Removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in conventional and advanced wastewater treatment processes

Water scarcity and contamination of surface waters with chemicals and pathogens pose significant challenges to global public health. Effective wastewater treatment is essential to safeguard water quality for reuse and to protect the environment. Here, we analyzed influent and effluent samples from seven wastewater treatment plants in Durban, South Africa, employing conventional and tertiary treatment processes. Using advanced analytical methods, we quantified concentrations of 140 pharmaceuticals and personal care products, detecting 75 compounds in influents at elevated levels, including antibiotics and antivirals linked to regional health burdens. Average measured concentrations in the influents ranged from 19,000 ng L -1 to 6100 ng L -1 , caffeine had the highest measured value (1,600,000 ng L -1 ). Removal efficiencies varied widely, between >95% to 30%, with tertiary treatments such as membrane filtration and advanced oxidation achieving superior reductions compared to conventional methods. These findings underscore the importance of advanced treatment technologies in mitigating pharmaceutical and personal care products pollution in wastewater effluents, informing strategies to enhance water reuse safety and addressing emerging contaminants in water-scarce regions.