Emerging Considerations in Water Treatment

Several aspects of water treatment are becoming more important, especially as pressures increase for water reclamation and recycle. These include the emergence of increased amounts of exotic contaminants, including pharmaceuticals and their metabolites, personal care products, household chemicals, disinfection by-products, and nanomaterials, those in a size range of 1-100 mn used increasingly in applications such as the delivery of pharmaceuticals. 

Another consideration of growing importance in water treatment is the development of new technologies. These include special membrane processes for water filtration, alternatives to chlorine for water disinfection, advanced oxidation of impurities, and the use of ultraviolet radiation for water disinfection and as an aid to destruction of organic contaminants by oxidants. It is important to consider the sustainability of developing techniques including costs and by-product generation. 

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