ACS ES&T water最新文献

High-resolution water quality data are fundamental to achieving the objectives of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG). While community-based monitoring projects provide valuable data, concerns remain regarding the accuracy and reliability of those data. This study addresses these challenges by developing an affordable, reliable, and open-source optical sensor for monitoring nitrate and phosphate concentrations in freshwater environments. The sensor was developed to support citizen scientists and community monitoring and consists of a 3D-printed case made of polylactic acid, a light-emitting diode (LED), and a commercial ambient light detector managed by a Raspberry Pi Zero W. Data can be stored offline or transmitted in real time via Wi-Fi. The analytical performance was evaluated in laboratory and operational conditions using standard and natural river samples, performing a comparative analysis with a laboratory-based spectrophotometer. Results showed that the sensor provides accurate and repeatable measurements with a significant improvement over conventional colorimetric methods. The sensor technology follows open science principles as the 3D design, operating software, and user guidelines are freely available online to support further advancements and its application in community-based water quality monitoring.

Pollution of surface watercourses and reservoirs with pesticides is a serious global problem. N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), a widely used repellent against mosquitoes and ticks, can enter aquatic ecosystems from point sources when used outdoors but especially from wastewater from laundry and personal hygiene. This research was focused on the monitoring of DEET in surface water, sediments, plants growing on the banks, gray water and in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), both in water and sewage sludge. For identification and quantification of DEET, liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was used. The study was complemented by determining DEET ecotoxicity to nontarget organisms (Vibrio fischeri, Sinapis alba, and Eisenia andrei). The research has demonstrated the presence of DEET in all investigated areas in water in a concentration range of up to 32.18 μg L^-1. While the concentrations of DEET found do not possess acute toxic effects, it is imperative to acknowledge its potential for chronic effects, toxicity of any possible degradation products, and synergistic effects with other pollutants present in the environment, especially in the aquatic ecosystem.

Lagoon wastewater systems are popular in small communities (<10,000 people) due to their cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency. However, these systems struggle to meet regulatory discharge limits for ammonia, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus, emphasizing the need for improved nutrient management. Most existing reviews focus on large-scale mechanical systems, leaving a gap for stand-alone lagoon systems in resource-limited settings. This systematic review analyzed 1003 peer-reviewed articles spanning five decades, evaluating nutrient management technologies for municipal lagoons. Technologies were categorized by nutrient target, process type, installation location, and development phase. Biological processes dominate (79%) due to their adaptability and cost-effectiveness, while advanced and hybrid systems are gaining traction. Performance varied widely based on design, climate, and operational conditions, highlighting the importance of site-specific considerations. To support context-sensitive selection, this study developed the Suitability Index (SIDX), a multicriteria framework incorporating complexity, automation, availability, and operational feasibility. SIDX identified several applicable and promising technologies for small-community lagoons. The review also highlighted an evolving focus toward circularity, resource recovery, and emissions reduction, moving beyond traditional pollutant removal. These insights provide practical guidance to support adaptive, context-appropriate nutrient management strategies aligned with current regulatory standards and future environmental goals.

Chromate [Cr-(VI)] is a toxic heavy metal frequently detected in wastewater, often alongside nitrate (NO₃ ^-). Nitrate-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (N-DAMO) is a promising process for the simultaneous removal of methane (CH₄) and NO₃ ^- in wastewater treatment plants. Because Cr-(VI) can serve as an alternative electron acceptor, its presence may alter the N-DAMO performance. Here, we investigated the impact of Cr-(VI) on an enrichment culture containing Candidatus Methanoperedens and Candidatus Methylomirabilis, using NO₃ ^- as the electron acceptor and ¹³C-CH₄ as the electron donor. Cultures were exposed to varying Cr-(VI) concentrations, and microbial activity was assessed using GC-MS, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and qPCR. Cr-(VI) was reduced within the cultures, but this reduction was not linked to CH₄ oxidation. Instead, CH₄ oxidation was significantly inhibited, with declines in the relative abundances of both N-DAMO organisms. Cr-(VI) reduction was likely mediated by denitrifiers through nitrate reductase activity or abiotically via the reaction with nitrite (NO₂ ^-). These findings reveal functional resilience of microbial consortia in contaminated environments but highlight Cr-(VI) toxicity as a constraint for N-DAMO-based wastewater treatment.

Our research suggests that anthropogenic particles (AP), a suite of contaminant particles that originate from human activities including microplastics and microfibers, can undergo geographic fractionation during long-range transport from populated source regions to remote receptor regions. Assemblages of microplastics, microfibers, and other AP (>125 μm) in surficial sediments spanning a 2200 km transect had the most diverse shapes, colors, and polymer types in populated source regions, as illustrated by the Greater Toronto Area and Laurentian Great Lakes, and were least diverse in remote Hudson Bay and Arctic Ocean samples. We hypothesize that differences in diversity are due to a fractionation process where transport from source regions is controlled predictably by differential AP mobility. Specifically, microfibers consisting of anthropogenic cellulose and polyester were found to accumulate in the remote regions of the Arctic, indicating their mobility, which enables long-range transport, consistent with their higher buoyancy in air and water. Conversely, nonfibrous particles (i.e., fragments, films, foams) settled closer to sources, consistent with lower mobility due to faster settling velocities and the likelihood of fragmentation. As with other contaminants, control measures to mitigate and reduce AP discharges in populated urbanized regions will mitigate AP contamination in the Arctic and other remote areas, particularly for the most highly mobile microfibers.

Airborne PCB emissions from contaminated sediments pose a public health risk and are frequently cited as a concern for communities located near PCB-contaminated bodies of water. We assessed the potential to decrease the emissions of lower-chlorinated (LC)-PCBs (<3 chlorines) through bioaugmentation with aerobic PCB-degrading Paraburkholderia xenovorans strain LB400 in laboratory microcosms using historically PCB-contaminated sediments from a wastewater lagoon (Altavista, VA; AVL) and an estuary (New Bedford Harbor, MA; NBH). We compared the impact of nonshaken vs shaken conditions on airborne PCBs in LB400-bioaugmented AVL sediment (51% LC-PCBs) to better replicate field conditions. After 35 days, airborne LC-PCBs decreased by 54% in nonshaken bioaugmented AVL sediments, compared to a 60% decrease in shaken bioaugmented sediments. Bioaugmenting LB400 into unshaken NBH sediments (44% LC-PCBs) significantly decreased airborne LC-PCBs by 50% over 35 days. Biphenyl dioxygenase gene (bphA) abundance decreased by several orders of magnitude after 16 days in all experiments, demonstrating a potential decrease in treatment effectiveness over time. These novel findings demonstrate that LB400 effectively degrades LC-PCBs with varying profiles over a range of environmentally relevant mixing scenarios. Further treatment delivery development has the potential to protect nearby communities from PCB exposure, decrease health risks, and improve quality of life.

This work explores the current landscape of industrial risk assessment tools for wastewater and water technologies, emphasizing the need for integrated, multirisk frameworks that address environmental, technological, regulatory, and socioeconomic dimensions. Leveraging on over 7,000 literature sources and two European (EU) case studies in the chemical and paper manufacturing sectors, this study identifies key gaps in existing risk methodologies and highlights the importance of aligning risk assessments with evolving EU directives and climate goals. Integration of two detailed case studies in the Irish food industry and at a Portuguese pulp and paper manufacturing site provides practical validation of the proposed frameworks. The case studies categorized risk assessments at micro- and macrolevels guiding the establishment of future frameworks. In the long term perspective, the inclusion of digital technologies aims to enhance predictive capabilities and resilience of the water and wastewater sectors. The findings advocate for an inclusive and adaptive risk management approach that bridges operational detail with strategic oversight, ensuring sustainable and compliant water resource management within industrial settings.

The UV-based advanced reduction processes (ARPs) have emerged as an effective strategy to degrade PFAS contaminants in water. This study investigates PFAS degradation by integrating far-UVC irradiation at 222 nm with sulfite-based ARPs. Comparative analysis of UV222/sulfite and conventional UV254/sulfite revealed that UV222/sulfite systems significantly improve the performance by generation of more hydrated electrons (e_aq ^-), the primary reactive species driving PFAS degradation, and exhibit superior energy efficiency, characterized by lower electrical energy per order (E _EO ). The higher efficiency of UV222/sulfite can be attributed to stronger light absorption of sulfite and higher photon energy at 222 nm. Under optimized stepwise sulfite dosing conditions, the UV222/sulfite ARP achieved high perfluorooctyl sulfonic acid (PFOS) removal efficiency, nearly 85% reduction in parent compound and 66% defluorination within a 6 h period, while the degradation of shorter-chain PFHxS and PFBS was slower. Real water matrix components can influence treatment efficiency. The impacts of nitrate/nitrite were transient and diminished after rapid photolysis at 222 nm, while dissolved organic matter and carbonates exerted strong reactive species scavenging effects. This study establishes UV222/sulfite ARP as a promising strategy to enhance PFAS degradation. Careful optimization of UV222/sulfite system parameters and water matrices will increase the adaptability for environmental PFAS remediation.

Microbially mediated transformations, such as nitrification and biodegradation, play a crucial role in removing pollutants from rivers. Although in-stream removal rate coefficients are often assumed to be spatially and temporally constant, they are likely affected by the channel shape and size because these factors control contact between the water column and fixed biofilms. Here, we test the hypothesis that transformation rate constants are inversely proportional to the hydraulic radius (R: ratio of the channel cross-sectional area to wetted perimeter) in dye tracing experiments conducted in two U.K. rivers with contrasting morphologies: (1) the River Maun (shallow: mean bankfull R = 1.25 m) and (2) the River Calder (deep: mean bankfull R = 3 m). In each case, a slug of rhodamine WT was injected upstream of a wastewater outfall, and samples were collected downstream, staggered by the rhodamine travel time. Rate constants were derived for sucralose, ammonium, caffeine, and linear alkylbenzenesulfonate. Sucralose (persistent, hydrophilic, and exclusively of wastewater origin) was used as a conservative tracer to adjust model fits for dilution. Higher rate coefficients were observed for all biotransformed pollutants in the Maun compared to the Calder, supporting the hypothesis and highlighting the need to consider geomorphology in models of chemical behavior.

In drinking water distribution systems (DWDS), skin-friction drag in turbulent pipe flows contributes significantly to energy losses. Passive drag-reducing surfaces, such as shark-skin-inspired riblets, have shown promise in controlled environments but often underperform under variable flow conditions. This study addresses this limitation by developing and experimentally evaluating a Hierarchical Step-shaped Riblet (HSR) design aimed at sustaining drag reduction under the variable and fluctuating flow conditions typical of water pipelines. Building on conventional riblets (CR) and hierarchical riblets (HR), the HSR configuration introduces progressively tapered riblet tips to the hierarchical design to reduce shear-exposed surface area while maintaining effective interaction with vortices of varying size. Riblet designs were fabricated using high-resolution 3D printing and tested in variable flow conditions, simulating the flows in typical drinking water distribution networks. Drag reduction performance was evaluated across a Reynolds number range of 4200 to 20,000 using friction factor analysis and nondimensional riblet spacing. The HSR design achieved the highest peak drag reduction of 11.2% and sustained favorable performance across a broader range of flow conditions than the CR and HR designs. The results demonstrate that multiscale geometric tuning, combined with reduced shear exposure, enhances drag reduction across a broadened operational range suitable for drinking water distribution pipes.