Page 8 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

Preface

Water pollution has become a serious issue in the present scenario, and the whole
world is facing a water quality crisis resulting from continuous population growth,
industrialization, urbanization, food production practices, increased living stan-
dards, unsustainable water use practices, and wastewater management strategies. The
United Nations predicts that in the coming decade, half of the countries worldwide
will be confronted with water stress if not outright shortages. Life Cycle Assessment
of Wastewater Treatment is a worthwhile addition to the field of wastewater treat-
ment. This book is intended to explore the recent developments in the field of waste-
water treatment using a life cycle assessment approach. Life cycle assessment can
be used as a tool to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with wastewater
treatment and improvement options. Wastewater treatment is the process of con-
verting wastewater—water that is no longer needed or suitable for its most recent
use—into an effluent that can be returned to the water cycle with minimal envi-
ronmental issues. This book is the result of remarkable contributions from experts
in interdisciplinary fields of science with comprehensive, in-depth, and up-to-date
research and reviews.

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