Microorganisms: new trends in environment-friendly and energy-saving water purification

The current trend regarding the development and implementation of novel strategies for decontamination of polluted water became an important aspect of modern community. Given the current drawbacks of conventional technologies involved in the removal of water contaminants and the impressive potential of nanotechnology-based processes, promising unconventional approaches have been successfully developed. Moreover, the attention has been straightened toward ecofriendly novel technologies; either we are considering the beneficial role of microscopic organisms or the ecological aspects of such strategies. The aim of this chapter is to emphasize the impressive potential of both nonpathogenic and pathogenic microorganisms in water self-purification and water purification, respectively.