The role of wastewater treatment in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) and sustainability guideline
Khaled Obaideen,
Nabila Shehata,
Enas Taha Sayed,
Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem,
Mohamed S. Mahmoud,
A.G. Olabi
Affiliations
Khaled Obaideen
Sustainable Energy & Power Systems Research Centre, RISE, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Nabila Shehata
Environmental Science and Industrial Development Department, Faculty of Postgraduate Studies for Advanced Sciences, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt
Enas Taha Sayed
Center for Advanced Materials Research, University of Sharjah, PO Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Chemical Engineering Department, Minia University, Elminia, Egypt
Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem
Sustainable Energy & Power Systems Research Centre, RISE, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Center for Advanced Materials Research, University of Sharjah, PO Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Chemical Engineering Department, Minia University, Elminia, Egypt; Corresponding authors at: Sustainable Energy & Power Systems Research Centre, RISE, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Mohamed S. Mahmoud
Chemical Engineering Department, Minia University, Elminia, Egypt; Department of Engineering, University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Suhar 311, Oman
A.G. Olabi
Sustainable Energy & Power Systems Research Centre, RISE, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Mechanical Engineering and Design, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK; Corresponding authors at: Sustainable Energy & Power Systems Research Centre, RISE, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
The world is currently striving to achieve the globally adopted sustainable development goals (SDGs). Exploring the role of technology in achieving the SDGs is critical for the decision-makers and will allow them to overcome any possible trade-off. In this work, the role of wastewater management in achieving the SDGs has been indicated. The analysis shows that wastewater treatment could contribute to achieving 11 out of 17 SDGs. The major contribution came from its ability to increase water availability (SDG 2: zero hunger and SDG 6: clean water and sanitation), enhance human health worldwide (SDG 3: Good health and wellbeing), providing a new source of income for smallholder (SDG 1: no poverty and SDG 8: decent work and economic growth), converting waste to energy (SDG 7: affordable and clean energy, and SDG 9: industry, innovation and infrastructure) and reducing the environmental impact of wastewater (SDG 11: sustainable cities and communities, SDG 12: responsible consumption and production, SDG 13: climate action, and SDG 14: life below water). The challenges related to implementing and assessing these targets were discussed as well. A set of indicators (guideline) were proposed to improve the contribution of the wastewater treatment facility to the SDGs. This study emphasizes on the significant influence of wastewater treatment on the United Nations' SDGs and targets worldwide.
