Water is an essential element of life: it accounts for 70% to 80% of the weight of a human being. The quality of water is an important parameter that affects all aspects of the well-being of ecosystems and mankind, from human health, to food production, economic activities and biodiversity.
Today, more than ever, water resources are under pressure: demographic growth, intensive agriculture, industrial activities, and climate change, are weakening the prime natural resource of our planet. No source of this vital resource is spared: groundwater, rivers and oceans are all threatened by pollution and are universally of concern of international authorities. The nature of the pollutants are diverse. They can be naturally occurring (taste and odors, algae toxins, organic matter) or related to human activities (hydrocarbons, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, surfactants, endocrine disruptor). The contaminations can be both seasonal or persistent.