The search for alternative water sources is pushing to the reuse of treated water coming from municipal wastewater treatment plants. However, this requires that tightened standards be fulfilled. Among them is the microbiological safety of reused water. Although chlorination is the mostly applied disinfection system, it presents several disadvantages, such as the high doses required and the possibility of formation of dangerous by-products. Moreover, the threat of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) spread throughout poorly treated water is requiring the implementation of more efficient disinfection systems. Ozone and photo assisted disinfection technologies are being given special attention to reach treated water with higher quality. Still, much must be done to optimize the processes so that cost-effective systems may be obtained. This review paper gives a critical overview on the application of ozone and photo-based disinfection systems, bearing in mind their advantages and disadvantages when applied to water and municipal wastewater. Also, the possibility of integrated disinfection systems is considered.

Water scarcity is one of the main problems of this century. Water reclamation appears as an alternative due to the reuse of treated wastewater. Therefore, effluents treatment technologies (activated sludge, rotary biological discs, percolating beds) must be improved since they are not able to remove emerging contaminants such as enteric pathogens (bacteria and virus). These pollutants are difficult to remove from the wastewater and lead to adverse consequences to human health. Advanced oxidation processes, such as single and catalytic ozonation, appear as suitable complements to conventional processes. Catalytic ozonation was carried out using a low-cost material, a volcanic rock. Single and catalytic ozonation were capable of promoting total Escherichia coli removal from municipal wastewater after 90 min of contact. The presence of volcanic rock increases disinfection efficiency since E. coli regrowth was not observed. The identified viruses (Norovirus genotype I and II and JC virus) were completely removed using catalytic ozonation, whereas single ozonation was not able to eliminate JC virus even after 150 min of treatment. The higher performance of the catalytic process can be explained by the formation of hydroxyl radicals, proving that disinfection occurs in the liquid bulk and not due to adsorption at the volcanic rock.