New Study Calls for Integrated Risk Assessment Tools in Wastewater and Water Technologies

RESURGENCE partners have worked on a new publication in ACS ES&T Water titled “Industrial Assessment Tools of Risks Associated with Wastewater and Water Technologies” by Anna Trubetskaya, Áine Hennessy, Ian Ryan, Ken Stockil, and Colm Gaskin, which highlights the urgent need for more comprehensive risk frameworks in industrial water management. Read here.

The research draws on over 7,000 literature sources and two European case studies—one in the chemical sector and another in the pulp and paper industry. The findings reveal significant gaps in existing risk assessment tools, particularly their ability to capture the complex interplay between environmental, technological, regulatory, and socioeconomic risks.

By categorising risks at both micro- and macrolevels, the study demonstrates how integrated, multi-risk frameworks can better support industries in aligning with EU directives and broader climate goals. Case studies in the Irish food industry and a Portuguese pulp and paper site validated the proposed approach, bridging operational practices with long-term resilience strategies.

Looking forward, the authors emphasize the role of digital technologies in strengthening predictive capabilities and ensuring adaptive risk management. This will be crucial in tackling emerging threats, from PFAS and pharmaceuticals to climate-induced stressors.

The study advocates for an inclusive, adaptive, and forward-looking risk management strategy to safeguard sustainable water use and compliance across industrial operations. Read the full paper here.