The presence of anthropogenic contaminants, known as emerging pollutants (EPs), poses a major challenge for wastewater treatment. In line with the European Union’s vision for water recycling, efforts have focused on developing more sustainable advanced treatment technologies. To achieve this, circular economy principles can be applied by repurposing waste from other sectors. Consequently, drinking water treatment residuals (DW...

Heavy metal contamination in Mediterranean riparian ecosystems presents serious risks to biodiversity and human health, requiring innovative biomonitoring methods for polluted watersheds. This study developed a comprehensive biomonitoring framework for an industrially impacted Mediterranean river basin, with approximately 100,000 tons of contaminated waste in landfills from decades of metallurgical processing. We investigated...

Urban aquifers are a potential alternative, with which to cover the rising demand for freshwater. However, they are commonly polluted by a wide range of anthropogenic substances, including rare earth elements (REEs). In this context, it is essential to investigate the presence and behaviour of these pollutants, in order to safely use urban groundwater. An example of these contaminants is Gadolinium, which can reach the environ...

Drinking Water Treatment Residuals (DWTR) are the sludge by-products produced in the drinking water treatment plants, representing a significant amount of the operational costs. Since the DWTR properties depend on the treatment system and the raw water characteristics, it is crucial to understand the key parameters to streamline the decision-making process regarding DWTR reuse. This study aimed to assess the key parameters of...

The presence of antibiotic-resistant (AR) E. coli , antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and intI1 was investigated in different treatment stages, comparing a conventional activated sludge wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) with a nature-based system in a decentralised area comprising upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors (UASBs), constructed wetlands (CWs), and an ultraviolet (UV) disinfection unit. Furthermore, the efficacy...

Threats on groundwater quantity and quality impose the need for monitoring and protection of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDEs) and their related services. The present study aims to the development of a GDEs and related services management framework, with emphasis on preliminary but practical monitoring and mapping tools, such as the Groundwater Footprint (GWF) and the land-scoring mapping technique. The main objectives o...

Bracciano Lake is one of the major water bodies of Lazio region and the eighth lake in Italy by area. Similarly to other water bodies located on the Tyrrhenian side of the Italian Peninsula, Bracciano Lake has a volcanic origin. This water body is a strategic resource for both the emergency and ordinary water supply of Rome megacity, thanks to the short distance (about 30 km). During the last years, the concurrence of climate...

Biocementation, i.e., the production of biomimetic cement through the metabolic activity of microorganisms, offers exciting new prospects for various civil and environmental engineering applications. This paper presents a systematic literature review on a biocementation pathway, which uses the carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity of microorganisms that sequester CO 2 to produce biocement. The aim is the future development of this...