Review of treatment technologies for emerging water contaminants

What is it about?

In recent years, the presence of a group of contaminants, termed as emerging contaminants (ECs) has been recognized as significant water pollutants that have adverse effects on human and wildlife endocrine systems. Natural attenuation and conventional treatment processes are not capable of removing these micropollutants which are reported to bioaccummulate in macro invertebrates, other organisms in the aquatic food web and humans. An in-depth review of the state-of-the-art technologies available to remove emerging contaminants (ECs) in water was undertaken. The results of the review show that the majority of the research in recent years has focused on using phase-changing processes, including adsorption in different solid matrices and membrane processes, followed by biological treatment and advanced oxidation processes.

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Why is it important?

It is imperative that before the detrimental impacts of climate change compel communities to reuse water without adequate safeguards, good practices underpinned by scientifically robust policies are adopted to mitigate potential human health and environmental risks. Inability to appropriately manage ECs in water, risks squandering the opportunity to gainfully use one of the last available and largely uncommitted water resource for many urban areas. Identifying the technological trends and knowledge gaps in relation to the removal of emerging contaminants in water is a priority that must be addressed in order to inform the scientific community towards the adoption of best practices to ensure the use of safe drinking water for the community.

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