AWWA WQTC69280

The presence of illicit drugs in surface waters used for drinking water production and in finished water has been evaluated in a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP). A study of the occurrence of these compounds in the river basin which provides raw water to this DWTP has also been done. The analytical procedure was based on the analysis of illicit drugs by ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) after an enrichment step performed by solid-phase extraction (SPE). In surface waters, cocaine, benzoylecgonine (cocaine metabolite), amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA (ecstasy) and MDA were detected at mean concentrations ranging from 4 ng/L to 350 ng/L, whereas concentrations up to 76 ng/L for codeine; 31 ng/L for EDDP (metabolite of methadone); 12 ng/L for morphine and 9 ng/L for methadone were monitored at the intake of the DWTP. The elimination of these compounds during drinking water treatment was investigated. Cocaine, amphetamine type stimulants, codeine and morphine were completely removed during the potabilization process. Methadone, EDDP and benzoylecgonine with reductions of 91%, 87% and 90%, respectively were the sole compounds that persisted through treatment. A survey of Spanish treated waters suggests that several illicit drugs and metabolites are present at low ng/L levels. Includes 18 references, tables.