Occurrence and analysis of pharmaceuticals and their transformation products in drinking water treatment

Abstract

Surface water and groundwater are the major renewable resources for sustainable drinking water production in Europe and throughout the world. In regions where water is scarce indirect reuse of potable water is an attractive solution to meet water requirements. In regions with sufficient resources from the natural water cycle indirect reuse of potable water also often occurs in densely populated and urban areas. Consumers use, and repeatedly reuse, water in a cycle of drinking water – wastewater treatment – receiving water – drinking water production. Organic micropollutants, for example pharmaceutical compounds, which are not quantitatively eliminated by wastewater treatment and “survive” natural attenuation processes in surface waters, are an issue in relation to the quality of raw water resources and water supplies. Irrespective of any risks, the precautionary principle should apply and micropollutants from wastewater should not be present in drinking water. This is also a question of public acceptance of, and confidence in, good drinking water quality. The route via drinking water can, moreover, be regarded as the most direct way of human exposure to pharmaceutical residues [1]. There are, currently, no statutory maximum contaminant levels for pharmaceutical compounds in drinking water and no regulatory requirement to monitor them. Requirements of analytical methods