Activités Recherche
28/10/2021

Research activities of the Nancy Laboratory for Hydrology

The Nancy Laboratory for Hydrology promotes a programme of studies and research on the entire water cycle, from the quality of raw water used for drinking water production and its treatment through to bottled water.

Water Chemistry Unit

Plant protection products

Prevalence and fate of the metabolites of four classes of pesticides.

A thesis was defended in 2020 that dealt with the prevalence and fate of the metabolites of four classes of pesticides (neonicotinoids, carbamates, organophosphates, phenylpyrazoles) in drinking water resources and purification systems. This research was carried out in collaboration with Suez and University of Paris-Saclay.
Find out more about the thesis (in French)

Role of dammed ponds in the dynamics of micropollutants at the head of watersheds.

A thesis is in progress in partnership with the National School for Agronomy and Food Industry in Nancy. Its aim is to determine the impact of ponds on the fate of agricultural pesticides and on watercourse quality. It has provided an opportunity to evaluate sources of variability in the metallic contamination of ponds and the role of ponds in upstream/downstream pesticide transfers.

Impact of land use, dams and water flow modifications on the quality and hydrological and biological functioning of the River Orne.

A research project undertaken for the Rhin-Meuse water agency with the laboratories of Zone Atelier Moselle is studying the impact of land use, dams and modifications to the Orne on the quality and hydrological and biological functioning of this river.

Perfluorinated compounds:

Following the national campaign on the prevalence of perfluorinated compounds (in French) in drinking water, several research topics were developed to characterise sources of contamination by this class of compounds, the behaviour of these compounds at purification plants, and the environmental impacts of their use to fight oil fires.

Other chemical contaminants

A literature summary is currently being produced with the aim of establishing a list of emerging substances of interest.

Microplastics in bottled water.

As part of a cross-cutting programme at ANSES, the Water Chemistry Unit is working to develop a method for determining levels of microplastics in bottled water.

Water Microbiology Unit

Escherichia coli

Thesis work is focusing on the circulation and behaviour of Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli in natural water.

A project involving various ANSES laboratories, including the Laboratory for Hydrology, will aim to characterise antibiotic-resistant E. coli bacteria isolated from the environment.

Virology

The unit assesses methodologies for detecting enteric viruses in water, in order to propose specific protocols for their detection in the event of a waterborne illness outbreak. In 2020, the unit initiated research work on SARS-CoV-2 whose objective is to acquire data on the persistence of its infectivity in water environments.