A method for treating wastewater comprising the steps of: a. providing a wastewater treatment system comprising at least one active electrochemical cell (101-103; 201) and at least one inactive electrochemical cell, each active and inactive electrochemical cell (101-103, 201; 104-106) comprising dimensionally stable electrodes (131-136, 231-232; 137-142) having the same catalyst composition, the electrodes (131-136, 231-232; 137-142) being immersed in wastewater and comprising a dimensionally stable anode (131, 133, 135; 231) and a dimensionally stable cathode (132, 134, 136; 232), wherein the dimensionally stable anode (131, 133, 135; 231) and the dimensionally stable cathode are separated by a gap (I1, I2, I3), wherein the dimensionally stable anode (131, 133, 135; 231) comprises an anode support (142; 242) and an anode catalyst layer (144; 244) deposited thereon, and wherein the dimensionally stable cathode (132, 134, 136; 232) comprises a cathode support (146; 246) and a cathode catalyst layer (148; 248) deposited thereon, the anode catalyst layer (144; 244) and the cathode catalyst layer (148; 248) having the same composition, b. providing power to the active electrochemical cell (101-103; 201) from a power supply (120; 220), c. operating the active electrochemical cell (101-103; 201) at a predetermined current density to thereby degrade a targeted pollutant in the wastewater, d. monitoring an operation voltage at the power supply (120; 220), e. reversing the polarity of the active electrochemical cell (101-103; 201) when the operation voltage at the power supply becomes higher than a normal operation voltage by a predetermined voltage difference, f. continuing to operate the active electrochemical cell (101-103; 201) with reversed polarity until the operation voltage becomes again higher than the normal operation voltage by the predetermined voltage difference, and g. when the operation voltage becomes again higher than the normal operation voltage by the predetermined voltage difference, providing power to one inactive cell of the at least one inactive cell, wherein the predetermined voltage difference is between 2 to 3 volts. a. providing a wastewater treatment system comprising at least one active electrochemical cell (101-103; 201) and at least one inactive electrochemical cell, each active and inactive electrochemical cell (101-103, 201; 104-106) comprising dimensionally stable electrodes (131-136, 231-232; 137-142) having the same catalyst composition, the electrodes (131-136, 231-232; 137-142) being immersed in wastewater and comprising a dimensionally stable anode (131, 133, 135; 231) and a dimensionally stable cathode (132, 134, 136; 232), wherein the dimensionally stable anode (131, 133, 135; 231) and the dimensionally stable cathode are separated by a gap (I1, I2, I3), wherein the dimensionally stable anode (131, 133, 135; 231) comprises an anode support (142; 242) and an anode catalyst layer (144; 244) deposited thereon, and wherein the dimensionally stable cathode (132, 134, 136; 232) comprises a cathode support (146; 246) and a cathode catalyst layer (148; 248) deposited thereon, the anode catalyst layer (144; 244) and the cathode catalyst layer (148; 248) having the same composition, b. providing power to the active electrochemical cell (101-103; 201) from a power supply (120; 220), c. operating the active electrochemical cell (101-103; 201) at a predetermined current density to thereby degrade a targeted pollutant in the wastewater, d. monitoring an operation voltage at the power supply (120; 220), e. reversing the polarity of the active electrochemical cell (101-103; 201) when the operation voltage at the power supply becomes higher than a normal operation voltage by a predetermined voltage difference, f. continuing to operate the active electrochemical cell (101-103; 201) with reversed polarity until the operation voltage becomes again higher than the normal operation voltage by the predetermined voltage difference, and g. when the operation voltage becomes again higher than the normal operation voltage by the predetermined voltage difference, providing power to one inactive cell of the at least one inactive cell, wherein the predetermined voltage difference is between 2 to 3 volts.