PCPs and Endocrine Disrupters in Wastewater Treatment

As result of a large investment by the Water Companies, the chemical quality of UK rivers (assessed based on dissolved oxygen and ammonia) has improved continuously over the past three years, such that 79% of river length is now of good quality.  By contrast, the more rigorous measure of biological quality has remained unchanged at 72% of river length over this same period. More detailed analysis of aquatic environments shows a widespread presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products.

This is unsurprising considering their extensive use hospitals and households and their incomplete removal during wastewater treatment Plant.  Their annual consumption ranges from a few kilograms to several hundred tons per individual compounds and they are persistent compounds as result of their continual discharge to the aquatic environment.  Future UK obligations under the Water Framework Directive will require removal of these compounds to background levels and the investment required to achieve this will be large.  As the problem is a worldwide one, there is a significant European interest in becoming a technology leader in view of the size of the global market.