Waste Water Treatment is the process of removing any pollutants and contaminants from wastewater (also called sewage) and returning it to the environment. It involves removing all physical, chemical, and organic pollutants that contaminate the water.
What happens if wastewater is left untreated?
If wastewater is dumped in natural water bodies untreated, the excess nitrogen, phosphates, and rotting organic matter in the sewage can cause abnormal plant growth. These plants then secrete toxins that deplete the oxygen in the water, leading to ‘dead zones’ – areas where no aquatic life can exist. Thus, untreated wastewater can make water bodies uninhabitable.
The reasons why wastewater treatment is so essential to conserve our environment include:
The natural wastewater treatment process is overburdened
Nature has its own ways of treating wastewater that end up in water bodies. However, with a population boom in the last two centuries and the rapid industrialisation of human society, we now produce more wastewater than nature can handle. This has caused significant strain on the aquatic ecosystems. This strain has made it necessary for humans to actively aid the natural process of wastewater treatment.
Wastewater treatment facilities are designed to mimic these natural processes and thus reduce the harm caused to the environment.
Protecting human life
Untreated wastewater released into rivers, lakes and streams also contaminates the drinking water supply for many people. The toxins can cause many deadly diseases in human beings.
According to Cole-Palmer, unclean water causes 1.7 million deaths annually. 90% of these deaths take place in developing countries. It can also cause diseases such as Typhoid Fever, Gastroenteritis, E-Coli Diarrhoea, Encephalitis, Hepatitis A, and Cholera among others.
Wastewater treatment can save human lives and improve the quality of life for people, especially in developing countries.
Protecting natural ecosystems
As mentioned earlier, untreated wastewater can significantly alter underwater ecosystems. This can lead to a ripple effect in the food chain. Pollutants in natural water sources can contaminate aquatic plants and the fish that eat them. The polluted fish can in turn cause harm to the humans and animals that eat them.
Wastewater can end up contaminating entire ecosystems if left untreated. Thus, wastewater treatment facilities not only save human and aquatic life but also end up preserving the environment.
How is wastewater treated?
The process of wastewater treatment involves three stages – primary, secondary and advanced. The primary stage involves the screening and settlement of large particles.
In the secondary stage, bacteria are introduced to break down the organic matter polluting the wastewater. Then, it is usually treated with chlorine to remove any remaining bacteria.
The advanced stage is specific to the particular regions where the plants are based. It involves removing any particular pollutant, like nitrogen or phosphorus, which is of concern to that particular region. The purified water is then allowed to flow into local water bodies.
As a developing country, India is no stranger to the damage that untreated wastewater can cause. Shapoorji Pallonji Group has been helping Indians overcome these perils for decades. With more than 145 billion litres of wastewater treated across India, Shapoorji Pallonji Group has helped improve the lives of Indians.
Shapoorji Pallonji Group has installed more than 50 industrial wastewater treatment plants. To know more about these projects, visit https://www.shapoorjipallonji.com/business/Water
Originally Published at - https://realestateandepc.wordpress.com/2023/08/21/three-reasons-why-waste-water-treatment-is-important/
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