Optimizing the efficiency of urban water systems is a growing concern for water utilities worldwide. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are crucial in maintaining water quality and resource recovery in a world facing growing challenges such as climate change, water-energy-food nexus and the increase of legal requirements and users' expectations. Thus, adopting a performance assessment system (PAS) is of the utmost importance to assess operating conditions and to identify critical aspects of the WWTP which can negatively affect its effectiveness, efficiency and reliability. This paper presents the global and operational performance assessment of an urban WWTP and identifies improvement measures. The WWTP presented a good performance in terms of effectiveness and reliability. Nevertheless, in terms of efficiency, relevant improvement opportunities were identified, specifically in the sludge treatment phase and in terms of energy management. PAS was proven to be successful in the identification and prioritization of rehabilitation needs in a systematic way which will continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the WWTP as well as to support asset management decisions regarding their upgrade and retrofit.

In the sulphate-reducing process, bioprocess control can be used to regulate the competition between microbial groups, to optimize the input of the electron donor and/or to maximize or minimize the production of sulphide. As shown in this review, modelling and monitoring are important tools in the development and application of a bioprocess control strategy. Pre-eminent literature on modelling, monitoring and control of sulphate-reducing processes is reviewed. This paper firstly reviews existing mathematical models for sulphate reduction, focusing on models for biofilms, microbial competition, inhibition and bioreactor dynamics. Secondly, a summary of process monitoring strategies is presented. Special attention is given to in situ sensors for sulphate, sulphide and electron donor concentrations as well as for biomass activity and composition. Finally, the state of the art of the bioprocess control strategies in biological sulphate reduction processes is overviewed.

In order to maintain and improve the water quality in European rivers, the Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires an integrated approach for assessing water quality in a river basin. Although the WFD aims at a holistic understanding of ecosystem functioning, it does not explicitly establish cause-effect relationships between stressors and changes in aquatic communities. To overcome this limitation, the present study combines the typical WFD physicochemical and biological approaches with an ecotoxicological approach. The main goal was to assess river water quality through an integrated manner, while identifying potential risk situations for aquatic communities in the Cértima river basin (Portugal). To achieve this goal, surface water samples and macroinvertebrate specimens were collected under contrasting hydrological conditions (autumn and spring seasons) at three river sites exposed to distinct pollution levels defined according to the WFD (low, moderate and highly polluted). Physicochemical water quality status was defined according to the Portuguese classification for multipurpose surface waters, whereas biological water quality was assessed in accordance with the South Invertebrate Portuguese Index. Ecotoxicological assays included four standard species, a bacterial species (Vibrio fischeri), a unicellular algae (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata), a macrophyte (Lemna minor) and a crustacean (Daphnia magna), which were exposed to different river water concentrations. The study sites represented a clear and pronounced gradient of pollution, from the unpolluted reference site to the sites under moderate to high anthropogenic pressure. In the latter sites, clear signs of organic pollution were found, such as low dissolved oxygen concentrations, high nutrient loads and prevalence of highly tolerant macroinvertebrate species. Despite the evident signs of pollution, no clear evidence of toxicity was observed in test species, suggesting that ecotoxicological assays using standard laboratory species and methodologies might not be suitable for assessing the effects of organic pollution. Nevertheless, the integrated methodology presented in this study provided important additional information on the Cértima's water quality status. Its wider use could contribute to a more comprehensive assessment of the effects of anthropogenic pollution on the status and functioning of aquatic ecosystems under the WFD and, thereby, improve the scientific foundations for the sustainable future management of surface water resources.