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Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Water Resources
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Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Water Resources

A special issue of Resources (ISSN 2079-9276).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2025 | Viewed by 16536

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Barbara Ruffino

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Torino, Italy
Interests: water and wastewater treatment; biological processes; water reuse; industrial waste management; life cycle impact assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Katarzyna Pietrucha-Urbanik

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Systems, Faculty of Civil, Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Rzeszow University of Technology, Rzeszow, Poland
Interests: reliability and safety of critical infrastructure; circular economy in wastewater management; water reuse; water supply systems; sewage systems; gas systems; renewable energy systems; failure risk analysis; reliability-based risk assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Giuseppe Campo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy
Interests: wastewater treatment, processes and technologies; anaerobic digestion processes; energy optimization in wastewater treatment plants; mathematical modelling of biological processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Resource scarcity is the most important driver behind circular economy (CE). Fresh and clean water scarcity, increasing water consumption and climate change will cause a global water crisis in the coming years. Furthermore, in the framework of the CE concept, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) must become “ecologically sustainable” technological systems, that means more efficient, less energy demanding and capable of supporting resource and energy recovery. At the same time, WWTPs must maintain their fundamental role, that is to provide a constant and adequate water pollution control, so as to protect human health and the quality of the environment against conventional and emerging contaminants.

This Special Issue focuses on the management of water and wastewater from a CE perspective, concerned with the optimization of water consumption, and resource and/or energy recovery from wastewater and sewage sludge, and we encourage contributions that refer to:

  • strategies for water saving in agriculture, industry and household activities;
  • strategies for wastewater reuse in agriculture, industry and household activities;
  • resource recovery and bio-refinery approaches, aimed at extracting value-added products (including, but not limited to, cellulose, enzymes, bio-plastics, bio-pesticides, proteins, biochar) and nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous, micronutrients) from wastewater and sewage sludge;
  • energy-saving systems in WWTPs (including, but not limited to, systems used in aeration processes) and energy recovery routes, such as anaerobic digestion (including pre- and intermediate treatments), incineration, pyrolysis, gasification, hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), enhanced digestion using microbial fuel cells and hydrogen production.

Original research papers and critical reviews will be considered. All scales of application will be well received.

Dr. Barbara Ruffino
Dr. Katarzyna Pietrucha-Urbanik
Guest Editors

Dr. Giuseppe Campo
Guest Editor Assistant

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. Resources 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 1600 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

  • clean water and sanitation
  • wastewater treatment
  • water reuse
  • resource recovery
  • water-to-energy nexus
  • energy saving
  • energy recovery

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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29 pages, 4045 KiB  
Article
Produced Water from the Oil and Gas Industry as a Resource—South Kuwait as a Case Study
by Feras Alsalem and Thies Thiemann
Resources 2024, 13(9), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13090118 - 27 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1359
Abstract
Produced Water (PW) represents the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry. As a water resource and as a source of valuable minerals such as alkali salts, it is has been highly under-valued, especially in hyper-arid regions. The beneficial use of [...] Read more.
Produced Water (PW) represents the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry. As a water resource and as a source of valuable minerals such as alkali salts, it is has been highly under-valued, especially in hyper-arid regions. The beneficial use of PW ranges from water reinjection to elevated oil recovery from reservoirs with almost instantaneous returns, to the extraction of minerals from PW, which involves a number of different processes and setups. The economic value of PW-derived end products offers alternative revenue sources, with market fluctuations and conditions different from those of the hydrocarbon market. The end products of water and industrial salt support local industries such as agriculture, reflecting positively on the gross domestic product (GDP). Furthermore, resource extraction from PW of the oil and gas industry helps countries augment their circular economy. In this regard, the economic feasibility of three scenarios—the use of PW for oil recovery, the use of PW as an alternate source of water and industrial salt, and a hybrid process of both—is explored. The results show that there is great potential for water reuse in Enhanced Oil Recovery operations, as well as in the reduction in freshwater consumption for oil- and gas-extraction operations in the state of Kuwait by up to 4.8 percent when PW generated by SK oilfields is considered, and by 42 percent if PW from all oilfields in Kuwait is reused in the same manner. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Water Resources)
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14 pages, 247 KiB  
Article
Groundwater Ecosystem Services: Redefining and Operationalizing the Concept
by Vasileios G. Iliopoulos and Dimitris Damigos
Resources 2024, 13(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13010013 - 16 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2334
Abstract
In the last decade, the publication of research studies in the field of groundwater ecosystem services and their classification has increased dramatically. Several academic and other institutions have developed ecosystem service classification systems for use in environmental policy research. However, the existing classification [...] Read more.
In the last decade, the publication of research studies in the field of groundwater ecosystem services and their classification has increased dramatically. Several academic and other institutions have developed ecosystem service classification systems for use in environmental policy research. However, the existing classification systems need to be optimized in the following areas: (a) the weak correlation between concepts and the definitions assigned, which creates double counting in economic valuation, (b) the absence of correlation of the concept of use value with the ecosystem service, (c) the non-categorization of final and intermediate services, and (d) the overlapping of wetland, soil, and groundwater regulating ecosystem services. Our research aims, through the results of a literature analysis and the synthesis of the results of an expert consultation process, to develop a unified categorization system for groundwater ecosystem services. In the context of the conceptualization of groundwater ecosystem services, this research implemented an expert judging elicitation process where subject discussions and targeted interviews were performed, combined with a literature review analysis. Through the completion of a specific questionnaire and expert interviews, a new groundwater ecosystem services classification system, namely GROUNDWES, was established. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Water Resources)
23 pages, 2071 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Trenchless and Excavation Technologies in the Restoration of a Sewage Network and Their Carbon Footprints
by Tomáš Chorazy, Petr Hlavínek, Jakub Raček, Katarzyna Pietrucha-Urbanik, Barbara Tchórzewska-Cieślak, Šárka Keprdová and Zdeněk Dufek
Resources 2024, 13(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13010012 - 15 Jan 2024
Viewed by 2375
Abstract
The restoration of aging sewer networks is a fundamental remediation approach with the aim of renewing or improving existing systems. Remediation methods include repair, renovation, and replacement (renewal). The restoration of a sewer network itself can be performed using either excavation or trenchless [...] Read more.
The restoration of aging sewer networks is a fundamental remediation approach with the aim of renewing or improving existing systems. Remediation methods include repair, renovation, and replacement (renewal). The restoration of a sewer network itself can be performed using either excavation or trenchless technologies. While these technologies offer various advantages, they also present disadvantages. The choice of a restoration technology depends on numerous parameters, including economic factors and local conditions (such as the construction of the existing sewage network, available working space, traffic load, and environmental safety restrictions). In addition to the parameters influencing the choice of restoration technology, recent considerations have been given to constraints related to greenhouse gas emissions and the corresponding carbon footprint. Carbon footprint serves as an indicator of the restoration activity’s dependence on fossil fuels, both during implementation and operation. In the 21st century, concerns regarding carbon footprints have rapidly escalated. The reduction in carbon footprints is a crucial objective from both an economic and an ecological point of view. This article specifically addresses the prospects of monitoring the carbon footprint concerning the partial restoration of a sewer network within the historical core of the city of Brno, located in the Czech Republic. This aspect constitutes the unique and innovative contribution of the paper. The intensity of the energy demand of excavation and trenchless technologies is utilized as a direct measure of the carbon footprint of each technology. The comparative assessment demonstrates that the trenchless technology used achieves a reduction of 59.2% in CO2 emissions compared to the excavation technology. The carbon footprint of Variant 1 (trenchless technology) is 9.91 t CO2 eq., while the carbon footprint of Variant 2 (excavation technology) is 24.29 t CO2 eq. The restoration of open pipelines produces more emissions due to the higher energy consumption, making it more expensive in terms of fuel costs, waste disposal costs, and the corresponding environmental hazards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Water Resources)
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21 pages, 8300 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Impact of BMPs on Water Quality and Quantity in a Flat Agricultural Watershed in Southern Ontario
by Peter Miele, Rituraj Shukla, Shiv Prasher, Ramesh Pal Rudra, Prasad Daggupati, Pradeep Kumar Goel, Katie Stammler and Anand Krishna Gupta
Resources 2023, 12(12), 142; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources12120142 - 6 Dec 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1917
Abstract
Non-point source pollution poses a continuous threat to the quality of Great Lakes waters. To abate this problem, the Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (GLASI) was initiated in Ontario, Canada, with the primary aim of reducing phosphorus pollution. Therefore, a case-study analysis of [...] Read more.
Non-point source pollution poses a continuous threat to the quality of Great Lakes waters. To abate this problem, the Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (GLASI) was initiated in Ontario, Canada, with the primary aim of reducing phosphorus pollution. Therefore, a case-study analysis of the Wigle Creek watershed, one of the six priority watersheds under the GLASI program, was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of various existing and potential future Best Management Practices (BMPs) and to identify BMPs that might aid in mitigating the watershed’s contribution to phosphorus loads reaching Lake Erie. Given the watershed’s very flat topography, hydrological/nutrient modeling proved an extremely challenging exercise. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used in this evaluation. Several digital elevation model (DEM) options were considered to accurately describe the watershed and represent flow conditions. A 30 m resolution DEM, implementing a modified burning in of streams based on ground truthing, was finally employed to develop the SWAT model’s drainage framework. The model was first calibrated for flow, sediment, and phosphorus loads. The calibrated model was used to evaluate the ability of potential BMPs (minimum tillage, no-till, retiring croplands into pasture, retiring croplands into forest, winter wheat cover crop, and vegetative filter strips) to reduce phosphorus loads compared to implemented practice. Converting all croplands into pasture or forest significantly decreased P loads reaching Lake Erie. Comparatively, a winter wheat cover crop had minimal effect on reducing phosphorus loading. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Water Resources)
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14 pages, 1925 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Surfactant Removal Capacity and Microbial Community Diversity in a Greywater-Treating Constructed Wetland
by Robelio Mascoli Junior, Caique Morelo Passoni, Filipe Martins Santos, Fernando Silva Bernardes, Fernando Jorge Correa. Magalhães Filho and Paula Loureiro Paulo
Resources 2023, 12(3), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources12030038 - 19 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2210
Abstract
Surfactants are among the main chemical contaminants in greywater (GW) and can cause severe health issues in humans and aquatic organisms. We assessed the performance of a multistage constructed wetland system (EvaTAC) for GW treatment and capacity of the microbial community in linear [...] Read more.
Surfactants are among the main chemical contaminants in greywater (GW) and can cause severe health issues in humans and aquatic organisms. We assessed the performance of a multistage constructed wetland system (EvaTAC) for GW treatment and capacity of the microbial community in linear alkyl benzene sulfonate (LAS) biodegradation. Physicochemical analyses were performed over 497 d, and biomass samples were collected for high-throughput DNA sequencing. The system was predominated by anaerobic conditions and received an average chemical oxygen demand (COD) and LAS of 374 and 32 mg·L−1, with removal rates of 66% and 43%, respectively. A positive correlation between COD and LAS suggested COD as a design parameter for LAS removal. We identified microbial genera participating in hydrolysis, fermentation, syntrophy, acetogenesis, methanogenesis, surfactant degradation, and sulphate reduction. Among the 15 surfactant-degrading genera, Pseudomonas was predominant. Community richness and diversity indices were comparable between subsystems, with a slight decrease in diversity observed towards the outlet. Among the LAS degraders, Rhodopseudomonas palustris had the highest relative abundance of operational taxonomic unit (OTU)s in all samples and the highest richness in the anaerobic chamber. The patterns in microbial community composition and environmental conditions suggest that LAS biodegradation occurred throughout the EvaTAC system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Water Resources)
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16 pages, 3065 KiB  
Article
Effects of Post-Fire Mulching with Loranthus europaeus Jacq. on Surface Runoff and Rainsplash Erosion in a Semi-Arid Pine Forest
by Mehdi Navidi, Abbas Banj Shafiei, Ahmad Alijanpour, Sajad Pirsa, Hesam Ahmady-Birgani, Manuel Esteban Lucas-Borja and Demetrio Antonio Zema
Resources 2023, 12(3), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources12030031 - 21 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1430
Abstract
To avoid flooding and erosion hazards, post-fire management actions are essential in Mediterranean forests after severe wildfires. In this regard, mulching is the most common action but some mulch materials, such as straw, may lead to adverse impacts in burned forests. The use [...] Read more.
To avoid flooding and erosion hazards, post-fire management actions are essential in Mediterranean forests after severe wildfires. In this regard, mulching is the most common action but some mulch materials, such as straw, may lead to adverse impacts in burned forests. The use of yellow mistletoe fruits (Loranthus europaeus Jacq., hereafter “LE”) for the production of biodegradable mulch and its effectiveness in post-fire hydrology have never been studied. To fill this gap, this study has evaluated surface runoff and rainsplash erosion in a pine forest in Central Eastern Spain burned by a wildfire and mulched by a mixture of LE fruits and straw (with or without adding clay particles) using a portable rainfall simulator. Compared to untreated sites, runoff increased in burned and mulched soils (by 13.6% for the mixture without clay and by 17.2% when clay was added, in the latter case significantly). This increase was mainly due to the compact layer created by mulch application on the soil surface. However, the peak flow and the time to peak were lower in mulched soils (on average by 32.7% and 60.5%, significantly only for the mulch mixture without clay), thus indicating that, in these soils, peak runoff takes longer and its maximum value is lower compared to untreated sites. Soil erosion noticeably and significantly decreased (up to 97%) in mulched areas in comparison to untreated sites without significant differences between the two mixtures. Overall, this study indicates to land managers that soil mulching with a mixture of Loranthus europaeus Jacq. and straw is an effective post-fire management action to reduce the soil erosion risk after a wildfire. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Water Resources)
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Review

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28 pages, 1137 KiB  
Review
Current Insights into Growing Microalgae for Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Biomass Generation
by Ilyes Dammak, Mariem Fersi, Ridha Hachicha and Slim Abdelkafi
Resources 2023, 12(10), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources12100119 - 6 Oct 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3668
Abstract
Municipal wastewater (MWW) provides a promising platform for microalgae cultivation due to its rich content of essential nutrients. Recent research has showcased the multifaceted benefits of microalgae-based wastewater treatment, from the potent depollution capabilities of these organisms to their biomass potential for ecofriendly [...] Read more.
Municipal wastewater (MWW) provides a promising platform for microalgae cultivation due to its rich content of essential nutrients. Recent research has showcased the multifaceted benefits of microalgae-based wastewater treatment, from the potent depollution capabilities of these organisms to their biomass potential for ecofriendly applications. A significant advantage lies in the ability of these systems to promote environmental sustainability without producing secondary pollutants, aligning with the circular economy model. This approach encompasses various stages, from cultivating microalgae to biomass separation and subsequent valorization. However, challenges arise when scaling these systems to industrial levels. A predominant barrier is the difficulty in maintaining consistent control over all the factors influencing wastewater phytoremediation. This can compromise both biomass survival and the efficiency of pollution removal and valorization. Notably, using native microalgal consortiums from the effluent appears to be a promising strategy. These autochthonous communities often demonstrate superior adaptability and treatment capacity, emphasizing the importance of further exploring their potential to provide effective and economically viable solutions for wastewater treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Water Resources)
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