Fate and Transport of Contaminants and Advanced Tertiary Treatment for their Removal During Municipal Wastewater Treatment Processes

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Municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWTPs) have long been recognized to be of concern as a significant source for many contaminants of historical as well as many new contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and flame retardants. The health concerns associated with these contaminants include non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health effects and potential for endocrine disruption. The applicant has conducted research on two research projects to better understand and manage contaminant loadings to the environment resulting from MWTP effluents. The proposed research program will extend the findings from both the research projects, as discussed below. - Our recent work has shown that colloidal organic carbon (COC) can play an important role in controlling the fate of organic contaminants during the sewage treatment process. However, factors affecting this partitioning are still not clear. More work with other group of chemicals is proposed using methodologies already developed are planned to better understand the behaviour and modify predictive models. The results are expected to help scientists and regulators better understand, quantify and manage contaminant loadings to the environment from MWTP effluent discharges. - MWTPs are not very effective in the removal of several CECs (such as pharmaceuticals) and are an important point source for these to drinking water sources. MWTPs are also important sources for disease causing organisms (quantified as E. coli). Our recent study has demonstrated the effectiveness of ozonation in simultaneously achieving disinfection and transformation of many CECs in secondary treated municipal wastewaters in Canada. The proposed research would examine further development and optimization of ozone-based process for the treatment of MWTP effluent to maximize reduction in contaminant level as well as toxicity.The proposed research is expected to lead to more efficient and cost-effective strategies for dealing with contaminants in MWTP effluents and drinking water sources.