Sources of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Groundwater of Barcelona Urban Area

Abstract. Groundwater is a vital resource for the development of urban areas, where problem focuses on quantity and quality this freshwater resource. Barcelona good example as because currently groundwater used irrigation parks gardens street cleaning due to its poor drinking water source. Among pollutants found in groundwater, special interest are contaminants emerging concern (CEC), they pose high risk aquatic environment human health. The behaviour, spatial distribution processes that control them still uncertain most unregulated. In paper we study inputs controlling hydrochemistry with emphasis CEC. We selected 29 CEC were detected at concentrations up 1 µg L−1 (e.g. gemfibrozil, benzotriazole, among others). Towards higher zones identify relative low mineralization more proximate natural recharge composition, while towards area anthropic evident nitrate range from 50 200 mg L−1). Near Besòs river there clear contribution superficial highly polluted, mostly wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharges, reducing conditions. main contributor pollution was river-aquifer interaction (Besòs river), it might come sewage seepage probably minor input runoff. redox state these waters seems fate occurrence several limitations restricted single sampling campaign, therefore results should be corroborated other campaigns, including seasonal variations, which would allow establishing robust conclusions.