Dear Colleagues,

The contamination of natural water sources by microbial and chemical agents is one of the main health problems in today’s world. Microbial and chemical contaminants can reach aquifers and surface waters throughout natural and anthropogenic activities. Natural causes for the presence of some microbial and chemical elements are primary rock erosion or soil weathering. Meanwhile, anthropogenic practices, such as agricultural runoffs and the discharges of chemicals and untreated domestic and industrial effluents coming from mining, petroleum, metallurgy, diary activities among others, are the main sources of microbial and chemical pollutants in water bodies. The microbial load is typically assessed in water samples, whereas the presence of chemical pollutants depends on their physicochemical properties, they can easily be dissolved in water or be sorbed onto sediments in aquatic environments, and for some elements be accumulated in the food chain. Several sanitation technologies ranging from conventional water treatment (sedimentation, filtration, disinfection) to less conventional innovations (e.g., rainwater harvesting, graywater recycling, and desalination) together with wastewater treatment systems (biological and chemical processes) are currently being developed to improve water quality. Therefore, assessments to evaluate microbial and chemicals loads as well as the development of technologies and innovations to improve water quality are of high importance to assure water quality levels, resilience, and sustainability of water resources worldwide.

This Special Issue will conduct a comprehensive updated review of the assessments and innovative technologies to improve water quality. We will support a wide range of methodological and technical assessments, and technologies and innovations to improve water quality.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: biogeochemistry; health; environment; sustainability engineering. This special issue also seek for interdisciplinary analysis, such as social and economic constraints that can enjoin politic or industrial decisions to improve the water supply and treatment.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Valeria Ochoa-Herrera
Dr. Laurence Maurice
Guest Editors

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• microbial
• chemical
• contamination
• water quality
• technology
• human exposure
• sustainable water use