Wastewater treatment is a process that removes contaminants and other unwanted substances from wastewater before it can be reused or discharged into the environment. The treatment process involves a variety of different technologies and processes.
The goal of any wastewater treatment system is to remove harmful pollutants, such as oils, grease, bacteria, parasites, viruses, and toxic compounds, before the wastewater can be reused or discharged into lakes and rivers instead of being treated again.
In this article we’ll explore how the wastewater treatment process works in more detail. This includes overviews of the various types of wastewater treatment systems used for residential, commercial and more.
What is Wastewater Treatment?
Wastewater treatment is the process of removing pollutants and contaminants from wastewater. This is typically achieved through a combination of technologies that range from biological treatment to advanced process chemistry.
However, regardless of the technology used, the end goal is to remove contaminants from wastewater before it can be reused or discharged into the environment. Wastewater treatment is a process that removes pathogens, oils, grease, bacteria, parasites, viruses, and toxic compounds found in wastewater before it can be reused or discharged into lakes and rivers.
Wastewater treatment also helps prevent water pollution and groundwater contamination. The goal of any wastewater treatment system is to remove harmful pollutants, such as oils, grease, bacteria, parasites, viruses, and toxic compounds, before the wastewater can be reused or discharged into lakes and rivers.
Types of Wastewater Treatment Systems
Wastewater treatment systems can be categorized by the flow rate, outlet characteristics, and the quality of the end product.
High-flow treatment systems: These systems are typically used for large industrial wastewater discharges. They are used to meet the discharge flow rate required to meet national effluent guidelines. They can be used in conjunction with precipitation or air stripping systems that increase the removal of fats, oils, and grease (FOG).
Low-flow systems: Low-flow treatment systems are typically used for small wastewater discharges. They are also known as microdischarges and are the most common type of wastewater treatment system.
Microfiltration systems: This type of wastewater treatment system is used to treat low-strength water. Microfiltration uses tiny filters to remove microscopic particles from water. It is used in hospitals and water treatment facilities where contamination levels are very low.
Reverse osmosis systems: This type of wastewater treatment system is used to remove organic and inorganic contaminants from water. It can be used in conjunction with a desalination system to produce fresh drinking water.
How Does the Wastewater Treatment Process Work?
Wastewater treatment systems produce treated wastewater, which is often called effluent. The treated wastewater is then either discharged into a body of water, reused, or treated again. Wastewater treatment works by removing pollutants from wastewater, including oils, grease, bacteria, parasites, viruses, and toxic compounds.
Treated wastewater can either be discharged to a body of water, reused, or treated again. Wastewater treatment systems can produce treated wastewater that is either discharged to a body of water, reused, or treated again. Once wastewater enters wastewater treatment, the wastewater passes through a series of treatment processes that remove and control pollutants in wastewater.
Each treatment process removes different contaminants, depending on the type of treatment system being used. Each treatment process also generates sludge, which is a mixture of dissolved solids and biodegradable matter.
Major Steps in Wastewater Treatment Process
1. Activated sludge: This step is where oxygen-deprived wastewater is combined with bacteria that consume the organic material in the wastewater. The bacteria convert the organic matter in the wastewater into carbon dioxide and water. This step is an important part of wastewater treatment because it encourages the growth of bacteria that consume pollutants. The activated sludge treatment process also generates a high percentage of biogas, which is a renewable source of energy.
2. Stratified separation: The water that contains the dissolved solids is separated and collected in a holding tank. The dissolved solids in this water are usually non-degradable and are removed from the water. The water from the holding tank is then sent to the next process.
3. Supercritical fluid treatment: This process involves removing dissolved solids using carbon dioxide. The water is then sent to the next treatment process.
4. Impact activated sludge: The wastewater is sent to an impact activated sludge (IATS) system. IATS systems use a rotating biologically-fed tank to break down sludge. Bacteria in the biological process consume the nutrients in the sludge. These bacteria help treat wastewater by reducing the amount of sludge produced by the process and producing methane, which is a renewable source of energy.
Key Issues in the wastewater treatment process
Low nutrient levels: Nutrients are chemical compounds that are essential for the growth and health of bacteria in a wastewater treatment system. Nutrient levels in wastewater can be low due to a number of factors, including excessive wastewater discharges, low wastewater wastewater generation, and low wastewater wastewater treatment system efficiency.
High nutrient levels: Excessive nutrient levels in wastewater can lead to high levels of biological activity, which can result in the growth of harmful bacteria. Excessive biological activity in a wastewater treatment system can also lead to excessive sludge formation, which can decrease treatment system efficiency.
High suspended solids levels: High suspended solids levels in wastewater can decrease treatment system efficiency by clogging filters and adversely affecting the operation of pumps.
High bacteria levels: High levels of bacteria in a wastewater treatment system can be problematic because they can cause disease outbreaks, such as Legionella and Pseudomonas, in a public water system.
Increasing organic matter levels: Organic matter levels in wastewater can interfere with the operation of pumps and reduce the efficiency of a wastewater treatment system.
Summary
Wastewater treatment is the process of removing pollutants and contaminants from wastewater. This is typically achieved through a combination of technologies that range from biological treatment to advanced process chemistry.
After wastewater enters a wastewater treatment system, the wastewater passes through a series of treatment processes that remove and control pollutants in wastewater. Each treatment process generates sludge, which is a mixture of dissolved solids and bacteria. While each wastewater treatment system has its own unique characteristics, the end result is the same: treated wastewater that is fit for reuse or discharge into lakes and rivers.
