Understanding how pharmaceuticals behave in treated wastewater is essential for ensuring that reclaimed water can be safely reused in agriculture and other applications. Within the NEWater project, this research forms a cornerstone of our mission to create safe, natural-based, and low-energy water-reuse systems tailored to Mediterranean and semi-arid environments.
Investigating pharmaceuticals in reclaimed water
Pharmaceutical residues often persist through conventional wastewater treatment and can reach soils, crops, and water bodies when effluents are reused for irrigation. NEWater researchers are studying these contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) to:
- Identify the most relevant compounds for monitoring in reuse schemes.
- Understand how they move and transform through treatment processes and soil–plant systems.
- Evaluate their potential risks to soil organisms, crops, and human health.
- Develop nature-based and hybrid solutions (such as adsorption, wetlands, and filtration systems) capable of reducing their concentrations effectively.
Linking science and sustainability
The experimental data generated feed directly into NEWater’s sustainability framework (WP5 – Modelling, Social & Economic Benefit). Using these results, researchers can simulate how different treatment configurations affect removal efficiency, operational cost, and overall environmental footprint.
This integrated approach allows NEWater to design water-reuse systems that are scientifically sound, economically feasible, and socially acceptable.
Towards safe and circular water use
By deepening our understanding of pharmaceuticals in reclaimed water, NEWater supports the creation of reliable, circular water-reuse models. These systems not only reduce freshwater dependence but also contribute to nutrient recovery, green hydrogen production, and low-carbon agricultural practices across the Mediterranean basin.