RESILIENCE OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS TO CLIMATE CHANGE: CHALLENGES AND ADAPTIVE STRATEGIES

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are essential for protecting public health and the environment, yet they are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This study investigates the climate change effects on WWTPs across diverse regions, focusing on adaptation strategies in Connecticut, USA, New Zealand, Jordan, and Apulia, Italy. A systematic literature review, adhering to PRISMA guidelines, was conducted using databases such as Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science, identifying 25 relevant studies published between 2019 and 2024. Key climate stressors, including increased rainfall and rising temperatures, were found to reduce WWTP efficiency and raise energy consumption. Under higher emission scenarios, operational and maintenance costs also rise, with varying adaptation responses. Climate change challenges for WWTPs include hydraulic overload, temperature fluctuations, and sea-level rise. Adaptive strategies such as infrastructure upgrades, technological innovations, and energy-efficient designs are essential for enhancing resilience. Furthermore, effective policy frameworks and community engagement are critical for long-term adaptation. Rising temperatures can disrupt microbial activity, decrease biological treatment efficiency, and increase greenhouse gas emissions, while extreme precipitation events may lead to hydraulic overloading, causing untreated wastewater discharges. Coastal WWTPs are additionally threatened by sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion. Despite these concerns, research on effective strategies to improve WWTP resilience remains limited. This review synthesizes the impacts of climate change on WWTPs and proposes an integrated adaptation framework that combines mitigation technologies, engineering solutions, and policy innovations. By addressing the complex interactions between hydraulic loading, microbial dynamics, and infrastructure sustainability, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of how WWTPs can adapt to climate change, emphasizing the need for proactive and integrated solutions to ensure their long-term viability.