Challenges and opportunities associated with wastewater treatment systems

Abstract The untreated water may lead to an excessive disposal of wastes which may reduce the water quality of water bodies and damage water ecosystems. Wastewater treatment systems are widely implemented in industries and municipalities to decrease toxic wastewater release into aquatic ecosystems. Wastewater recycling, reclamation, recovery, and reuse can be used as tools for the control of water resources and can attract researchers and stakeholders. Currently microbial fuel cells and microalgae are intensively studied as a cost-effective technology to complete sustainable wastewater treatment. These technologies have potential benefits for energy, and environmental and economic sustainability. This chapter will review the challenges, barriers, and opportunities associated with improving wastewater treatment systems.