Removal of selected pharmaceuticals and personal care products in reclaimed water during simulated managed aquifer recharge.

This study investigated the removal of selected pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in a simulated managed aquifer recharge (MAR) system. The PPCPs included antibiotic, antiepileptic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and antilipidemic drugs, contrast media, herbicides, and stimulants. We first monitored the occurrence and fate of 22 PPCPs at a water reclamation facility (WRF) in Korea, and found carbamazepine and primidone were not readily removed (below 25% removal in average) by the WRF. This reclaimed water passed through a laboratory-scale soil column set-up at 0.5 m/d over one year, simulating MAR system. Atenolol, propranolol, and trimethoprim exhibited higher removal rates (>80%) than other PPCPs through the simulated MAR, while atrazine, carbamazepine, lincomycin, primidone, and sulfamethazine were not readily removed, exhibiting removal rates below 20%. It can be efficient to monitor and manage these recalcitrant compounds at MAR systems to improve water quality.