The research group Molecular Microbiology in Sanitary Engineering under Julia Vierheilig has a long tradition in water and wastewater microbiology and in the quantification of microbiological and chemical processes in water / wastewater treatment and waterbodies. In that context it deals with the identification and solution of biological problems in industrial and municipal wastewater treatment.

Wastewater epidemiological investigations in connection with Sars-CoV-2 are currently of great importance.The group also addresses practical implementation issues.