Rainwater treatment technologies: Research needs, recent advances and effective monitoring strategies

Numerous microbial contaminants persist after the implementation of rainwater treatment strategies, which necessitates the investigation of combination treatment methods. As the development of cost-effective combination treatment methods may aid in increasing global access to safe water, this study aimed to highlight the innovative ways in which existing treatment technologies, such as solar disinfection, may easily be adapted and improved for use in specifically developing countries. In addition, as biological treatment approaches (application of bacteriophages and predatory bacteria) have recently been investigated for rainwater treatment, the advantages and disadvantages associated with the use of these techniques as well as future research needs were reviewed. Finally, the assessment of water treatment systems using molecular-based viability assays was highlighted, as recent studies have reported that these assays may provide a more accurate indication of treatment efficiency (as compared to traditional culture-based analysis), and the data generated can be used in quantitative microbial risk assessment.