Managed aquifer recharge as a potential pathway of contaminants of emerging concern into groundwater systems – A systematic review

Sammanfattning

Groundwater is an often-overlooked resource, while its declining quantity and quality is of global concern. To protect and ensure stable quantity and quality of groundwater systems used as drinking water supplies, a common method is to artificially recharge these groundwater supplies with surface water, a process called managed aquifer recharge (MAR), that has been used globally for decades. However, surface waters used for MAR often contain elevated concentrations of anthropogenic chemicals of emerging concern (CECs), such as plastics, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). When infiltrating this surface water, MAR can thus act as a shortcut for CECs into groundwater systems and eventually drinking water supplies. Especially PFAS are an example of very persistent contaminants showing atypical transport patterns during MAR and thus posing a risk for ground- and drinking water contamination. This systematic review addresses the transport process of CECs through MAR systems by looking at (1) common CEC concentrations in surface waters, (2) factors affecting CEC transport and possible retention during MAR, such as sorption and other physio-chemical mechanisms of CECs, biological and chemical decomposition, or hydrogeological properties of the MAR system, and (3) key contaminants leaching through the MAR systems as well as possible treatment options to improve the retention of CECs during MAR. Since we are facing increasing needs for high quality drinking water, lower CEC drinking water guidelines as well as an increasing number of identified CECs in surface waters, we conclude with a series of recommendations and future research directions to address these issues. Those include the need for regular monitoring programs specifically addressing CECs and especially not yet regulated, (very) persistent and (very) mobile contaminants, such as PFAS, as well as redesigned MAR systems to ensure stable ground- and drinking water quantity and quality.

Nyckelord

Contaminants of emerging concern; Groundwater; Infiltration; Managed aquifer recharge; PFAS; Surface water

Publicerad i

Chemosphere
2024, volym: 364, artikelnummer: 143030

SLU författare

• Ahrens, Lutz

  • Institutionen för vatten och miljö, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

UKÄ forskningsämne

Oceanografi, hydrologi, vattenresurser
Miljövetenskap

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143030

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/140030