Evaluation of Contaminant Removal in Decentralized Water Reuse Systems by Non-targeted Analysis

Webcast

The wastewater infrastructure in many developed countries is largely centralized, and many systems are reaching the end of their design lives. As an alternative to replacing thousands of miles of failing sewer pipe, decentralized wastewater treatment systems (DEWATS) coupled with membrane filtration and other advanced treatment technologies can be used to enable water reuse and meet water supply needs at the community level. One important challenge in water reuse and recycling systems is the persistence of multiple types of contaminants, including contaminants of emerging concern such as pharmaceutically active compounds that have frequently been detected in wastewater effluent and receiving waters. The contaminants and their potential byproducts generated during the treatment process pose an unclear risk to human health.

The project Enhanced Evaluation of the Removal of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Decentralized Water Reuse Systems by Non-Targeted Analysis investigated the mechanisms by which these chemicals are removed or transformed in DEWATS. This research, co-sponsored by the National Science Foundation, employed a systematic non-targeted analytical approach to comprehensively identify both known and unexpected contaminants and byproducts in lab-scale membrane treatment systems. This project also advanced education and diversity through development of a water reuse demo and competition activity to convey themes dealing with water scarcity and reuse to middle school students in the all-female We Are STEM Enrichment Program at San Diego State University.

This webcast presented the results of Enhanced Evaluation of the Removal of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Decentralized Water Reuse Systems by Non-Targeted Analysis (4937).

Presenters:

  • Natalie Mladenov, PhD, Professor, Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, San Diego State University
  • Eunha Hoh, PhD, Professor of Environmental Health at the Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University
  • Nathan Dodder, PhD, Research Scientist, San Diego State University

Moderator:

  • Lyndsey Bloxom, Research Program Manager, The Water Research Foundation