Biological impacts of emerging contaminants in wastewater effluent and treatment processes to reduce risk: Considerations for Arizona’s communities and rivers

To develop a better understanding of the issues and best practices related to the use of treated effluent to help maintain river flows and habitat, the Conservancy commissioned a study to summarize the state of the science. The use of treated wastewater effluent is becoming a more prominent factor in Arizona’s overall water management strategy. Treated effluent contains a wide array of chemical and pharmaceutical compounds referred to as emerging contaminants. Because many of the individual compounds in wastewater persist through the treatment process and can cause damage to biological systems, careful consideration must be given to the design of treatment systems and use of treated wastewater effluent. As the state strives to achieve sustainable use of water, treated effluent is one option to supplement human and environmental needs.