Pharmaceuticals and other contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are introduced to the environment from a variety of sources; effluents from centralized wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) represent the primary source for loading to aquatic systems. Introduction of CECs to aquatic systems can contaminate surface and ground waters and thus present risks to human health and ecosystems, particularly when pharmaceuticals and other CECs bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms. Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are not designed to remove micropollutants, and many CECs are not removed effectively during treatment. Most WWTPs in North America treat sewage using secondary treatment technologies, after which wastewater is discharged to the aquatic environment, sometimes without a disinfection step prior to discharge. Removals of CECs reported in literature vary significantly for a given compound, even for WWTPs with comparable treatment processes,This presentation will provide information to better understand treatment effectiveness and human and ecological risks of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment with respect to direct potable reuse sources.
This presentation is available to AMTA Members only.
Speaker
- Steven Duranceau, PhD, PE
Company
- University of Central Florida
Event
- AMTA/NWMOA Technology Transfer Workshop, Spokane, WA
Session
- AMTA/NWMOA Technology Transfer Workshop
Date
- 07/17/18
Media
Keywords
- Chem Contaminants, Surface Water Discharge, Chemicals
Reference
- 9692-DP2133