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11The degradation of the antibiotic tetracycline, supplied at 100 µg L -1 in domestic 12 wastewater, was studied in an outdoor, pilot scale, high rate algal pond (HRAP). Effective 13 operation was demonstrated with the biomass concentration and the chemical oxygen 14 demand removal efficiency averaging 1.2 ± 0.1 gTSS L -1 and 80 ± 4%, respectively, across 15 all operational periods. Tetracycline removal exceeded 93% and 99% when the HRAP was 16 operated at hydraulic retention times of 4 and 7 days, respectively. Batch tests and pulse 17 testing during HRAP operation repeatedly evidenced the significance of photodegradation 18 as a removal mechanism. Sorption dominated tetracycline removal during the night, but 19 accounted for less than 6% of the total pollutant removal based on sorbed tetracycline 20 extracted from biomass. Overall, these results provide the first demonstration of efficient 21 antibiotic removal, occurring mainly via indirect photodegradation, during relevant HRAP 22 operation (low pollutant concentration, domestic wastewater and natural sunlight). 23 24

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