METABOLIC REMOVAL OF ORGANIC MICROPOLLUTANTS IN ARTIFICIAL GROUNDWATER RECHARGE SYSTEMS USING WATER OF IMPAIRED QUALITY

This study focuses on the fate and transport of hydrophilic trace organic micropollutants during artificial groundwater recharge. Target compounds were selected based on their hydrophobicity, degradability, molecular size and environmental relevance and comprised pharmaceuticals, disinfection-by products and chlorinated flame retardants. The fate and transport behavior of the micropollutants was investigated using well acclimated laboratory-scale column systems fed with two different feed water qualities (municipal secondary treated effluent, reverse osmosis treated effluent). Both water types reflect common effluent treatment strategies for drinking water augmentation projects via groundwater recharge (soil-aquifer treatment versus direct injection). The higher and more divers organic carbon matrix of the infiltrated secondary effluent promoted soil biomass growth when compared to the column system fed with membrane permeate. Carbamazepine behaved persistent in both column systems independent of feed water quality. Ibuprofen showed a high affinity for biodegradation even at very low soil biomass levels and was well adsorbed.