Path of Science: International Electronic Scientific Journal

This review article synthesizes diverse research works addressing the critical issues surrounding water and wastewater management on a global scale. We analyzed the challenges, innovations, and valuable lessons learned from these studies, providing a holistic view of sustainable water and wastewater management practices. The paper begins by examining the challenges of population growth, climate change, pollution, and emerging contaminants. It discusses the importance of public awareness, waste disposal management, and water conservation in mitigating these challenges. Furthermore, the review explores the concept of green infrastructure in wastewater treatment, highlighting various technologies such as anaerobic digestion, membrane filtration, and nutrient recovery. It presents case studies of successful implementations of green infrastructure in water and wastewater treatment facilities, showcasing environmental, social, and economic benefits. In contrast, the paper delves into case studies of unsuccessful projects, offering insights into their failures, including improper planning, inadequate funding, weak regulatory frameworks, and insufficient governance structures.

Analouei, R., Taheriyoun, M., & Amin, M. T. (2022). Dynamic Failure Risk Assessment of Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Plant: An Industrial Case Study. Safety, 8(4), 79. doi: 10.3390/safety8040079

Attari, S. Z. (2014). Perceptions of water use. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(14), 5129–5134. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1316402111

Bakir, H. A. (2001). Sustainable wastewater management for small communities in the Middle East and North Africa. Journal of Environmental Management, 61(4), 319–328. doi: 10.1006/jema.2000.0414

Büttner, O., Jawitz, J. W., Birk, S., & Borchardt, D. (2022). Why wastewater treatment fails to protect stream ecosystems in Europe. Water Research, 217, 118382. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118382

Caliman, F. A., & Gavrilescu, M. (2009). Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care Products and Endocrine Disrupting Agents in the Environment – A Review. CLEAN – Soil, Air, Water, 37(4–5), 277–303. doi: 10.1002/clen.200900038

Calisto, V., & Esteves, V. I. (2009). Psychiatric pharmaceuticals in the environment. Chemosphere, 77(10), 1257–1274. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.09.021

Castiglioni, S., Zuccato, E., Chiabrando, C., Fanelli, R., & Bagnati, R. (2008). Mass spectrometric analysis of illicit drugs in wastewater and surface water. Mass Spectrometry Reviews, 27(4), 378–394. doi: 10.1002/mas.20168

Chandrappa, R., & Das, D. B. (2014). Sustainable Water Engineering. doi: 10.1002/9781118541036

Daigger, G. T. (2008). New Approaches and Technologies for Wastewater Management. The Bridge, 38(3).

Daughton, C. G. (2005). "Emerging" chemicals as pollutants in the environment: A 21st Century perspective. Renewable Resources Journal, 23(4), 6–23.

Delgado, J. A., Groffman, P. M., Nearing, M. A., Goddard, T., Reicosky, D., Lal, R., Kitchen, N. R., Rice, C. W., Towery, D., & Salon, P. (2011). Conservation practices to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 66(4), 118A-129A. doi: 10.2489/jswc.66.4.118a

DeOreo, William B. (2016). Residential End Uses of Water (Version 2). Retrieved from https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/WRF_REU2016.pdf

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs. (2019). Measures to reduce personal water use. Retrieved from https://consult.defra.gov.uk/water/measures-to-reduce-personal-water-use

Eggen, R. I. L., Behra, R., Burkhardt-Holm, P., Escher, B. I., & Schweigert, N. (2004). Peer Reviewed: Challenges in Ecotoxicology. Environmental Science & Technology, 38(3), 58A-64A. doi: 10.1021/es040349c

Environment Agency. (2010). The Environment Agency's position on metaldehyde. Available from http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/static/documents/Business/Metaldehyde_position_statement.doc-27.1.10.pdf

Fent, K., Weston, A., & Caminada, D. (2006). Ecotoxicology of human pharmaceuticals. Aquatic Toxicology, 76(2), 122–159. doi: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2005.09.009

Glassmeyer, S. T., Hinchey, E. K., Boehme, S. E., Daughton, C. G., Ruhoy, I. S., Conerly, O., Daniels, R. L., Lauer, L., McCarthy, M., Nettesheim, T. G., Sykes, K., & Thompson, V. G. (2009). Disposal practices for unwanted residential medications in the United States. Environment International, 35(3), 566–572. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2008.10.007

Heberer, T. (2002). Occurrence, fate, and removal of pharmaceutical residues in the aquatic environment: a review of recent research data. Toxicology Letters, 131(1–2), 5–17. doi: 10.1016/s0378-4274(02)00041-3

Hermoso, V., Abell, R., Linke, S., & Boon, P. (2016). The role of protected areas for freshwater biodiversity conservation: challenges and opportunities in a rapidly changing world. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 26(S1), 3–11. doi: 10.1002/aqc.2681

Jimenez, B., & Asano, T. (2015). Water Reuse: An International Survey of current practice, issues and needs. Water Intelligence Online, 7(0), 9781780401881–9781780401881. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/9781780401881

Kolpin, D. W., Furlong, E. T., Meyer, M. T., Thurman, E. M., Zaugg, S. D., Barber, L. B., & Buxton, H. T. (2002). Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, and Other Organic Wastewater Contaminants in U.S. Streams, 1999−2000: A National Reconnaissance. Environmental Science & Technology, 36(6), 1202–1211. doi: 10.1021/es011055j

Kurunthachalam, S. K. (2014). Water Conservation and Sustainability: An Utmost Importance. Journal of Waste Water Treatment & Analysis, 05(02). doi: 10.4172/2157-7587.1000e117

Lakai, L. I. (2020). Public water and waste management in Nigeria: legal framework, obstacles and challenges. KAS African Law Study Library - Librairie Africaine d’Etudes Juridiques, 7(4), 631–641. doi: 10.5771/2363-6262-2020-4-631

Lapworth, D. J., Baran, N., Stuart, M. E., & Ward, R. S. (2012). Emerging organic contaminants in groundwater: A review of sources, fate and occurrence. Environmental Pollution, 163, 287–303. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.12.034

Let'stute. (2019, March 4). What is waste Management? Retrieved from https://youtu.be/K6ppCC3lboU.

Liang, X., & van Dijk, M. P. (2010). Financial and economic feasibility of decentralised wastewater reuse systems in Beijing. Water Science and Technology, 61(8), 1965–1973. doi: 10.2166/wst.2010.105

Liang, X., & Yue, X. (2021). Challenges facing the management of wastewater treatment systems in Chinese rural areas. Water Science and Technology, 84(6), 1518–1526. doi: 10.2166/wst.2021.332

Loos, R., Gawlik, B. M., Locoro, G., Rimaviciute, E., Contini, S., & Bidoglio, G. (2009). EU-wide survey of polar organic persistent pollutants in European river waters. Environmental Pollution, 157(2), 561–568. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2008.09.020

Massoud, M. A., Tarhini, A., & Nasr, J. A. (2009). Decentralised approaches to wastewater treatment and management: Applicability in developing countries. Journal of Environmental Management, 90(1), 652–659. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.07.001

Mayer, P. W., DeOreo, W. B. (1999). Residential End Uses of Water. Retrieved from https://irp.cdn-website.com/bd62ee4a/files/uploaded/WRF%20%281999%29%20Residential%20End%20Uses%20of%20Water.pdf

McGowan, J. (2013). Case study: Facility upgrades help Cranbrook enhance agricultural production. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from https://greenmunicipalfund.ca/case-studies/case-study-facility-upgrades-help-cranbrook-enhance-agricultural-production

Neoh, C. H., Noor, Z. Z., Mutamim, N. S. A., & Lim, C. K. (2016). Green technology in wastewater treatment technologies: Integration of membrane bioreactor with various wastewater treatment systems. Chemical Engineering Journal, 283, 582–594. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2015.07.060

Northwest River Forecast Center (n. d.). Description of the Hydrologic Cycle. Retrieved August 10, 2023, from https://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/info/water_cycle/hydrology.cgi

Oelofse, S. H. H., Godfrey, L. (2008). Defining waste in South Africa: Moving beyond the age of 'waste': science policy. South African Journal of Science of Science, 104(7), 242–246.

Pal, A., Gin, K. Y.-H., Lin, A. Y.-C., & Reinhard, M. (2010). Impacts of emerging organic contaminants on freshwater resources: Review of recent occurrences, sources, fate and effects. Science of The Total Environment, 408(24), 6062–6069. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.09.026

Pullishy, P. (2013). Case study: Energy-efficient upgrades reduce operating costs at Wetaskiwin Wastewater Treatment Plant. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from https://greenmunicipalfund.ca/case-studies/case-study-energy-efficient-upgrades-reduce-operating-costs-wetaskiwin-wastewater

The Groundwater Foundation. (2023). Potential threats to groundwater. Retrieved from https://groundwater.org

TVC News Nigeria. (2019, July 26). Waste management, an environmental challenge in Nigeria. Retrieved June 10, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3720xC2MCM&ab_channel=TVCNewsNigeria

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2004, September). Primer for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Systems. Retrieved from https://www3.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/primer.pdf

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2019, February). Emerging technologies for wastewater treatment and in-plant wet weather management. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2019-02/documents/emerging-tech-wastewater-treatment-management.pdf

Windsor, F. M., Ormerod, S. J., & Tyler, C. R. (2017). Endocrine disruption in aquatic systems: up‐scaling research to address ecological consequences. Biological Reviews, 93(1), 626–641. doi: 10.1111/brv.12360

Zhang, Y., Geißen, S.-U., & Gal, C. (2008). Carbamazepine and diclofenac: Removal in wastewater treatment plants and occurrence in water bodies. Chemosphere, 73(8), 1151–1161. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.07.086

1. Analouei, R., Taheriyoun, M., & Amin, M. T. (2022). Dynamic Failure Risk Assessment of Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Plant: An Industrial Case Study. Safety, 8(4), 79. doi: 10.3390/safety8040079

2. Attari, S. Z. (2014). Perceptions of water use. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(14), 5129–5134. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1316402111

3. Bakir, H. A. (2001). Sustainable wastewater management for small communities in the Middle East and North Africa. Journal of Environmental Management, 61(4), 319–328. doi: 10.1006/jema.2000.0414

4. Büttner, O., Jawitz, J. W., Birk, S., & Borchardt, D. (2022). Why wastewater treatment fails to protect stream ecosystems in Europe. Water Research, 217, 118382. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118382

5. Caliman, F. A., & Gavrilescu, M. (2009). Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care Products and Endocrine Disrupting Agents in the Environment – A Review. CLEAN – Soil, Air, Water, 37(4–5), 277–303. doi: 10.1002/clen.200900038

6. Calisto, V., & Esteves, V. I. (2009). Psychiatric pharmaceuticals in the environment. Chemosphere, 77(10), 1257–1274. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.09.021

7. Castiglioni, S., Zuccato, E., Chiabrando, C., Fanelli, R., & Bagnati, R. (2008). Mass spectrometric analysis of illicit drugs in wastewater and surface water. Mass Spectrometry Reviews, 27(4), 378–394. doi: 10.1002/mas.20168

8. Chandrappa, R., & Das, D. B. (2014). Sustainable Water Engineering. doi: 10.1002/9781118541036

9. Daigger, G. T. (2008). New Approaches and Technologies for Wastewater Management. The Bridge, 38(3).

10. Daughton, C. G. (2005). "Emerging" chemicals as pollutants in the environment: A 21st Century perspective. Renewable Resources Journal, 23(4), 6–23.

11. Delgado, J. A., Groffman, P. M., Nearing, M. A., Goddard, T., Reicosky, D., Lal, R., Kitchen, N. R., Rice, C. W., Towery, D., & Salon, P. (2011). Conservation practices to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 66(4), 118A-129A. doi: 10.2489/jswc.66.4.118a

12. DeOreo, William B. (2016). Residential End Uses of Water (Version 2). Retrieved from https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/WRF_REU2016.pdf

13. Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs. (2019). Measures to reduce personal water use. Retrieved from https://consult.defra.gov.uk/water/measures-to-reduce-personal-water-use

14. Eggen, R. I. L., Behra, R., Burkhardt-Holm, P., Escher, B. I., & Schweigert, N. (2004). Peer Reviewed: Challenges in Ecotoxicology. Environmental Science & Technology, 38(3), 58A-64A. doi: 10.1021/es040349c

15. Environment Agency. (2010). The Environment Agency's position on metaldehyde. Available from http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/static/documents/Business/Metaldehyde_position_statement.doc-27.1.10.pdf

16. Fent, K., Weston, A., & Caminada, D. (2006). Ecotoxicology of human pharmaceuticals. Aquatic Toxicology, 76(2), 122–159. doi: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2005.09.009

17. Glassmeyer, S. T., Hinchey, E. K., Boehme, S. E., Daughton, C. G., Ruhoy, I. S., Conerly, O., Daniels, R. L., Lauer, L., McCarthy, M., Nettesheim, T. G., Sykes, K., & Thompson, V. G. (2009). Disposal practices for unwanted residential medications in the United States. Environment International, 35(3), 566–572. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2008.10.007

18. Heberer, T. (2002). Occurrence, fate, and removal of pharmaceutical residues in the aquatic environment: a review of recent research data. Toxicology Letters, 131(1–2), 5–17. doi: 10.1016/s0378-4274(02)00041-3

19. Hermoso, V., Abell, R., Linke, S., & Boon, P. (2016). The role of protected areas for freshwater biodiversity conservation: challenges and opportunities in a rapidly changing world. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 26(S1), 3–11. doi: 10.1002/aqc.2681

20. Jimenez, B., & Asano, T. (2015). Water Reuse: An International Survey of current practice, issues and needs. Water Intelligence Online, 7(0), 9781780401881–9781780401881. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/9781780401881

21. Kolpin, D. W., Furlong, E. T., Meyer, M. T., Thurman, E. M., Zaugg, S. D., Barber, L. B., & Buxton, H. T. (2002). Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, and Other Organic Wastewater Contaminants in U.S. Streams, 1999−2000: A National Reconnaissance. Environmental Science & Technology, 36(6), 1202–1211. doi: 10.1021/es011055j

22. Kurunthachalam, S. K. (2014). Water Conservation and Sustainability: An Utmost Importance. Journal of Waste Water Treatment & Analysis, 05(02). doi: 10.4172/2157-7587.1000e117

23. Lakai, L. I. (2020). Public water and waste management in Nigeria: legal framework, obstacles and challenges. KAS African Law Study Library - Librairie Africaine d’Etudes Juridiques, 7(4), 631–641. doi: 10.5771/2363-6262-2020-4-631

24. Lapworth, D. J., Baran, N., Stuart, M. E., & Ward, R. S. (2012). Emerging organic contaminants in groundwater: A review of sources, fate and occurrence. Environmental Pollution, 163, 287–303. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.12.034

25. Let'stute. (2019, March 4). What is waste Management? Retrieved from https://youtu.be/K6ppCC3lboU.

26. Liang, X., & van Dijk, M. P. (2010). Financial and economic feasibility of decentralised wastewater reuse systems in Beijing. Water Science and Technology, 61(8), 1965–1973. doi: 10.2166/wst.2010.105

27. Liang, X., & Yue, X. (2021). Challenges facing the management of wastewater treatment systems in Chinese rural areas. Water Science and Technology, 84(6), 1518–1526. doi: 10.2166/wst.2021.332

28. Loos, R., Gawlik, B. M., Locoro, G., Rimaviciute, E., Contini, S., & Bidoglio, G. (2009). EU-wide survey of polar organic persistent pollutants in European river waters. Environmental Pollution, 157(2), 561–568. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2008.09.020

29. Massoud, M. A., Tarhini, A., & Nasr, J. A. (2009). Decentralised approaches to wastewater treatment and management: Applicability in developing countries. Journal of Environmental Management, 90(1), 652–659. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.07.001

30. Mayer, P. W., DeOreo, W. B. (1999). Residential End Uses of Water. Retrieved from https://irp.cdn-website.com/bd62ee4a/files/uploaded/WRF%20%281999%29%20Residential%20End%20Uses%20of%20Water.pdf

31. McGowan, J. (2013). Case study: Facility upgrades help Cranbrook enhance agricultural production. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from https://greenmunicipalfund.ca/case-studies/case-study-facility-upgrades-help-cranbrook-enhance-agricultural-production

32. Neoh, C. H., Noor, Z. Z., Mutamim, N. S. A., & Lim, C. K. (2016). Green technology in wastewater treatment technologies: Integration of membrane bioreactor with various wastewater treatment systems. Chemical Engineering Journal, 283, 582–594. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2015.07.060

33. Northwest River Forecast Center (n. d.). Description of the Hydrologic Cycle. Retrieved August 10, 2023, from https://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/info/water_cycle/hydrology.cgi

34. Oelofse, S. H. H., Godfrey, L. (2008). Defining waste in South Africa: Moving beyond the age of 'waste': science policy. South African Journal of Science of Science, 104(7), 242–246.

35. Pal, A., Gin, K. Y.-H., Lin, A. Y.-C., & Reinhard, M. (2010). Impacts of emerging organic contaminants on freshwater resources: Review of recent occurrences, sources, fate and effects. Science of The Total Environment, 408(24), 6062–6069. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.09.026

36. Pullishy, P. (2013). Case study: Energy-efficient upgrades reduce operating costs at Wetaskiwin Wastewater Treatment Plant. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from https://greenmunicipalfund.ca/case-studies/case-study-energy-efficient-upgrades-reduce-operating-costs-wetaskiwin-wastewater

37. The Groundwater Foundation. (2023). Potential threats to groundwater. Retrieved from https://groundwater.org

38. TVC News Nigeria. (2019, July 26). Waste management, an environmental challenge in Nigeria. Retrieved June 10, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3720xC2MCM&ab_channel=TVCNewsNigeria

39. United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2004, September). Primer for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Systems. Retrieved from https://www3.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/primer.pdf

40. United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2019, February). Emerging technologies for wastewater treatment and in-plant wet weather management. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2019-02/documents/emerging-tech-wastewater-treatment-management.pdf

41. Windsor, F. M., Ormerod, S. J., & Tyler, C. R. (2017). Endocrine disruption in aquatic systems: up‐scaling research to address ecological consequences. Biological Reviews, 93(1), 626–641. doi: 10.1111/brv.12360

42. Zhang, Y., Geißen, S.-U., & Gal, C. (2008). Carbamazepine and diclofenac: Removal in wastewater treatment plants and occurrence in water bodies. Chemosphere, 73(8), 1151–1161. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.07.086