water environment research

Water Environment Research

Subject Area and Category

• Ecological Modeling
• Environmental Chemistry
• Waste Management and Disposal
• Water Science and Technology

Publication type

10614303, 15547531

Information

How to publish in this journal

[email protected]

The set of journals have been ranked according to their SJR and divided into four equal groups, four quartiles. Q1 (green) comprises the quarter of the journals with the highest values, Q2 (yellow) the second highest values, Q3 (orange) the third highest values and Q4 (red) the lowest values.

The SJR is a size-independent prestige indicator that ranks journals by their 'average prestige per article'. It is based on the idea that 'all citations are not created equal'. SJR is a measure of scientific influence of journals that accounts for both the number of citations received by a journal and the importance or prestige of the journals where such citations come from It measures the scientific influence of the average article in a journal, it expresses how central to the global scientific discussion an average article of the journal is.

Evolution of the number of published documents. All types of documents are considered, including citable and non citable documents.

This indicator counts the number of citations received by documents from a journal and divides them by the total number of documents published in that journal. The chart shows the evolution of the average number of times documents published in a journal in the past two, three and four years have been cited in the current year. The two years line is equivalent to journal impact factor ™ (Thomson Reuters) metric.

Evolution of the total number of citations and journal's self-citations received by a journal's published documents during the three previous years. Journal Self-citation is defined as the number of citation from a journal citing article to articles published by the same journal.

Evolution of the number of total citation per document and external citation per document (i.e. journal self-citations removed) received by a journal's published documents during the three previous years. External citations are calculated by subtracting the number of self-citations from the total number of citations received by the journal’s documents.

International Collaboration accounts for the articles that have been produced by researchers from several countries. The chart shows the ratio of a journal's documents signed by researchers from more than one country; that is including more than one country address.

Not every article in a journal is considered primary research and therefore "citable", this chart shows the ratio of a journal's articles including substantial research (research articles, conference papers and reviews) in three year windows vs. those documents other than research articles, reviews and conference papers.

Ratio of a journal's items, grouped in three years windows, that have been cited at least once vs. those not cited during the following year.

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Evaluating treatment in direct potable reuse

Water Leader Interview

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Tailored Collaboration Research

Request for pre-proposals

2023 Year in Review

New Issue:  Advances in Water Research

• 01 Advanced Treatment
• 02 Interview
• 04 Magazine

Topics of Focus

In the United States alone, billions of gallons of water are treated each day at water resource recovery facilities. Once the water is clean, a different challenge remains: determining what to do with the solids that are removed during the treatment process. The resulting mixture is often a unique semi-solid blend of organic and inorganic materials, trace elements, chemicals, and even pathogens, so there is no across the board solution for handling and processing the combinations of constituents that may be present.

Because these solids are often rich in nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus—which also happen to be the perfect ingredients for promoting healthy soil and plant growth—many facilities have turned to land application. Before these solids can be put to use for things like fertilizing farmland, however, they must undergo rigorous treatment to meet stringent regulations, at which point they become known as biosolids.

For more information, contact Ashwin Dhanasekar .

Characterization and Contamination Testing of Source Separated Organic Feedstocks and Slurries for Co-Digestion at Resource Recovery Facilities

Project highlights.

A key challenge with source separated organic (SSO) feedstock co-substrate is that its composition, quality, and characteristics differ between geographical locations and can change over time. This causes challenges and uncertainties for pre-treaters, substrate brokers, facilities accepting this material, operators...

Interview with Dr. William Tarpeh

Turning Waste into Gold with Dr. William Tarpeh A rare few people end up in the career they decided for themselves as children. More often, the question “What do you...

WRF Presents $100K Research Award To Advance Wastewater Resource Recovery

(Denver, CO) 10/11/23 – Last week, The Water Research Foundation (WRF) presented William Tarpeh, PhD, with the esteemed 2023 Paul L. Busch Award. With this $100,000 research prize, Dr. Tarpeh...

WRF Seeks Proposals for 22 New Research Projects Totaling $4.9M

(Denver, CO) 9/12/23 - The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is now accepting proposals for 22 research projects totaling $4.9M that will advance the science of water for communities around the...

Climate Change

Climate change is altering our natural hydrologic cycle, creating uncertainty when it comes to the quality and quantity of water sources. WRF’s research on climate change covers the key areas of climate risk assessment, climate adaptation, and mitigation strategies.

Because the first step in preparing for climate change is understanding the potential and variable impacts these changes can have on water sources and treatment systems, WRF research tracks potential outcomes, considering a variety of possibilities, and provides resources and tools to help facilities identify and address risks and vulnerabilities in their operations and infrastructure.

Implementing climate change adaptation strategies will be critical as the water sector moves forward. WRF’s research in this area helps utilities create better long- and short-term adaptation plans, respond more effectively to severe weather, and improve infrastructure and operations to meet changing needs, including the production of onsite energy systems and reliable back-up power to protect critical services.

The water sector must also have a hand in mitigating the root causes of climate change. By pioneering approaches to improve energy efficiency, including process optimization, improved energy management, and the use of renewable energy, WRF is helping the water sector decrease activity that is driving these changes.

For more information, contact Harry Zhang .

Holistic Approaches to Flood Mitigation Planning and Modeling under Extreme Events and Climate Impacts

Municipalities and utilities are facing unprecedented challenges in planning for extreme precipitation and flooding events, which are occurring more frequently and unpredictably. A holistic approach to flood mitigation planning and modeling, including partnerships between stakeholders, is needed to balance competing...

One Water Cities: A Self-Assessment Framework

Municipalities play key roles in implementing One Water approaches and furthering community resilience. Read the full article.

The Water Research Foundation Honors Outstanding Water Leaders

(Denver, CO) 6/21/23 - The Water Research Foundation (WRF) announced last week that it awarded its 2023 Subscriber Impact Award to Denver Water and its 2023 Research Innovation Award to...

Climate Change Featured in Advances in Water Research

The Water Research Foundation’s (WRF’s) quarterly magazine often highlights climate change research. Be sure to check out the latest climate-related articles! A Vulnerability Assessment Case Study : This article features...

Cyanobacteria & Cyanotoxins

Aquatic microscopic algae and cyanobacteria (formerly known as blue-green algae) occur naturally in most surface waters. However certain nutrient and temperature conditions can cause them to multiply rapidly, leading to “blooms.” Under certain conditions, some species of cyanobacteria can produce toxic secondary metabolites or cyanotoxins, which may pose health risks to humans and animals. Even when cyanobacteria are not toxic, they can produce unpleasant tastes and odors.

Cyanobacteria continue to be among the most problematic organisms in fresh water systems. Without clear guidance or consensus regulations in place, many utilities struggle with responding to cyanobacterial harmful algal bloom (cHAB) events. Since 1994, WRF has completed more than 40 research projects on these microscopic organisms and the cyanotoxins they produce, helping facilities detect, monitor, and manage these organisms—as well as communicate with the public.

For more information, contact Sydney Samples .

Refinement and Standardization of Cyanotoxin Analytical Techniques for Drinking Water

There is uncertainty relating to the screening and confirmation of cyanotoxin samples. Water utilities need robust and dependable methods to monitor cyanotoxins in source water, through the treatment process, and at the tap, as well as to make appropriate decisions...

The Water Research Foundation Funds Utility Research Projects Worth $5M in Research Value

(Denver, CO) 12/19/2023 – The Water Research Foundation (WRF) has selected twelve new projects for funding through its Tailored Collaboration Program, totaling over $5 million in research value. The projects...

PFAS Communication Guidance

Water sector professionals need to be able to communicate with their customers clearly, concisely, and consistently about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This may include information on what PFAS are...

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made compounds with fluorinated carbon chains. They are resistant to heat, oil, and water, making them useful in a wide variety of products, including...

Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs)

The use of strong oxidants to disinfect water has virtually eliminated waterborne diseases like typhoid, cholera, and dysentery in developed countries. However, research has shown that chlorine interacts with natural organic matter present in water supplies to form regulated and emerging disinfection byproducts (DBPs).

To minimize the formation of regulated DBPs and comply with existing regulations, water utilities have increasingly been moving away from chlorine to use alternative disinfectants like chloramine, or installing more advanced and costly treatment processes, such as ozone or granular activated carbon to remove DBP precursors. However, while reducing the formation of halogenated DBPs, alternative oxidants have been shown to favor the formation of other DBPs (e.g., ozone producing bromate and halonitromethanes, and chloramines producing N-nitrosodimethylamine and iodinated DBPs). 

For more information, contact Kenan Ozekin .

Impact of Haloacetic Acid MCL Revisions on DBP Exposure and Health Risk Reduction

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering changes to the disinfectant and disinfection byproducts (D/DBP) rule. Specifically, there may be a shift from the currently regulated five haloacetic acids (HAA5) to nine (HAA9), which would include four additional brominated...

WRF Seeks Pre-proposals for High-Priority Utility Research

(Denver, CO) 02/15/24 – The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is now accepting pre-proposals for its matching research program, the Tailored Collaboration Program. The Tailored Collaboration Program provides an opportunity for...

The Water Research Foundation Seeks Nominations for Paul L. Busch Award

(Denver, CO) 02/08/24 – The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Paul L. Busch Award. The $100,000 award recognizes one outstanding individual for innovative research...

Energy Optimization

For most water facilities, energy is one of the highest costs in their operating budget. Stricter regulations are pushing facilities to use even more advanced—and energy-intensive—treatment technologies. Optimizing energy use can provide huge cost savings and numerous additional benefits, including improving air quality, protecting the environment, and bolstering energy security. WRF has published more than 100 projects that explore ways to not only optimize current energy use, but to generate power as well—setting the course for a self-sufficient water sector.

Developing a Framework for Quantifying Energy Optimization Reporting

Energy projects within the water sector are often discretionary and initiated based on projected annual energy savings metrics. The water sector lacks standard energy savings estimation procedures, as well as measurement and verification approaches and procedures that adhere to the...

Interview with Dr. Amy Pruden

Dr. Amy Pruden Shares Her Special Journey through the World of Water Research Dr. Pruden recognized the value of water from a young age. In a July 2023 interview with...

Intelligent Water Systems

As with other industries, newly developed technologies drive water utilities to adapt their day-to-day operations. Water networks have been a special focus, with new instrumentation options for water production, transmission, distribution, wastewater collection, and consumer end-points coming to market. Implementing these technologies can improve the efficiency and reliability of water networks, but with myriad options, utilities need guidance on which technologies are most worthwhile and how they should be implemented. 

Quantifying the Impact of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning-Based Approaches to Utility Performance

The purpose of this project is to survey the water industry and identify the use cases for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), quantify their benefits, and provide a framework for others to be able to make the same...

2024 Intelligent Water Systems Challenge

The Leaders Innovation Forum for Technology (LIFT) program, a joint effort of The Water Research Foundation (WRF) and the Water Environment Federation (WEF), is holding the sixth Intelligent Water Systems...

The Water Research Foundation and Water Environment Federation Launch the Fifth Intelligent Water Systems Challenge

(Denver, CO) 02/6/23 – The Water Research Foundation and Water Environment Federation are pleased to invite teams to participate in the fifth annual Intelligent Water Systems (IWS) Challenge. As technology...

Microbes & Pathogens

Control of microbes in water systems is critical to achieving water quality and public health goals. While most microbes are not considered human pathogens, certain microbes can pose health risks or contribute undesirable tastes and odors. 

Since the early 20th century, modern drinking water treatment has made great advancements in the detection, removal, and inactivation of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. As technologies in the drinking water space continue to progress, new challenges have arisen in the form of opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens. 

Wastewater and stormwater utilities also play an essential role in reducing the pathogen load to receiving waters used for recreation.  Additionally, more recent advancements in water reuse, especially direct potable reuse, demand more understanding of pathogen detection, removal, and inactivation in wastewater. 

For more information, contact Grace Jang (drinking water & reuse) or Lola Olabode (wastewater).

Demonstrating the Effectiveness of Flushing for Reducing the Levels of Legionella in Service Lines and Premise Plumbing

Legionella are pervasive environmental bacteria that can incidentally cause severe and sometimes fatal infections upon inhalation. Because legionella inhabit engineered environments and proliferate in warm, stagnant premise water systems, the majority of outbreaks are associated with preventable water system maintenance...

Interview with Cheryl Norton

Cheryl Norton’s Lasting Journey with WRF and the Water Sector From leading a Water Research Foundation (WRF)- funded project right out of college, to becoming an integral member of the...

Resource Recovery

In recent decades, the wastewater sector has moved away from the idea of wastewater treatment plants as waste disposal facilities, instead envisioning these plants as water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). WRRFs can produce clean water, recover nutrients (such as phosphorus and nitrogen), and potentially reduce fossil fuel consumption through the production and use of renewable energy.

For more information, contact Jeff Moeller .

Recent Updates

Reporting Period: October 1, 2023 – April 1, 2024

Reporting Period: January 1 – March 31, 2024

Reporting Period: December 1, 2023 – March 1, 2024

Reporting Period: September 1, 2023 – March 1, 2024

Reporting Period: October 2023 – February 2024

Reporting Period: June 30 – October 1, 2023

Reporting Period: September 2023 – February 2024

Reporting Period: June 30, 2021 – February 1, 2024

Reporting Period: November 15, 2023 – February 15, 2024

Reporting Period: June 1 – September 30, 2023

Throughout the year, WRF hosts and participates in events that focus on critical water quality issues. From web seminars to research workshops, these events provide opportunities for you to learn about new research from water quality experts and to share ideas and connect with other industry professionals.

Your Water System is Not Isolated - Interdependencies are Important

Developing Strategic Consumer Messaging for Microplastics in Drinking Water Supplies

Advances in Water Research

This issue highlights the essential research The Water Research Foundation delivered in 2023 thanks to the valuable contributions of our researchers, participating utilities, and countless volunteers.

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Read our March Issue

Our March issue includes a focus issue on ecohydrology. 

Current issue

At the interface between hydrology and ecology, time to revise the terminology we use to regulate water management practices.

• Paul Jeffrey
• Heather Smith
• Francis Hassard

Ecohydrology amid a rapidly changing world

• Andrea Rinaldo

Deep learning for water quality

• Alison P. Appling

Unravelling the origin of the atmospheric moisture deficit that leads to droughts

• Luis Gimeno-Sotelo
• Rogert Sorí
• Luis Gimeno

Half of twenty-first century global irrigation expansion has been in water-stressed regions

• Piyush Mehta
• Stefan Siebert
• Kyle Frankel Davis

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Open call: Research to address the global sanitation

In this collection/call for paper, we present articles that explore all parts of sanitation research, including public health aspects, sustainable management, technology development and implementation, and environmental, social and technical challenges. We welcome submissions of articles that can help further our understanding and/or offer solutions to best address the global sanitation crisis.

Open call: Hydraulic engineering

In this collection/call for papers, we explore the hydraulic problems faced in both fundamental and applied research, with direct relevance for the optimal planning, design and operation of water resource systems. Our collection features articles that cover, for example, hydraulic structures, erosion protection, flood protection, hydroelectric-power generation, and more.

Nature Water Talks: a series of webinars with Nat Water

Nature Water Talks are online events organized by the Nature Water journal editors. The aim is to provide an informal and professional venue for our community to discuss a range of topics related to water resources and their relationship to society. We hope to engage a wide community across the globe by inviting experts to discuss challenges and opportunities in water-related issues.

Nature Water is a Transformative Journal ; authors can publish using the traditional publishing route OR via immediate gold Open Access.

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Why we must respect the goals we promised to achieve

Access to clean water is a fundamental human right, yet over two billion worldwide lack this essential resource close to their homes. This scarcity fuels conflict and hampers development globally. Despite the situation’s gravity, I am steadfast in my belief that these challenges can be overcome.

• Jan Eliasson

Water commons grabbing and (in)justice

Water commons are water resources collectively managed and utilized by communities as common property to support their food security, traditions, and livelihoods. Water commons are under increasing pressure of acquisition, privatization, and grabbing. This Comment analytically defines the water commons, examines their vulnerability to grabbing, and discusses the associated water justice and environmental implications.

• Paolo D’Odorico
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An analytical view of disinfectant degradation and disinfection by-product formation

Proton transfer time-of-flight mass spectrometry offers a new analytical tool to measure aqueous concentrations of volatile analytes in real time by the approach of headspace sampling, holding significant promise for advancing understanding of water chlorination chemistry.

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Chloramine is one of the most widely used disinfection methods for drinking water, and monitoring the complex reactions is still challenging. The proton transfer time-of-flight mass spectrometry developed here offers great sensitivity in measuring the kinetics of disinfectant decay in water.

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This paper explores legal processes for penalty setting in water theft cases in transboundary water systems and develops ideas to identify differences and potentially drive consistency between jurisdictions.

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Arsenic water decontamination by a bioinspired As-sequestering porous membrane

Arsenic water contamination may affect spring water as well as water reservoirs around the world and requires the development of efficient and sustainable remediation technologies. A bioinspired porous membrane allows obtaining filtrated water with an As concentration below the recommendation from the World Health Organization.

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A revolutionary solution for on-the-go water disinfection

An innovative approach for a portable water bottle utilizes walking-induced electrostatic charges to achieve highly efficient in-situ disinfection, providing a practical solution for ensuring clean water in decentralized environments.

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Walking-induced electrostatic charges enable in situ electroporated disinfection in portable water bottles

The development of direct in situ disinfection methods in bottles is of vital importance for providing safe drinking water, especially in rural and disaster-stricken areas. Harvesting the electrostatic charges induced by walking can stimulate electroporation disinfection and provide readily available portable water for point-of-use applications.

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Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology

Innovation for sustainable water

You can find details about how to access information remotely in this step-by-step guide . The guide will also help if for any reason you have difficulty accessing the content you want.

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Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology  is a Transformative Journal, and Plan S compliant

Impact factor: 5.0*

Time to first decision (all decisions): 14.0 days**

Time to first decision (peer reviewed only): 52.0 days***

Editor-in-Chief: Graham Gagnon

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Meet the team

Read our latest themed issues Urban stormwater management Data-intensive water systems management and operation Polymers in liquid formulations Drinking water oxidation and disinfection processes

Journal scope

Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology  seeks to showcase high quality research about fundamental science, innovative technologies, and management practices that promote sustainable water.

The journal aims to provide a comprehensive and relevant forum that unites the diverse communities and disciplines conducting water research relevant to engineered systems and the built environment. This includes fundamental science geared toward understanding physical, chemical, and biological phenomena in these systems as well as applied research focused on the development and optimisation of engineered treatment, management, and supply strategies.

Papers must report a significant advance in the theory, fundamental understanding, practice or application of water research, management, engineering or technology, within the following areas:

• Treatment and fate of chemical and microbial contaminants, including emerging contaminants
• Water distribution and wastewater collection
• Green infrastructure
• Stormwater management and treatment
• Potable reuse
• Residue management
• Sustainability analysis and design, including life cycle assessment studies
• Municipal and industrial wastewater treatment and resource recovery
• Drinking water treatment
• Water policy and regulation
• Applications of new water technologies* 
• Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
• Water-energy nexus
• Simulation and data science applications to engineered water systems
• Environmental remediation of soil, sediment, and groundwater
• Impacts of climate change on engineered water systems

The journal places special focus on issues associated with water sustainability, as well as research that may lead to more secure, resilient and reliable water supplies. And it welcomes inter- and multidisciplinary work contributing to any of the above developments that are likely to be of interest to the broad community that the Journal addresses.

Manuscripts should be written to be accessible to scientists and engineers in all disciplines associated with the Journal.

All manuscripts must highlight their novel features and explain the significance of the work relative to related studies in their field as well as the likely impact on relevant water communities in the industry, government or academia.

*Please see the below expandable section for specific guidance regarding this area of our scope.

Measurement advances and analysis: these papers are encouraged and must clearly focus on the relevance of the work to engineered water systems and clearly explain the implications of the analysis or observations for sustainable water management. Papers dealing only with analysis, analytical method development or that simply report measured concentrations of target analytes (for example, occurrence and effluent concentrations of novel pollutant classes) will not be considered for publication.

Modeling: papers that lack appropriate validation through either experimental data or available and reliable datasets will not be considered for publication.

New materials or technologies for water treatment: emphasis must be placed on one of the following:

• Developing a fundamental understanding of the underlying mechanisms integral to technology performance
• Demonstrating how the practical application of the technology advances the field and improves upon existing treatment options

Papers in this area are strongly discouraged from focusing solely on technology demonstrations in model systems with model pollutant targets. Rather, they are encouraged to consider performance in complex (that is, environmentally relevant) systems and performance metrics (for example, efficacy across multiple pollutant targets, longevity, regeneration during application, and sustainability assessment) most relevant to real world application. 

Technology papers: we will not consider papers that focus solely on any of the following:

• Heavily focused on material synthesis and characterisation (such as nanomaterial catalysts)
• Consider only the removal of highly idealised targets (such as dyes)
• Work exclusively in clean laboratory systems
• Do not demonstrate innovation that advances the treatment field, or develops a technology without a clear and viable pathway to full scale implementation

Sustainability assessments: papers that cover, for example, life cycle assessment or life cycle cost analysis, of water-related technologies and systems must emphasize the fundamental insight into the factors governing technology or system performance. Papers are strongly discouraged from solely reporting absolute or comparative assessments of technologies/systems without uncovering novel insight or identifying critical barriers to sustainability.

These guidelines will be used by our Associate editors and reviewers to assess the significance of each submitted manuscript.

See who's on the team

Meet Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology  Editor-in-Chief and board members.

Editor-in-chief

Graham Gagnon , Dalhousie University, Canada

Associate editors

Sebastià Puig Broch , Universitat de Girona, Spain

Wenhai Chu , Tongji University, China

Ning Dai , University at Buffalo, USA

Lauren Stadler , Rice University, USA

Liu Ye , The University of Queensland, Australia

Editorial board members

Takahiro Fujioka , Nagasaki University, Japan

Karin Jönsson , Lund University, Sweden

Branko Kerkez , University of Michigan, USA

Jeonghwan Kim , Inha University, South Korea

Linda Lawton , Robert Gordon University, UK

Luca Vezzaro , Technical University of Denmark, Denmark

Eveline Volcke , Ghent University, Belgium

Federico Aulenta , National Research Council, Italy

Nicholas Ashbolt , University of Alberta, Canada

Tom Bond , University of Surrey, UK

Joby Boxall , The University of Sheffield, UK

Kartik Chandran , Columbia University in the City of New York, USA

Amy Childress , University of Southern California, USA

David Cwiertny , University of Iowa  

Joel Ducoste , North Carolina State University, USA

Marc Edwards , Virginia Tech, USA

Jingyun Fang , Sun Yat-sen University, China

Maria Jose Farre , Catalan Institute for Water Research, Spain

Yujie Feng , Harbin Institute of Technology, China

Kathrin Fenner , Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Eawag, Switzerland 

Ramesh Goel , University of Utah, USA

Ola Gomaa , National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Egypt

Chris Gordon , University of Ghana, Ghana

April Gu , Cornell University, USA

Jochen Hack , TU Darmstadt, Germany

Zhen "Jason" He , Washington University in St. Louis, USA

Xia Huang , Tsinghua University, China

Cynthia Joll , Curtin University, Australia

Tamar Kohn , École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL, Switzerland

Peng Liang , Tsinghua University, China

Irene Lo , Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong

Julie Minton , WateReuse Foundation, USA

Vincenzo Naddeo , University of Salerno, Italy

Indumathi M Nambi , Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India

Long Ngheim , University of Technology Sydney, Australia

Paige Novak , University of Minnesota, USA

Yong Sik Ok , Korea University, South Korea

Ligy Philip , Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India

Thalappil Pradeep , Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India

Zhiyong "Jason" Ren , Princeton University, USA

Peter Robertson , Queen's University Belfast, UK

Michael Templeton , Imperial College London, UK

Kai Udert , Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Switzerland

Subramanyan Vasudevan , CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute, India

Xin Wang , Nankai University, China

David Weissbrodt , TU Delft, The Netherlands

Krista Wigginton , University of Michigan, USA

Di Wu , Ghent University, South Korea

Defeng Xing , Harbin Institute of Technology, China

Jeyong Yoon , Seoul National University, South Korea

Neil Scriven , Executive Editor

Grace Thoburn , Deputy Editor

Nour Tanbouza , Development Editor

Claire Darby , Editorial Production Manager, ORCID 0000-0003-3059-6020

Emma Carlisle,  Publishing Editor

Hannah Hamilton , Publishing Editor

Ephraim Otumudia , Publishing Editor

Irene Sanchez Molina Santos , Publishing Editor

Michael Spencelayh , Publishing Editor

Callum Woof , Publishing Editor

Lauren Yarrow-Wright , Publishing Editor

Kate Bandoo , Editorial Assistant

Linda Warncke , Publishing Assistant

Sam Keltie , Publisher, Journals, ORCID 0000-0002-9369-8414

Article types

Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology publishes:

Communications

Full papers, perspectives, critical reviews, frontier reviews, tutorial reviews, comments and replies.

Reviews & Perspectives are normally invited, however suggestions for timely Reviews are very welcome. Interested authors should contact the Editorial Office at [email protected] with an abstract or brief synopsis of their intended Review.

These must report preliminary research findings that are novel and original, of immediate interest and are likely to have a high impact on the Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology community. Authors must provide a short paragraph explaining why their work justifies rapid publication as a communication.

Original research papers on any of the subjects outlined in the scope section and related areas are encouraged and welcomed. All papers should give due attention to overcoming limitations and to underlying principles. All contributions will be judged on the following four criteria. 1. Novelty and insight 2. Quality of scientific work and content 3. Clarity of objectives and aims of the work 4. Appropriateness of length to content of new science

These may be articles providing a personal view of part of one discipline associated with Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology or a philosophical look at a topic of relevance. Alternatively, Perspectives may be historical articles covering a particular subject area or the development of particular legislation, technologies, methodologies or other subjects within the scope of the journal.

Critical reviews must be a critical evaluation of the existing state of knowledge on a particular facet of water research or water technologies as they affect environmental science. They should be timely and provide insights based on existing literature. They should be of general interest to the journal's wide readership.

All Critical reviews undergo a rigorous and full peer review procedure, in the same way as regular research papers. Authors are encouraged to identify areas in the field where further developments are imminent or of urgent need, and any areas that may be of significance to the community in general. Critical reviews should not contain any unpublished original research.

These are shorter, more focused versions of Critical reviews on a well-defined, specific topic area covering approximately the last two-three years. Articles should cover only the most interesting/significant developments in that specific subject area.

The article should be highly critical and selective in referencing published work. One or two paragraphs of speculation about possible future developments may also be appropriate in the conclusion section.

Frontier reviews may also cover techniques/technologies that are too new for a Critical review or may address a subset of technologies available for a given area of research within the journal scope.

Frontier reviews should not contain unpublished original research.

Tutorial reviews should provide an introduction and overview of an important topic of relevance to the journal readership. The topic should be of relevance to both researchers who are new to the field as well as experts and provide a good introduction to the development of a subject, its current state and indications of future directions the field is expected to take. Tutorial reviews should not contain unpublished original research.

Comments and Replies are a medium for the discussion and exchange of scientific opinions between authors and readers concerning material published in Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology.

For publication, a Comment should present an alternative analysis of and/or new insight into the previously published material. Any Reply should further the discussion presented in the original article and the Comment. Comments and Replies that contain any form of personal attack are not suitable for publication. 

Comments that are acceptable for publication will be forwarded to the authors of the work being discussed, and these authors will be given the opportunity to submit a Reply. The Comment and Reply will both be subject to rigorous peer review in consultation with the journal’s Editorial Board where appropriate. The Comment and Reply will be published together.

Journal specific guidelines

See a summary of ESWRT’s journal-specific guidelines . More details are also provided below.

Use of RSC template

There are no submission specifics regarding formatting; use of Royal Society of Chemistry template is not required. Bibliographies should be formatted according to the following Endnote and Zotero style files to include the cited article’s title.

Authors are encouraged to include line numbering in submitted manuscripts. Although there is no page limit for Full papers, appropriateness of length to content of new science will be taken into consideration by reviewers.

Water Impact Statement

All submitted manuscripts must include a 'Water Impact Statement' (60 words maximum; approximately three sentences) that clearly states in plain language the broad-scale implications and real-world relevance of the work. True potential for immediate real-world impact may be subject to further study, but the pathways towards achieving that impact in future should at least be envisioned and explained.

Read Professor Michael Templeton’s Editorial Perspective “ Achieving real-world impact ” for further discussion on expectations for the journal.

Authors should use this statement to show that they have given serious consideration as to how their work addresses current challenges related to water sustainability in a realistic sense. This statement will be carefully considered by the editors and the reviewers and will help ascertain the relevance of the article for a broad audience. Absence of potential for real-world impact is reason for rejection. If the manuscript is accepted this statement will be included in the published article. Please note that manuscripts without this statement will not be peer-reviewed.

Double-anonymised peer review option

Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology is now offering authors the option of double-anonymised peer review. Both single- and double-anonymised peer review are now available to authors.

• Single-anonymised peer review - where reviewers are anonymous but author names and affiliations are known to reviewers. (This is the traditional peer review model used on Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology)
• Double-anonymised peer review - where authors and reviewers' identities are concealed from each other.

Guidelines for authors and reviewers can be found  here

Organisation of material

An article should have a short, straightforward title directed at the general reader. Lengthy systematic names and complicated and numerous chemical formulae should therefore be avoided where possible. The use of non-standard abbreviations and symbols in a title is not encouraged. Please bear in mind that readers increasingly use search engines to find literature; recognisable, key words should be included in the title where possible, to maximise the impact and discoverability of your work. Brevity in a title, though desirable, should be balanced against its accuracy and usefulness.

The use of series titles and part numbers in titles of papers is discouraged. Instead these can be included as a footnote to the first page together with a reference (reference 1) to the preceding part. When the preceding part has been submitted to a Royal Society of Chemistry journal but is not yet published, the paper reference number should be given.

Author names

Full names for all the authors of an article should be given. To give due acknowledgement to all workers contributing to the work, those who have contributed significantly to the research should be listed as co-authors. Authors who contributed equally can be noted with a Footnote and referenced with a symbol.

On submission of the manuscript, the corresponding author attests to the fact that those named as co-authors have agreed to its submission for publication and accepts the responsibility for having properly included all (and only) co- authors. If there are more than 10 co-authors on the manuscript, the corresponding author should provide a statement to specify the contribution of each co-author. The corresponding author signs a copyright licence on behalf of all the authors.

Table of contents entry

This entry should include a colour image (no larger than 8 cm wide x 4 cm high), and 20-30 words of text that highlight the novel aspects of your work. Graphics should be as clear as possible; simple schematic diagrams or reaction schemes are preferred to ORTEP- style crystal structure depictions and complicated graphs, for example. The graphic used in the table of contents entry need not necessarily appear in the article itself. Authors should bear in mind the final size of any lettering on the graphic. For examples, please see the online version of the journal.

Every paper must be accompanied by a summary (50-250 words) setting out briefly and clearly the main objects and results of the work; it should give the reader a clear idea of what has been achieved. The summary should be essentially independent of the main text; however, names, partial names or linear formulae of compounds may be accompanied by the numbers referring to the corresponding displayed formulae in the body of the text.

Please bear in mind that readers increasingly use search engines to find literature; recognisable, searchable terms and key words should be included in the abstract to enable readers to more effectively find your paper. The abstract should aim to address the following questions.

• What is the problem or research question being addressed?
• What experimental approach was used to address the problem or question?
• What key data and results were obtained?
• What conclusions can be drawn from the experimental results?
• What are the broader implications for the study with respect to water sustainability?

Water Impact Statement 

Authors must provide a 'Water Impact Statement' (60 words maximum) that clearly highlights the broad-scale implications and real-world relevance of the work. This statement should be different from the abstract and must set the work in broader context with regards to water sustainability. True potential for immediate real-world impact may be subject to further study, but the pathways towards achieving that impact in future should at least be envisioned and explained in this statement.

When composing your Water Impact Statement, please consider the following points:

1.What is the problem? 2.Why is it important? 3.How does this translate to real-world applications/scenarios? 4.How can this be generalised?  5.Why is this work significant for ensuring sustainable water resources?  

This statement will be seen by the reviewers and will help ascertain the relevance of the article for a broad but technical audience. Authors should use it to show that they have given serious consideration to the impact of their presented study. Absence of potential for real-world impact is reason for rejection. If the paper is accepted this statement will also be published. Please note that papers cannot be peer-reviewed without this statement.

Introduction

This should give clearly and briefly, with relevant references, both the nature of the problem under investigation and its background.

Descriptions of methods and/or experiments should be given in detail sufficient to enable experienced experimental workers to repeat them. Standard techniques and methods used throughout the work should be stated at the beginning of the section. Apparatus should be described only if it is non-standard; commercially available instruments are referred to by their stock numbers (for example, Perkin-Elmer 457 or Varian HA-100 spectrometers). The accuracy of primary measurements should be stated. In general there is no need to report unsuccessful experiments. Authors are encouraged to make use of electronic supplementary information (ESI) for lengthy synthetic sections. Any unusual hazards inherent in the use of chemicals, procedures or equipment in the investigation should be clearly identified. In cases where a study involves the use of live animals or human subjects, the author should include a statement that all experiments were performed in compliance with the relevant laws and institutional guidelines, and also state the institutional committee(s) that have approved the experiments. They should also include a statement that informed consent was obtained for any experimentation with human subjects. Referees may be asked to comment specifically on any cases in which concerns arise.

Results and discussion

It is usual for the results to be presented first, followed by a discussion of their significance. Only strictly relevant results should be presented and figures, tables, and equations should be used for purposes of clarity and brevity. The use of flow diagrams and reaction schemes is encouraged. Data must not be reproduced in more than one form - for example, in both figures and tables, without good reason.

This is for interpretation and to highlight the novelty and significance of the work. Authors are encouraged to discuss the real world relevance of the work reported and how it promotes water sustainability. The conclusions should not summarise information already present in the text or abstract.

Acknowledgements

Contributors other than co-authors may be acknowledged in a separate paragraph at the end of the paper; acknowledgements should be as brief as possible. All sources of funding should be declared.

Bibliographic references and notes

These should be listed at the end of the manuscript in numerical order. We encourage the citation of primary research over review articles, where appropriate, in order to give credit to those who first reported a finding. Find out more about our commitments to the principles of  San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).

Bibliographic details should be cited in the order: year, volume , page, and must include the article title. For example: Lukas Mustajärvi, Ann-Kristin Eriksson-Wiklund, Elena Gorokhova, Annika Jahnke and Anna Sobek, Transferring mixtures of chemicals from sediment to a bioassay using silicone-based passive sampling and dosing, Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts , 2017, 19 , 1404-1413. See  Endnote style files . For Zotero, please use the Royal Society of Chemistry (with titles) template.

Bibliographic reference to the source of statements in the text is made by use of superior numerals at the appropriate place (for example, Wittig3). The reference numbers should be cited in the correct sequence through the text (including those in tables and figure captions, numbered according to where the table or figure is designated to appear).  Please do not use Harvard style for references.

The references themselves are given at the end of the final printed text along with any notes. The names and initials of all authors are always given in the reference; they must not be replaced by the phrase et al . This does not prevent some, or all, of the names being mentioned at their first citation in the cursive text; initials are not necessary in the text. Notes or footnotes may be used to present material that, if included in the body of the text, would disrupt the flow of the argument but which is, nevertheless, of importance in qualifying or amplifying the textual material. Footnotes are referred to with the following symbols: †, ‡, §, ¶, ║etc.

Alternatively the information may be included as Notes (end-notes) to appear in the Notes/references section of the manuscript. Notes should be numbered using the same numbering system as the bibliographic references.

Journals The style of journal abbreviations to be used in RSC publications is that defined in Chemical Abstracts Service Source Index (CASSI) (http://www.cas.org/expertise/cascontent/caplus/corejournals.html).

Bibliographic details should be cited in the order: year, volume , page. Where page numbers are not yet known, articles should be cited by DOI (Digital Object Identifier) - for example, T. J. Hebden, R. R. Schrock, M. K. Takase and P. Müller, Chem. Commun ., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/C2CC17634C.

Books J. Barker, in Catalyst Deactivation , ed. B. Delmon and C. Froment, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2nd edn., 1987, vol. 1, ch. 4, pp. 253-255.

Patents Br. Pat ., 357 450, 1986. US Pat ., 1 171 230, 1990.

Reports and bulletins, etc R. A. Allen, D. B. Smith and J. E. Hiscott, Radioisotope Data , UKAEA Research Group Report AERE-R 2938, H.M.S.O., London, 1961.

Material presented at meetings H. C. Freeman, Proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Coordination Chemistry, Toulouse, 1980.

Theses A. D. Mount, Ph.D. Thesis, University of London, 1977.

Reference to unpublished material For material presented at a meeting, congress or before a Society, etc., but not published, the following form is used:  A. R. Jones, presented in part at the 28th Congress of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Vancouver, August, 1981.

For material accepted for publication, but not yet published, the following forms are used.

• A. R. Jones, Dalton Trans. , 2003, DOI: 10.1039/manuscript number, for RSC journals 
• A. R. Jones, Angew. Chem ., in press, for non-RSC journals

If DOI numbers are known these should be cited in the form recommended by the publisher.

For material submitted for publication but not yet accepted the following form is used.

• A. R. Jones, Angew. Chem ., submitted.

For personal communications the following is used.

• G. B. Ball, personal communication.

If material is to be published but has yet to be submitted the following form is used.

• G. B. Ball, unpublished work.

Reference to unpublished work should not be made without the permission of those by whom the work was performed.

Software F James,  AIM2000, version 1.0, University of Applied Sciences, Bielefeld,  Germany, 2000. T Bellander, M Lewne and B Brunekreef, GAUSSIAN 3 (Revision B.05), Gaussian Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, 2003.

Online resources (including databases) Please note the most important information to include is the URL and the data accessed.

• The Merck Index Online, http://www.rsc.org/Merck-lndex/monograph/mono1500000841, (accessed October 2013).
• ChemSpider, http://www.chemspider.com/Chemicai-Structure.1906.html, (accessed June 2011).

arXiv references V. Krstic and M. Glerup, 2006, arXiv:cond-mat/0601513.

Figures & schemes

Preparation of graphics.

Artwork should be submitted at its final size so that reduction is not required. The appearance of graphics is the responsibility of the author.

• Graphics should fit within either single column (8.3 cm) or double column (17.1 cm) width, and must be no longer than 23.3 cm.
• Graphical abstracts should be no larger than 8 x 4 cm.
• Schemes and structures should be drawn to make best use of single and double column widths.

Colour figures

Colour figure reproduction is provided free of charge both online and in print.

Journal covers

Authors who wish to have their artwork featured on a journal cover should contact the editorial office of the journal to which the article is being submitted. A contribution to the additional production costs will be requested.

Use of such artwork is at the editor's discretion; the editor's decision is final. Examples of previous journal covers can be viewed via the journal homepage.

Electronic supplementary information

The journal's electronic supplementary information (ESI) service is a free facility that enables authors to enhance and increase the impact of their articles. Authors are encouraged to make the most of the benefits of publishing supplementary information in electronic form. Such data can take full advantage of the electronic medium, allowing use of 3D molecular models and movies. Authors can also improve the readability of their articles by placing appropriate material, such as repetitive experimental details and bulky data, as ESI. All information published as ESI is also fully archived. When preparing their ESI data files, authors should keep in mind the following points.

• Supplementary data is peer-reviewed, and should therefore be included with the original submission.
• ESI files are published 'as is'; editorial staff will not usually edit the data for style or content.
• Data is useful only if readers can access it; use common file formats.
• Large files may prove difficult for users to download and access.

Text and graphics

The preferred format for ESI comprising text and graphics is Microsoft Word. Publishing staff will convert Word files to PDF before publication, as this format can be accessed easily and reliably on most computing platforms using the freely available Adobe Acrobat Reader. If other formats are submitted they will also usually be converted to PDF files prior to publication.

Multimedia files

We welcome submission of multimedia files (including videos and animations) alongside articles for publication. Videos are an excellent medium to present elements of your work that can be difficult to communicate only in words. Please note that any videos of general interest are shared with the wider community via the RSC Journals YouTube channel. Please notify the editorial team if you prefer for your video(s) not to be uploaded to YouTube. If you submit a multimedia file alongside your paper, please refer to it within your paper to draw it to the reader’s attention. Also please see the section on submitting multimedia files

Format Acceptable formats for video or animation clips are listed below.

Please minimise file sizes where you can, by considering the following points.

• The recommended maximum frame size is 640 x 480 pixels.
• Our recommended maximum file size is 5 Mb.
• Many packages output 30 frames per second (fps) as standard, but it's possible to specify a lower frame rate; this may not noticeably affect the quality of your video but will reduce the file size.
• Use a 256 colour palette, if that is suitable for the presentation of the material.

Please consider the use of lower specifications for all these points if the material can still be represented clearly.

If your video is very short (that is, several seconds long) then it is recommended that you loop it and repeat a few times to provide a more detailed view.

Submitting multimedia files Upload your video online, together with your manuscript under the category 'electronic supplementary material' and please supply the following.

• A clear file name for your video.
• A short descriptive title for the video, which can be used when uploading the video onto a streaming channel.
• A video legend of approximately 30 words long; this caption must be provided to aid discoverability.
• Five to 10 keywords that can be used to tag the video; the more accurate the tags are the better discoverability videos will have.

Copies of any relevant 'in press' references

Manuscripts should be submitted with copies of any ‘in press’ articles referenced.

Open access publishing options

Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology  is a hybrid (transformative) journal and gives authors the choice of publishing their research either via the traditional subscription-based model or instead by choosing our gold open access option.  Find out more about our Transformative Journals. which are Plan S compliant .

Gold open access

For authors who want to publish their article gold open access , Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology  charges an article processing charge (APC) of £2,750 (+ any applicable tax). Our APC is all-inclusive and makes your article freely available online immediately, permanently, and includes your choice of Creative Commons licence (CC BY or CC BY-NC) at no extra cost. It is not a submission charge, so you only pay if your article is accepted for publication.

Learn more about publishing open access .

Read & Publish

If your institution has a Read & Publish agreement in place with the Royal Society of Chemistry, APCs for gold open access publishing in Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology  may already be covered.

Use our journal finder to check if your institution has an open access agreement with us.

Please use your official institutional email address to submit your manuscript and check you are assigned as the corresponding author; this helps us to identify if you are eligible for Read & Publish or other APC discounts.

Traditional subscription model

Authors can also publish in Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology via the traditional subscription model without needing to pay an APC. Articles published via this route are available to institutions and individuals who subscribe to the journal. Our standard licence allows you to make the accepted manuscript of your article freely available after a 12-month embargo period. This is known as the green route to open access.

Learn more about green open access .

Subscription information

  Online only 2024:  ISSN: 2053-1419, £2,031 / $3,352

*2022 Journal Citation Reports (Clarivate Analytics, 2023)

**The median time from submission to first decision including manuscripts rejected without peer review from the previous calendar year

***The median time from submission to first decision for peer-reviewed manuscripts from the previous calendar year

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WERF and WateReuse Merge To Advance Concept of One Water

June 20, 2016

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Photo courtesy of the Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (Alexandria, Va.).

The Water Environment Research Foundation and the WateReuse Research Foundation have merged to form the Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF; Alexandria, Va.). The merger, announced May 9, brings together the organizations’ expansive portfolio of research on water, wastewater, and stormwater topics. It also reflects on the sector’s movement toward the concept of “one water,” according to a WE&RF news release.

“Bringing these two organizations together allows us to leverage our expertise to pursue an integrated approach to critical research in water,” said WE&RF Board Co-Chair Kevin Shafer, executive director of the  Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, in the release. “We are now the largest one-stop-shop for research in resource recovery and reuse.”

The Water Environment Research Foundation was established in 1989 to research wastewater and stormwater. The WateReuse Research Foundation was established in 1993 to research water reuse. WE&RF will continue focusing research on resource recovery and reuse to help meet the growing demand for clean water. The nonprofit plans to identify, support, and disseminate research that enhances the quality and reliability of water for natural systems and communities with an integrated approach to resource recovery and reuse. More than 200 utilities; business, industrial, and commercial enterprises; educational institutions; and government agencies support it, the news release says.

“Our organizations shared a common goal, which is to produce research that solved real-world problems with water quality and supply,” said WE&RF Board Co-Chair Doug Owner, executive vice president and chief technical officer at Arcadis (Highlands Ranch, Colo.). “By merging, we will be able to help more communities produce a safe, reliable, locally controlled supply of water that protects the environment and supports economic growth.”

Read WE&RF Chief Executive Officer Melissa Meeker’s thoughts on the future of the water sector and merger in the WEF Highlights article, “ WERF Executive Director Melissa Meeker Discusses Water Sector Future and WERF–WRRF Merger .”

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Decades of Water Data: Doug Mulholland reflects on the environment, his research, and Earth Day

For Doug Mulholland (BMath’82), a Research and Technical Manager at the Cheriton School of Computer Science, his work flows like water.

Upon graduation, he worked for the Computer Systems Group (CSG), currently directed by Distinguished Professor Emeritus Don Cowan . Since the early 1970s, their mission has been to make technology more accessible. Initially, the team focused on making computer science technology and education more usable to first-year students. The late 1980s to early 1990s saw the emergence of networked computers and web-based technology. Many people, including researchers, government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs) had problems that easy-to-use online mapping could greatly benefit. Yet, mapping technology was complicated, and its use was painfully labour-intensive.

"Our team’s rationale was 'We just want to tape a map on the wall, stick pins in it and show people where important sites are located'. This concept was well before Google Maps came along,” says Doug. “That kind of mapping was difficult to do and an approach we started to take was, ‘Can we make this mapping easier for others to use?’"

Doug Mulholland co-created the Flowing Waters Information System (FWIS) which monitors and helps protect Ontario’s streams

Eventually, other organizations focused on geographical informational systems (GIS): complex, computer-based tools that collect, store, and analyze spatial data, and visualize it in maps. GIS is commonly used in weather forecasting, agriculture, and navigation. CSG constructed their own simplified map viewing and editing package. They launched a suite of community information systems for communities of practice in the Waterloo Region involving heritage, arts and culture, agriculture, newcomer settlement and support, volunteer placement, First Nations stories and economic development.

One of CSG’s earliest environmental information and mapping projects was the Stewardship Tracking System, which monitors sustainability projects in Southern Ontario, such as forest restoration. Established in the early 2000s, this project was in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH). CSG also worked with OFAH on tracking invasive species. Furthermore, CSG partnered with the United Nations University’s Institute for Water, Environment and Health to design and maintain information and knowledge integration portals on international water practices, sustainable land management , and safe water provisioning. Over the past 30 years, CSG has used their expertise in data management to support projects in community engagement and sustainability. Notably, the CSG staff were instrumental in the City of Waterloo being named the 2007 “Intelligent Community of the Year ” by The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), a New York-based non-profit think tank.

Earth Day is a reminder that all of us are stewards of the environment. If we don't take care of these resources, then we're in grave danger of losing them.

The CSG group built these projects using their Web-based Informatics Development Environment (WIDE) toolkits: web portals that when connected to a database, can display an interactive map and disseminate information on certain points, lines and areas. With the success of each collaboration, the team explored whether external organizations could use WIDE. In late 2009, they set up a joint study with the MNRF to see if their system could complement MNRF’s database structure. In turn, CSG simplified their structure, reducing the original database from over 400 tables to about 150.

This partnership birthed the Flowing Waters Information System (FWIS), where conservation researchers can store biological and geomorphic data about flowing waters in Ontario, such as stream width and depth namely channel structure or stability, discharge, bank height, fish species including invasive or at-risk, benthic, and air and water temperatures. The team employed structured query language (SQL) relational databases, which organize information in tabular format rather than an unstructured file or document. These databases can even filter out specific information and illustrate the relationship between certain data values. FWIS also incorporates machine learning algorithms to determine a site’s habitat suitability index for various fish species. For example, how likely is it to find a certain species of fish in a stream based on their preferred temperature or stream cover quality?

Photo of Ontarian researchers electrofishing for data analysis and collection. The FWIS works with environmental researchers to house data on water quality in a single source.

FWIS houses data on about 1,000 streams in Ontario. It contains measurements from the early 1900s , as “some were stored in printed reports or paper files in offices somewhere in the province,” explains Doug. Unfortunately, some data has been lost since the environmental sector can be very dynamic, with high staff turnover rates or people switching jobs. In essence, FWIS standardizes data so stakeholders can access it from a single source.

It also makes data collection and analysis more meaningful. Some researchers may only collect data from Northern Ontario which is known for pristine landscapes, leading to a biased assessment of Ontario’s environment. Instead, FWIS provides researchers with more descriptive metadata on why sites were chosen, such as superior water quality or certain fish species. As well, the team would examine inconsistencies within the data and verify it with the original researchers. Overall, FWIS can lead to better research protocols and decision-making for stewardship and conservation practices, which is one outcome Doug is proud of.

“We’re trying to contribute to both the science and the operations,” says Doug. “We're asking what might a future researcher need to know about our data and its suitability for their problem without having the foggiest clue what that researcher is actually trying to do or what their research objective will be.”

Surprisingly, this work intersects with various fields both in the public and private spheres. For example, FWIS can help real estate developers know if an area is suitable for housing since there’s legislation and extra costs for building in areas that have certain streams or species. It can also aid policymakers in understanding trends in climate change and sustainability. Although Doug does not conduct sustainability research like collecting or analyzing water samples, he has noticed some environmental changes while overseeing the FWIS database.

What surprised Doug the most is that there have been some significant improvements over the last couple of decades. He highlights the city’s work in naturalization, which refers to restoring an ecosystem to a more natural state, such as removing concrete linings from a stream. Doug has seen that naturalization has improved the water quality and mitigated flood risk in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Some notable examples include Henry Sturm Creek in Kitchener, and Columbia Lake, Laurel Creek, Waterloo Park, and Silver Lake in Waterloo. Another improvement has been the reduction in the use of road salt, a major pollutant. “I have huge respect for the researchers from the Water Institute , and Dave Rudolph in particular, who managed to convince the Region of Waterloo to put up the road signs to reduce salt usage, and it has made a big difference .”

Despite these efforts though, Ontario’s environment is seriously challenged. Over the past decades, Doug has seen rising water temperatures and changes in fish species patterns around the province. “It’s not really a surprise. Everybody has said that from the day you stop doing bad things, the bad results continue for quite a while, and then there's an upswing in the change,” says Doug. “The danger is [that] there is a tipping point beyond which there may be no recovery. Then really bad things are going to happen.” Doug hopes that Canada and other countries invest more in environmental funding as studies can reveal the environment’s health and areas where improvement is needed. As well, he hopes there is more work in protecting critical environmental resources such as farmland, wetlands, headwaters, underground aquifers, streams, and lakes.

“Earth Day is a reminder that all of us are stewards of the environment. If we don't take care of these resources, then we're in grave danger of losing them.”

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New microplastics research hub aims to unravel health impact in changing climate

Rit professor christy tyler is a co-director of the center supported by a $7.3 million grant.

Vera Kuttelvaserova/stock.adobe.com

The Lake Ontario Center for Microplastics and Human Health in a Changing Environment will study the lifecycle of microplastics through the Great Lakes freshwater ecosystem. RIT professor Christy Tyler is co-director of the new research center supported by a $7.3 million grant.

A new Rochester-based research center will study the lifecycle of microplastics, including its origin as plastic waste, distribution, and movement in the Great Lakes freshwater ecosystem. The research will also focus on how climate change could intensify the environmental and health threats posed by microplastics.

The Lake Ontario Center for Microplastics and Human Health in a Changing Environment is a collaboration between Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Rochester, and supported by a $7.3 million grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the federal Oceans and Human Health program.

“This funding gives us the opportunity to bring together environmental and health sciences researchers to tackle a truly global crisis”, said Christy Tyler , professor in the Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences at RIT and co-director of the center with Katrina Korfmacher, a professor of Environmental Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC). “We plan to combine research on the quantity and characteristics of plastic in the places where people are most likely to encounter it, with research on how these particles impact our health. And as a result, we’ll be able to come up with a more holistic understanding of the potential harm of plastic pollution, and how we can develop targeted strategies to minimize it.”

Microplastics, particles less than 5 mm in size, are produced from plastic waste, which over time is broken down into microscopic fragments that move easily through the food chain. Common sources of plastic pollution include food wrappers, plastic bottles, plastic bottle caps, plastic bags, plastic straws, cigarette butts, tire-wear particles, and synthetic clothing. Plastic waste enters the environment via urban stormwater and agricultural runoff, and wastewater. Microplastics are ubiquitous, frequently difficult to detect and mitigate, and research has found the particles in human blood, heart, liver, and lung tissue, placenta, and breast milk. However, little is known about their long-term impact on human health.

Christy Tyler conducts research on microplastics in Lake Ontario. She is a co-director of the newly announced Lake Ontario Center for Microplastics and Human Health in a Changing Environment.

The Great Lakes hold more than 20 percent of global surface freshwater and are a source of drinking water, irrigation, fisheries, and recreation for more than 30 million people. While progress has been made in recent decades to improve the environmental health of the lakes, these gains are threatened by rising plastic pollution.

The new center will undertake research projects that aim to understand how environmental changes may affect the movement and characteristics of microplastics in Lake Ontario, how microplastics interact with other contaminants, and the impact on inflammation and immune response in model biological systems. The goal is to develop and promote solutions that inform future research, community actions, and policy changes that will lessen the health effects associated with microplastics.

One project builds on several years of collaborative work at RIT to understanding the input, transport, and ecological risk of plastic pollution in the Lake Ontario basin. The interdisciplinary team, which will be led by Tyler, and includes Matthew Hoffman , professor in the School of Mathematics and Statistics ;  Nathan Eddingsaas , associate professor in the School of Chemistry and Materials Science ;  Steven Day , professor and head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering ; and André Hudson , professor and dean, College of Science . They will examine how climate-related factors, namely warmer weather and more severe storms, will increase the delivery of post-consumer plastic to Lake Ontario.

Tyler, Hoffman, and a group of other RIT scientists have been working with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration funding to lead interdisciplinary projects examining plastic waste entering the Great Lakes, and how to prevent and remove it. RIT’s collaborations with the Rochester Museum and Science Center, Seneca Park Zoo, Monroe County, the city of Rochester, and other local institutions continue to provide a joint effort in combating environmental concerns.

A project by the University of Rochester will employ nanomembrane technologies to identify ultrafine microplastics in the water and air that can be more easily ingested into blood and tissue. Another will use frogs as models to study how waterborne microplastics enter, move about, and accumulate in the body at different water temperatures anticipated due to global warming. All research projects will be supported by a materials core led by University of Rochester with participation by Iris Rivero , a professor of industrial and systems engineering at RIT. The center will also engage with community partners through involving residents in efforts to monitor debris flows, and developing, evaluating, and disseminating outreach materials for audiences including youth, educators, community groups, and policy makers in both urban and rural settings.

“This partnership between universities shows how local researchers can work together to address questions of global significance,” said Ryne Raffaelle , vice president for Research at RIT. “How microplastics, combined with climate change, impact the ways in which we live and overall human health is something we need to investigate. This new center will be key to understanding, and hopefully mitigating, the convolution of these environmental impacts and their potential deleterious effects.”

Funding for the center was provided by NIEHS award number P01 ES035526 and NSF award number OCE-2418255.

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New Zealand's drinking water safe from harmful ‘forever chemicals’

24 April 2024

Sustainable impact , Environment , Faculty of Engineering , Faculty of Science

New research shows low levels of PFAS in New Zealand’s drinking water – but caution is urged.

New Zealand's drinking water is largely free from elevated levels of dangerous “forever chemicals”, according to new research from the University of Auckland.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), or “forever chemicals”, are known for their persistence and potential health risks, including developmental effects, immune system disruption and certain types of cancer.

The New Zealand study, led by Associate Professor Lokesh Padhye from the Faculty of Engineering and Associate Professor Melanie Kah, Dr Erin Leitao, Professor David Barker and PhD candidate Shailja Data from the Faculty of Science, analysed samples from twenty locations across the country, including various suburbs in Auckland.

They found that the PFAS levels detected were below the most stringent drinking water regulations in the world, including the levels proposed recently by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA).

The results from the study are “overwhelmingly positive news,” says Padhye.

Contaminated drinking water is one of the main routes for human exposure to PFAS and is a major public health concern for industrialised countries.

A study by the US EPA indicated widespread PFAS contamination in drinking water sources around the US, with many exceeding safe drinking limits.

The recent mapped data suggest Australia, China, Europe, and North America are PFAS hotspots relative to the rest of the world.

“Our findings were a pleasant surprise as the samples indicate that PFAS levels in New Zealand's drinking water are relatively low. It's a significant outcome for the community well-being of Aotearoa, especially in light of the recent global studies,” says Shailja Data, who coordinated the nationwide sampling for the study.

PFAS contamination can originate from many different sources, including industrial sites, firefighting foams, landfills, wastewater treatment plants, agricultural practices, consumer products, atmospheric deposition and food packaging. Industries using or manufacturing PFAS can release them into the environment through air, water or improper disposal.

While New Zealand lacks PFAS manufacturing sites, industries like metal plating may still contribute to contamination, says Padhye. Historical use of firefighting foams and improper waste disposal also pose ongoing risks. Due to the lack of national regulations for the manufacturing and import of consumer products, many ‘proper’ waste disposal practices can also contribute to PFAS load to the environment due to the widespread presence of PFAS in consumer products .

The researchers, who are investigating the burden of PFAS on New Zealand's environment, tested the tap water, borewell water and lake water for 30 PFAS, including regulated ones and found most PFAS below one part per trillion level.

Despite the positive findings, the research underscores the need for continued vigilance and proactive measures to safeguard the quality of New Zealand’s drinking water, they say, especially considering thousands of PFAS exist in the environment. The samples, although representative, do not capture fluctuations or long-term trends in contamination levels.

“Regular water monitoring of emerging contaminants such as PFAS is crucial in New Zealand to address water quality issues and ensure public safety. It helps identify contamination sources, assess the effectiveness of water management practices, and protect the environment and public health,” says Padhye.

Other recommendations from the research include enhancing waste management practices, regular monitoring and sharing results to quell disinformation about water quality, and conducting public awareness campaigns about water issues. Collaboration among stakeholders is also essential to address global challenges associated with emerging contaminants in water, according to the research team.

The study sampled water from the following locations: Auckland CBD, Beachlands, Beach Haven, Botany, Christchurch, Dunedin, Flat Bush, Hamilton, Mairangi Bay, Mount Maunganui, Mount Roskill, Pukekohe, Remuera, Rotorua, St Heliers, Taupō, Te Atatū Peninsula, Titirangi, Queenstown (including a lake sample) and Waiheke.

Media contact

Hussein Moses | Media adviser M: 027 361 1000 E: hussein.moses@auckland.ac.nz

Water treatment plant dedicated to influential UCR professor

The Yorba Linda Water District has dedicated a state-of-the-art water treatment plant in the name of J. Wayne Miller, an influential researcher and professor at UCR’s College of Engineering Center for Environmental Research and Technology, or CE-CERT.

Miller joined UCR in 2000 as a visiting researcher and adjunct professor following a career with Sun Oil Co. and UNOCAL. 

Miller has taught many courses in the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department and CE-CERT and conducted an active research program with graduate students aimed at testing, characterizing, and reducing emissions from ocean-going vessels. He also taught classes on water quality. 

Miller served as an elected member of Yorba Linda Water District’s board of directors from December 2016 to November 2023, including a stint as the board’s president.

The water district honored Miller on April 16 at a treatment plant dedication ceremony attended by more than 80 people. The J. Wayne Miller, Ph.D. Water Treatment Plant will be the largest ion exchange “forever chemical” treatment plant in the nation with a processing capacity of 25 million gallons of drinking water per day.

Forever chemicals, also known as PFAS or poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances, persist and accumulate in the environment due to stubbornly strong fluorine-to-carbon chemical bonds. They are used in thousands of products, ranging from grease-resistant potato chip bags to fire suppressant foams, and have been linked to various health maladies, including increased risk for prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers.

“When we faced the task of building this plant, there was only one in the nation, in Northern California,” said Miller in a statement posted by the water district. “I am proud that we were able to successfully test the ion exchange technology and make it work for the Yorba Linda Water District, providing our customers with clean drinking water and making our district less reliant on imported water.”

The plant dedication is one of many honors bestowed upon Miller. He has received the WPI Goddard Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement (2012); UCR Non-Faculty Research and Teaching Award (2008); U.S. EPA Climate Change Award (2007); and the U.S. Air Force’s Arnold Engineering Development Center Annual Technical Achievement   

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Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology

Bioelectrochemically enhanced autotrophic feammox for ammonium removal via the fe( ii )/fe( iii ) cycle †.

* Corresponding authors

a MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Nankai University, No. 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China E-mail: [email protected] Fax: +(86)22 23501117 Tel: +(86)18722292585

b School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, No. 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, China

c School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, P. R. China E-mail: [email protected]

Autotrophic anaerobic ammonium oxidation coupled to Fe( III ) reduction (Feammox) is a potential technology for removing ammonium from low-C/N wastewater, but it requires a continuous supply of Fe( III ) source. To reduce the supply, a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) was employed to allow iron recycling in Feammox under different voltages (0.2 V, 0.6 V, and 1.0 V). Results showed that the optimal voltage was 0.6 V, with a maximum efficiency for ammonium oxidation of 71%. The ammonium oxidation rate achieved 2.5 ± 0.1 mg N L −1 per day, which was 3 times that of conventional Feammox. Cyclic voltammetry confirmed that ammonium oxidation and iron redox occurred on the anode. The bacterial population had a unique evolutionary direction at 0.6 V, with Geobacteraceae becoming the dominant family. Positive interactions between nitrogen-related bacteria and iron-related bacteria enhanced the autotrophic Feammox process. This study will further advance Feammox in the treatment of ammonium-containing wastewater.

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Bioelectrochemically enhanced autotrophic Feammox for ammonium removal via the Fe( II )/Fe( III ) cycle

T. Wang, J. Zhang, Z. Wang, Q. Zhao, Y. Wu, N. Li, X. Jiang and X. Wang, Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol. , 2024, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D4EW00074A

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Ocean spray emits more PFAS than industrial polluters, study finds

Research into release of ‘forever chemicals’ raises concerns about contamination and human exposure along world’s coastlines

Ocean waves crashing on the world’s shores emit more PFAS into the air than the world’s industrial polluters, new research has found, raising concerns about environmental contamination and human exposure along coastlines.

The study measured levels of PFAS released from the bubbles that burst when waves crash, spraying aerosols into the air. It found sea spray levels were hundreds of thousands times higher than levels in the water.

The contaminated spray likely affects groundwater, surface water, vegetation, and agricultural products near coastlines that are far from industrial sources of PFAS, said Ian Cousins, a Stockholm University researcher and the study’s lead author.

“There is evidence that the ocean can be an important source [of PFAS air emissions],” Cousins said. “It is definitely impacting the coastline.”

PFAS are a class of 15,000 chemicals used across dozens of industries to make products resistant to water, stains and heat. Though the compounds are highly effective, they are also linked to cancer, kidney disease, birth defects, decreased immunity, liver problems and a range of other serious diseases.

They are dubbed “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally break down and are highly mobile once in the environment, so they continuously move through the ground, water and air. PFAS have been detected in all corners of the globe, from penguin eggs in Antarctica to polar bears in the Arctic.

The Stockholm researchers several years ago found that PFAS from ocean waves crashing are released into the air around shorelines, then can travel thousands of kilometers through the atmosphere before the chemicals return to land.

The new research looked at levels in the sea spray as waves crash by testing ocean samples between Southampton in the UK and Chile. The chemicals’ levels were higher in the northern hemisphere in general because it is more industrialized and there is not much mixing of water across the equator, Cousins said.

It is unclear what the findings mean for human exposure. Inhalation of PFAS is an issue, but how much of the chemicals are breathed in, and air concentrations further from the waves, is still unknown.

Previous non-peer-reviewed research has found a correlation between higher PFAS levels in vegetation samples and proximity to the ocean, Cousin said, and his team is undertaking a similar study.

He said that the results showed how the chemicals are powerful surfactants that concentrate on the surface of water, which helps explain why they move from the ocean to the air and atmosphere.

“We thought PFAS were going to go into the ocean and would disappear, but they cycle around and come back to land, and this could continue for a long time into the future,” he said.

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'Sunny day flooding' increases fecal contamination of coastal waters

A new study finds that "sunny day flooding," which occurs during high tides, increases the levels of fecal bacteria in coastal waters. While the elevated bacteria levels in the coastal waters tend to dissipate quickly, the findings suggest policymakers and public health officials should be aware of potential risks associated with tidal flooding.

"Historically we see the highest levels of fecal bacteria contamination in coastal waterways after it rains, because the rain washes contaminants into the waterways," says Natalie Nelson, corresponding author of a paper on the study and an associate professor of biological and agricultural engineering at North Carolina State University. "Due to sea level rise, we're seeing an increase in flooding in coastal areas at high tide -- even when there isn't any rainfall. We wanted to see whether sunny day floods were associated with increases in fecal bacteria contamination in waterways."

For the study, researchers collected water samples every day for two summer months at three sites along a single waterway in coastal North Carolina. Two perigean spring tides occurred during the two-month sampling period. Perigean spring tides are tides characterized by especially pronounced high and low tides, caused by the moon's gravitational pull.

The researchers increased their collection of samples at each monitoring site on the days of the perigean spring tides, to capture changes in water quality throughout the tidal cycle. During the high-water levels of the perigean spring tides, water also came up out of some local storm drains and caused minor flooding. The researchers took samples of those floodwaters as well.

"We found that the floodwaters themselves had relatively high levels of fecal bacteria," Nelson says. "To be clear, these floods were inches deep; we're talking about very minor flooding as tidal waters pushed up through the storm grates. However, we've seen children playing in these sort of sunny day floodwaters, and the levels of fecal bacteria we detected were above the levels deemed safe for recreational waters."

"Our findings with regard to the coastal waters were more nuanced," says Megan Carr, lead author of the study and a Ph.D. student at NC State. "On the one hand, we did see higher concentrations of fecal bacteria in coastal waters as the floodwaters and perigean spring tides receded. On the other hand, we did not see this in every instance and in every location -- and we also found that the higher concentrations of fecal bacteria usually only lasted for a few hours."

In other words, perigean spring tides do raise some concerns about fecal bacteria and water quality in coastal waters, but they don't appear to cause concentrations of fecal bacteria at the same level as stormwater runoff caused by rainfall.

"It's important to note that these results are from samples that we took in one area along a large waterway," Nelson says. "The results are likely to vary significantly, depending on the size of the waterway. For example, post-flood contamination could last longer in waterways smaller than the waterway that we sampled. That's something that would benefit from additional research.

"Sea levels are going to continue rising for the foreseeable future," Nelson says. "So we are definitely going to see more sunny day flooding, and those floods will be getting worse. We need to continue studying the impact that these tidal floods have on our water quality, because the more we understand, the better able we will be to make informed decisions about public health and safety."

The paper, "Fecal Bacteria Contamination of Floodwaters and a Coastal Waterway from Tidally-Driven Stormwater Network Inundation," is published in the open-access journal GeoHealth . First author of the paper is Megan Carr, a Ph.D. student at NC State. The paper was co-authored by Angela Harris and Katherine Anarde, both assistant professors of civil, construction and environmental engineering at NC State; Nora Sauers, Gabe Da Silva and Catherine Gamewell, who are undergraduates at NC State; Adam Gold of the Environmental Defense Fund; and Miyuki Hino of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The research was done with support from the National Science Foundation, under grant number 2047609; and from the U.S. Geological Survey Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center.

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Story Source:

Materials provided by North Carolina State University . Original written by Matt Shipman. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• M. M. Carr, A. C. Gold, A. Harris, K. Anarde, M. Hino, N. Sauers, G. Da Silva, C. Gamewell, N. G. Nelson. Fecal Bacteria Contamination of Floodwaters and a Coastal Waterway From Tidally‐Driven Stormwater Network Inundation . GeoHealth , 2024; 8 (4) DOI: 10.1029/2024GH001020

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