This new open access book, developed within the framework of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP-IX, 2022–2029) and the International Initiative on Water Quality (IIWQ), in collaboration with the International Water Resources Association (IWRA), addresses the growing challenge of emerging pollutants and their impact on global water resources.
Drawing from the proceedings of the UNESCO-IWRA Online Conference “Emerging Pollutants: Protecting Water Quality for the Health of People and the Environment” (17–19 January 2023), the book presents current research and policy-relevant insights into contaminants of emerging concern, their pathways and impacts on human and ecosystem health, and effective strategies for monitoring, prevention, and control. Topics include aquatic ecosystem pollution, groundwater contamination, wastewater reuse, and circular economy approaches to pollutant lifecycle management.
The publication provides a comprehensive synthesis of scientific evidence and highlights research and governance gaps, offering practical recommendations to support sustainable water quality management in the face of global environmental change.
