Industrial Assessment Tools of Risks Associated with Wastewater and Water Technologies

This work explores the current landscape of industrial risk assessment tools for wastewater and water technologies, emphasizing the need for integrated, multirisk frameworks that address environmental, technological, regulatory, and socioeconomic dimensions. Leveraging on over 7,000 literature sources and two European (EU) case studies in the chemical and paper manufacturing sectors, this study identifies key gaps in existing risk methodologies and highlights the importance of aligning risk assessments with evolving EU directives and climate goals. Integration of two detailed case studies in the Irish food industry and at a Portuguese pulp and paper manufacturing site provides practical validation of the proposed frameworks. The case studies categorized risk assessments at micro- and macrolevels guiding the establishment of future frameworks. In the long term perspective, the inclusion of digital technologies aims to enhance predictive capabilities and resilience of the water and wastewater sectors. The findings advocate for an inclusive and adaptive risk management approach that bridges operational detail with strategic oversight, ensuring sustainable and compliant water resource management within industrial settings.