Symposium on Contamination and Monitoring in Sanitation Systems

The UB Water Research Institute and the Spanish Association of Water Supply and Sanitation (AEAS) organized this symposium at the University of Barcelona.

Organizers:
Rafael Mantecón
Spanish Association of Water Supply and Sanitation (AEAS)
Montserrat Folch
UB Water Research Institute

The Symposium on Contamination and Monitoring in Sanitation Systems was attended by experts in this field, urban managers, lecturers and students and was organized jointly by the Spanish Association of Water Supply and Sanitation (AEAS) and the UB Water Research Institute.

The complexity and diversity of the urban and industrial environment, the extension of sanitation systems, the increasing pressure to preserve the environment and the development of European, Spanish and regional laws were the main topics dealt with during the two days of this event.

One of the objectives of the symposium was to present universities with theoretical and technical knowledge on monitoring contamination, rather than to focus only on water treatment, which is a topic that is fully covered in master's degrees and doctorates.

Extract from an interview by the Institute with Rafael Mantecón, organizer of the Symposium on Contamination and Monitoring in Sanitation Systems

RF: «Two years ago we ran a similar course that was oriented more towards the professional field, during which the professionals themselves suggested that these systems should be taught in university environments», explained Rafael Mantecón from the AEAS, due to the need to focus on industrial waste in particular.

WRI: «How has monitoring changed in recent years?»

RF: «A new culture of reducing contamination has been established. However, at the same time, a counterculture of legal and technical strategies to conceal contamination has emerged among professionals. Consequently, we have had to make great progress in monitoring techniques. We now need to work with automatism, IT processes, online data transmission and, in general, the new technologies that are available».

WRI: «How can we make monitoring techniques totally reliable?»

RF: «Those who wish to contaminate will find a way and a time to do it. Our objective is to let people know that we are here, that we will carry out inspections. If they are not complying with the regulations we will find them in the end. However, our main aim is not to sanction or fine, but to stop contamination from occurring in the first place».

Date: 21 - 22 May 2009
Time: 9:00 am - 12:45 pm and 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Place: Aula Magna in the UB Faculty of Law
Av. Diagonal, 684
08034 Barcelona