This paper summarizes results from a half-year sampling campaign in Budapest, when Danube River water and bank filtrate were analyzed for 36 emerging micropollutants. Twelve micropollutants were detected regularly in both river water and bank filtrate. Bisphenol A, carbamazepine, and sulfamethoxazole showed low removal (<20%) during bank filtration on Szentendre Island and Csepel island, whereas 1H-benzotriazole, tolyltriazole, diclofenac, cefepime, iomeprol, metazachlor, and acesulfame showed medium to high removal rates of up to 78%. The concentration range in bank filtrate was much lower compared to river water, proving the equilibration effect of bank filtration for water quality.

Common sediment samplers for microplastics (MP) such as grab samplers or corers are limited to certain grain sizes and known to cause disruption of sediments which results in a loss of fine and low-density particles such as MP. However, this loss has not been quantified yet and its occurrence is commonly tolerated during MP sediment sampling. In the present study we evaluate the recovery of MP of various common sediment samplers used in most recent studies. The samplers were tested on a model plant simulating a riverine environment with MP spiked sediments. Also, we investigated the feasibility of less frequently used freeze coring. The results of this study suggest that a combination of common methods is crucial in order to sufficiently evaluate a sampling site until standardized MP samplers for sediments are available. Freeze coring indicates a promising potential to monitor MP in river sediments in the future but is costly and should be optimized for regular field sampling campaigns. Graphical Abstract

Water suppliers aim to achieve microbiological stability throughout their supply system by regular monitoring of water quality. Monitoring temporal biomass dynamics at high frequency is time consuming due to the labor-intensive nature and limitations of conventional, cultivation-based detection methods. The goal of this study was to assess the value of new rapid monitoring methods for quantifying and characterizing dynamic fluctuations in bacterial biomass. Using flow cytometry and two precise enzymatic detection methods, bacterial biomass-related parameters were monitored at three riverbank filtration sites. Additionally, the treatment capacity of an ultrafiltration pilot plant was researched using online flow-cytometry. The results provide insights into microbiological quality of treated water and emphasize the value of rapid, easy and sensitive alternatives to traditional bacterial monitoring techniques.