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 – Ecotoxicological Methods

Free pilot course for professionals – 11 November 2026, 8:30–17:30 (in person)

TU Dresden, Institute of Hydrobiology, Dresden, Germany

Target audience
Professionals from water management companies, environmental authorities, laboratories, consulting firms, industry and research institutions working in water protection and wastewater management.

Prerequisites

Mandatory attendance of the safety briefing at the start of the course
Welcome: basic laboratory skills such as pipetting, handling and disposal of solutions and substances, working with wastewater as a matrix
Knowledge of sterile work and work with GMOs is an advantage

General information:
The course is part of the bilateral IDEAL project (Interreg SN-CZ), which aims to strengthen awareness of water protection in the cross-border Elbe/Labe region. You will receive a certificate upon successful completion. Participation is free of charge, including study materials (DE/CZ), use of the laboratories, and refreshments/lunch. The course is held in German and Czech with interpreting provided on site. Accommodation can be arranged on request if needed.

Course content:

Relevant legal framework at European level (WFD, UWWTD)
General structure of biological tests – in vivo, in vitro
Overview of key guidelines for biological tests – OECD, ISO
Pathways of micropollutants into the aquatic environment
Emerging pollutants (pharmaceuticals, plasticisers, pesticides, etc.)
Excursion I: Bitter Pills – pharmaceuticals from patient to water polluter
Excursion II: Reducing micropollutants through a fourth treatment stage in wastewater treatment plants
Practical session I: Sample preparation (filtration, solid-phase extraction)
Practical session II: Identifying river sections polluted by wastewater – using effect-based methods (EBM) such as mutagenicity, hormonal activity and herbicidal toxicity
Practical session III: Evaluating treatment efficiency in wastewater treatment plants
Exchange of experience with experts from research, public administration and practice across the Czech–Saxon border

Limited to 16 participants.

Registration by 28 October 2026: Sara Schubert – sara.schubert@tu-dresden.de or ideal@tu-dresden.de
Full programme: www.idealsncz.eu/vzdelavaci-programy/odborna-verejnost/

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

P8 – Biosensors For Environmental Monitoring

Basic Information

Duration: 3 days (1 online, 1 self-study, 1 in-person)

Number of participants: max. 10 students

The course will be taught in English.

Program

Course Objective

Students will gain an overview of biosensors for environmental monitoring with a focus on biosensors using bioreporter microorganisms. They will gain knowledge of the design, use, history, advantages, and disadvantages of environmental biosensors.

Theoretical Part

Introduction to biosensors, basic principles, history
Bioluminescence, fluorescence, bioreporters, biosensors based on bioreporters
Immobilization of biological material for the preparation of biosensors

Laboratory Part

Estimation of BTEX in water using the Pseudomonas putida TVA8 bioreporter

Requirements / Prior Knowledge

Mandatory participation in GMO laboratory safety training on the first day of the course (online)
Basic knowledge of laboratory procedures (e.g., pipetting) and rules for the disposal of common substances and solutions
Experience with sterile work and working with GMOs is an advantage
The course can be taken independently and does not follow on from any other course within the module

It is advisable to have your own laptop for data evaluation.