Springer Wastewater Reuse and Current Challenges: 44 (The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry)

This volume discusses the current challenges related to the reuse of wastewater. It reviews the analytical methodologies for evaluating emerging contaminants and their transformation products, the sensitivity of various bioassays for assessing the biological effects of treated wastewater, and the bioavailability and uptake of organic contaminants during crop irrigation. It describes in detail the physicochemical and microbiological alterations in soil resulting from irrigation with treated urban wastewater, and discusses our current understanding of antibiotic resistance in wastewater treatment plants and in downstream environments. The book also includes an analysis of the effect of wastewater entering drinking water sources and production, and provides updated information on wastewater reuse for irrigation in North Africa. It presents an important integration tool for water recovery, known as water pinch analysis, and finally showcases two other examples of reuse – one in the paper industry and one in landfill management. It is of interest to experts from various fields of research, including analytical and environmental chemistry, toxicology and environmental and sanitary engineering. Review “The book could be of interest to a wide audience, including analytical chemists and biochemists … . Administrators, planners, and decision-makers could also be attracted by the contents of the book. The chapter presents and discusses the threats and challenges related to the direct reuse of reclaimed water and, in particular, to human health, and the potential impacts of the occurrence of effluent-associated chemical and microbial contaminants in downstream environments (surface water, ground water, soil, and crops).” (Paola Verlicchi, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Vol. 408, 2016)