Performance of septic tanks for pharmaceutical removal and their impact to river water quality
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals enter surface water after incomplete removal in wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) and are known for their potential ecotoxicological hazard to the environment. Septic tanks (STs) treat wastewater of individual houses and small communities in rural and semi-urban areas and are an understudied pathway of surface water contamination. Therefore, the aim of this research was to understand the performance of STs for pharmaceutical removal and their impact to river water quality. A methodology for the analysis of 68 pharmaceuticals, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, related metabolites, hormones, and other human wastewater marker (emerging contaminants; ECs), by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) in ST influent and effluent, total suspended solids (TSS), sludge and river water was developed. Five community STs and the receiving rivers were studied over 12 months. Concentrations were similar in influent and effluent, exceeded those previously found in centralised WWTWs and surpassed freshwater predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) for some pharmaceuticals and samples. Hence, dilution of the ST discharges is required to mitigate environmental hazard. Influenced by the small contributing population, monthly variability was high, especially for pharmaceuticals with acute use, e.g., antifungals. Generally, the contribution of TSS to the total pharmaceutical concentration was small, but…
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