Dear Colleagues,

The availability and accesibility of good quality water for all is SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) of the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Indeed, water scarcity is one of the most important global emergencies according to the World Economic Forum Global Risk Report (2015), which estimates a 40% deficit in water supply by 2030 if appropriate changes are not made.

Water resource sustainability is largely dependent on rational water use and reuse. It represents one of the fundamental pillars of the circular economy as it provides an additional water source not dependent on meteorology, helping preserve the quality of natural sources.

Although reuse is now considered indispensable, its application is still insufficient due to regulatory, technological, economic, and social barriers. To date, the most known risks associated with civil waste reuse are infection, concern for irrigated product consumption and occupational exposure. Pathogenic microorganisms are present in urban sewage at very high concentrations, 10⁸–10¹⁰ per L, and conventional treatments reduce this number by no more than 3 Log. Moreover, an enormous variety of potentially harmful substances are present in the sewage, such as nutrient and toxic substances including heavy metals and the so-called "compounds of emerging concern" (CECs). Unfortunately, the regulation of reuse waters is very uneven—in some countries it is non-existent and in others very restrictive. Therefore, the reuse of waste water is a challenge that can result beneficial only if all aspects are dealt with accordingly and accompanied by effective communication of the risks. This will contribute to social acceptance.

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) focuses on the current state of knowledge of the links between water reuse and human health. New research papers, reviews, case reports and conference papers are welcome. Papers dealing with new approaches to derive reuse water standards or risk assessment and management are also welcome. Other manuscript types accepted include position papers, brief reports, and commentaries.

Dr. Cristina Pignata
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• Water reuse
• Public health
• Waste water treatment
• Microbiological contamination
• Chemical contamination
• Environmental sustainability
• Public perception
• Risk communication
• Government policy