Bioassays as a supporting tool in management of the wastewater treatment plant.

Abstract

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are playing the fundamental role in the maintaining high water quality. However, in spite of introducing more and more advanced treatment technologies, the treatment plants still appear to be threat for achievement of good ecological status of freshwater ecosystems and environmental sustainability. The quality of waste is assessed according to regulations, which covers only limited number of pollutants. However, there are contaminants that are not currently covered by existing regulations which influence waste quality. As a result, the waste contains unidentified contaminations, which underestimate the real risk. As an addition to chemical analysis bioindication methods started to be used in recent years to asses the quality of the waste in wider range and to increase the effectiveness of the treatment process. Presented article discusses the potentiality of using bioassays in the management of WWTP.