Publication Frequency Adjustment
2025-07-08
Dew Water as Sustainable Ecological Resource: Mitigating Heavy Metal Pollution in Aquatic Ecosystems and Enhancing Water Security
Authors
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Jonny Jonny
Department of Internal Medicine, Gatot Soebroto Central Army Hospital, Jakarta 10410, Indonesia
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Pepita Zenia
Department of Internal Medicine, Gatot Soebroto Central Army Hospital, Jakarta 10410, Indonesia
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Fachira Rachel Agfata
Department of Internal Medicine, Gatot Soebroto Central Army Hospital, Jakarta 10410, Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v7i4.11148Abstract
Groundwater overextraction and contamination by heavy metals such as cadmium and arsenic have resulted in ecological degradation and increased risks of renal disease, particularly in water-scarce regions. To address these challenges, this review aimed to evaluate the ecological potential of dew water harvesting as a sustainable and safe alternative water source. Literature published between 2000 and 2024 was systematically searched in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using the terms “dew water,” “atmospheric water harvesting,” “groundwater pollution,” “heavy metals,” “ecosystem restoration,” and “sustainable water systems.” Studies were included if they focused on dew water quality, ecological functions, or health-related outcomes, while non-English publications, conference abstracts without full text, and studies not directly addressing dew water were excluded. A total of 46 studies and 7 official guidelines met the eligibility criteria. Findings indicate that natural dew water generally exhibits a neutral pH (6.5–8.5), negligible concentrations of heavy metals, and relatively high dissolved oxygen content (~9 mg/L). Case studies from Morocco, Israel, China, and India illustrate its contributions to soil moisture retention, plant survival, biodiversity support, and microclimate regulation. Moreover, dew water produced through the Systemized Dew Process (SDP) consistently complied with WHO (2024) standards for drinking water, showing contaminant levels below detection thresholds. In conclusion, dew water harvesting represents a low-impact, climate-resilient, and safe alternative that mitigates exposure to nephrotoxic pollutants, reduces reliance on overexploited groundwater, and enhances long-term ecological restoration and water security in degraded and water-scarce environments.
Keywords:
Ecological Sustainability; Water Conservation; Heavy Metal Pollution; Ecosystem Restoration; Climate Change Adaptation; Renewable Water Sources; Applied EcologyReferences
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Jonny, J., Zenia, P., & Agfata, F. R. (2025). Dew Water as Sustainable Ecological Resource: Mitigating Heavy Metal Pollution in Aquatic Ecosystems and Enhancing Water Security. Research in Ecology, 7(4), 292–305. https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v7i4.11148
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Copyright © 2025 Jonny Jonny, Pepita Zenia, Fachira Rachel Agfata
This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.
