Enhanced adsorption-biodegradation processes for the removal of pesticides in drinking water in Brazil

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Drinking water biofilters have the potential to be fully sustainable and low-cost solutions to provide safe drinking water, particularly in developing countries. However, this technology still lacks the reliability and efficiency required to be widely employed, particularly for the targeted removal of specific contaminants such as pesticides. Indeed, yet unknown are the forces that control the composition and the activity of the microbial communities developing on the filter medium, which are responsible for the water treatment, impeding its full optimisation. Currently, the engineering of these systems is based on a fully empirical approach. If we want to upgrade this technology, we need a rational approach able to control the structure of the microbial community in the drinking water filters, using specific operational conditions. The overarching aim of this research is to develop eco-engineered filters for the removal of targeted pesticides using a combination of adsorption and biodegradation processes.