Every day, wastewater is being released from everywhere: schools, industries, homes, businesses, and flowing into various sewer systems. It is then directed into wastewater treatment systems where they undergo biological and physical processes to purify and remove all pollutants to make it safe for use. The process involves three stages, which are designed to remove all impurities and effluents present.
Levels of Waste Water Treatment
Primary treatment: Also referred to as mechanical treatment, it is the first level of the treatment process. This stage involves screening, which is designed to trap any solid objects present in the waste water, and sedimentation which uses gravity to get rid of any suspended solid materials. At this stage, solid fragments, whether floating or suspended are removed. Sometimes, chemicals can be used during sedimentation to speed up the process. At this stage, approximately 55% of suspended solids are reduced.
Secondary treatment: This is the second stage of the waste treatment process also known as the biological treatment. At this stage, organic matter that escaped from the primary treatment process is removed. The biological process is achieved when microbes are introduced. The microbes consume all the organic matter, as it is food to them. In turn, the organic matter is converted to energy, water, carbon dioxide. After the biological process is complete, treated water is then taken to settling tanks, where they undergo secondary sedimentation. During secondary sedimentation, more suspended solids are removed. The secondary treatment involves various wastewater treatment systems, which use different biological activities such as wetlands, ponds, sludge, filters, and the list is endless.
Tertiary treatment: It is the last stage of the wastewater treatment process. This stage requires the use of high technology systems, which can remove about 99% of all the impurities present in waste water. The result of this stage is pure clean water, but not safe for drinking.
After all, the three levels of wastewater treatment are complete, the water is then disinfected with chlorine before being released back for use.
This process is basically designed to improve the quality of wastewater rather than it going to waste. It also underrates the amount of environmental pollution and degradation and all its adverse impacts on the environment at large.
Listed below are the benefits of wastewater treatment systems:
- In the waste treatment system, some of the benefits of this process are that suspended solid fragments are removed, which can cause damage in pipe channels or rivers.
- There is a reduced risk of diseases, which are caused by pathogenic bacteria or any chemicals that are present in wastewater, which may result into various health concerns.
- Water pollution is reduced.
- Clean water is a result of the whole process, as a renewable source of energy, the water is purified and can be re-used.
- It has also led to the improvement in technologies and techniques, which can be applied to boost the treatment process.
- Apart from this, a lot of jobs have been created through research, technology and the infrastructure used at the treatment plants.
- There is improved ecosystem, and biodiversity as clean water goes back to the rivers and streams.
Overall, one can say that wastewater treatment kills harmful and disease-causing organisms in the water, thereby making it safe for plant and human consumption. More research is being conducted on these systems and researchers will continue to develop better systems in the future.