Preface

Water is a very valuable resource, supporting a wide variety of life. There is an increasing de‐ mand on this resource as populations around the world continue to increase. Industrial develop‐ ment has continued to increase, further exerting increased demand for this resource.

Surface and groundwater are the main sources of fresh water for drinking, household purposes, irrigation, manufacturing and other uses. As such, these have to be conserved and protected as much as possible. Increased population growth and industrial activity have led to increased an‐ thropogenic contamination of water resources through sewage effluents, agricultural runoff, wastewater discharges and industrial and mining discharge. This has resulted in elevated levels of eutrophic nutrients, pathogenic microorganisms, toxic elements, pesticides, health care prod‐ ucts, persistent organic pollutants and other emerging pollutants.

Most legislative bodies and frameworks, from the United States Environmental Protection Agen‐ cy (USEPA) to the European Union, across the world seek to protect water resources from overex‐ ploitation and contamination and to promote sustainable water use.

This book entitled *Water Quality* covers issues related to water chemistry and quality, biomonitor‐ ing, modelling and some approaches to water treatment. It is divided into sections addressing those particular issues, viz:

### **Biomonitoring**

This section consists of five chapters that cover biofloc technology, aquatic ecosystems, biomoni‐ toring and the use of bioindicators.

### **Modelling**

This section consists of four chapters that cover chemometrics, modelling nutrient leaching and remote sensing.

### **Water treatment**

This section consists of two chapters that cover cyanide removal and the use of algal biomass for removal of elements.

### **Water quality**

This section consists of seven chapters that straggle trace elements, radionuclides, wastewater and water quality monitoring.

We would like to convey our gratitude to the authors who contributed to this book, to the review‐ ers for their valuable input as well as to the organisers and the staff at InTech Open-Access Pub‐ lisher, especially Dajana Pemac, Ana Simčić and Ivona Lovrić, for their help and guidance in putting the book together. Each book chapter was reviewed by three reviewers who gave sugges‐ tions for improvement, extension or reduction of aspects.

### **Prof. Hlanganani Tutu**

Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg South Africa

### **Dr. Bronwyn Patricia Grover (Associated Editor)**

Geostratum Groundwater and Geochemistry Consulting Johannesburg, South Africa

**Reviewers**

**Prof. Elvis Fosso-Kankeu**, School of Chemical Engineering, North West University, South Africa **Prof. Luke Chimuka**, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa **Dr. Bronwyn P. Grover**, Geostratum Groundwater and Geochemistry Consulting, South Africa **Prof. Hlanganani Tutu**, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

**Section 1**
