Affiliated with the International Society of Groundwater for Sustainable DevelopmentMany professionals believe that sharing knowledge and experience on groundwater matters on a worldwide scale and across disciplines is an effective strategy to identify and promote optimal approaches to the assessment, development and management of groundwater resources. This is exactly what the international journal of Groundwater for Sustainable Development is intending to address. On the global platform, the authors and readers of the journal should enjoy all the benefits of global interdisciplinary collaborative information exchange, facilitated by the Information Technology and on-line access to the journals content.The journal is directed to different stakeholders and professionals, including government and non-governmental organizations, international funding agencies, universities, public water institutions, public health and other public/private sector professionals, and other relevant institutions. It is aimed at professionals, academics and students in the fields of disciplines such as: groundwater and its connection to surface hydrology and environment, soil sciences, engineering, ecology, microbiology, atmospheric sciences, analytical chemistry, hydro-engineering, water technology, environmental ethics, economics, public health, policy, as well as social sciences, legal disciplines, or any other area connected with water issues.The objectives of this journal are to facilitate: • The improvement of effective and sustainable management of water resources across the globe. • The improvement of human access to groundwater resources in adequate quantity and good quality. • The meeting of the increasing demand for drinking and irrigation water needed for food security to contribute to a social and economically sound human development. • The creation of a global inter- and multidisciplinary platform and forum to improve our understanding of groundwater resources and to advocate their effective and sustainable management and protection against contamination. • Interdisciplinary information exchange and to stimulate scientific research in the fields of groundwater related sciences and social and health sciences required to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals for sustainable development.This journal intends to become the international forum for groundwater research oriented towards the solution of problems of great social impact rather than only breakthrough research in physical and chemical issues.ScopePrincipa... areas covered by the journal are:• Hydrogeological systems and sustainable groundwater resources management • Groundwater contamination and protection • Groundwater vulnerability and risk assessment • Groundwater quality and food safety • Epidemiology and public health impacts of groundwater contamination • Groundwater treatment and remediation • Hydroeconomics • Water policy • Social aspects of groundwater • Water and education • Water - Energy - Food nexus • Impact of Climate Change on GroundwaterLocal or regional scale case studies lacking international relevance will not be considered.
AimsThe Journal of Water Process Engineering (JWPE) aspires to be the leading international platform for the dissemination of high-impact research on sustainable engineering solutions for water and wastewater treatment processes. It publishes rigorously peer-reviewed articles from researchers and practitioners actively engaged in the development and discovery of cost-effective technologies and engineering strategies in water and wastewater treatment. JWPE is fully aligned with and committed to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly “SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation."ScopeWat... process engineering involves the understanding and application of fundamental scientific principles to transform raw or wastewater sources into valuable products that benefit society while operating across laboratory, pilot, or full industrial scales. These valuable products include clean water, energy, and various resources. JWPE focuses on the design, operation, control, modelling, optimization, and intensification of processes relevant to water and wastewater treatment.Research that emphasizes the engineered applications and practices of water and wastewater treatment processes, as opposed to studies focused primarily on fundamental scientific principles or materials development, is particularly valued. JWPE encourages submissions of high-quality research articles and state-of-the-art reviews from both academic and industrial researchers and technologists. Given that water processing largely involves the efficient removal and detoxification of contaminants in various forms (soluble, colloidal, or suspended; inorganic or organic; degradable or refractory), applicable technologies can generally be classified into the main categories of chemical conversion, physical separation, and biological degradation. These processes are conducted within various reactors and systems, which must be carefully designed, optimized, operated and controlled, making these aspects another integral part of water process engineering. In addition, the development of water technologies and systems is increasingly integrated with sensing and monitoring tools, which should also be addressed within the scope of JWPE. As global challenges such as the energy/resource crisis and climate change become more pressing, the concept of “wastewater as a resource” has gained widespread recognition, and maximizing resource recovery is now a critical objective in water processing.Based on these considerations, JWPE welcomes submissions in the following areas of interest: Chemical and Catalytic Conversion ProcessesThis category encompasses processes for converting dissolved refractory contaminants and toxicants into mineralized and/or non-toxic substances through chemical and catalytic mechanisms:Advanced oxidation using novel oxidizing agentsPhotocatalysis employing innovative catalysts and light sourcesElectrochemic... processes (e.g., electrocatalysis, electrooxidation, electro-crystallizat... and non-catalytic processes associated with acoustic, cavitation, microwave, and plasma applicationsWater disinfection using novel disinfectants and methodsChemical digestion and precipitation Other emerging technologies and processes for chemical/catalytic conversionSeparation and Extraction ProcessesThis category focuses on the physical and physicochemical separation/extractio... of soluble, colloidal, and suspended contaminants from water and wastewater: Coagulation using novel coagulants/flocculan... and methodsEnhancement of physical separation processes (e.g., sedimentation, flotation, media filtration, centrifugation, decantation)Membrane filtration processes, including pressure-driven and osmotically-driven membranes Membrane reactors/contactors (e.g., membrane bioreactor, reactors/contactors using photocatalytic or electrocatalytic membranes, and membrane distillation)Adsorpt... and ion exchangeThermal extraction/distillat... for volatile substances extractionOther emerging technologies and processes for separation and extractionBiological and Ecological Processes This category addresses processes for the removal of biodegradable contaminants via biological and ecological methods:Enhancement of conventional biological processes (e.g., aerobic and anaerobic bioreactions, biofiltration)Biolog... processes for enhanced nutrient removalAnaerobic digestion for sludge disposalApplication of novel biotechnologies (e.g., microbial, fungal, molecular genetics) in water processingConstructe... wetlands for water treatmentBioremediat... for water environmental restorationEnhanceme... of ecological functions for water quality improvementOther emerging biological/ecologica... technologies and process hybridizationProcess Automation, Modelling, and OptimizationAdvanced process automation and control systemsIntegration of robotics and automated systems with water systemsModelling and optimisation of water processes and water systemsApplication of machine learning and advanced algorithms for process control & optimisationGreenhou... gas emissions modelling and control in water processesNovel methods for industrial benchmarking and reporting in water systemsEnergetics and life cycle assessments for water processesWater-energ... nexus: optimisation of coupled water and energy systemsNet zero: new technologies, management strategies and policiesSensing, Monitoring and Emerging TechnologiesSensing technologies for detecting chemical and biological contaminants in water systemsNovel sensing and analytical technologies for emerging contaminants (e.g., microplastics, pharmaceuticals, PFAS)Novel technologies and approaches for water process monitoringEdge computing and IoT-enabled water monitoring systemsDevelopment and application of digital twins for water systemsData-driven predictive maintenance and fault detection in water processingAI-powered tools for real-time water quality prediction and decision-makingWater system digitization, big data analytics, and informaticsDisruptiv... technologies for water systems monitoring and managementProcesses for Resource Recovery and ValorisationThis category covers novel processes and technologies aimed at enhancing resource recovery and valorisation from domestic and industrial wastewater:Energy recovery and production from wastewaterResource recovery/extraction from wastewaterOptimized sludge management for improved energy/resource recoveryValorisation of products recovered from industrial wastewaterAtmospheri... water generation and harvestingTechnologi... schemes (including case studies) for decarbonization in wastewater treatmentOther emerging technologies for resource recovery and valorisation from wastewaterAuthors are encouraged to select the most appropriate category from the six areas listed above for their submissions to JWPE, based on the primary focus of their study. In cases where the research involves hybrid technologies, authors should identify the category that best aligns with the ultimate objective of the study.Submissions related to the development and application of novel materials for water and wastewater treatment, particularly those focused on enhancing the removal of refractory pollutants and improving energy or resource recovery for large-scale or community-scale applications, are highly encouraged. Additionally, studies on emerging technologies in water process engineering that do not fall directly under the existing categories are welcome. However, authors should be mindful of specific exclusions, such as studies on desalination through thermal or membrane processes, which are not within the scope of JWPE.The journal also seeks submissions that address process engineering aspects of water sustainability, with a particular emphasis on water reclamation, reuse, and recycling, as well as energy and resource recovery from alternative sources. Studies focusing on fit-for-purpose treatment processes and technologies that aim to reduce energy and chemical consumption, minimize environmental and carbon footprints, and maximize social benefits are especially encouraged. JWPE periodically publishes “Virtual Special Issues” that explore emerging research areas. Authors should watch for "Calls for Papers" related to these hot topics. Potential contributors may contact the VSI Editor for information on the relevance of their proposed topic and check the VSI page for information.Please note that JWPE does not accept submissions based on fundamental batch studies that lack a focus on engineering applications. Common examples of unacceptable submissions include batch/static adsorption studies of model contaminants without dynamic flow studies, batch photodegradation studies involving photocatalysts modified for visible light operation without engineering application, microbiological studies without a strong connection to biological processing, and membrane fabrication research without practical application. Submissions must also include robust statistical data analysis and benchmarking of data against controls and relevant literature, as well as a thorough and ethical data analysis framework.
