Presence of emerging contaminants priority substances and heavy metals in treated wastewater and groundwater in the Llobregat delta area (Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

Initial sampling results of emerging contaminants at the Llobregat delta deep aquifer (Barcelona, Spain) are presented. Among micro contaminants selected are 82 pharmaceuticals (antibiotics, lipid regulation agents, analgesic/anti-inflammatory drugs, etc), 18 personal care products (sunscreen agents, preservatives and disinfectants/antiseptics), 4 metals, 44 pesticides, 6 volatile priority pollutants, 16 PAHS and dioxins. Monitoring programme consisted on periodical water sampling from municipal wastewater tertiary treatment plant (WWTP), tertiary water with additional treatment being injected in the aquifer and from the aquifer. With regard to the emerging contaminants, the applied treatment has demonstrated its effectiveness for the removal of this type of microcontaminants