From Linear to Circular Bioeconomy: A Paradigm Shift in Wastewater Management

Water scarcity is a shortage of water resources to meet conventional water needs. This situation leads to severe sanitation issues in many developing nations as the populace consumes unsafe water, resulting in health issues. Water scarcity arises due to increased urbanization, climate change, shortage of infrastructure, and water demand exceeding supply. Employing the concept of a circular economy—where wastewater can be reused and recycled, and resources can be recovered from it—is a way to mitigate this issue. Also, more rational use of water resources will need to be practiced by the people, and this can only be achieved via ongoing campaigns or awareness creation by municipal governments. Wastewater generation will continue to rise exponentially due to the rapid increase in domestic and industrial water consumption. Up till now, ~80% of global wastewater generated has been released into surface water despite the prospect of sewage serving as a source of water for varied applications and as a possible source for resource recovery. This study aims to give an overview of global wastewater resources management, circular economy in the water sector, bioeconomy, and sustainable development; the economic and environmental benefits of effective wastewater management, challenges and limitations to water reuse, resource recovery, and effective wastewater treatment technologies, and organizational and societal attitudinal changes toward wastewater resources are some of the highpoints of this study. Finally, emphasis is also placed on the need for creating awareness among the public of the need to reduce the burden on freshwater resources.