ABSTRACT
River bank filtration (RBF) is a well established technique for water treatment in Germany and many other countries worldwide. Because RBF systems utilize natural filtration processes to treat water, this strategy can provide several advantages in terms of sustainability compared to conventional water treatment technologies. These advantages include lower energy and resource requirements, little or no generation of waste streams, reduced environmental impacts during construction and system operation, and greater adaptability to changing water supply conditions due to climate changes or changing water demands. Selected sustainability aspects are discussed based on two examples from RBF sites in Germany.
