Antibiotics and nutrients in an Indonesian multifunctional reservoir: Analysis, source identification, impact assessment, and management options

This research provides the first comprehensive assessment of antibiotics and nutrients in Cirata reservoir, a multifunctional tropical reservoir, linking pollution sources to ecological risks and management strategies. The research develops a framework to evaluate the occurrence, prioritization, sources, fate, transport, and impacts of antibiotics and nutrients, and to predict their future state under climate and socio-economic scenarios. Twelve antibiotics were prioritized for monitoring, with livestock farming identified as the dominant source, and point sources exceeding diffuse sources. Under an economy-driven scenario with strong climate change, Cirata reservoir may face combined pressures from nutrient enrichment and antibiotic mixtures by 2050, threatening hydropower generation, aquaculture, and irrigation. Integrated management strategies addressing both nutrients and antibiotics are most effective for mitigating these risks, although nutrient-focused strategies alone can also reduce antibiotic loads. The findings provide a scientific basis for designing targeted interventions to protect reservoir ecosystem services and contribute to achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).