To study water quality problems associated with groundwater recharge, a tertiary treatment process, consisting of coagulation, sand filtration, and granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption, was used in combination with a simulated soil aquifer treatment. The process significantly improved secondary effluent quality. GAC adsorption reduced organic substances expressed by UV-254, dissolved organic car-bon as well as partially adsorbable organic halogens. The results of the Ames test show that the secondary effluent contains a high concentration of mutagens. GAC filtration removed adsorbable organic bromine slightly whereas GAC adsorption removed mutagens effectively. The simulated soil aquifer treatment was able to further reduce UV-254, dissolved organic carbon, and adsorbable organic halogens through biodeg-radation. Adsorbable organic bromine levels were also reduced by the soil aquifer treatment process. The given reclamation technology used for groundwater recharge is of benefit to the removal of dissolved or-ganic carbon, UV-254, adsorbable organic halogens, and mutagenicity.
