Abstract

This paper presents a systematic review of existing literature on wastewater treatment methods to determine the most effective approaches for treating wastewater in urban areas. The main research question is, “What are the most effective methods for treating wastewater in urban areas?” The hypothesis tested was that advanced filtration systems are the most effective wastewater treatment method. After a comprehensive search and evaluation of the literature, it was found that advanced filtration systems, such as membrane bioreactors and constructed wetland systems, are the most effective methods for treating wastewater in urban areas. Government agencies and utilities can use these findings to improve their wastewater treatment processes and reduce costs.

Introduction

Wastewater treatment is an increasingly important issue regarding sustainability and environmental protection in urban areas. The quantity of wastewater produced rises as cities expand and develop, leading to environmental degradation and public health issues if not properly managed (Paswan et al., 2020). Therefore, it is essential to find effective and efficient ways to treat wastewater to protect the environment and public health. Previous research has explored various wastewater treatment methods, but a comprehensive analysis of their effectiveness is needed to determine the most effective approaches. The main research question of this study is: “What are the most effective methods for treating wastewater in urban areas?” It is essential to treat wastewater efficiently to preserve the long-term viability of metropolitan areas.

Methods

This research used the qualitative methodology with a systematic review of existing literature on wastewater treatment methods. This review was conducted to answer the research question. This process involved searching for relevant studies and articles, critically evaluating their quality and reliability, and synthesizing the findings to identify the most effective wastewater treatment methods.

Literature review

In the study by Kumar and Dutta (2019), the effectiveness of CWMs in purifying household wastewater with aquatic macrophytes was examined. The authors set up four Constructed Wetland Microcosms (CWMs) with different plant species and tested each system’s treatment efficiency over four months. They found that all four CWMs could effectively remove contaminants from the wastewater, with the highest removal efficiency observed for total suspended solids (TSS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Plants were also found to have a good effect on the proliferation of beneficial microbes in the CWMs, increasing the system’s overall treatment efficiency.

Hu et al. (2022) evaluated recent advancements in anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) for urban wastewater filtration and recycling, and bioenergy recovery. The authors noted that AnMBRs have several advantages over traditional wastewater treatment systems, including high treatment efficiency, low energy consumption, and the potential for bioenergy production. They also discussed several novel configurations of AnMBRs, including hybrid systems and microscale AnMBRs, which can potentially improve these systems’ performance further. The authors concluded that AnMBRs show great potential for treating municipal wastewater and producing renewable energy.

Biswas et al. (2021) reviewed using purified wastewater from cities to irrigate crops is called “reclaimed water.” The authors noted that the increasing demand for water in agriculture, coupled with the limited availability of freshwater resources, has led to the need for alternative irrigation water sources. Treated municipal wastewater is one such alternative, and the authors discussed the various treatment methods that can be used to make this water suitable for irrigation. They also reviewed the potential health risks associated with using treated wastewater for irrigation and the measures that can be taken to mitigate these risks. The authors concluded that treated municipal wastewater could be a viable option for irrigation in certain situations, but careful planning and management are required to ensure the safety and effectiveness of this practice.

Results and Discussion

After a comprehensive search and evaluation of the literature, it was found that advanced filtration systems are indeed one of the most effective methods for treating wastewater in urban areas. These systems use various techniques to remove contaminants from wastewater, including physical, chemic


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