Innovative Approaches in Water Quality Monitoring and Ecosystem Health
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 123
Special Issue Editors
Interests: priority contaminants; emerging contaminants; Danube River; Danube Delta; bioindicators; virtual sensors; fisheries; aquaculture
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The health status of natural and anthropogenic aquatic ecosystems is vital to sustain biodiversity and provide livelihoods for citizens and human communities (drinking water, fisheries, aquaculture, hydropower, tourism, etc.). Continuous population increase and the intensification of industry generate hazardous and emerging contaminants, and cause water eutrophication. Furthermore, climate change can exacerbate water pollution, which traditional methods of water treatment cannot mitigate. To ensure ecosystem health, there is a continuous need for water quality monitoring. However, traditional methods for water quality monitoring are no longer competitive; thus, there is a definitive need for innovation in this field. Disruptive methods include the use of digital tools (virtual sensors, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, digital twin, etc.) and biological tools (biosensors) to monitor water quality. At the same time, using different trophic niches (microorganisms, plants) to develop nature-based technologies for water treatment can sustainably ensure ecosystem health.
This Special Issue aims to fill in the knowledge gaps and disseminate the latest innovations in the field of water quality monitoring and ecosystem health. Research papers (experimental and reviews) may explore the following research topics:
- Advanced Sensing and Monitoring Technologies:
- Development of biosensors for real-time detection of pollutants in water;
- Application of nanotechnology in water quality monitoring;
- Smart sensor networks and IoT-based water quality assessment;
- Remote sensing and satellite-based water pollution evaluation;
- AI and machine learning applications in predictive water quality modeling.
- Emerging Contaminants and Pollution Control:
- Microplastic detection and mitigation strategies in freshwater and marine ecosystems;
- Monitoring and remediation of pharmaceutical and personal care product residues in water;
- Assessment of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in aquatic environments;
- Impact of agrochemicals on water quality and ecosystem health;
- Real-time monitoring of industrial effluents and their ecological impacts.
- Microbial and Biological Indicators of Water Quality:
- Use of bioindicators and biomarkers for the early detection of water contamination;
- Advances in eDNA for aquatic biodiversity assessment;
- Role of plankton as indicators of ecosystem health;
- Pathogen detection in drinking water.
- Sustainable and Nature-Based Solutions:
- Constructed wetlands for water purification and pollution control;
- Biochar and natural adsorbents for water decontamination;
- Bioremediation techniques for heavy metal and organic pollutant removal;
- Restoration of degraded aquatic ecosystems for improved water quality.
- Climate Change and Water Quality:
- Impacts of climate change on freshwater and marine ecosystems;
- Effects of extreme weather events on water pollution;
- Modeling future water quality scenarios under climate change conditions;
- Adaptive management strategies for sustaining water resources in a changing climate.
Dr. Ira-Adeline Simionov
Dr. Iulian Vasiliev
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- climate change
- emerging contaminants
- hazardous contaminants
- eutrophication
- virtual sensors
- IoT
- water quality
- biosensors
- modeling
- nature-based solutions
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