This book is based on the discussions and papers prepared for the NATO Advanced Research Workshop that took place under the auspices of the NATO Security Through Science Programme and addressed urban water management problems. The workshop sought to critically assess the existing knowledge on Xenobiotics in urban water cycle, with respect to diverse conditions in participating countries, and promote close co-operation among scientists with different professional experience.

Stable, safe, secure and readily available water supply is one of the key factors in ensuring a good level of the public health and a stable society. Scientific assessments show that about 80 % of diseases and one-third of the total death toll in the developing countries are caused by the low quality of the drinking water. Other countries are also suffering from water shortages and insufficient quality of the drinking water. Many rivers in Europe and in other parts of the world are significantly polluted by insufficiently treated or untreated wastewater discharge. This book is based on the discussions and papers prepared for the NATO Advanced Research Workshop that took place in Lviv, Ukraine, and addressed recent advances in water supply and wastewater treatment as a prerequisite for a safer society and environment. The contributions critically assess the existing knowledge on urban water management and provide an overview of the current water management issues, especially in the countries in transition in Central and Eastern Europe and in the Mediterranean Dialogue countries.

Microbial Biodegradation of Xenobiotic Compounds examines and collects the recent information on the bioremediation technologies around the world. This book focuses on methods to decrease pollutants created by anthropogenic activities, industrial activities, and agricultural activities. This book answers some of the questions about – how to reduce contaminants? And whether there is a possibility of converting these pollutants in to useful energy by advanced biotechnological methods? The book combines present obtainable data with the expert knowledge of researchers from all over the world covering different aspects of environmental biotechnology and microbiology. It covers basic concepts of bioremediation and various methods involved in the bioremediation process, and provides specific chapters on the role of different genes and enzymes involved in microbial bioremediation process. It also gives special attention to heavy metal bioremediation by microalgae and the mechanisms involved during the degradation process. Recent innovative technologies about converting toxic pollutants in to useful energy like bioplastics and electricity are also discussed by specialist authors. Various chapters address the bioremediation of pesticides in soil using microbial metabolites, and molecular aspects of biodegradation which cover topics including identification of novel genes through the metagenomic approach and bioremediation using fungal laccase enzymes.

Maintenance, Monitoring and Control of Urban Water Systems, held in The New Forest, UK, April 25-27, 2012. The papers presented at the conference include topics such as contamination and pollution discharges in urban water bodies, monitoring water recycling systems, managing interaction between urban water cycles and city planning and landscaping, computer tools that can respond to the increased complexity of urban water systems, legal and regulatory aspects, technical problems involving the design, construction, maintenance, monitoring and control of urban water systems. The book will be of interest to researchers and professional engineers working in the water industry, architects, town planners, and others concerned about urban water supplies.

This volume provides state-of-the-art knowledge on xenobiotics in urban ecosystems, addressing a wide range of related issues, such as xenobiotic types and chemical composition, environmental fate, remedial approaches, regulatory policies and socioeconomic impacts. The book incorporates theoretical and practical aspects pertaining to xenobiotics to assess their threat level in urban environments, while determining appropriate responses and remediation measures to curb harmful impacts and prevent future contaminations. The book will be of interest to soil scientists, ecological engineers, agriculturists, urban policymakers, students and researchers working in the field of urban agriculture and environmental sciences.

Microbial Ecology of Wastewater Treatment Plants presents different methods and techniques used in microbial ecology to study the interactions and evolution of microbial populations in WWTPs, particularly the new molecular tools developed in the last decades. These molecular biology-based methods (e.g. studies of DNA, RNA and proteins) provide a high resolution of information compared to traditional ways of studying microbial wastewater populations, such as microscopic examination and culture-based methods. In addition, this book addresses the ability of microorganisms to degrade environmental pollutants. - Describes application of different Omics tools in Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) - Demonstrates the role of microorganisms in WWTPs - Includes discussions on the microbial ecology of WWTPs - Covers the microbial diversity of activated sludge - Emphasizes cutting-edge molecular tools