Managed Use of Treated Urban Wastewater

Because of its low bathymetry, strong industrial activity, and tourism, the Adriatic Sea is subject to pollution. In this situation, a robust depuration plant operation might be critical for maintaining excellent environmental quality. A study on dissolved Potentially Toxic Element (PTE) levels was carried out in the framework of the AdSWiM project, "Managed use of treated urban wastewater for the quality of the Adriatic Sea," to assess the impact of treated urban wastewaters on the quality of the bathing waters in the Adriatic Sea during the 2019 and 2020 summer periods. The current study designated three sites along the Italian-Croatian coastline (Gulf of Trieste, Zadar, and Split) for monitoring of five Depuration Plant (DP) outputs. Water samples were obtained within the DPs after treatment, and coastal saltwater was tested near the discharge pipes. An atomic fluorescence spectrometer was used to measure the amounts of dissolved Hg, Cd, and As. Furthermore, the amounts measured were lower than the European and national standards, showing that the northern Adriatic Sea waters are in excellent environmental condition. Further factors (nutrients, microbiological markers) must be determined to detect potential synergistic effects. However, our findings show that the researched DPs are efficient, emphasizing the need for wastewater treatment for the conservation of the Adriatic Sea.

Author(s): Jason Parker

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