The presence of antimicrobials in wastewater treatment plant discharges, among other pharmaceutical compounds (PhCs), raises concerns regarding their contribution to health and aquatic ecological implications, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Two campaigns of grab wastewater samples were collected, and one sample of drinking water was collected. Water samples were analyzed using LC-MS/MS. Risk Quotients (RQRD) were calculated for the detected antibiotics as risk assessments for AMR. Sulfamethoxazole (SMX), trimethoprim (TMP), diclofenac (DIC), and carbamazepine (CBZ) were the most frequently analytically measured pharmaceuticals in all water samples. West Nablus WWTP delivered variable removal efficiency in both campaigns. However, it was noticed that there was a significant spatial difference between the WWTP effluent discharge point and the Anabta-Zomar point of sampling directly after the rainy season. Ofloxacin (OFX) had an RQRD > 1 in WWTP effluent discharges and surface run-offs along the sampling point and is found to pose a risk for AMR development. Drinking water is found to be polluted with carbamazepine (CBZ), diclofenac (DIC), ciprofloxacin (CIP), and sulfamethoxazole (SMX). The above findings are in line with the worldwide aquatic context concerning pharmaceutical contaminants. Additionally, they highlight the necessity for comprehensive assessments of the ecological risks posed by pharmaceutical residues and their possible role in promoting antimicrobial resistance, especially regarding the antibiotics identified in this research.

The presence of antimicrobials in wastewater treatment plant discharges, among other pharmaceutical compounds (PhCs), raises concerns regarding their contribution to health and aquatic ecological implications, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Two campaigns of grab wastewater samples were collected, and one sample of drinking water was collected. Water samples were analyzed using LC-MS/MS. Risk Quotients (RQRD) were calculated for the detected antibiotics as risk assessments for AMR. Sulfamethoxazole (SMX), trimethoprim (TMP), diclofenac (DIC), and carbamazepine (CBZ) were the most frequently analytically measured pharmaceuticals in all water samples. West Nablus WWTP delivered variable removal efficiency in both campaigns. However, it was noticed that there was a significant spatial difference between the WWTP effluent discharge point and the Anabta-Zomar point of sampling directly after the rainy season. Ofloxacin (OFX) had an RQRD > 1 in WWTP effluent discharges and surface run-offs along the sampling point and is found to pose a risk for AMR development. Drinking water is found to be polluted with carbamazepine (CBZ), diclofenac (DIC), ciprofloxacin (CIP), and sulfamethoxazole (SMX). The above findings are in line with the worldwide aquatic context concerning pharmaceutical contaminants. Additionally, they highlight the necessity for comprehensive assessments of the ecological risks posed by pharmaceutical residues and their possible role in promoting antimicrobial resistance, especially regarding the antibiotics identified in this research.