scholarly journals Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Pollutant Levels in Wastewater and the Waters of the Zarqa River, Jordan

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 8638
Author(s):  
Makoto Shigei ◽  
Almoayied Assayed ◽  
Ayat Hazaymeh ◽  
Sahar S. Dalahmeh

Assamra wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is the largest treatment facility in Jordan. Treated wastewater is discharged into the Zarqa River (ZR) and used to irrigate fodder and vegetables. ZR also includes surface runoff, stormwater, and raw wastewater illegally discharged into the river. This study examined pharmaceutically active compounds (PhAC) in water resources in the ZR basin. Samples of WWTP influent and effluent and river water from four sites along ZR were collected. Concentrations of 18 target antibiotics, one stimulant, and 15 other PhACs were determined in the samples. Five antibiotics were detected in WWTP influent (510–860 ng L−1 for ∑Antibiotics) and six in the effluent (2300–2600 ng L−1 for ∑Antibiotics). Concentrations in the effluent of all antibiotics except clarithromycin increased by 2- to 5-fold compared with those in influent, while clarithromycin concentration decreased by around 4- fold (from 308 to 82 ng L−1). WWTP influent and effluent samples contained 14 non-antibiotic PhACs, one simulant, and six antibiotics at detectable concentrations. The dominant PhACs were paracetamol (74% of ∑PhACs) in the influent and carbamazepine (78% of ∑PhACs) in the effluent. At ZR sampling sites, carbamazepine was the dominant PhAC in all cases (800–2700 ng L−1). The antibiotics detected in WWTP effluent were also detected at the ZR sites. In summary, water in ZR is contaminated with PhACs, including antibiotics, and wastewater discharge seems to be the main pathway for this contamination. The occurrence of antibiotics and other PhACs in the irrigated soil requires investigation to assess their fate.

2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Iwane ◽  
T. Urase ◽  
K. Yamamoto

Escherichia coli and coliform group bacteria resistant to seven antibiotics were investigated in the Tama River, a typical urbanized river in Tokyo, Japan, and at a wastewater treatment plant located on the river. The percentages of antibiotic resistance in the wastewater effluent were, in most cases, higher than the percentages in the river water, which were observed increasing downstream. Since the possible increase in the percentages in the river was associated with treated wastewater discharges, it was concluded that the river, which is contaminated by treated wastewater with many kinds of pollutants, is also contaminated with antibiotic resistant coliform group bacteria and E.coli. The percentages of resistant bacteria in the wastewater treatment plant were mostly observed decreasing during the treatment process. It was also demonstrated that the percentages of resistance in raw sewage are significantly higher than those in the river water and that the wastewater treatment process investigated in this study works against most of resistant bacteria in sewage.


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1085 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan Liu ◽  
Nadia Nord ◽  
Kai Bester ◽  
Jes Vollertsen

Microplastic (MP) pollution is a global environmental issue, and traditionally treated wastewater has been identified as a source of land-based microplastics into the aquatic environment. This study evaluated the performance of a pilot-scale biofilter to polish wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent before it enters the environment. The filter was divided into four zones, allowing the concentration of microplastics to be followed through the filter. It was fed with secondary effluent from a conventional WWTP in Denmark. The raw effluent from the WWTP contained 917 items m−3 which corresponded to a mass concentration of 24.8 µg m−3. After the top layer of the biofilter, the concentration had decreased to a median value of 197 item m−3 and 2.8 µg m−3, indicating an overall removal efficiency of 79% in terms of particle number and 89% in terms of particle mass. We also observed a tendency that MP of larger size and higher particle mass were more likely to be retained. After the last filtration zone, all MP larger than 100 µm had been removed. The results of this study demonstrate that biofilters are able to lower the MP abundance in treated wastewater significantly, but a complete removal is not ensured, hence some MP, particularly small-sized ones, can still be discharged into the receiving environment.


Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1010
Author(s):  
Maria Teresa Montagna ◽  
Osvalda De Giglio ◽  
Carla Calia ◽  
Chrysovalentinos Pousis ◽  
Francesco Triggiano ◽  
...  

This study investigated the environmental contamination of groundwater as a consequence of the discharge of treated wastewater into the soil. The investigation focused on a wastewater treatment plant located in an area fractured by karst in the Salento peninsula (Apulia, Italy). Water samples were collected at four sites (raw wastewater, treated wastewater, infiltration trench, and monitoring well), monthly from May to December 2019 (with the exception of August), and were tested for (1) panel of bacteria; (2) enteric viruses; and (3) chemical substances. A gradual reduction in the concentration of bacteria, viruses and contaminants of emerging concern was observed across the profile of soil fissured by karst. All monitored bacteria were absent from the monitoring well, except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pepper mild mottle virus and adenovirus were detected at all sampling sites. Personal care products and X-ray contrast media showed the greatest decrease in concentration from infiltration trench to the monitoring well, while the highest residual concentrations in the monitoring well were found for anticonvulsants (78.5%), antimicrobials (41.3%), and antipsychotic drugs (38.6%). Our results show that parameters provided by current law may not always be sufficient to evaluate the sanitary risk relating to the discharge of treated wastewater to the soil.


2008 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 781-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Brissaud ◽  
E. Blin ◽  
S. Hemous ◽  
L. Garrelly

The Mediterranean seaside resort of Le Grau du Roi includes 40 hectares of landscaped areas spray irrigated with river water supplied through a separate network. Wastewater collected from several municipalities is treated in an activated sludge wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and polished in waste stabilization ponds (WSPs). Planned substitution of treated wastewater for river water is hindered by spray irrigation prohibition within a 100 m distance from houses and recreational areas. WWTP and WSP effluents were monitored for pathogens with a particular attention to Legionella in Spring and Summer 2006. Helminth eggs, salmonellae and enteroviruses were never detected neither in WWTP effluent nor in the ponds. Legionella spp content was slightly higher or of the order of magnitude of river water contents. Regarding Legionella pneumophila contents, WSP effluent did not significantly differ from the river water. E.coli and enterococci contents in WSP effluents complied with the “excellent quality” criteria of the European Directive for coastal bathing waters. Therefore, substituting WSP effluents to river water is unlikely to alter health risks related to spray irrigation and, in this case, the buffer zone required by the French water reuse guidelines appears being short of support.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-204
Author(s):  
Hamza Negais ◽  
Tahar Idder ◽  
Hamid Cheloufi ◽  
Abdelhak Idder ◽  
Slimane Ahmed Benmchi’h Ayada

Background: After suffering from an acute problem of excess water for a long time, the Oasis of Ouargla benefited from an aerated lagoon treatment plant, producing biologically treated domestic effluents. The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of reusing this effluent for watering plants. The experiment was conducted in the Ouargla WWTP, which is located in the region of Said Otba (northeast of Ouargla), north of the national road NR 49. Methods: The study area was selected based on the originality of the study and availability of water. The plants used were Acacia farnesiana and Leucaena leucocephala. The selection of Leucaena was based on the following criteria: It is used as a windbreak, it is very tolerant to drought, and it is used as a fodder to maintain soil fertility. And, Acacia was selected because it is used as a fodder, protects the soil against erosion, and to fix nitrogen. The watering of these plants is done jointly by treated wastewater from the WWTP and well water (WW), of which the latter was used as a control. Sampling and analysis of the irrigation water were performed according to the experimental protocol. To show the growth rate of the two plants studied, biometric measurements were taken weekly for 25 weeks. Results: The physicochemical analyses show that the treated wastewater is of poor quality belonging to the last class of Riverside’s C5-S4, with an excessive salinity (EC) of 13.51 dS/m and an Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) of 12.61 against EC of 2.49 dS/m and 2.13 for the WW. At the end of the experiment, it was found that irrigation with purified wastewater (PWW) gave less growth compared to that with WW. Statistical analyses of the biometric measurements confirmed that there is a highly significant difference at P<0.05. Conclusion: The reuse of WWTP effluent gives less interesting results but is still possible. It is recommended to choose Salt-tolerant crops, as well as the dilution of these waters by the addition of less salty waters.


This study aimed to determine the effect of roughness surface for polyethylene strips on its quality for enhancement the characteristics of wastewater treatment plant effluent as a very cheap method. The study was applied at Abu Rawash WWTP effluent channel using the smooth and rough polyethylene strips where a biofilm layer forms above its surface. The removal ratio for smooth polyethylene strips for BOD and TSS was 4.45 and 4.33% respectively, while for the rough polyethylene strips was 14.10 and 13.37 respectively. This shows the success of the polyethylene strips even smooth or rough to remove both the BOD and TSS from treated wastewater. The results show that the material roughness affected the treatment efficiency with proportional effect. And the rough surface has a good removal efficiency that makes it more applicable for such purpose of enhancing the treated wastewater with very low cost technique.


Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Al-Mashaqbeh ◽  
Alsafadi ◽  
Dalahmeh ◽  
Bartelt-Hunt ◽  
Snow

The largest wastewater treatment plant in Jordan was monitored in the summer to determine the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). Grab samples were collected from the influent and effluent of As-Samra Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). Liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) were utilized to determine the concentrations of 18 compounds of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). The results showed that 14 compounds were detected in the collected samples from the influent and effluent of As-Samra WWTP. These compounds are 1,7-dimethylxanthine, amphetamine, acetaminophen, caffeine, carbamazepine, cimetidine, cotinine, diphenhydramine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), morphine, phenazone, sulfamethazine, sulfamethoxazole, thiabendazole, and trimethoprim. However, four compounds were below the detection limit (<0.005 µg/L), namely cimetidine, methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), methamphetamine, and sulfachloropyridazine. Among PPCPs, the highest estimated average concentrations in raw wastewater were caffeine, acetaminophen, 1,7-dimethylxanthine, cotinine, and carbamazepine sampled during the summer, at an estimated concentration of 155.6 µg/L, 36.7 µg/L, 10.49 µg/L, and 1.104 µg/L, respectively. However, the highest estimated average concentrations in treated wastewater were for carbamazepine, sulfamethoxazole, caffeine, cotinine, and acetaminophen, at 0.856 µg/L, 0.096 µg/L, 0.086 µg/L, 0.078 µg/L, and 0.041 µg/L, respectively. In general, the results showed that some compounds in the collected samples of wastewater in Jordan have concentrations exceeding the values reported in the literature. The removal efficiency rates of 1,7-dimethylxanthine, acetaminophen, caffeine, cotinine, morphine, and trimethoprim were higher than 95%, while those of carbamazepine, sulfamethazine, and sulfamethoxazole were lower than 22.5%. Moreover, diphenhydramine and thiabendazole had negative removal efficiency rates. The removal efficiency rates of the PPCPs in As-Samra WWTP were generally consistent with those of indicator compounds reported in the literature for conventional WWTPs.


2000 ◽  
Vol 42 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 9-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Yagoubi ◽  
L. Echihabi ◽  
A. Foutlane ◽  
L. Bourchich ◽  
J. Jellal ◽  
...  

The wastewater stabilisation ponds system of the city of Boujaâd was constructed and put into operation in 1992. The two main objectives of this plant are the prevention of pollution of water resources and the environment by means of wastewater discharges as well as the saving of fresh water by means of reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation purposes. Within the period of March 1997 to March 1998 a comprehensive analysis campaign of both the raw and the treated wastewater at a number of different sampling points has been carried out in order to evaluate the treatment efficiency of this wastewater treatment plant.The results of these investigations showed an average raw wastewater flow of 1600 m3/d, which is well below the design flow of 2500 m3/d. With respect to the physico-chemical treated wastewater quality and in comparison with the French treated wastewater standards (1980) these results indicated that 90 % of the wastewater samples showed BOD5-figures below the quoted French standard, whereas 83 % of the samples showed COD-figures above the corresponding French treated wastewater standard. With average treated wastewater suspended solids contents of 56 mg/l the suspended solids removal rate has been determined as being in the range of 65 %. If compared to the anticipated Moroccan wastewater standards for direct wastewater discharge into receiving water bodies as stipulated in the Moroccan Standards Project the obtained wastewater analysis results showed COD- and BOD5 values below these foreseen Moroccan wastewater discharge standards. The analysis results of SS, TKN and total phosphorus (Ptot) showed figures slightly above these Moroccan standards. In view of the microbiological wastewater characteristics the treated effluents of the Boujaâd WSP respond to the WHO directive with respect to wastewater to be used for restricted irrigation (category B). Taking into consideration the CEC directive for wastewater generated by wastewater treatment plants and discharged to the environment, the efficiency of the Boujaâd WSP is relatively low with respect to the SS-removal, the removal of organic matter (expressed by BOD5 and COD) as well as the removal of nutrients (expressed by TKN and Ptot). This relatively low efficiency might basically be caused by the already highly diluted incoming raw wastewater, which again is caused by the effect of significant infiltration of groundwater into the sewerage network. Besides the evaluation of the overall treatment efficiency, detailed investigations of the performance of individual ponds have been carried out as well.


Environments ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Naser Almanaseer ◽  
Muna Hindiyeh ◽  
Raha Al-Assaf

Treated wastewater is an important component of the water resource in Jordan. As Samra wastewater treatment plant—the largest treatment plant in Jordan—discharges ~110 MCM per year of secondary treated municipal wastewater to Zarqa River, and eventually to Jordan Valley. This research aims at assessing the impact of treated wastewater reuse on the hydrology and environment in the most vulnerable areas within Amman-Zarqa Basin, specifically from As Samra treatment plant to Jerash Bridge. Historical data is collected, field survey is performed, and chemical and biological analyses are performed at eleven selected locations along the study area. Afterwards, all collected data is managed using suitable tools to address the impact. The findings of this research demonstrate high improvement in biological and microbial parameters along the flow path, yet the salinity is increased downstream. It is found that this increase is due to brackish water intrusion, apparently from sandstone aquifer. Analysis of BOD and COD carried out as part of this research showed effective system recovery with COD reduction from 130 mg/L at the effluent to less than 50 mg/l in the downstream. Moreover, microbial activities are reduced, mainly due to self-purification in the river.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 207-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewelina Płuciennik-Koropczuk ◽  
Anita Jakubaszek ◽  
Sylwia Myszograj ◽  
Sylwia Uszakiewicz

Abstract The paper presents results of studies concerning the designation of COD fraction in the raw, mechanically treated and biologically treated wastewater. The test object was a wastewater treatment plant with the output of over 20,000 PE. The results were compared with data received in the ASM models. During investigation following fractions of COD were determined: dissolved non-biodegradable SI, dissolved easily biodegradable SS, in organic suspension slowly degradable XS and in organic suspension non-biodegradable XI. Methodology for determining the COD fraction was based on the guidelines ATV-A 131. The real percentage of each fraction in total COD in raw wastewater are different from data received in ASM models.


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