Integrating Advanced Wastewater Treatment Technologies for Sustainable Water Resource Management in the United States

Abstract

Aim: The present study examined the integration of advanced wastewater treatment technologies for sustainable water resource management in the United States. Problem Statement:  The increase in industrialization and the increase in the population of citizens in the United States have resulted in an increase in the volume of industrial and domestic wastewater generated. This also contributes to the scarcity of water due to high demand. The increase in the volume of wastewater generated has resulted in rise in the toxic pollutants in the environment when they wastewaters are discharged into lagoons and rivers. Significance of Study: There is a need to develop and incorporate advanced wastewater treatment technologies aside the previous insufficient and inefficient methodologies to tackle the problems of environmental pollution and water scarcity in order to meet up with the SDGs stated by the United Nations. Methodology: This review was compiled with the aid of published articles and relevant books downloaded from Scopus, google and other research journal databases in the area of advanced wastewater treatment technologies and sustainable water resource management. Discussion: In this article, the problems emanating from the discharge of wastewater into the environment together with a limited supply of water are discussed. The need to control these two menaces is examined through the incorporation of advanced water treatment technologies which include advanced oxidation process, ultrasound technique, membrane bioreactor, advanced green technologies and hydrodynamic cavitation technology. The article discusses how useful end-products can be made from wastewater treatment for water resource management sustainability and circular economy purposes. The various steps required in wastewater treatment are also examined while Arizona was cited as a case study. Conclusion: Sufficient volume of water can be generated from wastewater treatment facilities to support suburban populations and cities in the United State to tackle the problem of water scarcity. In conclusion, building more wastewater treatment facilities in the United States is imperative for further waste minimization, curbing the discharge of harmful effluents and making sufficient water available to support suburban populations and cities while the circular economy is maintained as well.