State Regulation and Strategic Management of Water Resources and Wastewater Treatment at the Regional Level: Institutional and Technological Solutions

Regional water systems face growing pressure from climate variability, water scarcity, and increasingly complex wastewater pollution. These challenges require governance models that integrate institutional coordination with effective technological solutions. This review is based on a structured analysis of peer-reviewed literature indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect, covering publications from approximately 2014 to 2025. The findings show that clearly defined institutional roles, basin-level coordination, stable financing mechanisms, and active stakeholder participation significantly improve governance outcomes. Technological advances such as membrane filtration, advanced oxidation processes, nature-based treatment systems, and digital monitoring platforms enhance treatment efficiency, resilience, and opportunities for resource recovery. Regions differ widely in their ability to adopt these solutions, mainly due to variations in governance coherence, investment capacity, and climate-adaptation readiness. The review highlights the need for policy frameworks that align institutional reforms with technological modernization, including the adoption of basin-based planning, digital decision-support systems, and circular water-economy principles. These measures provide actionable guidance for policymakers and regional authorities seeking to strengthen long-term water security and wastewater management performance.