Removal of Pharmaceutical Compounds from Wastewater and Surface Water by Natural Treatments

Abstract Natural water treatments are eco-engineered filter systems, which simulate the ability of the natural ecosystems to attenuate pollutants from water. Constructed wetlands (CWs) and stabilization ponds are among the most widely used for treating urban wastewater usually from small communities. They constitute a cost-effective wastewater treatment alternative to the conventional activated sludge and tertiary treatments. They can promote the removal of suspended solids, nutrients, trace elements, and organic contaminants such as pharmaceutical compounds through a number of physical and biochemical mechanisms. This chapter will focus on the most recent studies involving removal of pharmaceuticals not only in CWs and ponds but also in buffer strips and restored or natural wetlands. Finally, the future trends of these technologies and the use of combined configurations will be discussed.

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