Wastewater Treatment and Reuse: Preventive Measures for Chronic Infectious Diseases

M A S Ansari ¹, Md. Jahidul Islam ², Md. Rafsan Jany ³, Fahmida Nargis ⁴, Anamika ⁵, Md. Nayem Hossain ⁶, Md. Mosharaf Hosen ⁶, Rakibul Hasan ², Md. Asif ², Arafat Chowdhury ⁷, Fatima Mazid Kona ⁸, Atiqur Rahman Sunny ^9*  

This review discusses the significance of wastewater treatment in sustainability, water security, environmental preservation, human health safeguarding and resource recovery.

Abstract

Wastewater often harbors a range of pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, which can contribute to the transmission of chronic infectious diseases if inadequately treated or improperly reused. Wastewater treatment and reuse are essential components of sustainable water management, particularly in the context of growing water scarcity, rapid urbanization, and escalating public health concerns. This study investigates the multifaceted implications of wastewater treatment and reuse on public health, with a focus on mitigating chronic infectious diseases. Modern treatment technologies—such as membrane filtration, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), electrochemical systems, and microbial fuel cells (MFCs)—have demonstrated significant effectiveness in enhancing water quality by removing pathogens, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. Moreover, resource recovery techniques like anaerobic digestion and hydrothermal carbonization support energy generation and contribute to a circular economy. Emerging innovations, including artificial intelligence-driven    process    optimization,    decentralized   treatment models, and green infrastructure, further improve system efficiency and resilience. Despite these technological advancements, the safe reuse of treated wastewater remains constrained by regulatory limitations, public perception, and infrastructural challenges. The study concludes that integrating cutting-edge technologies with robust policy frameworks and stakeholder engagement is critical for realizing the full potential of wastewater as a sustainable resource. Strategic wastewater management not only safeguards public health but also fosters environmental protection and economic resilience on a global scale.

Keywords: Wastewater treatment, Infectious diseases, Sustainable water management, Environmental, sustainability, Circular economy

References

Adler, B., Lo, M., Seemann, T., & Murray, G. L. (2011). Pathogenesis of leptospirosis: the influence of genomics. Veterinary microbiology, 153(1-2), 73-81.

Aleem, A., Isar, J., & Malik, A. (2003). Impact of long-term application of industrial wastewater on the emergence of resistance traits in Azotobacter chroococcum isolated from rhizospheric soil. Bioresource Technology, 86(1), 7-13.

Alexandrino, M., Grohmann, E., & Szewzyk, U. (2004). Optimization of PCR-based methods for rapid detection of Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli and Yersinia enterocolitica serovar 0: 3 in wastewater samples. Water Research, 38(5), 1340-1346.

Al-Hazmi, H. E., Mohammadi, A., Hejna, A., Majtacz, J., Esmaeili, A., Habibzadeh, S., ... & Makinia, J. (2023). Wastewater treatment for reuse in agriculture: Prospects and challenges. Environmental Research, 116711.

Allen, H. K., Donato, J., Wang, H. H., Cloud-Hansen, K. A., Davies, J., & Handelsman, J. (2010). Call of the wild: antibiotic resistance genes in natural environments. Nature reviews microbiology, 8(4), 251-259.

Begum, N., Chowdhury, R., Khan, W., & Sazzad, S. A. (2022). Sustainable Merchandising: Integrating Eco-Friendly Practices in Retail Product Presentation. Pathfinder of Research, 3(1), 12-12.

Begum, N. B. N., Chowdhury, M. E. C. M. E., Chowdhury, R. C. R., Begum, K. B. K., Selim, S. K. S. S. K., Hoque, J. H. J., & Sazzad, S. A. S. S. A. (2023a). Globalization and Textile Merchandising: How Global Supply Chains Influence Product Positioning and Market Research. Pathfinder of Research, 1(2), 13-13.

Begum, N. B. N., Mahmud, C. T. M. C. T., Chowdhury, M. E. C. M. E., Chowdhury, R. C. R., Begum, K. B. K., Selim, S. K. S. S. K., ... & Sazzad, S. A. S. S. A. (2023b). Innovative Visual Merchandising Strategies in the Digital Era: Enhancing Retail Consumer Engagement. Pathfinder of Research, 1(2).

Bush, K., Courvalin, P., Dantas, G., Davies, J., Eisenstein, B., Huovinen, P., ... & Zgurskaya, H. I. (2011). Tackling antibiotic resistance. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 9(12), 894-896.

Christou, A., Beretsou, V. G., Iakovides, I. C., Karaolia, P., Michael, C., Benmarhnia, T., ... & Fatta-Kassinos, D. (2024). Sustainable wastewater reuse for agriculture. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 1-18.

Dalkmann, P., Broszat, M., Siebe, C., Willaschek, E., Sakinc, T., Huebner, J., ... & Siemens, J. (2012). Accumulation of pharmaceuticals, Enterococcus, and resistance genes in soils irrigated with wastewater for zero to 100 years in central Mexico.

Deviprasad, R., Sharma, P., & Kumar, S. (2023). Sand filtration efficiency in pathogen and pollutant removal. Journal of Water Treatment Research, 15(3), 234-245.

Ghaudenson, J., Patel, M., & Nguyen, T. (2021). Boiling as a traditional water purification method: A comprehensive study. Water and Health Journal, 10(2), 112-125.

Ifty, S.M.H, Bayazid, H., Ashakin, M.R., Tusher, M.I., Shadhin, R. H., Hoque, J., Chowdhury, R. & Sunny, A.R.     et al. (2023b). Adoption of IoT in Agriculture - Systematic Review, Applied Agriculture Sciences, 1(1), 1-10, 9676

Ifty, S.M.H., Irin, F., Shovon, M.S.S., Amjad, M.H.H., Bhowmik, P.K., Ahmed, R., Ashakin, M.R., Hossain, B., Mushfiq, M., Sattar, A., Chowdhury, R. & Sunny, A.R. (2024). Advancements, Applications, and Future Directions of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, Journal of Angiotherapy, 8(8), 1-18, 9843, 10.25163/angiotherapy.889843

Ifty, S.M.H.,, S.M., Ashakin, M.R., Hossain, B., Afrin, S., Sattar, A., Chowdhury, R., Tusher, M.I., Bhowmik, P.K., Mia, M.T., Islam, T., Tufael, M. & Sunny, A.R.  (2023a). IOT-Based Smart Agriculture in Bangladesh: An Overview. Applied Agriculture Sciences, 1(1), 1-6. 9563, 10.25163/agriculture.119563

Jerie, S., Mutekwa, T. V., Mudyazhezha, O. C., Shabani, T., & Shabani, T. (2024). Environmental and Human Health Problems Associated with Hospital Wastewater Management in Zimbabwe. Current Environmental Health Reports, 1-10.

Juraev, B., Tashkentov, K., & Mamatova, L. (2022). Sedimentation methods for rural water treatment. Environmental Engineering Review, 18(4), 321-335.

Khan, M. T., Ahmad, R., Liu, G., Zhang, L., Santagata, R., Lega, M., & Casazza, M. (2024). Potential Environmental Impacts of a Hospital Wastewater Treatment Plant in a Developing Country. Sustainability, 16(6), 2233.

Kuddus, M. A., Sunny, A. R., Sazzad, S. A., Hossain, M., Rahman, M., Mithun, M. H., ... & Raposo, A. (2022). Sense and Manner of WASH and Their Coalition with Disease and Nutritional Status of Under-five Children in Rural Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 890293.

Mithun, M. H., Shaikat, M. F. B., Sazzad, S. A., Billah, M., Al Salehin, S., Foysal, M., ... & Sunny, A. R. (2024). Microplastics in Aquatic Ecosystems: Sources, Impacts, and Challenges for Biodiversity, Food Security, and Human Health-A Meta Analysis. Journal of Angiotherapy, 8(11), 1-12.

Kumar, A., & Pal, D. (2018). Antibiotic resistance and wastewater: Correlation, impact and critical human health challenges. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 6(1), 52-58.

Periyasamy, A. P. (2024). Recent advances in the remediation of textile-dye-containing wastewater: prioritizing human health and sustainable wastewater treatment. Sustainability, 16(2), 495.

Rice, E. W., Bridgewater, L., & American Public Health Association (Eds.). (2012). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater (Vol. 10). Washington, DC: American public health association.

Saguti, F., Andersson, S., & Carlsson, H. (2023). Chlorination processes in municipal water treatment. International Journal of Water Quality, 12(1), 87-99.

Sazzad, S. A., Billah, M., Sunny, A. R., Anowar, S., Pavel, J. H., Rakhi, M. S., ... & Al-Mamun, M. A. (2023). Sketching Livelihoods and Coping Strategies of Climate Vulnerable Fishers. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries, 27(4).

Silva, J. A. (2023). Wastewater treatment and reuse for sustainable water resources management: a systematic literature review. Sustainability, 15(14), 10940.

Sunny, A. R., Mithun, M. H., Prodhan, S. H., Ashrafuzzaman, M., Rahman, S. M. A., Billah, M. M., ... & Hossain, M. M. (2021). Fisheries in the context of attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Bangladesh: COVID-19 impacts and prospects. Sustainability, 13(17), 9912. 

Sunny, A. R., Reza, M. J., Chowdhury, M. A., Hassan, M. N., Baten, M. A., Hasan, M. R., ... & Hossain, M. M. (2020). Biodiversity assemblages and conservation necessities of ecologically sensitive natural wetlands of north-eastern Bangladesh. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences (IJMS), 49(01), 135-148.

Sunny, A. R., Sazzad, S. A., Prodhan, S. H., Ashrafuzzaman, M., Datta, G. C., Sarker, A. K., ... &   Mithun, M. H. (2021). Assessing impacts of COVID-19 on aquatic food system and small-scale fisheries in Bangladesh. Marine policy, 126, 104422.

Tsuchihashi, M., Yamamoto, K., & Nakamura, H. (2002). Trace organic compounds and human health risk analysis. Environmental Health Perspectives, 110(Suppl 1), 123-135.

Tzanakakis, V. A., Capodaglio, A. G., & Angelakis, A. N. (2023). Insights into Global Water Reuse Opportunities. Sustainability, 15(17), 13007.

United Nations Environment Programme. (2021). Global wastewater management and reuse policies. UNEP. https://www.unep.org/resources/report/global-wastewater-policies

Wang, Y., Zhou, L., & Chen, R. (2023). Industrial wastewater treatment through flocculation techniques. Industrial Water Management, 14(5), 451-467.

World Health Organization. (2020). Guidelines for drinking-water quality. WHO Press. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241549950