Use of effects-based bioassays to assess the endocrine disruption potential of advanced tertiary treated sewage effluent

Funding: 2005: $58,198
2006: $54,698
2007: $47,198

Project Member(s): Lim, R.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Australian Research Council (ARC Linkage Projects)
Landcare Research, NZ (Landcare Research Partner Funds)
Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies (Australia) Pty Ltd (Veolia Water Australia)

Start year: 2005

Summary: Water reuse will become a major option to meet increasing water demand in Australia. However, the presence of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in wastewater has been identified as a potential impediment for this practice. This project will use a combination of effects-based biological methods based on different levels of biological organisation, and chemical analysis to assess the efficacy of an advanced tertiary sewage treatment plant (ATSTP) to remove EDCs. The results will provide insights on 1. effects of mixtures of EDCs; 2. characterisation of risks of reuse of treated effluent; 3. optimisation of effluent treatment technologies to ensure industry competitiveness; and 4. developing sustainable plans to meet future water demand.

Publications:

Hamilton, LA, Tremblay, LA, Northcott, GL, Boake, M & Lim, RP 2016, 'The impact of variations of influent loading on the efficacy of an advanced tertiary sewage treatment plant to remove endocrine disrupting chemicals', Science of The Total Environment, vol. 560-561, pp. 101-109.
View/Download from: Publisher's site

Keywords: endocrine disrupting chemicals, sewage treatment technology, in vitro biomarkers assessment, in vivo fish assessment,

FOR Codes: Environmental Impact Assessment, Soil and Water Sciences not elsewhere classified, Freshwater Ecology, Land and water management, Industrial/degraded areas, Soil Sciences not elsewhere classified, Rehabilitation of Degraded Urban and Industrial Environments, Urban and Industrial Land Management, Coastal and Estuarine Land Management, Freshwater ecology , Environmental assessment and monitoring, Coastal and estuarine systems and management, Fresh, ground and surface water systems and management, Terrestrial systems and management

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.