico-chemical features, ecological processes - such as primary production and organic-matter transformation - as well as the variety of invertebrates, fishes and other vertebrates found in them. Written by international experts in the field, these chapters provide incisive overviews - highlighting what is known and what is yet to be discovered. Throughout the book, contributors compare predictions arising from concepts developed in northtemperate latitudes versus the reality of ecosvstems further south. The question of whether there are fundamental differences between tropical and temperate streams is a recurring theme, and is discussed in length in one of the later chapters. The pressing concerns of conservation of tropical streams and their biodiversity is discussed in almost every chapter, with a final chapter on a svsthesis of these conservation issues. Until quite recently there has been a tendency to view research carried out in tropical streams as merely interesting regional studies, whereas studies of temperate waters are viewed otherwise. It is hoped that this book will redress that imbalance and serve both the study ol freshwater ecology and conservation equally.

Die Form des Vierwaldstättersees mit seinen sieben Becken lässt sich mit keinem anderen Voralpensee vergleichen. Teınperatur und Salzgehalt bewirken die Schichtung des Wassers und führen zu erstaunlichen Vorgängen. So ergiesst sich jeweils im Frühling ein enormer Unterwasserfall vom Gersauerbecken in den Urnersee, also entgegen der Fliessrichtung des Wassers. Temperaturverlauf und Schichtung haben einen wichtigen Einfluss auf die biologischen Prozesse und entscheiden auch über seltene Ereignisse wie die «Seegfrörni».

Efficient heavy-metal removal from road runoff should be realized with particle separation and adsorption. As adsorbents, three zeolites and three ferric hydroxides were tested for copper and zinc removal. Sorption capacity and kinetics were evaluated with batch and specific column experiments. Results evidence that sorption capacity and kinetics of all ferric hydroxides were superior to the zeolites. Increased electrical conductivity revealed severe desorption of copper and zinc only from zeolites. For the full-scale treatment plant, zeolite 3 and Ferrosorp are used in one of the two retention filters each. The zeolite retention filter is not in service during winter to prevent desorption caused by de-icing salt.

The road runorfoh sewered section of a road in Switzerland with a traffic intensity of 17,000 vehicles per day was illtensely investigated over a period of 2 years. At the same time the road runoff was collected and pumped to a pilot plant ibr road runoff treatment. The treatment facilities consisted on one hand of shafts containing removable fleece filter bags and underlying GfeH-ndsorber filters and on the other rotating fleece filter drums and subsequent adsorhcrs. It could be shown that the investigated processes for road nrnofl'trcatment can bc operated as lnodular systems in one-, two-, or three-step flow schetnes. Depending on the process scheme between 70% and 97% ofthe hcavy nletals could be removed.

The liberalization of electricity markets opens up new opportunities for electricity providers to di!erentiate their products along environmental characteristics. Due to considerable search and evaluation costs for the consumer, the success of green power products depends to a large degree on a professional communication strategy. Besides professional marketing, instruments like environmental labeling have attracted considerable attention. The present paper analyzes the fundamentals of voluntary, third-party eco-labeling of electricity products and compares di!erent labeling approaches, which have been developed in Europe and in the US recently. We distinguish six major dimensions along which labeling schemes can di!er and identify two main strategies to deal with the basic tradeoff's, correspondingly. Labeling concepts may either be simple, require low or medium environmental standards and strive for the support of at least one stakeholder group. Alternatively, eco-labels may judge a broad range of environmental impacts and integrate several stakeholder groups with opposing interests. Experiences show that labels of the "rst type can be set up quickly and have the advantage to set a standard early in the market. In the medium and long term, however, public awareness and potential criticisms may rise and rather simple eco-labeling schemes will have to be adapted. The paper "nally discusses the prospects for a common European eco-labeling strategy.

Ortwin Renn et al. behandeln in ihrem Beitrag das Management und die Integration von systemischen Risiken in eine aktive Nachhaltigkeitspolitik. Systemische Risiken sind komplexe Risiken mit schwer abschätzbaren Breiten- und Langzeitwirkungen und erheblichen politischen und sozialen Nebenfolgen (Beispiele: Atomenergie und grüne Gentechnik). Bei systemischen Risiken geht es um den Erhalt und den (notwendigen) Wandel zur Sicherung der Kontinuität menschenwürdiger Lebensbedingungen unter den Bedingungen von Ungewissheit, teils auch Ambiguität. In der diskursiven Bewältigung dieser Risiken sehen sie elementare Verbindungen zwischen der Nachhaltigkeits- und der Risikopolitik.

Die Schweiz ist urban geprägt, das heisst Stadt und Land sind durch starke Personen- und Güterflüsse eng vernetzt: Dieses Netzwerk aus Knoten und Flüssen bildet das urbane System. Die Entwicklung dieses Systems hängt von zahlreichen Faktoren ab. Von den verschiedenen kulturellen, politischen, wirtschaftlichen, räumlichen und ökologischen Einflüssen stellt das Klima nur eine Grösse dar. Wie stark und auf welche Weise sich die erwartete Klimaänderung auf die Siedlungsentwicklung auswirken wird, ist abhängig von der zukünftigen Form des urbanen Systems Schweiz ...

The several studies in Europe and North America exhibited the ubiquitous occurrence of pharmaceuticals, contrast media and estrogens in wastewater and in the aquatic environment. Since the major part of PPCPs is only partially eliminated during wastewater treatment, residual amounts are usually present in wastewater effluents and can reach ambient waters or groundwater. Certain pharmaceuticals are persistent and pass through the STP without major elimination, such as the lipid regulator clofibric acid, the antiepileptic carbamazepine or the contrast medium diatrizoate. Additionally, direct inputs into natural waters are also possible through storm water overflow and leakages in the sewer system. (...)