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Environments
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Research Progress in Groundwater Contamination and Treatment
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Research Progress in Groundwater Contamination and Treatment

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 July 2025 | Viewed by 9454

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Panagiotis Papazotos

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Guest Editor
School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Athens, Greece
Interests: potentially toxic elements; water-rock/soil interaction; environmental geochemistry; stables isotopes tracing; hydrogeochemical processes
Dr. Eleni Vasileiou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Athens, Greece
Interests: mine water; water-rock/soil Interaction; environmental hydrogeology; microplastics in water resources; hydrogeochemical processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Eleni Gianni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environment, Ionian University, 29100 Zakynthos, Greece
Interests: mineralogical characterization; clay, clay mineral, and other natural material used in cosmetics, pharmaceutical, energy, and environmental applications; nanocomposites’ synthesis and characterization; molecular simulations (quantum and classical) of clay minerals interacted with organic or inorganic materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Simeone Chianese

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81031 Aversa, Italy
Interests: advanced oxidation processes for wastewater treatment; micro-pollutant removal from water and wastewater; innovative technologies for groundwater remediation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Globally, groundwater contamination poses significant environmental and public health concerns, thus necessitating ongoing research efforts to understand its causes, impacts, and effective remediation strategies. Research progress in groundwater contamination and treatment is driven by the imperative to safeguard and conserve this vital resource for current and future generations. Researchers strive to ensure the sustainable use and protection of groundwater resources through advancements in understanding contamination processes, the development of innovative treatment technologies, and the enhancement of monitoring and management strategies. This Special Issue (SI) seeks to investigate current research advancements in distinguishing the sources and pathways of groundwater contamination, as well as to delve into remediation techniques and strategies, with a focus on evaluating the effectiveness and feasibility of various treatment methods.

The topics covered by this SI include, but they are not limited to, the following:

  • Sources and pathways of groundwater contamination;
  • Occurrence, mobilization, fate, and transport of contaminants/pollutants (e.g., potentially toxic elements—PTEs—etc.) in groundwater;
  • Micro- and nano-plastics as emerging contaminants in groundwater resources;
  • Innovative monitoring techniques;
  • Monitoring and occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs);
  • Techniques/methodologies for tracing sources of groundwater contamination/pollution;
  • Recent developments, breakthroughs, and challenges in groundwater treatment technologies;
  • Remediation technologies and strategies;
  • Scientometric analysis in the progress of groundwater research.

We encourage the submission of research articles, reviews, case studies, and technical notes that will advance knowledge in the field of environmental science, with a particular focus on research progress in groundwater contamination and treatment. By disseminating cutting-edge research findings and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, our goal is to enhance the foundation of collective knowledge and support well-informed decision-making regarding the protection and management of groundwater resources.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Panagiotis Papazotos
Dr. Eleni Vasileiou
Dr. Eleni Gianni
Dr. Simeone Chianese
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

  • potentially toxic elements
  • contaminants of emerging concern
  • environmental tracers
  • remediation
  • groundwater quality
  • contamination
  • monitoring

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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13 pages, 620 KiB  
Article
Assessing Environmental Risk Posed by Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Shallow Lakes, Florida, USA—Part B
by Elzbieta Bialkowska-Jelinska, Philip van Beynen and Laurent Calcul
Environments 2025, 12(7), 231; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12070231 - 8 Jul 2025
Viewed by 562
Abstract
The use of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) is steadily growing as the world’s population both increases and ages. Many of these products are released into the environment via municipal wastewater treatment plants and onsite wastewater treatment systems (septic tanks). Consequently, it [...] Read more.
The use of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) is steadily growing as the world’s population both increases and ages. Many of these products are released into the environment via municipal wastewater treatment plants and onsite wastewater treatment systems (septic tanks). Consequently, it is essential to ascertain whether these contaminants pose any risk to aquatic organisms who live in the water bodies receiving this waste. Risk quotients (RQ) are a commonly used method to do so. For our pilot study, we undertook such analysis for three trophic levels: algae, crustaceans, and fish from two small lakes, one fed by septic tanks and the other not. This research was conducted in 2021 from the end of the dry season and through most of the wet season in west central Florida, USA. Of the 14 PPCPs measured, six had RQs that posed a risk to all three trophic levels. This risk increased during the wet season. Both lakes, regardless of whether they directly received PPCPs from septic tanks or not, had some level of risk. However, the lake without septic tanks had a smaller risk, both in elevated RQs and the occurrence to the various species. Of the PPCPs measured, DEET, caffeine, and theophylline posed the greatest risk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress in Groundwater Contamination and Treatment)
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22 pages, 2211 KiB  
Article
Seasonality of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Shallow Lakes, Florida, USA—Part A
by Elzbieta Bialkowska-Jelinska, Philip van Beynen and Laurent Calcul
Environments 2025, 12(7), 219; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12070219 - 27 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 611
Abstract
Shallow lakes are highly vulnerable to pollution due to their small water volume. Those that receive effluent from the drainfields of onsite wastewater treatment systems (septic tanks) may contain pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) that escaped removal during treatment. This study examined [...] Read more.
Shallow lakes are highly vulnerable to pollution due to their small water volume. Those that receive effluent from the drainfields of onsite wastewater treatment systems (septic tanks) may contain pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) that escaped removal during treatment. This study examined the effects of seasonal rainfall variability on the assemblages and concentrations of fourteen PPCPs in two shallow lakes in West–Central Florida, USA: one surrounded by residents equipped with septic tanks and the other located within a nature preserve. Water samples were collected weekly during an 18-week interval from April to August 2021. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses revealed the omnipresence of five PPCPs: theophylline, caffeine, cotinine, DEET, and testosterone, although acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and sulfamethoxazole were also common. Of all the PPCPs detected, theophylline, DEET, and acetaminophen concentrations were higher during the wet season in the septic tank-influenced lake, while caffeine, cotinine, and testosterone concentrations decreased. In the lake located in the nature preserve, theophylline, caffeine, and acetaminophen levels increased in the wet season. In contrast, cotinine, DEET, and testosterone levels decreased. Overall, more compounds were detected during the wet season, with highly hydrophobic PPCPs (fluoxetine, atorvastatin, and octocrylene) only present during this period. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress in Groundwater Contamination and Treatment)
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23 pages, 2972 KiB  
Article
Groundwater Quality in a Rural and Urbanized Region in Limpopo Province, South Africa
by Ebrahim Shokoohi and Ngoni Moyo
Environments 2025, 12(6), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12060174 - 23 May 2025
Viewed by 663
Abstract
The Limpopo Province, situated in the northern part of South Africa, is mainly comprising rural areas that lack adequate facilities for drinking water. Boreholes are the main source of drinking water in rural and urbanized areas of Limpopo Province. Sixty-three water samples, from [...] Read more.
The Limpopo Province, situated in the northern part of South Africa, is mainly comprising rural areas that lack adequate facilities for drinking water. Boreholes are the main source of drinking water in rural and urbanized areas of Limpopo Province. Sixty-three water samples, from three locations in Limpopo Province, namely Mankweng, Dalmada, and Polokwane, plus two samples from a river in Magoebaskloof and still water as controls, were collected and subjected to analysis. The Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR) analysis ranged from 1.4 to 35.6, revealing that 25% of the samples from Mankweng bear low quality with a high amount of sodium. Piper plot showed that two major water types exist in the samples, 33% and 67% of the water samples were of Na-Cl and Ca-Cl types, respectively. To identify the leading natural and anthropogenic processes causing variation in groundwater chemistry, principal component analysis (PCA) was used. The most detected heavy metal was V (vanadium) with 0.00 to 0.59 (mg/mL). The PCA results grouped all water samples from Dalmada together. However, the water samples from Mankweng were divided into three groups by PCA, with borehole samples showing a correlation with heavy metals. In conclusion, the study revealed that natural and anthropogenic activities cause groundwater variation in the Limpopo Province. All the boreholes sampled showed the presence of total coliform, but no E. coli was detected. In addition, regarding microbial contamination, water samples were suitable for drinking and irrigation purposes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress in Groundwater Contamination and Treatment)
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19 pages, 2939 KiB  
Article
Improving Groundwater Quality Through Biosphere Reserve Management: Insights from the Anaga Reserve, Tenerife
by Joselin S. Rodríguez-Alcántara, Noelia Cruz-Pérez, Jesica Rodríguez-Martín, Alejandro García-Gil, Jelena Koritnik and Juan C. Santamarta
Environments 2025, 12(2), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12020053 - 5 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1154
Abstract
The Canary Islands, an outermost Spanish territory in the Atlantic Ocean, are renowned for their subtropical climate and significant tourism. However, substantial areas are designated for environmental protection, notably the Anaga Rural Park in Tenerife, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which is the focus [...] Read more.
The Canary Islands, an outermost Spanish territory in the Atlantic Ocean, are renowned for their subtropical climate and significant tourism. However, substantial areas are designated for environmental protection, notably the Anaga Rural Park in Tenerife, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which is the focus of this study. This research investigates the influence of Biosphere Reserve designation on groundwater quality, a crucial resource for Tenerife’s population. We analysed the physicochemical properties of groundwater within the Anaga region over a decade (2007–2016). Our findings demonstrate that groundwater quality consistently meets regulatory standards, exhibiting no evidence of pollution. This high quality is attributed to several factors, including the low population density, limited tourism impact within the reserve, and crucially, the effective soil protection measures implemented within the Biosphere Reserve. The compact geology of the region further limits infiltration and potential pollution. The sustained high quality of groundwater, even in the absence of detectable pollution, highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring to maintain this valuable resource and support local biodiversity. This case study provides a valuable model for sustainable groundwater management and soil protection strategies in other areas of Tenerife and beyond. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress in Groundwater Contamination and Treatment)
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37 pages, 5371 KiB  
Article
Coupling Advanced Geo-Environmental Indices for the Evaluation of Groundwater Quality: A Case Study in NE Peloponnese, Greece
by Panagiotis Papazotos, Maria Vlachomitrou, Despoina Psarraki, Eleni Vasileiou and Maria Perraki
Environments 2025, 12(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12010014 - 4 Jan 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2244
Abstract
Water and its management have played a pivotal role in the evolution of organisms and civilizations, fulfilling essential roles in personal use, industry, irrigation, and drinking from ancient times to the present. This study seeks to evaluate groundwater quality for irrigation and drinking [...] Read more.
Water and its management have played a pivotal role in the evolution of organisms and civilizations, fulfilling essential roles in personal use, industry, irrigation, and drinking from ancient times to the present. This study seeks to evaluate groundwater quality for irrigation and drinking in the Northern Peloponnese region, specifically the wells of Loutraki and Schinos areas and the springs of the Gerania Mountains (Mts.), using geo-environmental indices and ionic ratios. For the first time, geo-environmental indices have been applied to a region where groundwater serves multiple purposes, addressing the challenge of understanding their dynamics to optimize their application in environmental science and groundwater pollution research. To achieve this, 68 groundwater samples from the study area were utilized, and a total of 25 geo-environmental indices were calculated to assess water quality. These indices examined: (i) drinking suitability (NPI, RI, PIG, WQI, and WPI), (ii) irrigation suitability (SAR, KR, %Na, PS, MAR, RSC, SSP, TH, PI, IWQI, and TDS), (iii) potentially toxic element (PTE) loadings (Cd, HEI, and HPI), and (iv) major hydrogeochemical processes, expressed as ionic ratios (Ca/Mg, Ca/SO4, Ca/Na, Cl/NO3, Cl/HCO3, and Si/NO3). Data processing involved descriptive statistics, hydrogeochemical bivariate plots, Spearman correlation coefficients, and multivariate statistical analyses, including factor analysis (FA) and R-mode hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). Results revealed that all groundwater samples (100%) from the Loutraki area and the Gerania Mts. were of good quality for both drinking and irrigation purposes. In contrast, groundwater from the Schinos area exhibited lower quality, with most samples (93.9%) considered suitable only for irrigation. The deterioration in the coastal aquifer of the Schinos area is attributed to elevated concentrations of Cl−, Na+, NO3−, As, and Cr resulting from salinization and relatively limited anthropogenic influences. The study highlights that relying on individual geo-environmental indices can yield misleading results due to their dependence on factors such as researcher expertise, methodological choices, and the indices’ inherent limitations. Consequently, this research emphasizes the necessity of combining indices to enhance the reliability, accuracy, and robustness of groundwater quality assessments and hydrogeochemical evaluations. Last but not least, the findings demonstrate that calculating all available geo-environmental indices is unnecessary. Instead, selecting a subset of indices that either reflect the impact of specific elemental concentrations or can be effectively integrated with others is sufficient. This streamlined approach addresses challenges in optimizing geo-environmental index applications and contributes to improved groundwater resource management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress in Groundwater Contamination and Treatment)
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24 pages, 8452 KiB  
Article
Pipeline-Related Residential Benzene Exposure and Groundwater Natural Attenuation Capacity in the Eastern Niger Delta, Nigeria
by Dogo Lawrence Aleku, Harald Biester and Thomas Pichler
Environments 2024, 11(10), 221; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11100221 - 11 Oct 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2102
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the presence of benzene in the ground and drinking water in the eastern Niger Delta, where multiple oil and gas production facilities are present. Samples from drinking water wells were collected for measurements of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, [...] Read more.
This study was conducted to investigate the presence of benzene in the ground and drinking water in the eastern Niger Delta, where multiple oil and gas production facilities are present. Samples from drinking water wells were collected for measurements of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX). Additionally, the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration was determined for the first time to establish the groundwater’s total hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon load. The groundwater BTEX and benzene levels were up to 3904 µg/L and 3500 µg/L, respectively. DOC concentrations were up to 49 mg/L. The highest benzene concentrations were detected in wells near an underground petroleum pipeline. However, the concentrations decreased with distance from the pipeline to levels less than 0.1 µg/L. Despite benzene contamination, the aquifer has shown promising aerobic attenuation potential, having up to a 7.5 (95%) mg/L DO level and 2.11 mg/L BTEX biodegradation capacity for DO. However, the high groundwater temperature of up to 32.5 °C may weaken attenuation. The benzene and BTEX point attenuation rates ranged from 0.128 to 0.693 day−1 and 0.086 to 0.556 day−1, respectively. Hence, by natural attenuation alone, up to 66.5 and 85 years would be required to reach Nigeria’s groundwater benzene and BTEX remediation goals, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress in Groundwater Contamination and Treatment)
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