Urban Effluents Research Articles

Protection of peri-urban groundwater catchments: a multi-tracer approach for the identification of urban pollution sources

Abstract. Groundwater catchment located in peri-urban areas may be impacted by many pollutants coming from different types of point or diffuse sources such as accidental spills, continuous hidden leaks in drainage networks, old landfills, treated/untreated wastewater and watercourses. In the scope of the CASPER project, a new methodological approach has been developed based on field survey and interpretation of the collected data in order to distinguish between the different sources of contamination and mixtures of pollutants. First, the groundwater catchment area corresponding to the land surface perimeter in which abstracted groundwater is recharged is determined and characterised in hydrogeological terms. The possible sources of pollution are identified. In a second step, a groundwater and surface water monitoring survey is established, and water samples are collected focusing on a combination of physicochemical parameters and set of various hydrochemical indicators. In particular, different stable isotopes are considered. The NO3- and Boron stable isotopes are used to distinguish between inputs linked to urban effluents, agricultural fertilisers and manure. Stable isotopes of SO42- are used to distinguish between sulphide minerals oxidation, sulphur-carbon compounds mineralisation, lixiviation and human pollution. Moreover, the occurrence of specific molecules like pharmaceutical and lifestyle products (carbamazepine, caffeine, etc.) are used as effective tracers of anthropogenic contamination. Microbiological analyses are also undertaken to identify microbial populations associated with specific sources of pollution or specific biochemical reactions occurring in soil and groundwater. The resulting hydrochemical dataset is then processed using multivariate and clustering analyses. In this context, the objective here is to describe the rigorous methodological approach to assess pollution sources and to illustrate the first steps of this process using a case study corresponding to a groundwater catchment is a chalk aquifer in Western Belgium.

Assessment of new immobilized photocatalysts based on Rose Bengal for water and wastewater disinfection

The aim of this study was to evaluate the water disinfection capability of new immobilized photocatalysts based on the organic photosensitizer Rose Bengal (RB) supported on glass wool and with two different photocatalyst load (RB_GW_0.22 and RB_GW_0.02). Tests were carried out under different operating conditions in a solar simulator at 30 W/m2 average UV-A irradiation. Isotonic water (IW) (with 9 g/L NaCl), simulated tap water (STW) and simulated urban wastewater effluent (SUWWE) spiked with Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis (106 CFU/mL initial concentrations) were used as water model microbial strains. The mere effect of only irradiance was also investigated as reference of the photocatalytic performance over both bacteria. Results showed that RB_GW_0.22 presented high inactivation for E. faecalis, reaching 6 Log Reduction Value (LRV) in 2 min in IW and STW at pH 5 and 6 in comparison with only irradiance (60 min). In SUWWE, the effect of RB_GW_0.22 was also better for E. faecalis inactivation (60 min), compared to that produced in E. coli (120 min) and without the presence of the photocatalyst (where total inactivation was not achieved after 120 min of treatment). Ecotoxicity (ISO 11348–3:2007) and phytotoxicity (EN ISO 18763:2020) tests of the treated water were also assessed and results showed any significant effect, concluding that the use of RB_GW_0.22 is a promising solar photocatalytic treatment for urban wastewater reclamation and reuse.

Comparative Assessment of Microplastics in Surface Waters and Sediments of the Vaal River, South Africa: Abundance, Composition, and Sources.

We extracted microplastics from surface water and sediment samples from the Vaal River in Johannesburg, South Africa. Average abundances of 0.61 ± 0.57 particles/ and 4.6 × 102 ± 2.8 × 102 particles/kg dry weight were recorded for water and sediment samples, respectively. In both sediment and water samples, more than 80% of microplastics were fragments and fibers of smaller than 2 mm. High-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, and polypropylene were the dominant polymers identified in both sample types. In addition, polyethylene co-vinyl acetate, polyester, polyurethane, and polyethylene/hexene-1-copolymer were also detected in sediment samples. Colored microplastics were the most commonly observed in both sample types; pigment yellow 83 was detected in surface water, and carbon black was detected in both sediment and water samples during Raman analysis. Taking into consideration the physical and chemical characteristics of the detected microplastics, their potential sources include inflow from tributaries, surface run-off from urban city centers, recreational activities, and wastewater effluent from industries and households. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:3029-3040. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms in cooling water waste and urban effluents as a strategy of water regeneration and valorization

ABSTRACT Contaminants from cooling water waste (CWW) generated by industries represent an environmental hazard if discharged into aquatic bodies and soil without treatment. Most treatment strategies are energy-demanding and costly; hence, low-cost and sustainable treatment alternative technologies are needed. The present study proposed cyanobacteria culture as a low-cost biological method to treat cooling water waste (CWW) while simultaneously producing carbohydrates. For this purpose, CWW from a cooling tower was evaluated in different dilutions with domestic wastewater (DW) (DW25% -CWW75%, DW50% -CWW50%, DW25% -CWW75%, DW100%, and CWW100%) (v/v). The CWW provided a high content of inorganic carbon and low content of N and P, which resulted in a high C/N ratio promoting a fast carbohydrate accumulation but low biomass production. In contrast, cultures with higher DW concentrations achieved similar results in 14 days. The best results were obtained with DW25% -CWW75%, achieving up to 52 ± 18% carbohydrate content on day 8, with the highest biomass concentration of 1.7 ± 0.12 g L−1 on day 14. This culture removed >94% of TAN, N-NO3 - and P-PO4 3-, and 84 ± 10.82% of COD. This strategy could be a promising approach to treating CWW and DW from the same industry and producing value-added products and bioenergy.

Sources and long-term variation characteristics of dissolved nutrients in Maowei Sea, Beibu Gulf, China

Maowei Sea is a typical semi-enclosed subtropical bay where eutrophication has been rising due to human activities in recent years. At present, the source and long-term variability properties of nutrients are not well understood. This study investigated the dissolved inorganic nutrients in the riverine sections to the sea and the coastal areas from 2011 to 2017 in Qinzhou Bay (QZB), Beibu Gulf. Results showed that harmful blooms were frequent in the dry season due to rapid urbanization in recent years. During dry season, the concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) increased by 67% and 150%, respectively. Most of the nutrients input to the bay were supplied by the adjoining rivers, followed by groundwater discharge according to the classical box model devised by the Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone. High DIN concentrations in rivers were mainly caused by intensified agriculture, including urban and rural effluents, due to inadequate sanitary sewer systems. Maowei Sea (the inner bay of QZB) is a sink system for DIN but a strong source system for DIP, which surpassed riverine input, probably due to the discharge of DIP-containing effluent from the industries around the Maoling River mouth. The discrepancy in DIN and DIP sources resulted in different DIN/DIP ratios between the wet and dry seasons. P-limitation generally occurs in the wet season and is relieved in the dry season. The relief of P-limitation in the dry season may be crucial for the frequent harmful algal blooms, which may be further aggravated in the future with the rapid increase in DIP concentrations in the bay. Therefore, the results of this study provide a basis for the effective improvement of the ecological environment in the Maowei Sea.

Distribution of microplastics present in a stream that receives discharge from wastewater treatment plants

The presence of microplastics (MPs) in freshwater systems that receive discharge of urban effluent implies a great environmental impact. In order to be able to generate proposals that solve this problem, it is necessary to know in detail the contributions of different MPs sources. The aim of this work was to study the contribution of urban sewage discharge to MPs pollution in a stream that runs through a medium-sized city. The spatial distribution of MPs with sizes between 100 μm and 1.5 mm present in surface water was measured and their characteristics, dimensions, shapes and identification were determined. Physical-chemical parameters of the stream water were measured, and a decrease in water quality was found due to wastewater treatment plants. The main source of MPs was effluent from the plants (97% of the total MPs), while the rest came from storm drains and discharge of tributaries. The maximum concentration of MPs found was around 72,000 MP/L (equivalent to 53 million MPs/s), at a point after discharge from both plants. Around 70% of MPs correspond to microfibers with a mean length of around 300 μm and a mean width of around 15 μm, and they are mainly polyethylene fibers. The remaining 30% of MPs are particles with lengths of around 140 μm. The transport of MPs between a point located after discharge of the plants and another point located about 3 km further on was studied, and no significant variation was found in the concentration of MPs. Electrical conductivity was used as a conservative tracer of MPs concentration. This work presents for the first time a detailed analysis of different contributions of MPs to a freshwater system in South America, which receives discharge of wastewater treatment plants, evidencing its important role in pollution.

Contamination Assessment and Temporal Evolution of Nitrates in the Shallow Aquifer of the Metauro River Plain (Adriatic Sea, Italy) after Remediation Actions.

Over the last decades, groundwater resources at global level have suffered a significant deterioration due to nitrate pollution, mainly related to the input of agricultural fertilizers, manure, sewage, and untreated urban and industrial effluents. The most impacted waters are those forming surface and shallow reservoirs, which usually play a key role in supplying waters to civil, agricultural, and industrial activities. The terminal portion of the Metauro River plain, located in central Italy along the Adriatic Sea coastline, hosts a strategic phreatic aquifer that, along with the surface water of the Metauro River, supplies water to the local population (i.e., about 60,000 people). This shallow coastal aquifer experiences a long-lasting story of nitrate contamination since the 1970s when the increase in the use of agricultural fertilizers contributed to very high levels of pollution (NO3− > 100 mg/L). This fact prompted the local authorities to carry out remediation actions that involve a pumping system to inject the NO3−-poor waters from the Metauro River course directly into the shallow aquifer. The present work was aimed at defining the contamination of nitrates in this important water resource. The main geochemical characteristics and the temporal evolution of NO3− concentrations (between 2009 and 2020), in the shallow coastal aquifer of the Metauro River plain, were analyzed by means of classical geochemical analyses and multivariate methods accounting for the compositional nature of the data, to assess the efficiency of the in-situ remediation over time.

Multiple stressors influencing the general eutrophication status of transitional waters of the Brazilian tropical coast: An approach utilizing the pressure, state, and response (PSR) framework

Modeling approaches are useful tools for assessing the general state of eutrophication and understanding the effects of multiple stressors on coastal ecosystems. Thus, we hypothesized that anthropogenic pressures and multiple stressors would increase the trophic state of macrotidal estuaries. Datasets from long-term (2012−2020) environmental and biological monitoring in the Itapecuru River estuary (IRE) were analyzed using the pressure-state-response (PSR) approach and nonlinear methods. Our results indicated a low dilution of nutrients and a moderate flushing potential of urban effluent (2150.94 ton year−1) in the estuary. The estuary was consequently classified as being in a high trophic state, being susceptible to and suffering high estuarine pressure to develop eutrophic symptoms. The Assessment of estuarine trophic status (ASSETS) model indicates that eutrophication is seasonal and depends on climatic variation. La Niña events (2019–2020) contributed to chlorophyll-a (>40 μg L−1) and orthophosphate (0.04 mg L−1) concentrations, principally during periods of low river discharge. According to the GAM's model, brackish waters (salinity>10) with high temperatures (> 30 °C) and high dissolved oxygen (>4 mg L−1) have more intense trophic conditions, especially in the mixing zone. The low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels (DO<3 mg L−1) and high concentrations of chlorophyll-a in the seawater zone indicate that the lower portion of the estuary was the most susceptible. In addition, the random forest model selected salinity, DIP and Chl-a as the principal stressors that intensified eutrophication in the macrotidal systems. According to the ASSETS final ranking (worsen-high) for the next decade (2021−2031), the primary planned strategies should be to reduce anthropogenic contributions and improve trophic conditions in the IRE. From these results, the interactions and predictions of eco-hydrological effects could facilitate the characterization of future risks and the management of macrotidal estuarine systems.

Comprehensive Genome and Plasmidome Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria in Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent of Tokyo.

To characterize environmental antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in urban areas, extended-spectrum β-lactamase- (ESBL)/carbapenemase-producing bacteria (EPB/CPB, respectively) from urban wastewater treatment plant effluents in Tokyo were isolated on CHROMagar ESBL plate. Complete genome sequence analysis, including plasmids, indicated that 126 CTX-M-positive isolates (31%) were identified among the 404 obtained isolates. The CTX-M-9 group was predominant (n = 65, 52%), followed by the CTX-M-1 group (n = 44, 35%). Comparative genome analysis revealed that CTX-M-27-positive E. coli O16:H5-ST131-fimH41 exhibited a stable genome structure and clonal-global dissemination. Plasmidome network analysis revealed that 304 complete plasmid sequences among 85 isolates were grouped into 14 incompatibility (Inc) network communities (Co1 to Co14). Co10 consisted of primarily IncFIA/IncFIB plasmids harboring blaCTX-M in E. coli, whereas Co12 consisted primarily of IncFIA(HI1)/Inc FIB(K) plasmids harboring blaCTX-M, blaKPC, and blaGES in Klebsiella spp. Co11 was markedly located around Co10 and Co12. Co11 exhibited blaCTX-M, blaKPC, and blaNDM, and was mainly detected in E. coli and Klebsiella spp. from human and animal sources, suggesting a mutual role of Co11 in horizontal gene transfer between E. coli and Klebsiella spp. This comprehensive resistome analysis uncovers the mode of relational transfer among bacterial species, highlighting the potential source of AMR burden on public health in urban communities.

Analysis of Susceptibility to Degradation of Water Ecosystem Services as a Tool for Land Use Planning: a Case Study in a Small Brazilian Watershed.

Mapping priority areas for environmental conservation and restoration is essential to informing policy formulation and decision-making. This study proposes a methodology based on multicriteria analysis and on-site assessment to develop environmental zoning that enhances the provision of water ecosystem services (WES) from Brazil's Água Quente River Basin. Integrated analysis of multiple criteria enabled identification of degrees of susceptibility to degradation, assessment of effects of land-use changes between 1990 and 2020, and validation of the study's methodology via field protocol. The results indicated that the spatial and temporal patterns of WES susceptibility to degradation varied little within the study area with the most critical levels occurring primarily in the Agua Quente's floodplain, where there are sandy textured soils and coverage with a low degree of soil protection. Zoning analysis designates 40% of the basin`s area as consolidated use, 28% for environmental conservation, 19% as anthropic use, and 13% for environmental restoration. Field analysis indicates that the occurrence of degraded areas and pollution by solid waste and urban effluents are relevant factors that affect the basin's water resources. Linear regression analysis indicated a good fit between the data modeled by the multicriteria analysis and those observed on-site (R² = 0.6 p &lt; 0.05). The study's method is effective and its structure can be used in other river basins, as its approach is simple and flexible and can be readily adjusted to fit the characteristics of the study site.

Nutrient fluxes in the Bons Sinais Estuary (Mozambique) – sources and sinks

ABSTRACT Estuaries are the main gateway of nutrients into marine coastal waters. Human activities and biodegradation processes in coastal freshwater and mangrove swamps are the major sources of nutrients. This study examines the sources, sinks and flux rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and silicon (Si) through the interfaces: river estuary, mangrove estuary and ocean estuary. Measurements of the concentrations of nutrients and water velocity were made near the surface on an hourly basis, and then integrated over the flood and ebb flows over the cross-sectional area and a budget estimated over the tidal cycle, at the three interfaces. The results indicated that freshwater swamps, along the river basin, and mangrove swamps were the major source of nitrate in the estuary; the urban sewage effluent was the major source of phosphate; major sources of silicate were the freshwater swamps and coastal ocean waters. Mangrove swamp showed a tendency to retain phosphate, confirming the hypothesis that mangroves are effective sewage filters and pollutant retainers. The river exported nitrate into the estuary at a rate of 59 tons per tidal cycle, and then the estuary as a whole exported nitrate into the coastal waters at a rate of 68 tons per tidal cycle. The present study contributes to the explanation of the observed high coastal productivity of the Sofala Bank and to the development of prognostic and predictive models to quantify and predict the nutrient export to – and productivity of – coastal waters.

Biomonitoring of potentially toxic elements through oysters (Saccostrea palmula and Crassostrea corteziensis) from coastal lagoons of Southeast Gulf of California, Mexico: health risk assessment.

The coastal lagoons of the Gulf of California support important traditional fisheries and mollusc cultures (generally oysters) and receive important volumes of agricultural, industrial and urban effluents, consumption of the oysters could pose risk to human health. The concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in the oysters Saccostrea palmula and Crassostrea corteziensis, from four coastal lagoons (Altata, AL; Macapule, ML; Navachiste, NL; El Colorado, ECL) in the Southeast Gulf of California, were seasonally evaluated (summer 2019-spring 2020). The order of magnitude of potentially toxic elements concentrations in the soft tissue in both oyster species and at all sites was Zn > Fe > Cu > As > Cd > Pb. Cadmium, Cu, Pb, and Zn exceeded the maximum permissible limits in more than one sampling site. The highest concentrations (mg kg-1, wet weight) of As (4.2 ± 1.1, spring) and Cd (3.3 ± 0.7, autumn) were registered in S. palmula et al. and NL sampling sites, respectively. Crassostrea corteziensis presented higher levels of Cu (40.5 ± 6.7, spring), Pb (2.0 ± 0.4, spring), and Zn (96.9 ± 20.4, spring) in ECL and Fe (62.2 ± 25.4, autumn) in ML. The hazard quotient (HQ) values exceeded the safe level of 1 for Cd in S. palmula and C. corteziensis in NL for children (~ 16kg weight). In addition, in children, the hazard index (HI) values in both species of oysters ranged from 0.7 to 2.1 and 0.6 to 1.9, respectively. On the other hand, the intake of the studied elements through the consumption of oysters would not induce adverse effects to human health (men and women weighing 70 and 60kg, respectively); HQ and HI values were < 1.

Hydrochemical appraisal of surface water from a subtropical urban river in southwestern Bangladesh using indices, GIS, and multivariate statistical analysis.

The Gorai River is a significant river in Bangladesh's southwestern region, where residents make great use of the water despite a lack of adequate and reliable information concerning water quality and pollution levels. Thus, the goal of this research was to examine the spatio-temporal variations in water quality and determine whether it was suitable for drinking, agriculture, industrial, or livestock purposes, as well as the influencing factors and potential sources of water pollution. Surface water samples were collected in wet and dry seasons from ten sampling sites, and twenty water quality parameters were evaluated. The results showed that some studied water quality parameters, e.g., temperature, electrical conductivity, alkalinity, and nitrate, exceeded the maximum allowable limit. Water quality index values exhibited that the water quality of all sampling sites was found to be poor to very poor during the wet season, while only St-4 and St-5 were found to be poor and the rest of the investigated sites were good category during the dry season. Based on sodium adsorption ratio, soluble sodium percentage, residual sodium carbonate, residual sodium bicarbonate, and permeability index values, it was depicted that river water was suitable for irrigation purposes, but when compared to Kelly's ratio (KR) and magnesium hazard ratio values, river water was found to be unfit for irrigation. Moreover, potential salinity (PS) and sodium-to-calcium activity ratio (SCAR) values allow the water as moderately suitable for use in irrigation purposes. Langelier saturation index (LSI) and aggressive index (AI) values revealed that the river water was under saturated to supersaturated and moderate to non-aggressive in nature. However, Ryznar stability index (RSI), Puckorius scaling index (PSI), and Larson-Skold index (LS) values describe whether the water was high or severely corrosive, signifying its inappropriateness for industrial consumption. Principal component analysis (PCA) analysis depicted that the fluctuations in water quality are mostly related to point and non-point contaminations, such as urban and industrial effluent discharged and agricultural runoff of fertilizers. Cluster analysis (CA) revealed relative geographical and seasonal changes in water quality, showing the impact of hydrological changes and contamination.

Influence of Hydraulic Conditions on Reclaimed Water Polishing Using Soil and Sand Columns

The removal of residual pollutants from a synthetic effluent with a composition similar to that of urban effluent from secondary treatment was evaluated in vertical downflow columns. These were filled with soil, the fine fraction of the soil, and sand, and operated in discontinuous and continuous mode. The results showed high removal rates of organic matter, ammonium, nitrate and phosphate in the discontinuous and continuous experiments, especially for the fine fraction. Therefore, the soil is suitable for removing organic matter and nutrients (N-NH4, N-NO3, and P-PO4), and can be used for polishing wastewater before its infiltration.&#x0D; Keywords: wastewater reuse, organics removal, nutrient removal, residual soil, river sand

EVALUATION DE LA CONTAMINATION EN ELEMENTS -TRACES METALLIQUES (MN, CO, CU, PB, HG, NI, ZN)DES EAUX ET SEDIMENTS DE LA RIVIERE YOLO (KINSHASA, RDC)

This study aimed to determine the level of selected contaminants (Mn, Co, Cu, Pb, Hg, Ni and Zn) in the water and sediments of the Yolo River which receives effluent from the Limete Industrial District of the Limete area. (Kinshasa, DR Congo). Indeed, in the absence of treatment plants, all urban effluents from neighbourhoods drained by the river and those from industries installed in the neighbourhood are discharged into the collector and the Yolo River, one of the tributaries of the Congo River.The study made it possible to highlight the presence of seven (7) metallic trace elements (Cu, Pb, Fe, Cd, Zn and Hg) in the waters and sediments of the collector of the industrial district and the Yolo River in the city. of Kinshasa, considered problematic, given their toxic nature for living organisms, even at low concentrations of the elements.To do this, collected water samples of the composite type were obtained by mixing three spot samples taken at five stations using a bottle with the neck down at 30 cm depth. In contrast, the sediment samples were hand-collected from 0.5m depth and the resulting composite sediment core was packaged in a clean, labeled 500ml plastic box.All the water and sediment samples were stored in situ at 4°C in the cooler before being sent to the Center for Geological and Mining Research (CRGM) laboratory in Kinshasa for analysis.The physic-chemical parameters (pH, temperature, SS, BOD5) and metallic elements (Mn, Co, Cu, Pb, Hg, Ni and Zn)) were determined in the waters and sediments of the Yolo River. The results showed that the chemical properties were superior to those of the WHO guide standards.

Legal Framework to Control at Disposal Point Source Urban and Industrial Effluents of Hyderabad City into Pinyari (Old Phulleli) Canal off-taking from Kotri Barrage, Sindh

Legal Framework to Control at Disposal Point Source Urban and Industrial Effluents of Hyderabad City into Pinyari (Old Phulleli) Canal off-taking from Kotri Barrage, Sindh

A thermocatalytic perovskite-graphene oxide nanofiltration membrane for water depollution

A novel nanofiltration membrane, whose active layer consists of 98.6 wt% of a thermocatalytic perovskite with composition Sr0.85Ce0.15FeO3-δ (CSF), 1.0 wt% of graphene oxide (GO), and 0.4 wt% of a humic acid-like (HAL) crosslinker, was deposited over a commercial flat-sheet polyethersulfone support with good reproducibility by a simple 1-step coating procedure. The synergistic coupling of CSF and the crosslinked GO resulted in an improved catalytic activity for bisphenol A (BPA) abatement as a model pollutant. The thermocatalytic CSF/GO/HAL (GOT) membrane was tested in a nanofiltration crossflow apparatus with a model BPA solution and with a real urban wastewater treatment plant effluent. Its performances were compared with those of a HAL crosslinked GO (GOHAL) reference membrane. The GOT membrane presented high rejection towards BPA, antifouling properties, and stability under the filtration conditions. Moreover, when compared to the GOHAL reference, the thermocatalytic GOT membrane was able to reduce the concentration of BPA and the total organic carbon in the feed during filtration. Hence, the GOT membrane appears to have high potential in water treatment due to its multifunctional characteristics, which include molecular sieving, thermocatalytic oxidation of organic pollutants, and self-cleaning properties. Additionally, the membrane material showed no significant toxicity to the aquatic model organisms Raphidocelis subcapitata, Aliivibrio fischeri, and Daphnia magna at concentrations below 50 ppm.

Legal Framework to Control at Disposal Point Source Urban and Industrial Effluents of Hyderabad City into Pinyari (Old Phulleli) Canal off-taking from Kotri Barrage, Sindh

Pinyari (old Phulleli) canal off-takes from left bank of Kotri barrage is last Hydraulic structure on Indus river. This canal is passing from periphery of Hyderabad city and its design discharge is 13,636 cusecs which supplies fresh water not only for agricultural, industrial purpose and drinking purpose for the several towns and villages because groundwater in its command area is highly saline and not drinkable. The cottage factories and Hyderabad industrial area are located on nearby banks of canal. Hence, effluents from city and industrial SITE area are directly disposed off into the canal. The disposal of untreated wastewater created health and environmental safety problem. This paper presents that the analyzed results of water quality parameter ie pH, TDS, EC, Na, hardness, K, Mg, Mn, DO and BOD of collacted samples exhibit TDS 6%, K 20%, DO 67% and BOD 54%, respectively exceeded permissible limit. While pH, Na, hardness and Mn found within prescribed limits. Total coliform /E.coli (MPN/100ml) were found positive. Furthermore, the result of Water Quality Index (WQI) model reveals that water quality of canal of collected samples varies from excellent to very poor that reveals canal water is unsuitable for drinking purpose and aquatic life and also causes various waterborne diseases. Therefore, the local people are facing serious health problem by consuming water canal. With an attempt to ensure enforcement of environmental water laws in Sindh province of Pakistan for preventing degrading clean water. These environmental water laws have already been framed, but due to lake of enforcement, water pollution problems are increasing day by day. The enforcement of environmental water laws are very essential to control water pollution for safety of human health, and ecology in Sindh, Pakistan.

Lanthanides Release and Partitioning in Municipal Wastewater Effluents.

The use of lanthanides is increasing in our society, whether in communication technologies, transportation, electronics or medical imaging. Some lanthanides enter urban wastewater and flow through municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). However, little is known about the effectiveness of treatment processes to remove these elements and the concentrations released in effluents to receiving waters. The main objective of this study was to investigate the fate of lanthanides in various wastewater treatment processes. A secondary objective was to better understand the fate of medical gadolinium (Gd) complexes; anthropogenic inputs were differentiated from geological sources using an approach based on concentration normalization with respect to chondrite Post-Archean Australian Shale (PAAS). The hypothesis was that most lanthanides, especially of geological origin, are associated with the particulate phase and could be efficiently removed by WWTPs. To monitor these elements in different WWTPs, various urban influents and effluents from simple aerated lagoons to advanced treatments were sampled in Canada. The results showed that the rates of lanthanide removal by treatment processes decrease with their atomic number; from 95% for cerium (Ce) to 70% for lutetium (Lu), except for Gd, which was minimally removed. The normalization approach permitted the determination of the origin of Gd in these wastewaters, i.e., medical application versus the geological background. By distinguishing the geogenic Gd fraction from the anthropogenic one, the removal efficiency was evaluated according to the origin of the Gd; nearly 90% for geogenic Gd and a rate varying from 15% to 50% in the case of anthropogenic Gd. The processes using alum as the flocculating agent had the highest removal efficiency from wastewater.

Simultaneous disinfection and microcontaminants elimination of urban wastewater secondary effluent by solar advanced oxidation sequential treatment at pilot scale

The effect of different times of Fe:Ethylenediamine-N, N′-disuccinic acid (EDDS) dosing and H2O2 as well as different Fe:EDDS concentrations in the sequential treatment sunlight/H2O2 followed by sunlight/H2O2/Fe:EDDS at circumneutral pH was investigated for the first time focusing both in contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and bacteria removal in urban wastewater treatment plant effluents. Process efficiency was evaluated in terms of (i) degradation of five CECs (namely caffeine, carbamazepine, diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) at the initial concentration of 100 μgL−1 each and (ii) bacteria inactivation (Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella spp). The effect of H2O2, Fe and EDDS concentration and Fe:EDDS dosing time was evaluated. 60% removal of the sum of total CECs and pathogens inactivation below the detection limit (DL) were observed by the sequential treatment with Fe:EDDS additions at 60 min and 45 min in simulated urban wastewater effluent. Sequential treatment was validated in actual urban wastewater effluent, being able to remove 60% of the target CECs and inactivate bacteria below the DL. Increasing EDDS concentration negatively affected Salmonella spp inactivation. Sequential treatment based on 120 min of sunlight/H2O2 (50 mg L−1) and subsequent SPF with Fe:EDDS (0.1:0.1 mM) was chosen as best operation conditions for full scale treatment in urban wastewater treatment plants.