Drinking water treatment in The Netherlands: Outstanding and still ambitious

Water treatment in The Netherlands has developed to an outstanding level. Nevertheless, new challenges, such as protozoa (e.g. Cryptosporidium), Legionella, endocrine disrupting compounds and pharmaceuticals, have to be faced. These challenges can have a negative effect on customer confidence and the overall reputation of water supply. The Dutch water supply companies therefore have set a new ambition for water quality. To realize this ambition an integral approach to water treatment involving new technologies as membrane filtration and UV is necessary. The paper will present the possibilities of the current level of technology, how it relates to the vision and ambition of the Dutch drinking water sector and the role of research - especially in UV technology and membrane filtration - in realizing long-term goals.