Fate of antibiotic resistance genes under different wastewater treatments and environmental conditions in an Algerian watershed

This study evaluates the effectiveness of two wastewater treatment plants, conventional activated sludge and advanced filtration-based Enviro-Septic, in removing antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from an Algerian watershed. The study collected 35 wastewater and 122 river samples, analyzing fecal indicators and three ARGs. Results showed that both treatments achieved reductions of 2.9 to 3 log10 for all ARGs. The study also found a strong association between ARGs and human fecal contamination, suggesting a need for strategies to mitigate their spread and protect public health.