Smart Analysis Revolutionizes Detection of Faecal Discharges from Danube Shipping

KREMS, Austria - Nov. 28, 2024 - PRLog -- Researchers at Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences (KL Krems) and ICC Water & Health have achieved a global breakthrough: A new, integrative methodology now enables precise detection of small-scale faecal discharges from inland waterway vessels in flowing waters. This pioneering approach, applied for the first time on a section of the Danube, revealed both the potential for significant pollution from improper wastewater disposal and evidence of proper disposal practices during the study period. The methodology, which has garnered widespread attention among experts, has been published internationally, paving the way for its application in monitoring navigable waters worldwide.

Concerns over faecal pollution from river cruise ships, liner vessels, and cargo ships have sparked heated debate in recent years. To address these concerns, a team led by Prof. Andreas Farnleitner (KL Krems and TU Vienna), with support from the State of Lower Austria, set out to quantify the pollution potential from inland navigation and develop a cutting-edge methodology to precisely assess its extent. The result is a globally unique approach for estimating and detecting wastewater discharges from inland vessels, which has already been successfully tested on a 230 km stretch of the Danube, covering both the Wachau region and Vienna.

Bridging Expertise for a Cleaner Future

The Department of Water Quality and Health at KL Krems, under the leadership of Prof. Farnleitner, is a national hub for water quality analysis and its implications for public health. As a partner of the renowned ICC Water & Health* and collaborator with the Lower Austrian Provincial Government's Water Management Department, the KL-department combines tradition with innovation in its research.

"Our newly developed methodology," explains Prof. Alexander Kirschner, deputy head of the department and co-author of the study, "integrates theoretical pollution potential modeling, precise field detection techniques, and advanced statistical analysis. This three-step process provides a robust framework for monitoring and management."

Scientific Contact

Prof. Andreas Farnleitner

Prof. Alexander Kirschner

Water Quality and Health Division

Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences

Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30

3500 Krems an der Donau / Austria

T +43 664 605 88 22 44

+43 2732 72090 394

E andreas.farnleitner@kl.ac.at

alexander.kirschner@kl.ac.at

W https://www.kl.ac.at/, www.waterandhealth.at

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