The increasing pressure on our dwindling freshwater resources is forcing the world to use this precious resource more judiciously. Many factors like increasing populations, rapid industrialization, and environmental pollutants are causing a rapid decline in the availability of this resource. One potential solution to this problem is responsible wastewater management. This water shortage problem is being faced worldwide, but it is becoming especially common in urban areas. The available freshwater is limited, but wastewater production is on the rise. Therefore, we need to find ways of treating the wastewater so that it can be reused in various human activities.
Two million tons of sewage, industrial, and agricultural waste are thrown into the world’s rivers each year, and this statistic doesn’t include illegal wastewater dumping. This effluent pollutes freshwater and coastal habitats, jeopardizing food security and availability of safe drinking water and posing significant health and environmental risk. These factors make responsible water management a vital process and require immediate attention from worldwide industries.
What is Responsible Wastewater Management?
Wastewater management refers to treating polluted water, which would otherwise be impossible to use. Thus, wastewater management is a crucial requirement in today’s world. Wastewater management is also known as sewage treatment. The wastewater management process includes removing impurities such as untreated sewage, food, and some soaps and detergents, including nitrogen and phosphorus. This treated wastewater is then added back to the source, rivers or oceans, to be reused; this process is known as water reclamation. There are primarily three types of wastewater management: sewage wastewater treatment for domestic wastewater, industrial wastewater treatment, and agricultural wastewater treatment. The main purpose of wastewater management is to keep the water clean and safe for various consumption. This implies that water must be clean enough for people to drink and for the industry to use for commercial purposes.
Sources of Water Pollution
There are many sources of water contamination in today’s world. One of the main contributors to water pollution is household and industrial activities, followed by agricultural waste. Water contamination can be caused by agricultural operations such as the unregulated spread of slurries and manure, the dumping of sheep dip, tillage, ploughing of the ground, and the overuse of pesticides and fertilizers. Another form of water contamination is radioactive waste. Nuclear power plants, industrial, medicinal, and other scientific procedures employ radioactive materials. Radioactive waste can cause significant water contamination concerns if not properly disposed of. All these factors contribute to wastewater production.
Stages of Wastewater Management.
Wastewater management comprises three different stages. Each stage is characterized based on different technologies and techniques. We will talk briefly about these three stages in this section. The first stage of wastewater management is primary wastewater management, followed by secondary and tertiary wastewater management.
In the primary stage of wastewater management, wastewater is held in settling tanks to allow heavier substances to settle at the bottom, and light substances are allowed to float. After a while, the substances are removed from the water, and the remaining water moves to the next stage. The secondary stage requires degrading biological products through many aerobic biological processes. Finally, the water moves to the tertiary stage, where further filtration happens; many pathogens and plant nutrients are removed, so the water becomes fit for domestic use.
Engage the Services of Wastewater Management Experts
To achieve public health advantages, create a better environment, and promote healthy lifestyles, it is critical to invest wisely in wastewater and other sanitation infrastructure. It is important to enlist the help of specialists in the field of wastewater management. These experts can assist you in directing your efforts in the proper direction by creating a strategy to help you achieve your sustainability objectives.