Sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) are common in urban areas due to aging infrastructure. SSOs can introduce wastewater contaminants directly to urban watersheds, threatening public health and ecological systems. With approximately 550,000 residents, the Gwynns Falls and Jones Falls watersheds cover the western and central areas of Baltimore City. The Baltimore City Department of Public Works tracks SSOs in these watersheds; however, the impacts of SSOs and other unidentified sewer leaks on urban streams are not well understood. We propose that characterization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and measurement of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in urban streams can be used to locate leaking sewers. The objective of this work was to investigate DOM fluorescence signatures and CEC concentrations in urban streams and assess the potential input of raw wastewater. DOM was analyzed in water samples collected each month from 27 sites in these streams from March to December 2019. Absorbance spectra and fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) were used to understand changes in DOM composition across the watersheds, and a parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) was conducted with the 270 EEMs to identify fluorescent components. CECs were measured in water samples from four sites, including one urban and one suburban from each watershed, for July to December 2019. The investigated CECs included antibiotics, hormones, sucralose, and UV-filters. Sucralose, oxybenzone, and octocrylene were detected at concentrations as high as 417, 116, and 48 ng L<sup>-1</sup>, respectively, and the highest concentrations occurred at urban sites in the Gwynns Falls. The EEM-PARAFAC component scores and regional volumes (<i>e.g.,</i> tyrosine, tryptophan, fulvic acid, soluble microbial product, and humic acid like-fluorescence) were compared to CEC concentrations and SSO data. Overall, this work will combine municipal data on SSOs with spatiotemporal analysis of DOM and CECs to improve identification of leaking sewers and their effects on urban streams.

Analysis of dissolved organic matter and contaminants of emerging concern to detect leaking sewers in urban streams

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

[Author Benefits](https://scimeetings.acs.org/?utm_source=pubs_content_marketing&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=0320_MCF_NPI_Launch_Spring_Homepage&ref=pubs_content_marketing)

[How to use SciMeetings](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMeetings-ACSSpring2020-HowToGuide_M3020-Final.pdf)

[Frequently Asked Questions](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMtng_ACSNMSp2020_FAQ_M3120_Final.pdf)

ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.