ABSTRACT
Understanding the sources and fate of micropollutants in urban environments is therefore essential to evaluate surface water (lakes and rivers) contamination. This chapter describes various aspects of surface water contamination from urban catchments, focusing on: identifying the main classes of micropollutants in urban waters; and assessing the fate of various classes of micropollutants in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and the possible means to reduce their release into the environment. It seeks to explain the main removal mechanisms in conventional treatment systems and fate of certain classes of micropollutants during treatment, based on literature reviews. Finally, processes to improve their removal, by optimizing biological treatments or with advanced physico-chemical treatments, are discussed. The fate of micropollutants during wastewater treatment depends mainly on their physico-chemical characteristics (hydrophobicity, biodegradability, volatility) and type of treatment. Volatilization of micropollutants can occur during wastewater treatment, taking place as surface volatilization, but more significantly by stripping during aeration.
