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Wastewater Treatment and Public Health Surveillance: Advances and Challenges in the One Health Era

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water and One Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 2627

Special Issue Editors

Dr. José Gonçalves

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET—Aquatic Research Network Associate Laboratory, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University, Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: microbiology; cold-plasma; wastewater-based epidemiology; wastewater treatment; water pollution; environmental biotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Israel Diaz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Sustainable Processes, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
Interests: wastewater; sludge; antimicrobial resistance; energy; waste-to-value

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, entitled "Wastewater Treatment and Public Health Surveillance: Advances and Challenges in the One Health Era", focuses on the critical intersections of wastewater treatment technologies and wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) within the One Health framework. While the COVID-19 pandemic spurred significant advancements in pathogen detection through wastewater surveillance, substantial gaps remain in addressing the broader scope of emerging biological and chemical pollutants that threaten human, animal, and environmental health. This Special Issue aims to foster a comprehensive understanding of how wastewater treatment and WBE can evolve to address these emerging challenges. Specifically, it seeks to explore innovations in water treatment technologies aimed at removing complex pollutants, including antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB), antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), pathogens, contaminants of emerging concern (CEC), and microplastics.

By highlighting these areas, this Special Issue will emphasize the potential of WBE as a vital tool for global health surveillance, capable of tracking disease outbreaks, chemical exposures, and antimicrobial resistance patterns in real time. It will also investigate novel technologies and methodologies for wastewater treatment and environmental monitoring, including biosensors and other advanced techniques.

This Special Issue seeks to consolidate and expand the knowledge gained in the field, promoting the integration of innovative treatment technologies and WBE for a safer, more sustainable future. We invite researchers to submit original studies, reviews, and case studies that address these challenges, contributing to a holistic understanding of how wastewater treatment can play a pivotal role in safeguarding ecosystems and public health.

Dr. José Gonçalves
Dr. Israel Diaz
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. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2600 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

  • wastewater treatment
  • one health
  • wastewater-based epidemiology
  • emerging pollutants
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • microplastics
  • environmental monitoring
  • biosensors

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2264 KiB  
Article
Kinetic Analysis and Transformation Pathways of Sulfamethoxazole Degradation in Water and Wastewater Under Electron Beam Irradiation
by Boris Tende Kengne, Yongxia Sun, Shizong Wang, Jianlong Wang, Sylwester Bulka, Marta Pyszynska and Marcin Sudlitz
Water 2025, 17(11), 1596; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17111596 - 25 May 2025
Viewed by 294
Abstract
Sulfamethoxazole (SMX), a widely used antibiotic, persists in aquatic environments due to its resistance to conventional wastewater treatments. This work examined the breakdown of SMX in both purified water and urban wastewater through the application of electron beam irradiation (EBI). Experiments were conducted [...] Read more.
Sulfamethoxazole (SMX), a widely used antibiotic, persists in aquatic environments due to its resistance to conventional wastewater treatments. This work examined the breakdown of SMX in both purified water and urban wastewater through the application of electron beam irradiation (EBI). Experiments were conducted across doses of 0.5–3.0 kGy and varying pHs (2.70, 6.13, 9.00 and 11.10) and initial concentrations (5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 mg/L), and the role of reactive species was investigated with the help of scavengers. The results showed that SMX degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics and was most efficient at lower pH and concentrations. The scavenger experiments confirmed hydroxyl radicals as the dominant oxidizing agents responsible for SMX degradation, while wastewater constituents slightly inhibited the process. Nevertheless, over 99% SMX degradation was achieved at higher doses (1.5–3.0 kGy). TOC analysis revealed the partial mineralization of SMX, indicating the persistence of intermediate by-products despite high degradation efficiency. LC-MS analysis revealed multiple transformation products including hydroxylated sulfonamides and nitro-substituted derivatives, reflecting diverse degradation pathways. These results demonstrate that EBI is a highly effective laboratory-scale method for degrading SMX from water and wastewater, with promising potential for practical application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wastewater Treatment and Public Health Surveillance: Advances and Challenges in the One Health Era)
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18 pages, 1311 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes and Pathobiome Diversity in Domestic Wastewater of a Tropical Country
by Fernando Molina-Ospina, Bradd Mendoza-Guido, Andrea Quesada-Gonzalez, Luz Chacon and Mary Luz Barrios-Hernandez
Water 2025, 17(11), 1574; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17111574 - 23 May 2025
Viewed by 664
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are recognised as key hotspots for the dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). However, studies addressing the role of domestic WWTPs in the spread of resistance traits in tropical regions remain limited. This study evaluated a [...] Read more.
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are recognised as key hotspots for the dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). However, studies addressing the role of domestic WWTPs in the spread of resistance traits in tropical regions remain limited. This study evaluated a domestic WWTP during dry and rainy seasons to examine its role as a reservoir and dissemination hub for ARGs and potential bacterial pathogens. The WWTP demonstrated stable physicochemical removal efficiencies, although its performance slightly decreased during the rainy season. Notably, the relative abundance of ARGs measured by qPCR was higher in the effluent than in the influent of the WWTP. Metagenomic analysis of activated sludge revealed that chromosomally encoded ARGs conferred resistance to macrolides, aminoglycosides, rifamycin, sulphonamides, and tetracyclines. In contrast, plasmid-associated ARGs were primarily linked to resistance against quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), indicating the presence of a potential conjugative plasmid facilitating the mobility and persistence of QAC resistance genes within the microbial community. Furthermore, pathobiome analysis identified a high relative abundance of potential pathogens, including genera Gordonia, Acidovorax, Pseudomonas, and Mycobacterium members. These findings highlight the role of domestic WWTPs as reservoirs and potential amplifiers of antimicrobial resistance in tropical environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wastewater Treatment and Public Health Surveillance: Advances and Challenges in the One Health Era)
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19 pages, 344 KiB  
Article
Coral Reef Calculus: Nature’s Equation for Pollution Control
by Vasileios Alevizos, Zongliang Yue, Sabrina Edralin, Clark Xu, Nikitas Gerolimos and George A. Papakostas
Water 2025, 17(8), 1210; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17081210 - 18 Apr 2025
Viewed by 540
Abstract
Coral reefs play an essential ecological role in maintaining marine water quality by naturally filtering contaminants. This study investigates the quantitative capability of coral reef ecosystems to reduce waterborne pollutants using biologically mediated processes. A systematic methodology, combining in situ observations, laboratory simulations, [...] Read more.
Coral reefs play an essential ecological role in maintaining marine water quality by naturally filtering contaminants. This study investigates the quantitative capability of coral reef ecosystems to reduce waterborne pollutants using biologically mediated processes. A systematic methodology, combining in situ observations, laboratory simulations, and analytical modeling, was adopted to determine the filtration efficiency of coral reefs. Remote sensing and photogrammetry characterized reef morphology, while microbial consortia transformations and coral polyp assimilation rates were quantified using biochemical assays. Results demonstrated significant nutrient uptake by coral polyps, particularly nitrogenous compounds, with higher removal efficiencies under stable salinity conditions. Temperature-induced stress was found to reduce polyp functionality. Enhanced sediment attenuation near reef structures improved coastal water transparency. The integration of vegetation buffers adjacent to reefs further augmented pollutant removal efficiency, with combined ecological strategies for effective pollution management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wastewater Treatment and Public Health Surveillance: Advances and Challenges in the One Health Era)
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Other

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15 pages, 1145 KiB  
Perspective
Killing Two Crises with One Spark: Cold Plasma for Antimicrobial Resistance Mitigation and Wastewater Reuse
by José Gonçalves, João Pequeno, Israel Diaz, Davor Kržišnik, Jure Žigon and Tom Koritnik
Water 2025, 17(8), 1218; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17081218 - 18 Apr 2025
Viewed by 549
Abstract
Global water scarcity and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represent two escalating crises that urgently demand integrated and effective solutions. While wastewater reuse is increasingly promoted as a strategy to alleviate water scarcity, conventional treatment processes often fail to eliminate persistent contaminants and antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. [...] Read more.
Global water scarcity and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represent two escalating crises that urgently demand integrated and effective solutions. While wastewater reuse is increasingly promoted as a strategy to alleviate water scarcity, conventional treatment processes often fail to eliminate persistent contaminants and antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. Cold plasma (CP), a non-thermal advanced oxidation process, has demonstrated the strong potential to simultaneously inactivate pathogens and degrade micropollutants. CP generates a diverse mix of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS), as well as UV photons and charged particles, capable of breaking down complex contaminants and inducing irreversible damage to microbial cells. Laboratory studies have reported bacterial log reductions ranging from 1 to >8–9 log10, with Gram-negative species such as E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa showing higher susceptibility than Gram-positive bacteria. The inactivation of endospores and mixed-species biofilms has also been achieved under optimized CP conditions. Viral inactivation studies, including MS2 bacteriophage and norovirus surrogates, have demonstrated reductions >99.99%, with exposure times as short as 0.12 s. CP has further shown the capacity to degrade antibiotic residues such as ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole by >90% and to reduce ARGs (e.g., bla, sul, and tet) in hospital wastewater. This perspective critically examines the mechanisms and current applications of CP in wastewater treatment, identifies the operational and scalability challenges, and outlines a research agenda for integrating CP into future water reuse frameworks targeting AMR mitigation and sustainable water management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wastewater Treatment and Public Health Surveillance: Advances and Challenges in the One Health Era)
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