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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Social Ecology and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2021) | Viewed by 43010

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Charikleia Prochaska

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Guest Editor

Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Technology, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: environmental science and technology; wastewater treatment and management; constructed wetlands; atomic force microscopy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Even though municipal wastewater management is a well-established field, there are still many challenges that need to be faced so as to reach a stage of a real sustainable municipal wastewater management that would protect both the environment and humans’ health, be energy-, water-, and cost-efficient, and have the ability to adapt to the current environment and the needs of the community.

Important challenges for the field of wastewater management that could contribute to the scope of the current Special Issue include: (a) new developments in wastewater treatment, (b) wastewater collection infrastructure issues and dealing with aged infrastructures, (c) effluent and sludge disposal and reuse, (d) new developments in respective policy and regulations, and (e) energy management.

The Special Issue welcomes original research and review papers focused on the latest knowledge and innovations in the field of municipal wastewater management in developed, developing, and underdeveloped countries, concerning large, small, pilot or experimental-scale systems. The papers must show originality and address knowledge gaps related to the scopes of the Special Issue.

Dr. Charikleia Prochaska
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Municipal wastewater management
Wastewater reclamation and reuse
Sludge disposal and reuse
Appropriate technology for municipal wastewater management
Green technology for municipal
wastewater management
Energy recovery and sustainable municipal wastewater management
Cost-efficient municipal wastewater management
Municipal wastewater management in developing countries
Regulations
Policy

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Editorial

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5 pages, 171 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue: Municipal Wastewater Management

by Charikleia Prochaska

Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7588; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147588 - 07 Jul 2021

Viewed by 1372

Abstract

Municipal wastewater management is a well-established field in most parts of the world nowadays [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Municipal Wastewater Management)

Research

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14 pages, 2648 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of Energy Recovery Potential from Primary Residues of Four Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants

by Eleni P. Tsiakiri, Aikaterini Mpougali, Ioannis Lemonidis, Christos A. Tzenos, Sotirios D. Kalamaras, Thomas A. Kotsopoulos and Petros Samaras

Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7198; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137198 - 27 Jun 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2435

Abstract

Wastewater treatment plants have been traditionally developed for the aerobic degradation of effluent organic matter, and are associated with high energy consumption. The adoption of sustainable development targets favors the utilization of every available energy source, and the current work aims at the identification of biomethane potential from non-conventional sources derived from municipal wastewater treatment processes. Byproducts derived from the primary treatment process stage were collected from four sewage treatment plants in Greece with great variation in design capacity and servicing areas with wide human activities, affecting the quality of the influents and the corresponding primary wastes. The samples were characterized for the determination of their solids and fats content, as well as the concentration of leached organic matter and nutrients, and were subjected to anaerobic digestion treatment for the measurement of their biomethane production potential according to standardized procedures. All samples exhibited potential for biogas utilization, with screenings collected from a treatment plant receiving wastewater from an area with combined rural and agro-industrial activities presenting the highest potential. Nevertheless, these samples had a methanogens doubling time of around 1.3 days, while screenings from a high-capacity unit proved to have a methanogens doubling time of less than 1 day. On the other hand, floatings from grit chambers presented the smallest potential for energy utilization. Nevertheless, these wastes can be utilized for energy production, potentially in secondary sludge co-digestion units, converting a treatment plant from an energy demanding to a zero energy or even a power production process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Municipal Wastewater Management)

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15 pages, 1323 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Financing of Wastewater Treatment and the Balance of Payments for Water Services: Evidence from Municipalities in the Region of Valencia

by Marcos García-López, Joaquín Melgarejo and Borja Montano

Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 5874; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13115874 - 24 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1835

Abstract

Pollution from wastewater discharges requires the treatment of all wastewater to maintain water bodies in good condition, as well as the possibility of reusing this water. Thus, wastewater treatment is an activity that has developed significantly in the Region of Valencia and has significant costs, including energy, which represents the main economic cost and an important environmental cost. In this way, efficiency and adequate financing of this activity are essential to minimise our environmental impact. However, the main funding tool currently does not allow us to address this issue, so we have a wastewater treatment with a high environmental cost in the form of greenhouse gas emissions. This tool is part of the revenues of water services, so it is not entirely independent, but it also seeks to prevent households from paying too high a total price. This leads to a situation where changes are needed to improve the financing of the different water services, as the financial resources obtained are insufficient and do not allow the current environmental problems to be solved. The analysis shows the importance of an appropriate tariff structure, as well as the need to include aspects such as water pollution and energy costs in the wastewater treatment tariff. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Municipal Wastewater Management)

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26 pages, 3229 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lifecycle Design of Disruptive SCADA Systems for Waste-Water Treatment Installations

by Stelian Brad, Mircea Murar, Grigore Vlad, Emilia Brad and Mariuța Popanton

Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 4950; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13094950 - 28 Apr 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 8524

Abstract

Capacity to remotely monitor and control systems for waste-water treatment and to provide real time and trustworthy data of system’s behavior to various stakeholders is of high relevance. SCADA systems are used to undertake this job. SCADA solutions are usually conceptualized and designed with a major focus on technological integrability and functionality. Very little contributions are brought to optimize these systems with respect to a mix of target functions, especially considering a lifecycle perspective. In this paper, we propose a structured methodology for optimizing SCADA systems from a lifecycle perspective for the specific case of waste-water treatment units. The methodology embeds techniques for handling entropy in the design process and to assist engineers in designing effective solutions in a space with multiple constrains and conflicts. Evolutionary multiple optimization algorithms are used to handle this challenge. After the foundation of the theoretical model calibrated for the specific case of waste-water treatment units, a practical example illustrates its applicability. It is shown how the model can lead to a disruptive solution, which integrates cloud computing, IoT, and data analytics in the SCADA system, with some competitive advantages in terms of flexibility, cost effectiveness, and increased value added for both integrators and beneficiaries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Municipal Wastewater Management)

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14 pages, 8224 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Potential Role of Hybrid Constructed Wetlands Treating University Wastewater—Experience from Northern Italy

by Stevo Lavrnić, Maribel Zapater Pereyra, Sandra Cristino, Domenico Cupido, Giovanni Lucchese, Maria Rosaria Pascale, Attilio Toscano and Maurizio Mancini

Sustainability 2020, 12(24), 10604; https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410604 - 18 Dec 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2339

Abstract

University wastewater is a type of wastewater with higher pollutants load and flow rate variability than typical domestic wastewater. Constructed wetlands (CW) could be used for university wastewater treatment and consequently for wastewater reuse. A hybrid CW pilot plant, at the University of Bologna (Italy), was monitored to assess its potential to be used at the university. Its treatment performance was monitored for one year and public acceptance explored through a survey. The pilot plant had two treatment lines, (1) a vertical flow CW (VFCW) and a planted horizontal flow CW (HFCW), and (2) the same VFCW and an unplanted horizontal flow filter (HFF). The HFCW achieved higher removals than the HFF, but it was also found to be prone to higher water losses. However, both treatment lines met the Italian limits for discharge in natural water bodies and some of the limits for wastewater reuse in Italy and the EU. The VFCW alone was not able to meet the same limits, demonstrating the advantages of hybrid over single stage CWs. A positive attitude towards CWs and wastewater reuse was found among the survey participants. Therefore, hybrid CWs (planted and unplanted) are considered a feasible technology for application at universities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Municipal Wastewater Management)

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13 pages, 3045 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Thermal Treatment on the Physicochemical Properties of Minerals Applied to Heterogeneous Catalytic Ozonation

by Savvina Psaltou, Efthimia Kaprara, Kyriaki Kalaitzidou, Manassis Mitrakas and Anastasios Zouboulis

Sustainability 2020, 12(24), 10503; https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410503 - 15 Dec 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2177

Abstract

In order to enhance the efficiency of heterogeneous catalytic ozonation, the effect of thermal treatment on three commonly used and inexpensive minerals, i.e., zeolite, talc and kaolin (clay), which present different physicochemical properties as potential catalysts, has been examined for the removal of para-chlorobenzoic acid (p-CBA). p-CBA is considered a typical micro-pollutant, usually serving as an indicator (model compound) to evaluate the production of hydroxyl radicals in ozonation systems. The catalytic activity of selected solid catalysts was studied for different pH values (6, 7 and 8) and different temperatures (15 °C, 25 °C and 35 °C). The mechanism of radicals’ production was also verified by the addition of tert-butyl alcohol (TBA). The respective thermal behavior study showed that the point of zero charge (PZC) of these minerals increased with the increase of applied treatment temperature, as it removed crystalline water and hydroxyls, thus improving their hydrophobicity. Circa-neutral surface charge and the presence of hydrophobicity were found to favor the affinity of ozone with solid/catalytic surfaces and the subsequent production of hydroxyl radicals. Therefore, zeolite and talc, presenting PZC 7.2 and 6.5 respectively, showed higher catalytic activity after thermal treatment, while kaolin with PZC equal to 3.1 showed zero to moderate catalytic efficiency. The degradation level of p-CBA by oxidation was favored at 25 °C, while the pH value exerted positive effects when it was increased up to 8. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Municipal Wastewater Management)

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15 pages, 3535 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Loofah Sponges as Bio-Carriers in a Pilot-Scale Integrated Fixed-Film Activated Sludge System for Municipal Wastewater Treatment

by Huyen T.T. Dang, Cuong V. Dinh, Khai M. Nguyen, Nga T.H. Tran, Thuy T. Pham and Roberto M. Narbaitz

Sustainability 2020, 12(11), 4758; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114758 - 10 Jun 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5713

Abstract

Fixed-film biofilm reactors are considered one of the most effective wastewater treatment processes, however, the cost of their plastic bio-carriers makes them less attractive for application in developing countries. This study evaluated loofah sponges, an eco-friendly renewable agricultural product, as bio-carriers in a pilot-scale integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) system for the treatment of municipal wastewater. Tests showed that pristine loofah sponges disintegrated within two weeks resulting in a decrease in the treatment efficiencies. Accordingly, loofah sponges were modified by coating them with CaCO₃ and polymer. IFAS pilot tests using the modified loofah sponges achieved 83% organic removal and 71% total nitrogen removal and met Vietnam’s wastewater effluent discharge standards. The system achieved considerably high levels of nitrification and it was not limited by the loading rate or dissolved oxygen levels. Cell concentrations in the carriers were twenty to forty times higher than those within the aeration tank. Through 16S-rRNA sequencing, the major micro-organism types identified were Kluyvera cryocrescens, Exiguobacterium indicum, Bacillus tropicus, Aeromonas hydrophila, Enterobacter cloacae, and Pseudomonas turukhanskensis. This study demonstrated that although modified loofah sponges are effective renewable bio-carriers for municipal wastewater treatment, longer-term testing is recommended. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Municipal Wastewater Management)

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13 pages, 2250 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Least Cost Analysis for Biocorrosion Mitigation Strategies in Concrete Sewers

by Georgios Fytianos, Emmanouil Tziolas, Efthimios Papastergiadis and Petros Samaras

Sustainability 2020, 12(11), 4578; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114578 - 04 Jun 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2361

Abstract

The changing role of the municipal water and wastewater authorities, together with the need for a sustainable maintenance treatment in the sewer systems, have been the catalysts for the integration of technical and financial information into asset management systems. This paper presents results from a cost-comparative analysis focusing on an annuities calculation for the evaluation of microbiologically induced corrosion (MIC) or biocorrosion mitigation methodologies used in the maintenance of concrete sewers. The replacement cost of deteriorated sewer concrete pipes is high, and MIC mitigation methods can be used to increase the current service life of concrete pipes. From the MIC mitigation methods that are frequently used, the authors examined those of flushing with high-pressure water (i.e., a common method used in Greece), and spraying with magnesium hydroxide slurry (MHS). The authors chose four different cities for the assessment, which presented different sewer characteristics and socioeconomic backgrounds. In addition, all methods for concrete sewer MIC mitigation were compared to the present value of replacement of sewer concrete pipes with new PVC ones. Results showed that flushing with high-pressure water is very cost demanding and should be avoided, while spraying with MHS could be a sustainable and economic solution in the long term. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Municipal Wastewater Management)

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15 pages, 3696 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Biocorrosion of Concrete Sewers in Greece: Current Practices and Challenges

by Georgios Fytianos, Vasilis Baltikas, Dimitrios Loukovitis, Dimitra Banti, Athanasios Sfikas, Efthimios Papastergiadis and Petros Samaras

Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2638; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072638 - 26 Mar 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4216

Abstract

This paper is intended to review the current practices and challenges regarding the corrosion of the Greek sewer systems with an emphasis on biocorrosion and to provide recommendations to avoid it. The authors followed a holistic approach, which included survey data obtained by local authorities serving more than 50% of the total country’s population and validated the survey answers with field measurements and analyses. The exact nature and extent of concrete biocorrosion problems in Greece are presented for the first time. Moreover, the overall condition of the sewer network, the maintenance frequency, and the corrosion prevention techniques used in Greece are also presented. Results from field measurements showed the existence of H₂S in the gaseous phase (i.e., precursor of the H₂SO₄ formation in the sewer) and acidithiobacillus bacteria (i.e., biocorrosion causative agent) in the slime, which exists at the interlayer between the concrete wall and the sewage. Biocorrosion seems to mainly affect old concrete networks, and the replacement of the destroyed concrete pipes with new polyvinyl chloride (PVC) ones is currently common practice. However, in most cases, the replacement cost is high, and the authors provide some recommendations to increase the current service life of concrete pipes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Municipal Wastewater Management)

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Review

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21 pages, 702 KiB

Open AccessReview

Solar Photocatalysis for Emerging Micro-Pollutants Abatement and Water Disinfection: A Mini-Review

by Danae Venieri, Dionissios Mantzavinos and Vassilios Binas

Sustainability 2020, 12(23), 10047; https://doi.org/10.3390/su122310047 - 01 Dec 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2621

Abstract

This mini-review article discusses the critical factors that are likely to affect the performance of solar photocatalysis for environmental applications and, in particular, for the simultaneous degradation of emerging micro-pollutants and the inactivation of microbial pathogens in aqueous matrices. Special emphasis is placed on the control of specific operating factors like the type and the form of catalysts used throughout those processes, the intriguing role of the water matrix, and the composition of the microbial load of the sample in each case. The interplay among the visible responsive catalyst, the target pollutants/pathogens, including various types of microorganisms and the non-target water matrix species, dictates performance in an unpredictable and case-specific way. Case studies referring to lab and pilot-scale applications are presented to highlight such peculiarities. Moreover, current trends regarding the elimination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes by means of solar photocatalysis are discussed. The antibiotic resistance dispersion into the aquatic environment and how advanced photocatalytic processes can eliminate antibiotic resistance genes in microbial populations are documented, with a view to investigate the prospect of using those purification methods for the control-resistant microbial populations found in the environment. Understanding the interactions of the various water components (both inherent and target species) is key to the successful operation of a treatment process and its scaling up. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Municipal Wastewater Management)

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16 pages, 1119 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

A Mini-Review of Urban Wastewater Treatment in Greece: History, Development and Future Challenges

by Charikleia Prochaska and Anastasios Zouboulis

Sustainability 2020, 12(15), 6133; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12156133 - 30 Jul 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4890

Abstract

Although Greece has accomplished wastewater infrastructure construction to a large extent, as 91% of the country’s population is already connected to urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), many problems still need to be faced. These include the limited reuse of treated wastewater and of the surplus sludge (biosolids) produced, the relative higher energy consumption in the existing rather aged WWTPs infrastructure, and the proper management of failing or inadequately designed septic tank/soil absorption systems, still in use in several (mostly rural) areas, lacking sewerage systems. Moreover, the wastewater treatment sector should be examined in the general framework of sustainable environmental development; therefore, Greece’s future challenges in this sector ought to be reconsidered. Thus, the review of Greece’s urban wastewater history, even from the ancient times, up to current developments and trends, will be shortly addressed. This study also notes that the remaining challenges should be analyzed in respect to the country’s specific needs (e.g., interaction with the extensive tourism sector), as well as to the European Union’s relevant framework policies and to the respective international technological trends, aiming to consider the WWTPs not only as sites for the treatment/removal of pollutants to prevent environmental pollution, but also as industrial places where energy is efficiently used (or even produced), resources’ content can be potentially recovered and reused (e.g., nutrients, treated water, biosolids), and environmental sustainability is being practiced overall. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Municipal Wastewater Management)

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11 pages, 1118 KiB

Open AccessReview

Overview of the Policies for Phasing Out Ocean Dumping of Sewage Sludge in the Republic of Korea

by Chang Soo Chung, Ki-Young Choi, Chang-Joon Kim, Jun-Mo Jung and Yeon S. Chang

Sustainability 2020, 12(11), 4553; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114553 - 03 Jun 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3103

Abstract

Ocean dumping of municipal sewage sludge (MSS) that was treated in wastewater treatment plants in the Republic of Korea (ROK) began in 1993 and has sharply increased thereafter; this deteriorated the benthic environment of the dumping sites, consequently necessitating relevant policies to be developed to reduce dumping. This review introduces the outcomes of policies used to phase out ocean dumping of MSS in ROK and provides a method for improving contaminated environments. We first review a previous report submitted under the London Protocol in 2016 and then provide additional data collected since then. In addition, we introduce a scientific research result that reduced the concentration of harmful substances in the dumping sites by capping the dumping area. ROK established policies to phase out the dumping in 2006, which had immediate impacts, with dumping of MSS terminated in 2012. These policies were then expanded to terminate dumping of all types of sewage sludge in 2016, due to the fast and strict application of actions based on intergovernmental cooperation and societal consensus. In addition, the capping method that covered the contaminated sediments with dredged materials was effective. The success of the evaluated policies and research could be effectively applied to areas with similar circumstances. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Municipal Wastewater Management)

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