Decentralized Water Treatment: Innovations and Challenges

Decentralized water treatment systems, encompassing both potable water and wastewater management, offer vital solutions where centralized infrastructure is lacking or inadequate. These systems treat water and wastewater at or near the point of use, minimizing the need for extensive infrastructure and reducing transportation and energy costs. Innovations like septic systems effectively manage household and commercial wastewater locally, allowing biological decomposition and settlement of solids, followed by proper disposal. For potable water, technologies such as membrane filtration and solar-powered treatments adapt to local conditions, addressing specific community needs. This approach not only ensures access to safe drinking water but also efficiently handles wastewater, crucial for public health and environmental sustainability. As global water demands increase and climatic variability intensifies, decentralized systems play a crucial role in sustainable development and resilience against water-related challenges.



The primary goal of this Research Topic is to tackle the challenge of providing reliable and safe drinking water and managing wastewater through decentralized treatment systems, particularly in areas without conventional infrastructure. This includes technologies like septic tanks for effective on-site wastewater management. The urgency is heightened by environmental pressures and climate change impacts. We aim to evaluate and advance innovative decentralized technologies, such as membrane technologies, biofiltration, solar-powered treatments, and smart technology integration for real-time monitoring and efficiency enhancement. The discussion seeks to promote scalable and sustainable decentralized water and wastewater treatment models globally, bridging the gap between technological advances and practical applications to enhance overall water security and accessibility.

This Research Topic aims to explore the breadth and depth of decentralized water and wastewater treatment systems, focusing on innovative solutions and challenges in deployment and maintenance. We encourage submissions that address specific themes such as the design and efficiency of new decentralized technologies, community engagement and management practices, environmental and health impacts, and the integration of renewable energy sources into treatment systems. We are particularly interested in manuscripts that cover technological advancements, case studies, policy analysis, and reviews that offer insights into sustainable practices and the scalability of these systems.

Authors are invited to submit original research articles, comprehensive review papers, case studies, and brief communications that contribute to the understanding and development of decentralized water and wastewater treatment solutions. Submissions should clearly articulate the relevance of the research to decentralized systems, highlighting implications for practice and policy where applicable.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Decentralized Systems, Water Reuse, Contaminant Removal, Sustainable Technologies, Community Water Management

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.