REGARD, the project that makes you act against micropollutants

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REGARD a project that tracks micropollutants in water. Theproblem of the presence of metals in water appeared in the 1980s. On the other hand, thethe issue of micropollutants has only recently emerged in the public debate. Micropolluants are molecules that are invisible to the eye that are highly toxic to living organisms. LMicropollutants are concentrated in cities. They are particularly more present with the beginning of the summer period and global warming. Their origin is above all human.

Thus, national but also local initiatives have been launched. They must to learn more about these chemicals around us. On June 25, Bordeaux Business was invited to the conference on the restitution of the REGARD project (Reduction and management of micropollutants on the Bordeaux metropolis). It took place in the Cité du Vin, in the presence of Anne-Lise Jacquet. They are the Vice-President of the metropolis in charge of water and sanitation and Guillaume Choisy, Director General of the Adour Garonne Water Agency.

The REGARD project: full of lights on the sources of the Urban Territory of Bordeaux

The REGARD project is part of the sustainable development policy of the Bordeaux metropolis. The dynamic is at the national origin. It is part of the 2019-2021 micropollutant reduction plan. The aim of the REGARD project is to assess the presence of micropollutants in the city’s waters. It also aims to assess their impact on the environment. Indeed, wastewater treatment plants are currently very efficient. However, they do not are not designed to be a barrier to micropollutants. Among them, there are drugs such as Ibuprofen, cleaning products such as laundry or sunscreen. The REGARD project required an investment of 3 million 300 miles euros from the Bordeaux Métropole. It also required a consortium of nine partners, including the French Biodiversity Agency and Suez.

A territorial diagnosis of urban waters has been set up. It must develop collective intelligence around micropollutants. Indeed, the issue of knowledge is an important lever point. LPractices are essential in order to be able to limit their spread directly at the source. The genesis of the REGARD project illustrates the importance of the question on the Bordeaux metropolis. Lhe REGARD project was the winning project set up by the Water Agency for the period 2015-2019. IIt directly observes pollution from different sources at the scale of an agglomeration. REGARD therefore makes it possible to offer a complete vision of pollution in the Bordeaux metropolis thanks to an integrated diagnosis.

The Bordeaux metropolis: a role to play in the fight against micropollutants

The deliverables of the REGARD project insist on the multiplicity of actors to be reached concerning the problem of micropollutants. Thepublic spaces of the Bordeaux metropolis (parks, gardens, sports complexes, etc.) are not treated with phytosanitary products. However areas for improvement remain. Indeed, the regulations on micropollutants are currently dated. It dates back to 2000 and is only partial. it takes into account only a hundred molecules. Thus, the conclusions and possible solutions issued by the REGARD project have been able toits objective is to promote scientific knowledge in regulation.

REGARD does not only take a scientific approach to the problem of micropolluants in the Bordeaux metropolitan area. On the contrary, a societal approach to this theme has also been envisaged.. It aims to to touch “the human behind the regulations”,” says Pierre-François Staub. He is the project manager for Ecosystem Pollution at the AFB. The diversity of the consortium’s players is an illustration of this: chemists, biologists, economists participated in the project. REGARD is aimed at individuals as well as companies and more generally industrialists. Indeed, behind the presence of micropollutants resides uses and practices. In this perspective, 43 families in the Bordeaux conurbation have taken on the challenge of changing some of their practices. In particular, they want to reduce micropollutants in urban areas. This experience has resulted in disturbing statistics. Indeed, there are 3.4 household products per person and 7.4 hygiene products per person within the same household.

Behind REGARD, the Bordeaux metropolis wants to become a reference framework for other communities. The metropolis does not focus solely on the domestic sphere as a transmitter of micropollutants. The only obstacle to action lies in the temporal aspect. It takes about twenty years to see the effects of micropollutants on the environment. For example, the University Hospital of Bordeaux, has managed after about fifteen years to reduce pure biocides.

In addition, REGARD has studied the economic aspect of this problem by studying the “willingness to pay” of bordeaux residents. The French strategy in terms of reducing micropollutants is upstream. That is to say, the reduction at source while other countries, such as Switzerland, have opted for additional water treatments. The Bordeaux conurbation is also pursuing its sustainable development actions. In June, the Metropolitan Council voted on the resolution “Cities and Territories without Endocrine Disruptors”. It aims to make Bordeaux a territory without endocrine disruptors.

Conclusion:

The completion of the REGARD project allows the Bordeaux metropolis to obtain expertise on micropolluants in urban areas. In addition to the important issue of scientific knowledge, REGARD has taken a cross-cutting approach to target all actors with a role to play in the fight against micropolluants. Industrialists, communities and citizens are thus encouraged to limit the number of products used in agriculture, care activities, domestic and industrial activities.

Justine Angibaud

Sources:

Micropollutants Plan 2019-2021

https://reporterre.net/IMG/pdf/plan_micropolluants_def_light.pdf

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