phd topics in wastewater treatment

PhD in Integrated Management of Water, Soil and Waste

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• Finance (1)
• Manufacturing (1)
• Circular Economy (6)
• Development (3)
• Infrastructure (2)
• Natural Capital (2)
• Technology and Innovation (2)
• Investment (1)

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The main objective of this PhD programme is to provide graduate students with detailed knowledge, critical understanding, strategies and tools to take an interdisciplinary and integrated approach towards the management of water, soil and waste.

The joint PhD programme aims at creating a new generation of environmental scientists, engineers and managers to conduct, promote and provide guidance on the sustainable management of water, soil and waste. These resources and their sustainable management are of concern to the United Nations and its member states, particularly to developing countries and emerging economies.

Due to the focus on integrated management of water, soil, and waste, UNU-FLORES’s research is mainly – but not exclusively – relevant for

• SDG 2 ( Zero hunger ), e.g., related to sustainable intensification of agriculture, including  safe use of wastewater in agriculture , the  integration of organic waste into small-holder farming  or  water productivity in irrigated agriculture ;
• SDG 6 ( Clean water and sanitation ), e.g., related to  water quality indicators  and  monitoring ,  nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment ,  monitoring of rural water supply systems  or  groundwater quality in wastewater treatment systems ;
• SDG 11 ( Sustainable cities and communities ), e.g.,  related to decision support frameworks for water resources management ;
• SDG 12 ( Responsible consumption and production ), e.g.,  related to integration of organic waste and wastewater into biomass production ,  nexus-oriented waste management ;
• SDG 13 ( Climate action ), e.g., related to  climate impacts on water and soil management  and respective climate adaptation strategies;
• SDG 15 ( Life on land ), e.g., related to managing  multifunctional land-use systems  to secure  soil- and water related ecosystem services , particularly in dryland areas;
• SDG 17 ( Partnerships for the goals ), e.g.,  working with consortium partners to address the challenge of drought risk monitoring .

Research projects may address these issues from various perspectives in an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary manner, using a broad range of approaches and methods and building on a diverse set of both quantitative and qualitative data. Typically, our research projects are implemented with additional partners in respective member states or from international organizations, universities, and research institutions; PhD research should follow this model.

• Global Green Growth Institute
• The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
• The United Nations Environment Programme
• United Nations Industrial Development Organization
• The World Bank

Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering

College of engineering and information technology, phd, environmental engineering.

Environmental engineers in the department are actively researching the fate and impact of pharmaceuticals in wastewater, analysis and remediation of toxic pollutants in soils and other environments, the processes governing atmospheric chemistry and aerosol pollution, and advanced real-time modeling and monitoring of groundwater-surface water conditions.

The PhD degree is substantially heavier in research compared with the MS degree and is geared towards successfully mastering a body of skills and knowledge in preparation for a career as an independent scholar. This degree is recommended for those who expect to engage in a professional career in research, teaching, or technical work of an advanced nature.

The PhD degree is awarded only upon sufficient evidence of high attainment in scholarship and the ability to engage in independent research in the field of environmental engineering.

Required Prior Coursework

Applicants to the Environmental Engineering graduate programs should ensure prior coursework covers the topics listed for the courses below. Top applicants have grades of a ‘B’ or above in courses covering these topics:

• Organic Chemistry ( CHEM 351 )
• Multivariable Calculus ( MATH 251 )
• Differential Equations ( MATH 225 )
• Calculus-Based Physics ( PHYS 121  &  PHYS 122 )

Students looking to pursuing an ENEN PhD are not required to have an undergraduate degree in an engineering discipline. All applicants, no matter what undergraduate degree one has completed, must have earned a B or better courses covering the topics listed above.

The basic components of the Environmental Engineering (ENEN) PhD degree are:

• Completion 21 credits of graduate coursework, including core curriculum
• Successful completion of written qualifying report and oral presentation
• Successful preparation and oral defense of a written dissertation proposal
• Minimum of 18 credit-hours of doctoral dissertation research (ENEN 899)
• Public oral defense and submission of written doctoral dissertation

Jahir Antonio Batista Andrade – ’23 Ph.D., Environmental Engineering

View all student profiles

Students seeking a PhD are also required to pass a written qualifying examination. The PhD candidate must take at least 18 hours of dissertation credits (ENEN 899) and produce a dissertation that demonstrates a significant contribution to the state-of-the-art in the topic selected. The PhD dissertation committee is required to include at least one external member. The major milestones for PhD program include: qualifying exam, proposal defense and final dissertation defense.

Environmental Engineering Faculty Research Areas Include: 

• Aerosol Science
• Atmospheric Chemistry
• Automated Reasoning
• Environmental Risk Assessment
• Machine Learning
• Pollutant Fate and Transport
• Resource Recovery
• Soil and Sediment Remediation
• Urban Hydrology
• Water and Wastewater Treatment
• Water Quality
• Watershed Modeling

The completion of a minimum of 21 credit-hours of graduate courses beyond the bachelor’s degree (some of which can come from MS degree). The core curriculum includes 12 credits of coursework. The specific course work for each student is determined by the candidate’s PhD committee. These courses would be drawn from Departments within the College of Engineering and the College of Arts and Science (e.g., Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry). PhD students can also take classes from the MEES program (several faculty are members of the MEES program).

Course descriptions are found in the UMBC Course Catalog . A grade point average of 3.0 in all courses must be maintained to remain in good standing with the Graduate School. Courses taken to fulfill the requirements of the program must be approved in advance by the Chemical Engineering graduate program director and by the student’s advisor, if one has been selected.

ENEN Core Curriculum

4 discipline-specific courses from the following options:

• ENEN 610  Environmental Chemistry
• ENEN 612  Environmental Physicochemical Processes
• ENEN 613 Environmental Organic Chemistry
• ENEN 614  Environmental Biological Processes
• ENEN 621 Groundwater Hydrology
• ENEN 660  Air Pollution
• ENCH 630  Transport Phenomena
• ENME 645  Applied Computational Thermo/Fluids
• GES 616  Physical Hydrology
• MATH 441  Introduction to Numerical Analysis

Admission requirements and procedures correspond to the requirements set forth by the UMBC Graduate School . Information on our Fee Free Application available here.

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Environmental Engineering PhD

• Full-time: 3 to 4 years
• Part-time: Not available
• Start date: Multiple available
• UK fees: £5,100
• International fees: £21,500 or £28,600 depending on the nature of your project

Research overview

Research topics for this PhD are very varied but can include microwave processing, wastewater treatment, greenhouse gases, removal of pollutants in water and soils as well as many other aspects.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.

Meeting our English language requirements

If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a presessional English course. Presessional courses teach you academic skills in addition to English language. Our  Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK.

If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.

For on-campus presessional English courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations. For online presessional courses, see our CELE webpages for guidance.

Visa restrictions

International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time courses. The Standard Visitor visa route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.

We recognise that applicants have a variety of experiences and follow different pathways to postgraduate study.

We treat all applicants with alternative qualifications on an individual basis. We may also consider relevant work experience.

If you are unsure whether your qualifications or work experience are relevant, contact us .

Our step-by-step guide contains everything you need to know about applying for postgraduate research.

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) .

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

There are many ways to fund your research degree, from scholarships to government loans.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Researcher training and development

The Researcher Academy is the network for researchers, and staff who support them. We work together to promote a healthy research culture, to cultivate researcher excellence, and develop creative partnerships that enable researchers to flourish.

Postgraduate researchers at Nottingham have access to our online Members’ area, which includes a wealth of resources, access to training courses and award-winning postgraduate placements.

Graduate centres

Our graduate centres are dedicated community spaces on campus for postgraduates.

Each space has areas for:

• socialising
• computer work
• kitchen facilities

Student support

You will have access to a range of support services , including:

• academic and disability support
• childcare services
• counselling service
• faith support
• financial support
• mental health and wellbeing support
• visa and immigration advice
• welfare support

Students' Union

Our Students' Union represents all students. You can join the Postgraduate Students’ Network or contact the dedicated Postgraduate Officer .

There are also a range of support networks, including groups for:

• international students
• black and minority ethnic students
• students who identify as women
• students with disabilities
• LGBT+ students

SU Advice provides free, independent and confidential advice on issues such as accommodation, financial and academic difficulties.

Where you will learn

University park campus.

University Park Campus  covers 300 acres, with green spaces, wildlife, period buildings and modern facilities. It is one of the UK's most beautiful and sustainable campuses, winning a national Green Flag award every year since 2003.

Most schools and departments are based here. You will have access to libraries, shops, cafes, the Students’ Union, sports village and a health centre.

You can walk or cycle around campus. Free hopper buses connect you to our other campuses. Nottingham city centre is 15 minutes away by public bus or tram.

Whether you are considering a career in academia, industry or haven't yet decided, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Expert staff will work with you to explore PhD career options and apply for vacancies, develop your interview skills and meet employers. You can book a one-to-one appointment, take an online course or attend a workshop.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route . Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Completing a research degree with us will ensure that you develop transferable skills that will be beneficial in a number of different careers. Graduates within the faculty have gone on to have successful careers as:

• researchers
• production managers and directors
• IT and telecommunication professionals
• business, research and administrative professionals
• science, engineering and production technicians
• natural and social science professionals
• teachers, lecturers and educators

92.6% of postgraduates from the School of Engineering Research secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £33,689.*

*HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022 . The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on data from graduates who completed a full-time postgraduate degree with home fee status and are working full-time within the UK.

Related courses

Chemical engineering phd, research excellence framework.

The University of Nottingham is ranked 7th in the UK for research power, according to analysis by Times Higher Education. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a national assessment of the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

• 90%* of our research is classed as 'world-leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*)
• 100%* of our research is recognised internationally
• 51% of our research is assessed as 'world-leading' (4*) for its impact**

*According to analysis by Times Higher Education ** According to our own analysis.

This content was last updated on 27 July 2023 . Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.

PhD in Wastewater Treatment: Projects, Fellowships, Positions, Programmes, Scholarships

Find a PhD in wastewater treatment and its related areas in the UK, USA, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc. Wastewater treatment PhD programs, scholarships, research projects, fellowships, courses, and positions are available in European countries, Germany, Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Italy, etc. Here you can also find studentships, jobs, courses, offers, and fully funded opportunities for international students abroad.

Fellowships for PhD in Wastewater Treatment

Phd fellowship in environmental biotechnology, university of stavanger, norway, europe, february 5, 2024, ph.d , scholarships.

Last Date: 4th March 2024. Job description The University of Stavanger invites applicants for a PhD Fellowship in Environmental Biotechnology at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, Bioscience and Environmental Engineering. The position is vacant from 01.08.2024 and the starting date is no later than 01.11.2024. This is a …

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Microplastics in wastewater treatment systems and receiving waters

Blair Espinoza, Reina Maricela (2019) Microplastics in wastewater treatment systems and receiving waters. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Plastic pollution is a problem of global scale and will increase as synthetic polymers continue to be produced, used, and discarded. Microplastic (MPs, <5 mm in size) pollution is of increasing concern, because this is estimated to account for more than 92% of global plastic counts and expected to present risks to aquatic fauna and humans. Often, MPs are too small to be seen and are unevenly distributed in the environment due to differences in shape, size, and density, rendering them difficult to find and quantify in environmental samples. Hence, adequate quantitative and qualitative assessment of these materials remains scarce, particularly in freshwaters and wastewaters that remain largely unexplored. However, both systems receive and transport different types of anthropogenic waste, including MPs, so warrant further attention for identification of mitigation strategies.

The purpose of this research was to fill gaps in knowledge of the role of freshwater rivers and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) as transport vectors of MPs to the environment, and generate incisive understanding of the distribution and behaviour of MPs in these systems. These research findings are expected to be relevant to stakeholders and regulators as they can aid in the identification of priority areas for further research, monitoring, and regulation of MP pollution. Therefore, this research focussed on the abundance and distribution of MPs (60-2800 μm) in urban fresh- and wastewater systems in a river whose catchment contains a large city: the River Clyde catchment (4000 km2) in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. First, liquid fractions were sampled at eight treatment stage points within a tertiary WWTP with 184,500 population equivalents and receiving a mix of household and trade effluent. Then, sediment and water samples were collected in the recipient river, the River Clyde, upstream and downstream from the WWTP. In addition, sediment samples were collected from another nearby freshwater river, the River Kelvin, which also drains through Glasgow and the Clyde at its estuary. The overall aim of this research was to assess the extent of MP pollution in these systems and the distribution, transport, and possible fate of primary and secondary types of MPs. Microplastics were separated from their environmental matrix using the widespread protocols of density separation, hydrogen peroxide oxidation of labile organics, and filtration. Particles were identified by visual sorting followed by chemical confirmation of plastics.

Microplastics were ubiquitous and present in all water bodies in varying quantities: 161-432 MPs kg-1 in the River Kelvin tributary, <1-13 MPs L-1 in the WWTP, 1-26 MPs kg-1 in River Clyde sediment, and 0-4 MPs 24 L-1 in River Clyde water. The WWTP displayed high efficiency, removing 96% of incoming pieces, with the majority removed by the primary treatment stage. However, at least one fibre was observed in treated effluent and this may represent daily discharges of at least 12 million particles to the River Clyde from this WWTP. Total MP concentrations in sediment and water samples of the recipient river were higher in the most downstream site compared to the upstream point furthest from the effluent pipe. Fibre concentrations were higher in downstream sediment samples that may indicate some retention in rivers by sedimentation processes – this is supported by the high abundance of fibres in River Kelvin sediments. Fragments were abundant in the main river sediments in similar concentrations across upstream and downstream sites, suggesting these are more likely to be introduced from diffuse sources via surface runoff and in-stream transport. The comparable concentrations observed across sampling events for each of these systems suggest a continuous input of MPs from their source to the environment.

For further insight into the relative distribution of primary and secondary MPs and their potential sources, it is necessary to confirm material composition of these particles. A subset of specimens extracted from wastewater (5%), Clyde sediment (15%), and Clyde water (56%) were analysed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for this assessment. Secondary MPs especially fibres were predominant, while primary MPs that have received the most media and public attention and prompted plastic and MP strategies, were lowest in concentration. Polypropylene (PP) was the most detected polymer across all analysed particles and was mainly present in the form of fibres and fragments. Polyester and nylon fibres that may be expected in high abundances in wastewater appeared absent in the WWTP in this study, although this was concluded mainly due to size limitations of the characterisation method. However, the PP fibres in wastewater could originate from sanitary products, medical applications, thermal clothing, and construction materials. This is important as fibres are often linked to washing machine effluent and currently little information from alternate sources for this type of MPs exists. In River Clyde sediment, fibres identified as polyethylene terephthalate were observed and concluded to originate mainly from fishing gear, based on combined assessment of chemical and visual properties.

Understanding the causes and significance of MP pollution is a new but expanding area of water research. It was important to share these research findings with the community and so this research was published when possible. This thesis is thus constructed from a series of published and unpublished papers.

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Apply for PhD Programme in Integrated Management of Water, Soil, and Waste

2018/08/10     Dresden, Germany

Design: Claudia Matthias/UNU-FLORES

UNU-FLORES and Technische Universität Dresden are now accepting applications from graduates in engineering, social sciences, and natural sciences for their Joint PhD Programme in Integrated Management of Water, Soil, and Waste . The tuition-free programme aims at creating a new generation of environmental scientists, engineers, and managers, to conduct, promote, and provide guidance on the sustainable management of water, soil, and waste. The window for the current application period is 15 August to   30 September 201 8 .

Interested? Check the admissions criteria for eligibility!

The current call for applications targets candidates interested in conducting research within the clusters “ Wastewater Use as an Application of the Water-Soil-Waste Nexus” and “ Integrated Water-Soil Management as an Adaptation Mechanism to Climate Change in Water-Scarce Areas” outlined in detail below.

Candidates should develop a short research proposal related to one or more of the research questions listed under each research cluster, specifying their specific interests in the topic, the regional focus of their research, indication of data availability, and so on.

To learn how to apply and what documents are required, check out the application procedure .

We will also look at well-worked out alternative research topics proposed by applicants outside these clusters if they fall into the scope of our research programme as reflected in our recent publications .

If you have any questions related to the programme, you can reach us at  [email protected] .

Research Clusters for the 2018 Call for Applications

Cluster 1: wastewater use as an application of the water-soil-waste nexus.

Research in this cluster builds, for example, on finished and ongoing projects related to the monitoring of wastewater use , its safe use in agriculture , environmental impacts of wastewater irrigation , sustainability assessment of wastewater treatment systems , nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment , and research on soil-related ecosystem services . New PhD projects in this cluster might address any of the following or further, thematically related, questions:

• How does wastewater irrigation change soil structure? How can such changes be considered in water flow and solute transport modelling?
• How does wastewater irrigation affect soil quality? When are saturation limits reached? What is the carrying capacity for which types of soils?
• How does wastewater irrigation affect groundwater quantity and quality, and how can irrigation management mitigate adverse effects?
• How does wastewater use affect surface water quantity and quality? How can it best be monitored?
• How can wastewater use contribute to enhancing water productivity?
• What effect does wastewater use have on crops, in terms of yield quantity and quality, and how do benefits balance to costs and threats (e.g., environmental and human health)?
• How can nature-based solutions of wastewater treatment support fit-for-purpose wastewater use? How do design parameters need to be adapted?
• What are the current institutional conditions for wastewater use in terms of legal frameworks? What role does hard vs. soft law play in implementing wastewater use?
• What role does participation play in adopting wastewater irrigation practices? Which level of participation is the “right” one, and why?
• What boundaries and drivers exist in the implementation of wastewater use as a business model? How can barriers be overcome, and drivers be enhanced?
• How can the feedback between wastewater production, wastewater treatment, wastewater use in agriculture, changes in soil structure and quality, changes in surface and subsurface water quality, and quantity, socioeconomic, and institutional changes be portrayed? How can these be evaluated?

Cluster 2: Integrated Water-Soil Management as an Adaptation Mechanism to Climate Change in Water-Scarce Areas

Research in this cluster builds, for example, on finished and ongoing projects related to assessing climate trends and impacts , monitoring of water stress , impacts of land-use changes vs. climate change on water yield , impact of soil and crop management on soil water , and research on soil-related ecosystem services . New PhD projects in this cluster might address any of the following or further, thematically related, questions:

• How can the water availability for farmers in water-scarce regions be increased through adapted soil and water conservation management?
• How can wastewater use contribute to enhancing water productivity under water-scarce conditions?
• What are suitable strategies for enhancing the application of organic waste for soil management, and how will it affect the water cycle?
• How can downscaled climate projections inform the food and water sectors to ensure water and food security?
• How does soil water deficiency affect soil-related ecosystems and their services and how can this be monitored?
• How can nature-based solutions help compensate reduced water availability, while addressing energy and food security?
• How does current legislation support integrated water-soil management? In which way do customary practices play a role in ensuring long term water and food security?
• Which roles do NGOs and CSOs play in promoting integrated water-soil management practices? Which goal are they trying to pursue? And how do they differ from one-another over space and time?
• How do National Adaptation Plans reflect integrated water-soil management practices to address water, energy, and food security?
• How can different feedbacks between adaptation practices be portrayed? How can these be evaluated?

Please visit the PhD Programme page for further details on the scope of the programme , application procedure , and admission criteria .

Research, Informatics and Graduate Studies

Assoc. Prof. Xiaowu Huang

Email: xiaowu.huang@gtiit.edu.cn

Web Page Link

Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology   (GTIIT), China & Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Israel.

Fees & Finance

The Department of Environmental Science and Engineering (group of Dr. Huang) is looking for passionate and highly motivated PhD candidates who have interests in biological wastewater treatment and resources recovery from wastewater and biowaste.

Quota: 2-4 .

Our mission is to carry out R&D work towards energy-autarky and/or energy-positive WWTPs. The research topics include but are not limited to (1) biological wastewater treatment, e.g., sidestream anammox and mainstream anammox; and (2) resources recovery from wastewater (e.g., livestock wastewater, soybean wastewater and brewery wastewater) and biosolids (e.g., municipal sludge and kitchen waste), such as microbe-driven production of value-added products (e.g., PHAs, VFAs and proteins).

Biological nitrogen removal; Anammox; Microbial community; Bioreactors; Anaerobic digestion; Resource recovery; Value-added products; Meta-omics

• Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Biotechnology or relevant fields
• Solid background in wastewater treatment and/or biosolids treatment
• Vast experiences in bioreactor operation, microbial analysis, and applications of UV, TOC, IC, HPLC, and TEM
• Good communication skills and good command of English
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment
• Published at least one first-authored impactful research paper in SCI journal from previous research work
• Application deadline: Open till filled
• Send below documents to Dr. Huang at xiaowu.huang@gtiit.edu.cn : 1) Curriculum vitae; 2) Two letters of recommendation (one from the mentor for Master); 3) Degree certificates for Master/Bachelor degree
• Dr. Huang’s group is also looking for passionate and highly motivated postdoctoral fellows and research assistants . Please contact Dr. Huang ( xiaowu.huang@gtiit.edu.cn ) for more information.
• Dr. Huang welcomes self-funded students, CSC-funded students, and visiting students/scholars. Salary and benefits will be provided depending on the qualifications of the candidates.

Position: PhD Positions in Wastewater Treatment and Resources Recovery (GS-2024001) - Group of Dr. Xiaowu Huang

Thank you for submitting your application. We will contact you shortly!

Address: 241 Daxue Road, Jinping District, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China

©Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology 2018

Vectors graphics designed by Freepik

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From The Editor | September 26, 2014

The 10 hottest topics in wastewater—what you need to know.

By Laura Martin

Behind on what's hot in the wastewater industry? Get up-to-date with this list of Water Online articles on the industry trends and challenges that everyone is talking about. Read on and you'll be sure to impress your colleagues.

1) Energy Production And Conservation

Finding the ideal balance between energy and water consumption has always been a challenge. Energy use at a water or wastewater utility can be 30 percent to 50 percent of the municipality’s total electricity consumption. In addition, the energy industry itself requires a significant amount of water to operate. But a water-energy nexus solution is on the horizon, as more energy-efficient technologies and alternative energy production methods are developed. 

Stories On  Energy From Water Online:

Can Co-Locating Utilities Solve The Water-Energy Nexus?  

5 Reasons To Harvest The Power Of Biogas

2) Nutrient Management

Changing regulations and increasingly stringent effluent limits have brought nutrient management to the forefront of the wastewater industry. 

Stories On Nutrient Management From Water Online

'Peecycle' Please: Will Urine Separation For Nutrient Recovery Take Off?

3 Alternative Nutrient-Removal Techniques

What Everyone Should Know About Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal

3) Residuals and Biosolids

The management and removal of residuals, sludge, and biosolids, has historically been a burden on wastewater utilities, accounting for nearly 50 percent of treatment costs. But this “waste” may hold the key to additional revenue if reclaimed and sold. 

Stories On   Residuals and Biosolids From Water Online:

Revolutionary Sludge Management Comes To America

Bio-Dredging: Cost-Saving Sludge Digestion For Lagoons

4) Water Reclamation And Reuse

There is a growing trend of reusing treated wastewater effluent for both drinking water and industrial applications. On the drinking water side, water shortages have made direct potable reuse (DPR) and indirect potable reuse applications a necessity in parts of the country. Pressure to use less water on the industrial sector has resulted in innovative reuse applications as well. 

Stories On  Water Reuse From Water Online:

Texas Leads The Way With First Direct Potable Reuse Facilities In U.S.

Fit-for-Purpose Water Reuse And The Road Toward Water Security

New Indirect Potable Reuse Regulations — What To Expect

5) Water Supply And Water Management

In water-scarce areas, managing water supply can be challenging. First, it can be difficult to even determine how much water is available, via groundwater, surface water, reuse, and other sources. Then, there is the challenge of figuring out how water should be allocated between consumers and industrial applications, and how much needs to remain untouched for the sake of the environment. If there isn’t enough to go around, conservation techniques or usage restrictions may have to be considered. 

Stories On  Water Supply And Management From Water Online:

Tackling The Drought: The Relationship Between Water Law And Water Budget

Why Engineers Can't Solve The Water Shortage With Supply-Side Solutions

6) Stormwater, Green Infrastructure, And Wet Weather Management

Stormwater management is a growing focus for the wastewater industry. Heavy wet-weather events often overwhelm wastewater systems — which are often too small for a growing population — and untreated sewage ends up overflowing into local water bodies. Green infrastructure solutions and growing regulation offer solutions. 

Stories On  Stormwater From Water Online:

EPA Stormwater Ruling: How Will It Impact Utilities?

Save The Rain: Preventing Combined Sewer Overflows

7) ‘Flushable’ Wipes And Collection Systems

Recently, collection systems have been in the spotlight. The increased attention is thanks (or no thanks) to “flushables,” non-dispersible cleansing cloths that are wreaking havoc on headworks all over the country. 

Stories On  “Flushables” From Water Online:   

Nondispersibles' Turning Sewers Into Nightmares Nationwide  

Looming In The Sewers: Nonwovens Are Weaving A Tangled Web

8) Industrial Wastewater

Oil and gas, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, mining, food and beverage processing—the list of industries with growing wastewater challenges goes on and on. Water Online has reported on the modeling, design, and operation of industrial wastewater treatment systems, anaerobic and biological industrial treatment processes, regulatory impacts, and more.  

Stories On  Industrial Wastewater From Water Online:

The Importance Of An Industrial Water Treatment Program

Has Fracking Gone ‘Green'?

9) Utility Management

Utility executives and managers have a wide range of challenges to overcome. Their workforce is aging and their budgets are shrinking. Public outreach is more important than ever before, and regulations and government oversight are increasing.  

Stories On  Utility Management From Water Online

New Standard Applies To Every Water Manager, Everywhere

How To Deliver Better Water And Increase Consumer Confidence Simultaneously

10)  Innovative Technology

Change is needed in the wastewater industry. Cutting-edge products and services focused on everything from resource recovery and big data management, to innovative green infrastructure solutions are coming to the forefront.

Stories On Innovation From Water Online:

The Top 12 Water Technology Hotspots In America

Ontario's Water Tech Acceleration Project: Fighting For The Future Of Water

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Phd topic of project a3: development of macroporous polymeric adsorber materials for p removal from wastewater.

This PhD project aims to develop polymeric adsorber materials based on molecularly imprinted polymers that selectively remove phosphate from wastewater and allow the release of the bound phosphate in a subsequent step for recovery. The polymers will be synthesized from functionalized monomers designed to interact with phosphate anions, appropriate crosslinkers, a template to create cavities in the polymer matrix for phosphate incorporation, and a porogen to ensure mass transport in the final materials. The type of monomers, their ratio and the polymerization conditions will be systematically varied to optimize the performance of the products. The obtained materials will be characterized in terms of composition and morphology. In addition, batch and flow experiments will be performed to quantify the phosphate adsorption capacity and to identify suitable conditions for phosphate adsorption and desorption, as well as for polymer recycling. Finally, the materials will be tested in a pilot wastewater treatment plant to evaluate the feasibility of the developed process.

The most important scientific questions of this PhD will be:

-  Can polymeric adsorber materials based on molecularly imprinted polymers be obtained with sufficiently high phosphate selectivity and adsorption capacity to enable P removal from wastewater down to low residual concentrations?  -  How can the bound phosphate be desorbed from the polymers and recovered? -  Can the materials and process be scaled up for use in a wastewater treatment plant?

Requirements for applicants:

-  Excellent Master's degree (M.Sc.) in chemistry or equivalent -  Experience in synthetic organic chemistry and in common analytical (NMR, UV-Vis, IR) and purification techniques (chromatography). Experience in polymer chemistry and in the standard techniques of polymer characterization is welcome but not required. -  Fluency in English and willingness to learn German (for non-German speakers)

Application:

You can send your application for this PhD topic to Prof. Dr. Stefan Kubik: stefan.kubik[at]rptu.de   

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Data on close contacts tests are from Akashi et al. 3 The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, for which information was publicly available on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympics website during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, was provided by the Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. NA indicates no available wastewater sample.

a Wastewater sample was not available from 1 of the 7 areas.

A, Correlation between the presence of areas where at least 1 confirmed COVID-19 case was reported (clinical positive area) and viral RNA concentrations observed in passive samples within the previous 3 days including the day when the clinical test results were obtained (day 0). B, Comparison of the 3-day maximum viral RNA concentrations in passive samples observed in clinical negative areas (no confirmed cases reported) and clinical positive areas. The 3-day maximum viral RNA concentration represents the maximum values in 3 consecutive days in which the last day was the day when corresponding clinical test results were obtained. One-tailed Mann-Whitney U test was used to investigate whether there was a statistically significant positive correlation between viral RNA load in passive samples and presence of clinical positive area. BLOQ indicates positive with below limit of quantification (<11 copies/sampler); ND, not detected.

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Kitajima M , Murakami M , Kadoya S, et al. Association of SARS-CoV-2 Load in Wastewater With Reported COVID-19 Cases in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Village From July to September 2021. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(8):e2226822. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.26822

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Association of SARS-CoV-2 Load in Wastewater With Reported COVID-19 Cases in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Village From July to September 2021

• 1 Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
• 2 Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
• 3 Department of Urban Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
• 4 Shionogi & Co Ltd, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
• 5 Human Genome Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Because SARS-CoV-2 transmission was a major concern during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, wastewater surveillance, 1 mandatory daily screenings with antigen saliva tests, 2 and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for close contacts of individuals with confirmed cases 3 were conducted in the Olympic and Paralympic Village. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the association of SARS-CoV-2 load in wastewater with the numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases and tests for close contacts.

From July 14 through September 8, 2021, 360 wastewater samples were collected via passive sampling from manholes in 7 distinct areas of the village and examined for SARS-CoV-2 RNA using quantitative PCR. 4 Wastewater sampling, SARS-CoV-2 RNA analysis, and data reporting to the Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games were performed daily. The numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases and close contacts tests were obtained from the committee and a recent report, 3 respectively. This study followed the STROBE reporting guideline. Informed consent and ethics approval were not required because this study was outside the scope of ethical guidelines set by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS, version 28. One- or 2-tailed P  = .05 was considered significant. Details are given in the eMethods in the Supplement .

The village accommodated approximately 11 000 and 4400 participants during the Olympics and Paralympics, respectively. 3 SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 151 wastewater samples (41.9%), of which 53 (26.4%) and 98 (61.6%) were from the Olympics and Paralympics, respectively ( Figure 1 ), indicating a significantly higher positivity rate in the latter (φ = 0.35; P  < .001, 2-tailed χ 2 test). The numbers of confirmed cases and close contact tests per participant were higher during the Paralympics than during the Olympics (3.2 vs 3.6 confirmed cases per 1000 participants; 140 vs 440 close contacts tests per 1000 participants 3 ) ( Figure 1 ).

The observed concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in passive samples were up to 35 000 copies per sampler. The strongest correlation between SARS-CoV-2 RNA load in wastewater and the presence of clinical positive area was found with 3-day (days −2 to 0) maximum wastewater concentrations ( r  = 0.140; P  = .006, 1-tailed Mann-Whitney U test) ( Figure 2 A). Viral RNA load was positively correlated with presence of confirmed cases ( Figure 2 B).

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a useful tool for detecting SARS-CoV-2 carriers at an early stage of transmission and monitoring distribution of the virus while protecting anonymity. 5 However, additional tests for close contacts are essential for identifying and isolating individuals with potential infection and preventing further transmission. During the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, individuals with COVID-19 were quarantined outside the village. 3 The correlation of SARS-CoV-2 RNA load in wastewater with the presence of clinical positive areas suggests that viral RNA was shed into sewers 2 days before the case was identified through clinical testing. Limitations of the study include the potential for trace amounts of viral RNA shed from an infected individual going undetected in wastewater and the numbers of participants in each area being unavailable.

The WBE data and other monitoring results (eg, number of positive cases, status of community transmission outside the village) reported to the organizing committee were collectively used as indicators of anticipated COVID-19 incidence, 1 and enhanced infection prevention measures (eg, increased testing frequency for staff in physical contact with athletes) were implemented during the Paralympics. 6 These findings suggest that WBE and clinical tests are complementary and that the testing strategy played a role in preventing COVID-19 clusters in the village. This study of one of the world’s largest mass gatherings provides novel evidence on the implementation and use of WBE in communities where all members undergo daily testing.

Accepted for Publication: June 27, 2022.

Published: August 22, 2022. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.26822

Open Access: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC-BY License . © 2022 Kitajima M et al. JAMA Network Open .

Corresponding Author: Masaaki Kitajima, PhD, Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North 13 West 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628, Japan ( [email protected] ).

Author Contributions : Drs Kitajima and Imoto had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Concept and design: Kitajima, Murakami, Katayama, Imoto.

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: All authors.

Drafting of the manuscript: Kitajima, Imoto.

Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: All authors.

Statistical analysis: Kitajima, Murakami, Imoto.

Obtained funding: Kitajima, Katayama.

Administrative, technical, or material support: Kitajima, Murakami, Kadoya, Kuroita, Katayama, Imoto.

Supervision: Kitajima, Imoto.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Kitajima reported receiving grants from Shionogi & Co Ltd during the conduct of the study and having a pending patent for method for nucleic acid detection and quantification from environmental samples with royalties paid from Shionogi & Co Ltd. Dr Imoto reported receiving grants from Astellas Pharma, Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare, Fujitsu Ltd, Shiseido Co, BrightPath Biotherapeutics Co Ltd, and Liquid Mine and serving on the scientific advisory board for Axial Therapeutics, Inc outside the submitted work. No other disclosures were reported.

Additional Contributions : Satoshi Okabe, PhD (Hokkaido University) and Hiroyuki Kobayashi, PhD, Ryo Iwamoto, MS, and Tomoyuki Ohkawa, PhD (Shionogi & Co Ltd) provided supervision. Kiyoshi Yamaguchi, PhD, Kotoe Katayama, PhD, Shoji Karasawa, and Miwako Nakagawa MS, (The University of Tokyo); Daiki Goto, BS (Hokkaido University); and Tatsuya Ikehara, PhD, Masato Wakabayashi, PhD, Yu Tsurekawa, PhD, Kazuki Akazawa, PhD, Kenji Kikushima, BS, and Daiki Murakami, BS (Shionogi & Co Ltd) assisted with sample collection and analysis. These individuals were not compensated.

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