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‎ 10.61882/jhehp.731

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Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems for Water Crisis Management in Developing Countries: A Narrative Review
Farshad Yaghoubian1 , Mohammad Reza Mehrasbi2 , Esrafil Asgari *2 , Hossein Arabzade1 , Mohammad Amin Abbasian1
1- Student Research Committee, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
2- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
Abstract:   (137 Views)
The water and wastewater crisis in developing countries, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas, represents a major public health, social, and economic challenge. Due to financial and infrastructural limitations, implementing of centralized wastewater treatment plants in these regions is often difficult or unfeasible. In this context, Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems (DWTS) have emerged as a low-cost, effective, and sustainable solution for wastewater management. These systems rely on simple technologies such as anaerobic filters, constructed wetlands, and biological filters, and are capable of treating domestic, agricultural, and industrial wastewater at small scales. Features such as the use of natural resources and low installation and maintenance costs make DWTS a viable option for areas lacking centralized sewage networks. However, challenges such as financial constraints, the need for local community training, limited available space, and soil conditions must be considered. This study reviews the advantages, challenges, applicable technologies, and successful case studies of DWTS and provides recommendations to enhance the performance and expansion of these systems for water crisis management in developing countries.
Keywords: Decentralized wastewater treatment systems, Water crisis management, Developing countries, Rural wastewater treatment, Sustainable wastewater treatment
     
Type of Study: Review Article | Subject: Environmental Health, Sciences, and Engineering
Received: 2026/01/14 | Accepted: 2026/03/17
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