The significance of hazardous chemicals in wastewater treatment works effluents

Michael Gardner*, Sean Comber, Mark D. Scrimshaw, Elise Cartmell, John Lester, Brian Ellor

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The advent of increasingly stringent and wider ranging European Union legislation relating to water and the environment has required regulators to assess compliance risk and to respond by formulating appropriate pollution control measures. To support this process the UK Water Industry has completed a national Chemicals Investigation Programme (CIP), to monitor over 160 wastewater treatment works (WwTWs) for 70 determinands. Final effluent concentrations of zinc, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene and indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene), “penta” congeners (BDEs) 47 and 99, tributyltin, triclosan, erythromycin, oxytetracycline, ibuprofen, propranolol, fluoxetine, diclofenac, 17β-estradiol and 17α-ethinyl estradiol exceeded existing or proposed Environmental Quality Standards (EQSs) in over 50% of WwTWs. Dilution by receiving water might ensure compliance with EQSs for these chemicals, apart from the BDEs. However, in some cases there will be insufficient dilution to ensure compliance and additional management options may be required.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)363-372
Number of pages0
JournalScience of the Total Environment
Volume437
Issue number0
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Oct 2012

Keywords

  • Priority substance
  • Regulation
  • Wastewater
  • Effluent
  • Chemicals

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