Abstract
The study presents results of five sampling campaigns at riverbank filtration sites at the Yamuna and Ganges Rivers in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi 2015–2018. Samples were analyzed for organic micropollutants and general water quality parameters. In New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, 17 micropollutants were detected frequently at relevant concentrations. Out of the detected micropollutants, 1H-benzotriazole, caffeine, cotinine, diclofenac, diuron, gabapentin and paracetamol were frequently detected with concentrations exceeding 1000 ng/L. Sites in Uttarakhand showed only infrequent occurrence of organic micropollutants. The mean concentration of micropollutants in the well water was lower compared to the river water. For all sites, removal rates for all micropollutants were calculated from the obtained data. Thereby, the capacity of riverbank filtration for the removal of organic micropollutants is highlighted, even for extremely polluted rivers such as the Yamuna.
Highlights
The appearance of organic micropollutants (OMPs) in surface water bodies on a global scale is an unwelcome reality [1,2]
The sites in Uttarakhand rarely showed a critical contamination from OMP (Appendix B, Table A3) whereas data for New Delhi, Mathura and Agra pointed out much higher contamination
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations measured in river water samples from New Delhi, Mathura and Agra are six time higher than in river water samples from Uttarakhand
Summary
The appearance of organic micropollutants (OMPs) in surface water bodies on a global scale is an unwelcome reality [1,2]. The number of known trace compounds in the environment is ever-increasing due to further development of more sensitive analytical and sample preparation methods With these modern methods it is possible to measure so called emerging micropollutants. This group includes polar and persistent or pseudo-persistent (degradable, but always occurring due to continuous input) compounds, such as pharmaceutical, personal care and industrial compounds as well as pesticides and their transformations products [5,6]. All these compounds pose a potential risk for human health, if present in drinking water. There are no limits or threshold concentrations defined for many emerging pollutants in water quality guidelines
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