Advanced Technologies of Water and Wastewater Treatment

A special issue of Environments (ISSN 2076-3298).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2024 | Viewed by 17835

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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, International Hellenic University, GR-65404 Kavala, Greece
Interests: water and wastewater treatment; coagulation; adsorption; arsenic removal; fluoride removal; chromate removal; dye removal; activated carbon; graphene oxide
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With more than 2 billion people worldwide suffering from water scarcity, clean water is one of the most important natural resources on earth, whereas wastewater, which corresponds to spent water, can be considered a valuable natural resource, if treated and reused. This Special Issue aims to address the current pressing problems of natural water resource contamination, as well as wastewater treatment and reuse. Papers are invited that investigate innovative treatment options for aquatic environments. 

Topics may include, but are not limited to studies on:

Water and wastewater treatment technologies that can address the contaminants of emerging concern for the aquatic environment, such as membrane filtration, adsorption, coagulation, ion exchange, biological processes, ozonation and advanced oxidation or hybrid processes. Moreover, papers are welcome that deal with the fate and removal of microplastics, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, oxyanions, toxic dyes and several other environmental pollutants of global concern.

This Special Issue collects original research and critical reviews about scientific and technical information. Case studies describing real-life applications of novel technologies are also very welcome.

Dr. Athanasia K. Tolkou
Prof. Dr. George Z. Kyzas
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Environments is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • membrane filtration
  • adsorption
  • coagulation
  • ozonation
  • hybrid processes
  • microplastics
  • heavy metals
  • pharmaceuticals
  • oxyanions
  • dyes

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

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34 pages, 1435 KiB  
Article
Plant-Wide Models for Optimizing the Operation and Maintenance of BTEX-Contaminated Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
by Dániel Bencsik, Tanush Wadhawan, Ferenc Házi and Tamás Karches
Environments 2024, 11(5), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11050088 - 25 Apr 2024
Viewed by 248
Abstract
Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes, collectively known as BTEX compounds, are significant emerging contaminants in municipal wastewater. Stricter effluent quality regulations necessitate their removal, especially with concerns about organic micropollutant concentrations. Water scarcity further underscores the need for wastewater treatment to ensure safe [...] Read more.
Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes, collectively known as BTEX compounds, are significant emerging contaminants in municipal wastewater. Stricter effluent quality regulations necessitate their removal, especially with concerns about organic micropollutant concentrations. Water scarcity further underscores the need for wastewater treatment to ensure safe agricultural or drinking water supplies. Although biological treatment partially reduces BTEX levels through processes like biodegradation and sorption, additional purification using physico-chemical methods is crucial for substantial reduction. This paper aims to outline plant-wide simulation methods for treating BTEX-contaminated sewage and facilitating reuse, adhering to IWA Good Modelling Practice Guidelines. The model, built upon the MiniSumo process model, incorporates equations detailing BTEX metabolism and removal kinetics, informed by an extensive literature review. Using a variant of the Benchmark Simulation Model with granular activated carbon for water reuse, the study examines strategies for improving effluent quality and minimizing operational costs. These strategies include adjusting the sludge retention time and airflow to enhance BTEX degradation and stripping, respectively, and comparing maintenance approaches for the GAC tower. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies of Water and Wastewater Treatment)
21 pages, 4259 KiB  
Article
BioWin Modeling of CalPrex Phosphorus Recovery from Wastewater Predicts Substantial Nuisance Struvite Reduction
by Donald Vineyard, K.G. Karthikeyan and Phillip Barak
Environments 2024, 11(3), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11030048 - 29 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1107
Abstract
The wastewater treatment industry could benefit from new technologies for the removal and recovery of phosphorus (P). The CalPrex precipitation reactor has the potential to recover P in a readily land-applicable form by treating organic acid digestate with calcium hydroxide to produce brushite. [...] Read more.
The wastewater treatment industry could benefit from new technologies for the removal and recovery of phosphorus (P). The CalPrex precipitation reactor has the potential to recover P in a readily land-applicable form by treating organic acid digestate with calcium hydroxide to produce brushite. Using data from a pilot-scale reactor at the local Nine Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant in Madison, WI, we modified the plant’s BioWin configuration using BioWin 6.2 to model the CalPrex technology and estimate performance under a variety of conditions. We produced dose/response curves for a range of possible lime dosages to estimate the impact of reagent dosage on the quantity and composition of precipitate produced by the CalPrex reactor and characterize the effects on downstream anaerobic digester performance. CalPrex was found to capture 46% of the plant’s influent P, reducing nuisance struvite precipitates by 57% and biosolid sludge production by 14%. The CalPrex module was also tested in two predesigned plant configurations in the BioWin cabinet with the intention of testing applicability to other configurations and searching for the impacts of CalPrex on treatment train performance. This is the first work simulating a full-scale implementation of CalPrex and the first to model interactions of CalPrex with other treatment processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies of Water and Wastewater Treatment)
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13 pages, 4330 KiB  
Article
Statistical Characterization of Full-Scale Thermophilic Biological Systems to Inform Process Optimization
by Maria Cristina Collivignarelli, Stefano Bellazzi, Francesca Maria Caccamo, Marco Sordi, Barbara Crotti, Alessandro Abbà and Marco Baldi
Environments 2024, 11(2), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11020036 - 17 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1068
Abstract
This paper focuses on using a novel approach to assess the statistical variability of management data from an aerobic thermophilic biological plant (AWTP) utilizing a fluidized bed biological reactor. A proper statistical characterization of full-scale thermophilic biological systems, in fact, may inform process [...] Read more.
This paper focuses on using a novel approach to assess the statistical variability of management data from an aerobic thermophilic biological plant (AWTP) utilizing a fluidized bed biological reactor. A proper statistical characterization of full-scale thermophilic biological systems, in fact, may inform process optimization in the light of a future automation of treatment plants. We present a case study that spans the period from 2018 to 2023 and encompasses various high-strength aqueous waste (AW) in continuous mode. Key aspects of the proposed analytical approach include: (i) utilizing advanced descriptive statistics, such as violin graphs, to depict the variability of monitored parameters over five years; (ii) conducting correlation analyses (Spearman and Pearson correlation matrices) specifically focusing on nitrogenous forms within the AW; (iii) applying multivariate statistical analysis to assess the correlation between pollutants released and the plant’s energy and oxygen consumption; and (iv) reconstructing parameter trends by considering periodic and random components, thus enhancing the understanding of the system’s behavior over time. The findings presented in this paper offer valuable insights into the performance and optimization of AWTPs, potentially leading to a proper planning of the loads and consequent feeding of the plants. If properly enacted, our approach may provide a significant contribution to the field of aqueous waste management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies of Water and Wastewater Treatment)
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19 pages, 2633 KiB  
Article
Improving BioWin Modeling of Phosphorus Solubilization in Acid-Phase Digesters
by Donald Vineyard, K.G. Karthikeyan, Christy Davidson and Phillip Barak
Environments 2024, 11(2), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11020031 - 03 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1350
Abstract
BioWin 6.0 does not accurately predict phosphorus (P) speciation in acidogenic anaerobic digesters under default kinetics characterization and parameterization. The accurate modeling of acid-phase digestion is needed to predict the performance of novel nutrient recovery technologies that act on these digester effluents. The [...] Read more.
BioWin 6.0 does not accurately predict phosphorus (P) speciation in acidogenic anaerobic digesters under default kinetics characterization and parameterization. The accurate modeling of acid-phase digestion is needed to predict the performance of novel nutrient recovery technologies that act on these digester effluents. The main thrust of this work was to identify and correct the causes of inaccurate P partitioning and precipitation within BioWin models of acid-phase digestion reactors. A BioWin configuration including an organic acid digester was parameterized and recalibrated based on the known traits of acid-phase digestion and then validated against a full-scale digester in a municipal wastewater treatment plant. This digester, with pH 5.14 and 61–74% solubilized P, was predicted by BioWin default parameters to have only 27% soluble P and a net formation of P precipitates. Corrections to the polyphosphate-accumulating organism decay, endogenous product decay, hydrolysis rate, and brushite behavior resulted in 67% solubilization with no precipitate formation. Cabinet configurations showed similar behavior when modified to include an acid-phase digester under default parameters, but predictions were similarly amended by our parameter changes. This improved modeling technique should allow operators to effectively characterize acid digesters for their own treatment trains and allow engineers to predict the performance of novel nutrient recovery technologies acting on acidogenic digest. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies of Water and Wastewater Treatment)
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22 pages, 2901 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Impact of War on Concentrations of Pollutants and Heavy Metals and Their Seasonal Variations in Water and Sediments of the Tigris River in Mosul/Iraq
by Zena Altahaan and Daniel Dobslaw
Environments 2024, 11(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11010010 - 03 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1593
Abstract
The war-related contamination of water and sediment of the Tigris River within the urban area of Mosul leads to seasonally independent exceedances of the WHO limit values for Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni in water and sediments. Furthermore, exceedances consistently occur for conductivity, [...] Read more.
The war-related contamination of water and sediment of the Tigris River within the urban area of Mosul leads to seasonally independent exceedances of the WHO limit values for Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni in water and sediments. Furthermore, exceedances consistently occur for conductivity, PO43, and SO42, as well as sporadically for salinity and COD in water samples, and consistently for salinity in sediment samples, highlighting the direct impact of war (ammunition, ignition of sulfur fields), as well as indirect effects (destroyed wastewater infrastructure). Conflict-related emissions from the former conflict zone (S5–S7) are highlighted by the sudden increases in load from S4 to S5, although partially masked by the discharge of highly polluted water from the Khosr River (between S3 and S4). Due to the sorption of sediments and the presumed wind-borne discharge of highly polluted particles into the Tigris River, sediments at S10 on the southern edge of Mosul showed the highest pollutant loads. Significant statistical differences were observed through T-test analyses for E.C., TDS, salinity, COD, PO43, NO3, SO42, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cr, and Ni for water samples, as well as salinity, Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cr for the sediment samples for seasonal comparison. Since the percentage difference of water samples at S4–S7 is smaller than upstream and downstream, contaminant input is not limited to rainwater but also occurs via the year-round infiltration of highly polluted wastewater from the surrounding valleys or suburban areas, as well as presumably polluted groundwater or windblown particulate input. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies of Water and Wastewater Treatment)
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21 pages, 6523 KiB  
Article
Bacteria and Yeasts Isolated from the Environment in Biodegradation of PS and PVC Microplastics: Screening and Treatment Optimization
by Kristina Bule Možar, Martina Miloloža, Viktorija Martinjak, Matija Cvetnić, Vesna Ocelić Bulatović, Vilko Mandić, Arijeta Bafti, Šime Ukić, Dajana Kučić Grgić and Tomislav Bolanča
Environments 2023, 10(12), 207; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10120207 - 29 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2198
Abstract
Biodegradation is the most environmentally friendly and, at the same time, economically acceptable approach to removing various pollutants from the environment. However, its efficiency in removing microplastics (MPs) from the environment is generally low. The successful biodegradation of MPs requires microorganisms capable of [...] Read more.
Biodegradation is the most environmentally friendly and, at the same time, economically acceptable approach to removing various pollutants from the environment. However, its efficiency in removing microplastics (MPs) from the environment is generally low. The successful biodegradation of MPs requires microorganisms capable of producing enzymes that degrade MP polymers into compounds that the microorganisms can use as a source of carbon and energy. Therefore, scientists are screening and characterizing microorganisms that can degrade MPs more efficiently. These microorganisms are often isolated from sites contaminated with MPs because the microorganisms living there are adapted to these pollutants and should be able to better degrade MPs. In this study, five bacterial strains and five yeast strains were isolated from various environmental samples including activated sludge, compost, river sediment, and biowaste. Among them, screening was performed for bacteria and yeasts with the highest potential for the biodegradation of polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) MPs, and the bacterium Delftia acidovorans and the yeast Candida parapsilosis were identified as the best candidates. Optimization of biodegradation of the selected MPs by each of these two microorganisms was performed, focusing on the influence of cell density, agitation speed and pH of the medium. It was found that within the selected experimental ranges, high values of cell density, low agitation speed, and a slightly basic medium favored the biodegradation of PS and PVC MPs by Delftia acidovorans. In the case of Candida parapsilosis, favorable conditions also included high cell density followed by a slightly higher, but not maximum, agitation speed and a weakly acidic medium. Broad spectroscopic and imaging methods indicated that Delftia acidovorans and Candida parapsilosis better adapt to PVC MPs to use it as a carbon and energy source. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies of Water and Wastewater Treatment)
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14 pages, 2200 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Foam-Recycle on Ammonium Removal by Aerobic Denitrification Using Alcaligenes faecalis No. 4
by Kwanyong Lee and Hung-Soo Joo
Environments 2023, 10(10), 184; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10100184 - 18 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1330
Abstract
Aerobic denitrifier Alcaligenes faecalis No. 4 removes ammonium-nitrogen to nitrogen gas via denitrification in a single aerobic condition. In our previous studies, factors such as ammonium removal rate, denitrification ratio, and cell growth were tested in various conditions. The removal pathway from ammonium [...] Read more.
Aerobic denitrifier Alcaligenes faecalis No. 4 removes ammonium-nitrogen to nitrogen gas via denitrification in a single aerobic condition. In our previous studies, factors such as ammonium removal rate, denitrification ratio, and cell growth were tested in various conditions. The removal pathway from ammonium to nitrogen gas still needs to be determined in detail. To clarify this pathway of Alcaligenes faecalis No. 4, we in this study investigated the effects of several factors on ammonium removal, such as foam-recycle, initial pH, initial ammonium concentration, and airflow rate. Denitrification ratio was improved by up to 23% through foam-recycle. The improvement of the denitrification ratio was resulted by the higher enzyme activity of hydroxylamine oxidoreductase (HAO) in the produced foam, which was about 28 times higher than that in the culture broth (i.e., without foam-recycle). The stripped ammonia was significantly high (above pH 9). The initial ammonium concentration and airflow rate also influenced the denitrification ratio. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies of Water and Wastewater Treatment)
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14 pages, 2466 KiB  
Article
Removal of Cadmium and Lead from Synthetic Wastewater Using Galdieria sulphuraria
by Hari Lal Kharel, Ina Shrestha, Melissa Tan and Thinesh Selvaratnam
Environments 2023, 10(10), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10100174 - 04 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1729
Abstract
The strain of red microalgae Galdieria sulphuraria CCMEE 5587.1 was evaluated in a controlled laboratory environment for its ability to tolerate and remove two heavy metal (HM) ions: cadmium [Cd(II)] and lead [Pb(II)] in aqueous solutions as a single metal species. Various concentrations [...] Read more.
The strain of red microalgae Galdieria sulphuraria CCMEE 5587.1 was evaluated in a controlled laboratory environment for its ability to tolerate and remove two heavy metal (HM) ions: cadmium [Cd(II)] and lead [Pb(II)] in aqueous solutions as a single metal species. Various concentrations (0 mg L−1 to 5 mg L−1) of Cd and Pb ions were added to the Cyanidium medium in which the chosen microalgae strain G. sulphuraria CCMEE 5587.1 was grown at an acidic pH of 2.5. The effectiveness of G. sulphuraria CCMEE 5587.1 in tolerating and removing these two metal ions was measured by analyzing its growth profile, growth rate, nutrient removal, and metal ion removal efficiency. The growth of G. sulphuraria CCMEE 5587.1 was inhibited during the initial days of incubation, and the growth rate decreased when the HM concentration in the media was increased. Nutrient removal in the HM-containing media is comparable to that in the control media at low metal concentrations but decreases as the metal concentration rises. G. sulphuraria CCMEE 5587.1 has the highest removal efficiency for Cd and Pb in a medium containing 2.5 mg L−1 of metal ions, which is 49.80% and 25.10%, and the corresponding sorption capacity is 1.45 mg g−1 and 0.53 mg g−1 of dry biomass, respectively. These findings suggest that G. sulphuraria CCMEE 5587.1 holds potential as a viable bioremediation solution for extracting Cd and Pb from wastewater, alongside its capacity to remove nutrients concurrently. The study underscores the dual advantage of G. sulphuraria CCMEE 5587.1, making it a promising candidate for addressing heavy metal pollution in wastewater treatment processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies of Water and Wastewater Treatment)
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17 pages, 3747 KiB  
Article
Magnesium/Silica/Lanthanum@Activated Carbon for the Remediation of As(III) from Water
by Athanasia K. Tolkou and George Z. Kyzas
Environments 2023, 10(10), 171; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10100171 - 03 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1306
Abstract
In this study, activated carbon was suitably modified with Mg/Si/La and its effectiveness in removing As(III) was investigated. The structure of Magnesium/Silica/Lanthamum@Activated Carbon (Mg-Si-La@AC) was fully characterized and several parameters, such the dosage, pH, contact time, and initial As(III) concentration, were studied. Thus, [...] Read more.
In this study, activated carbon was suitably modified with Mg/Si/La and its effectiveness in removing As(III) was investigated. The structure of Magnesium/Silica/Lanthamum@Activated Carbon (Mg-Si-La@AC) was fully characterized and several parameters, such the dosage, pH, contact time, and initial As(III) concentration, were studied. Thus, the BET surface area, total pore volume, and micropore volume of Mg-Si-La@AC were measured to be 271.46 m2/g, 0.006 cm3/g and 0.52 cm3/g, respectively. The results showed that the optimal condition for the reduction in As(III) from the initial concentration of 100 μg/L to below 10 μg/L was the addition of 1.5 g/L of adsorbent at pH 7.0. Furthermore, 4 h of contact time showed >90% removal. The Langmuir isotherm model was best fitted to the experimental results, exhibiting a maximum adsorption capacity of 322 μg/g, and the PSO kinetic model was found to be the most applicable according to kinetics. Consecutive regeneration studies were carried out and the results showed that the adsorbent was effectively used up to four cycles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies of Water and Wastewater Treatment)
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16 pages, 3146 KiB  
Article
Heterogeneous Activation of Persulfate by Nickel Oxide/Strontium Carbonate Composite for Sulfamethoxazole Degradation in Water
by Despoina Jessica Skempi, Konstantinos Kouvelis, Athanasia Petala, Georgios Bampos and Zacharias Frontistis
Environments 2023, 10(8), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10080147 - 18 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1297
Abstract
The development of efficient heterogeneous persulfate activators is one of the main research topics in the wastewater treatment area. The present work deals with the heterogeneous activation of sodium persulfate (SPS) using nickel oxide/strontium carbonate (NiO/SrCO3) for the degradation of sulfamethoxazole [...] Read more.
The development of efficient heterogeneous persulfate activators is one of the main research topics in the wastewater treatment area. The present work deals with the heterogeneous activation of sodium persulfate (SPS) using nickel oxide/strontium carbonate (NiO/SrCO3) for the degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX), a representative compound from the group of antibiotics. Results showed that NiO/SrCO3 exhibited high performance towards the activation of SPS, leading to SMX elimination in brief time spans. The impact of SPS (25–100 mg/L), NiO/SrCO3 (50–250 mg/L), and SMX (0.25–3.00 mg/L) concentration, and initial pH on the decomposition of SMX was further examined. Experiments were also conducted in real matrices such as secondary effluent and bottled water, revealing the existence of retarding phenomena compared to ultrapure water. This behavior was further investigated with the addition of bicarbonates, chlorides, or humic acid in ultrapure water. It was found that organic matter significantly hampered SMX removal. The role of the main radicals (hydroxyl and sulfate radicals) was determined using appropriate radical traps (methanol and tert-butanol). These quenching experiments combined with the conducted electrochemical measurements revealed that both a radical and a non-radical mechanism contribute to the decomposition of SMX. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies of Water and Wastewater Treatment)
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13 pages, 2182 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Siphonic Roof Drainage Systems with EPANET
by Gonzalo López-Patiño, Pedro L. Iglesias-Rey, Francisco Javier Martínez-Solano and Vicente S. Fuertes-Miquel
Environments 2023, 10(7), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10070123 - 17 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1430
Abstract
Analysis and design of siphonic roof drainage systems are usually performed with specific software developed by the system’s manufacturers. An experimental study was carried out to verify if a general software for the analysis of hydraulic pressurized pipe networks can be used to [...] Read more.
Analysis and design of siphonic roof drainage systems are usually performed with specific software developed by the system’s manufacturers. An experimental study was carried out to verify if a general software for the analysis of hydraulic pressurized pipe networks can be used to analyze a siphonic roof drainage system. A test model was built and tests were conducted to compare the prototype results with simulation runs in EPANET. A new EPANET data model was developed to overcome software limitations for the siphonic drainage systems analysis. Considering the results, less than 5% of average error was observed between the measures in the real test model and the simulation results, which can be attributed to measurement error. To validate the EPANET data model, it was compared with a specific software that analyzes siphonic roof drainage systems. It can be concluded that EPANET is a software that can be used to analyze and, therefore, to design, siphonic roof drainage systems in buildings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies of Water and Wastewater Treatment)
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Review

Jump to: Research

20 pages, 1462 KiB  
Review
Water Reuse: A Comprehensive Review
by Fivos Florides, Maria Giannakoudi, Giorgos Ioannou, Despoina Lazaridou, Elissavet Lamprinidou, Nikolaos Loukoutos, Maria Spyridou, Eleftherios Tosounidis, Maria Xanthopoulou and Ioannis A. Katsoyiannis
Environments 2024, 11(4), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11040081 - 13 Apr 2024
Viewed by 563
Abstract
Water scarcity has emerged as a pressing global concern, driven by population growth, urbanization, and climate change. As freshwater resources dwindle, the imperative for water reuse becomes increasingly apparent. Reusing water presents a sustainable solution to mitigate scarcity, offering a way to maximize [...] Read more.
Water scarcity has emerged as a pressing global concern, driven by population growth, urbanization, and climate change. As freshwater resources dwindle, the imperative for water reuse becomes increasingly apparent. Reusing water presents a sustainable solution to mitigate scarcity, offering a way to maximize the efficiency of available resources. This review delves into the multifaceted landscape of water consumption and reuse, aiming to provide a comprehensive analysis and understanding of this critical issue. It explores the diverse implications of unregulated water consumption, spanning from its impacts on household routines to its profound influence on economic activities. Additionally, it scrutinizes the legislative framework surrounding water usage, shedding light on the policies and regulations in place. Furthermore, the review investigates the current status of water reuse practices in Europe, delving into various methods of water recovery. Finally, it examines public perceptions and attitudes toward recycled water, offering insights into the societal outlook on this increasingly vital aspect of water management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies of Water and Wastewater Treatment)
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29 pages, 360 KiB  
Review
The Use of Constructed Wetlands to Treat Effluents for Water Reuse
by Sandro Xavier de Campos and Manuel Soto
Environments 2024, 11(2), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11020035 - 14 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1585
Abstract
Constructed wetland systems (CWs) are technologies based on natural processes for pollutant removal and have been more and more accepted in the treatment of domestic and industrial wastewater. This study selected and reviewed articles published in the last six years involving the use [...] Read more.
Constructed wetland systems (CWs) are technologies based on natural processes for pollutant removal and have been more and more accepted in the treatment of domestic and industrial wastewater. This study selected and reviewed articles published in the last six years involving the use of different CW conceptions and their association with other technologies to treat different effluents and evaluated the quality of the effluents for reuse. From a total of 81 articles reviewed, 41 presented quantitative data on the quality of the treated effluent in relation to the requirements of the reuse regulations in different countries of the world. CWs can be used to treat gray water and runoff water, as well as domestic and industrial effluents with the purpose of reusing them. While studies on the removal of new chemical and biological substances have increased, challenges are associated with the optimization of CWs to improve the removal of pathogens and new contaminants that have appeared more recently. The potential for the improved removal of those pollutants lies in the association of CWs with conventional and advanced technologies in new configurations. We concluded that studies related to the reuse of effluents using CWs are in constant evolution, with experiments at different scales. The perspectives are promising since CWs are an economic, environmentally friendly, and efficient technology to help in the mitigation of water scarcity problems imposed by climate changes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies of Water and Wastewater Treatment)
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