For professionals
P1 – Pharmaceuticals in Wastewater
7 September 2026 · TU Dresden, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Germany
General Course Information
The course is part of the IDEAL project (Interreg SN-CZ), which aims to raise awareness of water protection in the cross-border region of the Elbe/Labe. Participants who complete the course successfully will receive a certificate. There are no course fees (no costs for course materials (de/cz), use of the laboratories, or refreshments/lunch throughout the day). The course will be held in German/Czech.
What will you learn in the course?
- Pharmaceuticals on their journey through the human body and into the environment
- Pathways by which pharmaceutical residues enter water bodies and sewage systems
- Fourth treatment stage in wastewater treatment plants
- Ecotoxicological effects of micropollutants on aquatic ecosystems
- The new EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and its practical implementation
- Analysis of micropollutants: from sampling to LC-MS measurement
- Laboratory tour and insights into environmental analytics at the Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, TUD
- Practical exercise on evaluating treatment plant performance
- Exchange with experts from research, administration, and practice – across the Czech-Saxon border
Limited to 16 participants.
Registration: Uta Hofmann – uta.hofmann@tu-dresden.de or ideal@tu-dresden.de
Programme Overview
08:30–09:00 | Opening: Pharmaceuticals in Wastewater
Welcome and introduction to the IDEAL-Interreg project, presentation of participating institutions, speakers, and the day’s agenda. Warm-up.
Speaker: M.Sc. Uta Hofmann
09:00–09:45 | From Pharmaceuticals to the Environment – How Medications Pass Through and Leave the Human Body
Pharmaceuticals, their metabolism, and their pathways into sewage systems.
Speakers: Prof. Dr. med. Bertold Renner, Dr. rer. nat. Annemarie Lippert
09:45–10:00 | Coffee Break
10:45–11:30 | From Research to Practice: Innovative Technologies for Pharmaceutical Removal
Insights into modern fourth-treatment-stage processes, an industrial case study with ZODPA, and discussions.
Speaker: Josef Trögl Ph.D.
11:30–11:45 | Coffee Break
Networking within the Water Network.
11:45–12:15 | From Europe to Your Own Region – Understanding the New EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive
Introduction to the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (KARL), Article 8, indicator substances, and implementation in German and Czech legislation.
Speaker: M.Sc. Uta Hofmann
12:15–12:30 | Buffer Time
12:30–13:15 | Lunch Break
Afternoon Programme
13:15–14:00 | When Pharmaceuticals Meet Ecosystems – Ecotoxicological Effects of Micropollutants
Effects of pharmaceuticals on aquatic organisms and ecosystems, and assessment of ecological risks.
Speaker: Dr. phil. des. Sara Schubert
14:00–14:30 | Analytical Methods for Micropollutants in Wastewater
From sampling and sample preparation to modern analytical methods such as SPE and LC-HRMS: how reliable data is generated from wastewater samples.
Speaker: M.Sc. Uta Hofmann
14:30–15:15 | Laboratory Practice
Practical lab exercises: laboratory tour and demonstration of analytical methods (Group 1); exercise on treatment plant efficiency using real monitoring data (Group 2).
Speaker: M.Sc. Uta Hofmann
Coffee, information materials, and opportunities for exchange.
15:15–16:00 | Laboratory Practice
Practical lab exercises: laboratory tour and demonstration of analytical methods (Group 2); exercise on treatment plant efficiency using real monitoring data (Group 1).
Speaker: M.Sc. Uta Hofmann
Coffee, information materials, and opportunities for exchange.
16:00–16:15 | Understanding the Data – Discussing Results
Evaluation and interpretation of the removal rate calculation.
Speaker: M.Sc. Uta Hofmann
16:15–17:00 | Closing Workshop: Building Bridges Across Borders and Rivers
Reflection on the jointly developed Water Network, future identification of cooperation opportunities, and the role of participants in the German-Czech water system.
Speaker: M.Sc. Uta Hofmann
17:00–17:15 | Feedback, Outlook & Conclusion
Course evaluation, closing reflections, and open questions.
Speaker: M.Sc. Uta Hofmann
17:15–17:30 | Buffer Time
P2 – Ecotoxicology methods
Laboratory course September 2026 (2 days lab + 1/2 day online evaluation)
TU Dresden, Institute of Hydrobiology, Germany
Prerequisites
- Mandatory attendance at a safety briefing on Day 1
- Desirable: basic laboratory practice such as pipetting, handling and disposal of solutions and substances, working with wastewater matrices
- Knowledge of sterile technique and working with GMOs is an advantage
General Course Information:
The course is part of the IDEAL project (Interreg SN-CZ), which aims to raise awareness of water protection in the cross-border region of the Elbe/Labe. Participants who complete the course successfully will receive a certificate. There are no course fees (no costs for course materials (de/cz), use of the laboratories, or refreshments/lunch throughout the day). The course will be held in German/Czech.
What will you learn in the course?
- Relevant legal framework at the European level (WFD, KARL)
- General structure of bioassays
- Overview of key bioassay guidelines (in vivo, in vitro, OECD, ISO)
- Assessment of the reduction of (eco)toxic effects during wastewater treatment
- Identification of river sections impacted by wastewater using in-vitro bioassays
- Emerging pollutants (pharmaceuticals, plasticizers, pesticides, etc.)
- Sample preparation (filtration, solid-phase extraction)
- Effect-based methods focusing on mutagenicity, hormonal activity, and herbicide toxicity
Limited to 16 participants.
Registration: Sara Schubert – sara.schubert@tu-dresden.de or ideal@tu-dresden.de
P7 – Phosphorus in surface waters and wastewater
Main organizer: CzWA
Cooperation: SčVK
Date: 22 September 2026
Location: Ústí nad Labem
Target groups (Czech and German):
- Operators of small wastewater treatment plants
- Water authority staff
- River basin management staff
- Planners/designers
- Czech Environmental Inspectorate
- Water Research Institute (VÚV)
- Students
Number of participants: 50–100
Focus:
The workshop addresses the topical issue of phosphorus in surface waters – its sources, consequences, removal, and the planning of corresponding measures. The main goal of the event is the informal exchange of information, limit values, knowledge, approaches, and procedures on both sides of the border. Participation of speakers and attendees from both countries is intended. The entire event will be simultaneously interpreted.
Topics:
Phosphorus in surface waters and its removal
- Causes of phosphorus in surface waters
- Legislation and limit values in Germany and the Czech Republic
- Main sources of phosphorus
- Technologies for phosphorus removal from wastewater
- Small wastewater treatment plants and phosphorus
- Planning process for measures
- Costs of phosphorus removal
