Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Emerging Pollutants in Wastewater: A Challenge for Water Reuse

This review examines emerging pollutants in wastewater as a central challenge for water reuse strategies, covering contaminants present at both domestic and industrial scales. It evaluates the sustainability benefits and treatment hurdles associated with recycling wastewater to address global water scarcity.

2025 Advances in water security
Article Tier 2

Insights into Global Water Reuse Opportunities

This review examines global opportunities and challenges for reusing treated wastewater, which is becoming increasingly important as water scarcity worsens worldwide. A key concern discussed is that recycled water may contain emerging contaminants including microplastics that current treatment methods do not fully remove. The findings highlight the need for advanced treatment technologies to ensure that water reuse does not become a pathway for microplastic exposure in communities.

2023 Sustainability 59 citations
Article Tier 2

Unlocking the Potential of Reclaimed Water: Analysis of the Challenges and Market Size as a Strategic Solution for Water Scarcity in Europe

This study examines the market potential and challenges for reclaimed water as a solution to water scarcity in Europe, assessing regulatory frameworks, treatment technology gaps, and reuse applications. It identifies microplastics and pharmaceuticals as key contaminants of concern in reclaimed water and discusses standardisation needs.

2025 Challenges
Article Tier 2

The Importance of Nonconventional Water Resources under Water Scarcity

This review explores the importance of nonconventional water resources, such as treated wastewater, desalinated water, and harvested rainwater, in addressing growing global water scarcity. Researchers found that these alternative sources are becoming increasingly vital as climate change and population growth strain traditional supplies. The study highlights how expanding the use of nonconventional water can help build a more sustainable water future.

2024 Water 27 citations
Article Tier 2

A Critical Review of Water Reuse: Lessons from Prehistoric Greece for Present and Future Challenges

This review traces the history of water reuse practices from ancient Greece to modern times, highlighting how early civilizations already understood the value of treating and repurposing wastewater. Researchers compare historical approaches with current advanced technologies including membrane filtration and direct potable reuse systems. The study argues that lessons from antiquity can inform contemporary water management strategies, particularly as growing populations and climate change put increasing pressure on freshwater resources.

2023 Water 23 citations
Article Tier 2

The Treatment of Wastewater, Recycling and Reuse - Past, Present, and in the Future

This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of wastewater treatment evolution, from early disposal practices to modern recycling and reuse technologies. Researchers discuss how advanced treatment methods address emerging contaminants including microplastics and pharmaceutical residues. The study emphasizes the importance of water reuse strategies for mitigating global water scarcity and reducing environmental pollution.

2023 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) 10 citations
Article Tier 2

An Overview of Wastewater Treatment and Reuse in The Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

This paper is not about microplastics — it reviews wastewater treatment technologies and reuse regulations across Gulf Cooperation Council countries, focusing on conventional and membrane treatment methods and the policy challenges of managing freshwater scarcity.

2023 Journal of Applied Membrane Science & Technology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Addressing water resource management challenges in the context of climate change and human influence

This study identifies and documents the key challenges facing water resource management due to the combined pressures of climate change and human activity. Researchers found that droughts, floods, sea-level rise, and pollution are threatening both water quality and public health on a global scale. The study emphasizes that more sustainable approaches to water governance and infrastructure are urgently needed to address the growing gap between water supply and demand.

2023 European Journal of Sustainable Development Research 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Water reuse: a pillar of the circular water economy

This review argues that water reuse is a foundational pillar of the circular water economy, shifting the paradigm from dissipative pollutant removal toward resource recovery and closed-loop water management. The authors examine how conventional wastewater treatment approaches must be reimagined to enable sustainable water circularity.

2022 IWA Publishing eBooks 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Groundwater resources: challenges and future opportunities

Researchers reviewed the major challenges and future opportunities in managing groundwater — a critical global water resource — emphasizing that sustainable use requires integrating new technologies, improved governance, and awareness of social, economic, and environmental factors unique to each region.

2024 Scientific Reports 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Wastewater Management Techniques: A Review of Advancement on the Appropriate Wastewater Treatment Principles for Sustainability

This review examines advancements in wastewater management techniques, focusing on approaches to ensuring that effluent released into the environment meets safety standards amid growing pressures from climate change and rising global population.

2017 Environmental Management and Sustainable Development 37 citations
Article Tier 2

A sustainable brine and salt management strategy: An enabler for climate resilient water supplies for our community

Researchers examined sustainable brine and salt management strategies in Australia to address growing competition for high-quality water supplies driven by population growth, reduced rainfall, and industrial demand, outlining approaches to manage saline waste streams from desalination and water treatment.

2025 Water e-Journal
Article Tier 2

Wastewater Reuse in the EU and Southern European Countries: Policies, Barriers and Good Practices

This paper reviews EU legislation on reusing treated wastewater and examines how southern European countries like Italy, Greece, and Spain are implementing these policies. While some progress has been made, the authors argue that current EU rules do not go far enough to encourage circular water solutions, particularly in overcoming regulatory and practical barriers. The review identifies both good practices and bottlenecks that prevent wider adoption of wastewater reuse across the region.

2024 Sustainability 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Revolutionizing Wastewater Reuse: A Critical Review of Innovative Treatment Technologies for a Sustainable Energy-Water Nexus

This review critically examines innovative wastewater treatment technologies for sustainable reuse, covering advances in membrane filtration, electrochemical processes, advanced oxidation, and emerging contaminant removal including microplastics, in the context of addressing global water scarcity.

2025
Article Tier 2

Mitigating risks and maximizing sustainability of treated wastewater reuse for irrigation

This review examines the benefits and risks of using treated wastewater for crop irrigation, drawing heavily on Israel's experience as a world leader in this practice. While treated wastewater is a valuable water source, it can contain emerging contaminants including microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and pathogens that may affect soil health, crops, and human health. The authors call for better policies and global data sharing to ensure safe reuse of wastewater in agriculture.

2023 Water Research X 55 citations
Article Tier 2

Sanitary Systems: Challenges for Innovation

This paper reviews challenges for innovation in sanitation systems, including how to recover resources from waste while adapting to climate change and resource scarcity. Sanitation systems are also a major pathway for microplastic pollution to reach waterways through wastewater treatment plant effluent.

2019 Journal of Sustainable Development of Energy Water and Environment Systems 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Overcoming the Challenges of Water, Waste and Climate Change in Asian Cities

Researchers assessed urban water management capacity across 11 Asian cities, finding that solid waste treatment, drinking water access, and flood governance are top priorities, with high variation between cities suggesting strong potential for city-to-city learning and cross-sector collaboration.

2019 Environmental Management 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Benefits and limitations of recycled water systems in the building sector: a review

Researchers reviewed the benefits and challenges of recycling greywater (lightly used household water) in buildings, finding it can improve concrete workability by 12–14% and reduce strain on freshwater supplies. While promising for sustainability, widespread adoption is held back by dual-pipe infrastructure costs, water quality concerns, and gaps in regulation.

2024 Environmental Chemistry Letters 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Research on the Current Status of Global Water Pollution and Corresponding Countermeasures

This paper reviews the current state of global water pollution, identifying industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and untreated wastewater as key causes, alongside emerging pollutants like microplastics and pharmaceuticals. Case studies from Pakistan and China illustrate the range from severe contamination to successful regulatory intervention. The authors emphasize that addressing water pollution requires advanced treatment technologies, stronger regulations, and international cooperation.

2025 Highlights in Science Engineering and Technology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The Future of Municipal Wastewater Reuse Concentrate Management: Drivers, Challenges, and Opportunities

This review examines the growing challenge of managing concentrated waste streams produced when municipal wastewater is treated for reuse using reverse osmosis. These concentrates contain elevated levels of dissolved solids, metals, nutrients, and micropollutants that have passed through conventional treatment. The study discusses disposal options, monitoring needs, and emerging opportunities for recovering valuable resources from these waste streams.

2023 Environmental Science & Technology 48 citations
Article Tier 2

The challenges of water, waste and climate change in cities

Researchers assessed water, waste, and climate challenges across 45 cities and categorized them into five sustainability tiers, finding that inadequate infrastructure, poor waste management, and climate change together strain urban resilience worldwide. The study calls for long-term urban water strategies and city-to-city learning networks to accelerate the transition to sustainable water management.

2016 Environment Development and Sustainability 443 citations
Article Tier 2

Wastewater Valorization: Practice around the World at Pilot- and Full-Scale

This review summarizes pilot- and full-scale wastewater valorization practices globally, focusing on how water resource recovery facilities recover nutrients, energy, and bio-based materials from sewage and sludge to contribute to a circular economy. The authors identify effective technological strategies that are being implemented or scaled up worldwide.

2021 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Wastewater Treatment in Central Asia: Treatment Alternatives for Safe Water Reuse

This review examines wastewater treatment challenges in Central Asia, where treated wastewater is increasingly reused due to water scarcity despite inadequate treatment infrastructure. Researchers found that current practices often fail to remove contaminants of emerging concern before effluent enters surface and groundwater used for drinking and irrigation. The study explores alternative treatment technologies, including biological systems, advanced oxidation processes, and managed aquifer recharge, aimed at improving water quality for safe reuse.

2023 Sustainability 13 citations
Article Tier 2

One water – evolving roles of our precious resource and critical challenges

This article reviews evolving challenges in water resource management, including water quality threats from emerging contaminants, aging infrastructure, and climate change. Microplastics are among the contaminants of growing concern for drinking water quality worldwide.

2021 Journal of Water Supply Research and Technology—AQUA 7 citations