Greywater irrigation as a source of organic micro-pollutants to shallow groundwater and nearby surface water

Ryan D. R. Turner; Michael St. J. Warne; Les A. Dawes; Kristie Thompson; Geoffrey D. Will

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.073

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Greywater irrigation as a source of organic micro-pollutants to shallow groundwater and nearby surface water

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Greywater irrigation as a source of organic micro-pollutants to shallow groundwater and nearby surface water

Ryan D. R. Turner, Michael St. J. Warne, Les A. Dawes, Kristie Thompson and Geoffrey D. Will

Science of the Total Environment, Vol.669, pp.570-578

2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.073

PMID: 30889446

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Abstract

greywater

groundwater

irrigation

organic micro-pollutants

pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs)

water quality

Increased water demands due to population growth and increased urbanisation have driven adoption of various water reuse practices. The irrigation of greywater (water from all household uses, except toilets) has been proposed as one potential sustainable practice. Research has clearly identified environmental harm from the presence of micro-pollutants in soils, groundwater and surface water. Greywater contains a range of micro pollutants yet very little is known about their potential environmental fate when greywater is irrigated to soil. Therefore, this study assessed whether organic micro-pollutants in irrigated greywater were transferred to shallow groundwater and an adjacent surface waterway. A total of 22 organic micro-pollutants were detected in greywater. Six of these (acesulfame, caffeine, DEET, paracetamol, salicylic acid and triclosan) were selected as potential tracers of greywater contamination. Three of these chemicals (acesulfame, caffeine, DEET) were detected in the groundwater, while salicylic acid was also detected in adjacent surface water. Caffeine and DEET in surface water were directly attributable to greywater irrigation. Thus the practice of greywater irrigation can act as a source of organic micro-pollutants to shallow groundwater and nearby surface water. The full list of micro-pollutants that could be introduced via greywater and the risk they pose to aquatic ecosystems is not yet known. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Details

Title: Greywater irrigation as a source of organic micro-pollutants to shallow groundwater and nearby surface water
Authors: Ryan D. R. Turner (Corresponding Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Michael St. J. Warne (Author) - University of Queensland
Les A. Dawes (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Kristie Thompson (Author) - University of Queensland
Geoffrey D. Will (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Publication details: Science of the Total Environment, Vol.669, pp.570-578
Publisher: Elsevier BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.073
ISSN: 1879-1026
PMID: 30889446
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99737878202621
Output Type: Journal article

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Web Of Science research areas: Environmental Sciences

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