Lessons learned from european experiences and presentation of case studies [* Cross-Reference *]

Hospital effluent is considered as a point source of micropollutants such as pharmaceutical residues (antibiotics in particular) and anti-resistant bacteria in a municipal sewer system with the surface water as ending point. The changes in the legislation (i.e. WFD, EU 2015/495) forced researchers, administrators and stakeholders to debate about possible technical solutions to implement.

Starting with studies on fate and pathways of pharmaceuticals compounds and their metabolites, the European scientific community assessed removal of micropollutants in conventional activated sludge (CAS) systems and their possible upgrade with tertiary treatments. The solution was then compared with decentralized one at point source according to different methodologies such Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA). These considerations drove to the implementation of different solutions according to policy decisions of the individual countries.