Author(s): Teran Velasquez Geovanni
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Pharmaceuticals Wastewater River Networks Riverine Health Environmental Risk Assessment
Abstract: Increasing human consumption of pharmaceuticals (PhCs) and their insufficient removal by conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) pose significant ecotoxicological risk to riverine systems. While retrofitting WWTPs with tertiary treatment (e. g. activated carbon or ozonation) can mitigate some of this risk, it remains challenged by the complexity of PhCs mixtures and may not be viable as a standalone approach. Recently, PhCs source-control has emerged as an alternative for directly reducing PhCs consumption and residue loads in rivers. However, the combined dynamics and cumulative impact of these mitigation efforts on reducing PhCs occurrence in rivers remain uncertain. This study conducts a model-based, comparative cost-effectiveness assessment across all major river networks in Saxony, Germany, focusing on four persistent PhCs to strategically select WWTPs for retrofitting, both with and without integration of gradual reduction and substitution of PhCs prescription and hospital dispensation. Environmental outcomes and associated total costs for each proposed mitigation strategy were quantified through gains in river health units using an adapted quality-adjusted life year (QALYr) metric, which encompasses the reductions of PhCs residue loads and longitudinal critical risk-exposure. The findings highlight the substantial benefits of combining mitigation types to minimize the scope of necessary WWTP retrofitting, thereby lowering total annual costs. Although the most optimal combination may vary by catchment context, depending on environmental risk thresholds, feasibility of PhCs source-control, and available funding for WWTP retrofitting, this study provides a broad array of mitigation options to also meet intermediate objectives towards riverine health enhancement.
Year: 2025