Presence and identification screening of priority/priority dangerous substances in municipal sewer discharges of Romanian economic agents – program’s actions implementation instrument for meeting Environmental Quality Standards by 2027

Abstract

Aspects of environmental actions taken by economic agents are presented in order to comply with Water Directive regulatory bases and the Romanian corresponding laws for meeting the 2015’ and 2027’ targets of preserving the good and very good water quality for the majority of water bodies in Europe. In this respect a program for progressive reduction and elimination of priority/priority dangerous substances in municipal sewage system should be implemented. Pollution pressures put by hazardous substances should be analyzed. The analysis is required by Governmental Order 31/2006 and Governmental Decisions 351/2005 updated with 1038/2010 and is view as a technical document that identifies and evaluates the potential hazards for sewage system and water bodies receiving the wastewaters from sewage system. The presence of pollutants is analytically determined at the final point of discharge before the sewage system and it is assessed in relation to the site activities/products and services to assist the appropriate environmental actions to be taken. It is a link between site investigation activities and response actions carried out to address hazards posed by the presence of dangerous substances/priority dangerous substances to the sewage system. During over forty performed screenings in different Bucharest sewage system areas, where economical agents discharge their urban waste waters, we founded interesting practical aspects for regulatory authorities, for industry and for the organization that has in administration the Bucharest sewage system. Those aspects have been recorded, analyzed and their results are discussed considering the risk for human consumption as final target to be assessed. Conclusions are finally presented in relation with the general consensus that should be reached in order to fulfill the sustainable development principles and to meet the set targets.