Abstract
The Adriatic Sea is vulnerable to pollution due to its low bathymetry, intense industrial activity, and tourism. In this context, a good depuration plant activity could play a key role for the maintenance of a good environmental quality. In the framework of the AdSWiM project, “Managed use of treated urban wastewater for the quality of the Adriatic Sea”, a study on dissolved potentially toxic element (PTE) levels was carried out to assess the impact of treated urban wastewaters on the quality of the bathing waters in the Adriatic Sea during the 2019 and 2020 summer period. In the present study, three areas along the Italian–Croatian coastline (Gulf of Trieste, Zadar, and Split) were identified for the monitoring of five depuration plant (DP) outflows. Water samples were collected after the treatment inside the DPs, and coastal seawater was sampled in the proximity of the discharging pipelines. Dissolved Hg, Cd, and As levels were determined with an atomic fluorescence spectrometer. Results did not show statistically significant differences between treated wastewater and seawater samples (Hg 10 ± 6 and 10 ± 4, Cd 14 ± 6 and 21 ± 8, As 610 ± 176 and 687 ± 140 ng L−1, respectively), while the geographical area and the seasonality affected the PTE concentration. Furthermore, the levels detected were lower than the European and national limits, indicating a good environmental status of the northern Adriatic Sea waters. The determination of further parameters (nutrients, microbiological indicators) must be investigated to identify possible synergistic effects. However, our results demonstrate the efficiency of DPs investigated, underlining the importance of the wastewater treatment for the protection of the Adriatic Sea.
Highlights
Profitable and rational management of water resources is crucial for maintaining excellent environmental quality
This study has been conceived in the framework of the AdSWiM project “Managed use of treated urban wastewater for the quality of the Adriatic Sea” [36], with the aim of (1) determining the levels of dissolved Hg, Cd, and As, since they are recognized as priority substances by Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) (Annex I, Part A) in three different areas in order to evaluate the quality status of the Adriatic Sea coastal waters during the 2019–2020 bathing seasons; (2) assessing for the first time the impact of five different depuration plant (DP) outflows in the quality of the waters; and (3) evaluating geographical and seasonal trends of potentially toxic element (PTE) levels
Maximum values were reached in June 2019 (27.8 ◦C) and July 2020 (26.9 ◦C) in surface waters, while bottom waters showed the highest values in August 2019 (23.5 ◦C) and September 2020 (24.8 ◦C)
Summary
Profitable and rational management of water resources is crucial for maintaining excellent environmental quality. Sewage effluents can contain potentially hazardous levels of pathogens, hydrocarbons, nutrients, toxins, organic and inorganic compounds, and endocrine disruptors [1,2,3] Among these environmental pollutants, potentially toxic elements (PTEs), such as mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), and chromium (Cr), are recognized as being among the most dangerous contaminants for the environment, the biota, and human health. This study has been conceived in the framework of the AdSWiM project “Managed use of treated urban wastewater for the quality of the Adriatic Sea” [36], with the aim of (1) determining the levels of dissolved Hg, Cd, and As, since they are recognized as priority substances by MSFD (Annex I, Part A) in three different areas in order to evaluate the quality status of the Adriatic Sea coastal waters during the 2019–2020 bathing seasons; (2) assessing for the first time the impact of five different DPs outflows in the quality of the waters; and (3) evaluating geographical and seasonal trends of PTE levels. A Number of inhabitants for which the DP was designed
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