Chairman
Prof. Dr Holger V. Lutze, Technical University of Darmstadt

More than 100 scientists from Germany, Austria, England, the Netherlands and Switzerland are involved in the main research committee. They discuss the latest developments in water research and technologies in workshops, summarise them and examine their practical relevance. In order to meet the challenges in the field of water, it is important to develop forward-looking technologies, methods and models. A particular focus here is on interdisciplinary approaches, as the topic of water touches on many different specialist disciplines. The main research committee is divided into 13 specialised committees.

The technical committees in the area of analytics deal with new methods for identifying new substances and expanding the analytical measurement window (FA1), (eco)toxicological effects (FA2), real-time measurements (FA3) and tools for investigating environmental processes (FA4).

In the Emission area, sources and transport of trace substances (FA5), the behaviour of polar low-molecular trace substances (e.g. persistence and (eco)toxicology) (FA6), formation, distribution and ageing of microplastics (FA7), substance emissions of modern building materials (FA8) and distribution and behaviour of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (FA9).

In the processes area, the focus is on biological processes of pollutant degradation (FA10), physical processes in the aquatic environment and in treatment (e.g. colloidal mass transport, sorption processes, filtration) (FA11) and oxidative water treatment methods (FA12).

The Water 4.0 and Climate Change expert committee (FA13), which integrates all three areas (analytics, emissions and processes), represents a cross-cutting topic. Here, the effects of extreme events and the water management requirements of the future (availability and quality of resources) on the water supply are assessed using digital images (e.g. virtual twin) in the areas of water extraction, treatment and distribution. The aim is to derive strategies for action to ensure an adequate supply of high-quality drinking water in the future.

Committee Terms of Reference (as at 09/2016)