Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Urban Water Cycle: Fate, Occurrence, Detection, Monitoring, and Control-Volume 2.0

Dear Colleagues,

In a world where uncertainty is a key concept, monumental challenges such as (and especially) contamination by emerging compounds are at the forefront of everyday life and need urgent action. One effect of contamination is the alteration of the natural environment, especially water resources on which most living organisms rely. A promising approach is redefining the value of water in a sustainable aspect, a principle that must be introduced to future generations. Therefore, the sustainability concept is continuously introduced. In urban areas, the need for safe drinking water is a fundamental issue related to the role of water in cities and the impacts of urbanization on the hydrological cycle and on water resources. Urban agriculture as well as different circular economy strategies are applied to the urban water cycle without a robust risk analysis.

In a sustainable concept, wastewater must be seen as a resource rather than a liability because not all urban areas have access to natural sources of drinking water. Numerous conventional and emerging contaminants (ECs) are found in wastewater, such as pharmaceuticals, microplastics, nanoparticles, and radioactive materials, and more recently, the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has been detected in wastewater compartments. Due to these phenomena, the integration of nano- and biotechnologies such as membrane separation and toxicogenomic as innovative methods must be carried out to establish autonomous decentralized water and wastewater treatment systems and also health risk assessment technologies for micropollutants.

To strengthen sustainable programs, smart tools partnered with information and communication technology (ICT) are of greater importance for economic and social development. In this way, cities can be more resilient to environmental and anthropic pressures. In a smart environment, there will be an efficient distribution of resources. All sectors are participating in a network of complex interplay to ease the burdens of people in the city. Communication is made easy and accessible, and the speed of implementation can be felt due to the minimal human factor involved, thanks to automation, analytics, and sensor systems, making it simple for most activities to be performed remotely.

The overarching goal of this Special Issue is to highlight the recent innovative water and wastewater solutions as well as existing and potential technologies for the valorization and protection of water from conventional and emerging contaminants. Relevant topics include:

• Technologies for environmental monitoring of water resources and ecosystems;
• Fate, occurrence, detection, monitoring, and control of emerging contaminants in the urban water cycle;
• Occurrence and measurement techniques of emerging environmental pollutants;
• Environmental risk assessments of pollutants in urban water;
• Toxicology studies associated with emerging pollutants in urban water;
• Remediation technologies involved in the treatment and removal of pollutants;
• Strategies for monitoring and controlling of impacts of bacteria resistant to antibiotics;
• Water harvesting and sustainable innovations;
• Separation and purification technologies for resource recovery from waste streams;
• Wastewater treatment plant innovations for increasing water value and/or for the implementation of sustainable development;
• Use of natural processes for maintaining water quality and recirculation (bacteria, microalgae, duckweed)
• Monitoring and control of water sources;
• Design new infrastructure for water storage, use, reuse, or supply augmentation;
• Innovative services, mainly drinking water, sanitation, and related human health aspects;
• New technologies for sustainable production and socioeconomic activity, such as food and agriculture, energy and industry, and business and employment;
• Solutions for sociocultural values of water, including recreational and cultural attributes and educational and training platforms for society.

Case studies and experiences from different global regions are welcome, as are opportunities to reconcile multiple values of water through more integrated and holistic approaches to governance; approaches to financing; and methods to address knowledge, research, and capacity needs.

This Special Issue of Water (MDPI) invites different types of contributions, such as short mini-review papers, applications, and case studies. This Special Issue will provide a platform and an opportunity to promote cooperation, information dissemination, and exchange among researchers and industry on the basis of the water circular economy.

Prof. Dr. Vincenzo Naddeo
Prof. Dr. Chi-Wang Li
Guest Editors

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