Wastewater Treatment Guide
Complete Guide on Wastewater Treatment: Process and Results
Wastewater Treatment is a process to convert wastewater – which is the water no longer needed or suitable for its most recent use into water that can either be returned to the water cycle with minimal environmental issues or reused.
Activities like bathing, washing, using the toilet and water runoff result in the formation of wastewater and make the water full of contaminants including bacteria, chemicals and other toxins.
Process of Wastewater Treatment:
Step 1: Wastewater Collection
Wastewater collection is the first step in the process of Wastewater Treatment process. This water is then directed to a treatment plant using underground drainage systems.
Step 2: Odour Control
The water that is to be converted contains a lot of dirty substances that cause a foul smell over time. This process is to ensure that the surrounding areas are free of the foul smell.
Step 3: Screening
This step includes removal of any substance that may block or damage the equipment. Such substances may include sanitary items, plastics, bottles etc
Step 4: Primary Treatment
This step includes removal of organic solid matter (or human waste) from the wastewater.
Step 5: Secondary Treatment
In this process, dissolved and suspended biological matter is removed. Secondary treatment is typically performed by indigenous, water-borne micro-organisms in a managed habitat.
Step 6: Bio-solids handling
The solid matter that settle after the primary and secondary treatment stages are directed to digesters. The solid wastes are then treated for a month.
Step 7: Tertiary Treatment
The purpose of tertiary treatment is to provide a final treatment stage to further improve the effluent quality before it is discharged to the receiving environment (sea, river, lake, wet lands, ground, etc.
Step 8: Disinfection
There are some disease-causing organisms that are still left after the primary and secondary treatment process. The wastewater must be disinfected for at least 20-25 minutes in tanks that contain a mixture of chlorine and sodium hypochlorite.
RESULTS
Wastewater treatment process is one of the most important environment conservation processes that should be encouraged worldwide. Wastewater from industrial plants, refineries and manufacturing plants is usually treated at the onsite facilities. Following are the results:
- Improved Reservoir and Production Management
- Reduced health safety and environmental risk
- Reduced operations cost
But the downside of a wastewater treatment plant is that it might suffer from a mosquito infestation. These infestations can be dangerous in nature since they may lead to diseases like dengue, malaria etc. Nip that in the bud by using Mortein products – from the spray to the insect repellent.
Here’s hoping for the installation of more such plants!