title: Modelling the emerging pollutant diclofenac with the GREAT-ER model: application to the Llobregat River Basin.
abstract: The present research aims at giving an insight into the increasingly important issue of water pollution due to emerging contaminants. In particular, the source and fate of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac have been analyzed at catchment scale for the Llobregat River in Catalonia (Spain). In fact, water from the Llobregat River is used to supply a significant part of the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona. At the same time, 59 wastewater treatment plants discharge into this basin. GREAT-ER model has been implemented in this basin in order to reproduce a static balance for this pollutant for two field campaigns data set. The results highlighted the ability of GREAT-ER to simulate the diclofenac concentrations in the Llobregat Catchment; however, this study also pointed out the urgent need for longer time series of observed data and a better knowledge of wastewater plants outputs and their parameterization in order to obtain more reliable results.
authors.affiliation: Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: joaalma2@cam.upv.es.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aldekoa
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Medici
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Osorio
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marcé
authors.forename: Damià
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barceló
authors.forename: Félix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Francés
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000032:analysis*; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013030:Spain; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D004008:Diclofenac
keywords: Catchment-scale modelling; Diclofenac; Fresh water pollution; GREAT-ER; Stationary model