Water and wastewater treatment comprises the engineered processes that remove contaminants from raw Water to make it fit for use and from used or polluted Water before its discharge or reuse, protecting public health and the environment. Treatment trains are organised into sequential stages. Physical operations such…
Water and wastewater treatment comprises the engineered processes that remove contaminants from raw Water to make it fit for use and from used or polluted Water before its discharge or reuse, protecting public health and the environment. Treatment trains are organised into sequential stages. Physical operations such as screening, sedimentation, and filtration remove suspended solids; chemical processes including coagulation, flocculation, oxidation, and disinfection neutralise or precipitate dissolved and microbial constituents; and biological treatment harnesses microorganisms to degrade organic matter, the load of which is measured by biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand, two correlated indicators of pollution strength. Wastewater from municipal, industrial, and agricultural sources presents distinct challenges, so systems such as aerated lagoons, activated sludge, and bioreactors are designed to match the character and volume of the influent, including high-salinity or high-strength streams such as dairy effluent. Advanced and tertiary methods, among them membrane separation and radiation-based treatments, target persistent contaminants and emerging pollutants. Effective treatment depends on monitoring Water-quality parameters, understanding pollutant sources, and tailoring process design to local conditions. As a field, Water and wastewater treatment integrates environmental engineering, microbiology, and chemistry to safeguard drinking-Water supplies, manage effluents, conserve resources through reuse, and reduce the impact of human activity on receiving waters.
6 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 6 articles above have been cited 23 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Water and Wastewater Treatment, linking to each citing work.