WG1: Microbiome and mobile antibiotic resistome in treated wastewater and in downstream environments
- Propose the standardization of the procedures used for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes (ARB&Gs) detection and quantification in water and soil samples
- Identify most prevalent and/or hazardous ARB&ARG with ability to persist, spread and proliferate after wastewater disposal, including under wastewater reuse scenarios
- Assess the fate, whenever possible quantitatively, of ARB&ARG discharged in treated wastewater and released in surface water or soils
- Identify the conditions favoring ARB&Gs persistence or proliferation
WG2: Uptake and translocation of organic microcontaminants and ARB&ARG in crops
- Consolidate knowledge on the uptake and translocation of microcontaminants and ARB&Gs in crops
- Identify the main physicochemical characteristics affecting the behavior of the various microcontaminants and ARB&Gs with regard to uptake and translocation
- Develop a set of recommendations regarding the minimization of biomagnifications processes and environmental and human health impacts associated with wastewater reuse
WG3: Effect-based bioassays required for wastewater reuse schemes
- Assessment of the existing information available in the literature with regard to biological effects and wastewater
- Identification of potential relationships between the physicochemical characteristics of the wastewater and biological effects
- Determination of the most appropriate and relevant to the reuse practice bioassays and/or bioassay battery to be applied for wastewater quality evaluation
- Propose the harmonization of the procedures used for this purpose harmonised procedures for implementing the selected bioassays
WG4: Technologies efficient/economically viable to meet the current wastewater reuse challenges
- Consolidate knowledge on the fate of microcontaminants during treatment (conventional and advanced treatment)
- Assess the fate of ARB&ARG during biological processes (e.g., CAS, MBR, MBBR) and characterize removal mechanisms (in collaboration with WG1)
- Assess the effect of AOPs on ARB&ARG and the subsequent risk for effluent reuse related to oxidation transformation products and residual ARB&ARG release (in collaboration with WG2)
- Assess the economical feasibility of AOPs compared to that of more conventional treatment processes/technologies in wastewater reuse scenarios
- Identify the combinations (and economical feasibility) between biological, advanced treatment and required reuse infrastructure in terms of global efficiency/compliance with standard parameters (e.g., BOD, COD, N, P etc.) and contaminants of emerging concern including ARB&ARG
WG5: Risk assessment and policy development
- Develop quality criteria for selected contaminants of emerging concern and ARB&ARG for wastewater reuse
- Propose a battery of assays for wastewater evaluation for reuse purposes
- Develop a risk assessment framework for wastewater reuse purposes
- Propose guidelines/suggestions on possible technologies and systems able to produce wastewater of quality in compliance to the quality criteria to be set (with respect to ARB&ARG, biological risks, etc).
- Overcome existing barriers in the field of wastewater reuse and valorize wastewater as a non-conventional water resource
