How Does Wastewater Impact Our Environment?
In this article the industrial wastewater specialists at WTS highlight the impact wastewater and trade effluent can have on our environment if it isn’t managed effectively.
The article explains what wastewater is and what impact it can have on our environment if not dealt with correctly. It looks at how modern treatment techniques can help, the key stages in the treatment process and how water reuse and recycling can deliver real environmental improvements and cost savings for business.
Wastewater and our environment
We are fortunate in the UK to benefit from a modern and efficient wastewater system. Our sewerage system means that we don’t usually have to give much thought to what happens to the wastewater which we produce in our homes and industrial settings. We have a safe and hygienic way to get rid of our wastewater, which protects us from diseases which seriously affected health in times before effective waste management, such as cholera or dysentery. Having safe water for drinking and industrial use is something we take for granted in the 21st century.
However, that’s not to say that we don’t have ongoing issues with water pollution, and one main factor is the pollution caused by wastewater. If you are unsure about why and how wastewater can affect the environment, and how wastewater treatment can help, read on.
What is wastewater?
Wastewater is defined as being any sewage or other liquid waste which is produced by homes, factories, hospitals or any other building which uses water. We all produce wastewater in our homes every time we have a shower or flush the toilet, and industrial plants can also produce wastewater (or effluent) through their manufacturing processes. If wastewater is not properly treated, then there can be serious consequences for both human health, and the wider environment.
How wastewater impacts the environment
Untreated wastewater can have serious effects on the environment. Contaminating water to the level whereby it cannot be reused, means we are using up dwindling supplies of natural water resources. If the wastewater is then dumped into lakes, rivers or the sea, we are also contaminating these bodies of water with sludge, oil or grease, organic material, toxic chemicals or harmful heavy metals.
This process of dumping wastewater into the natural water supply can pose hazards not only to human health, but can also have a devastating effect on wildlife, especially for fish and other small creatures who live in water. Harmful substances in water can also get into fields and soil, which results in smaller crop yields for farmers.
How modern wastewater treatment techniques can help
Although the picture appears bleak, there are many steps we can take to help nature deal with the volume of wastewater which we produce. These steps are necessary as nature alone simply cannot cope with the billions of gallons of sewage and other wastewater which are discharged into the environment every day.
Modern wastewater treatment facilities are large and complicated plants which use a number of the latest technological processes to remove up to 99% of all the contamination in water before returning it to rivers or lakes. This remaining water, also known as effluent, can then be reused for various purposes.
What are the stages in treating wastewater?
Typically, there are four main stages in any wastewater treatment process.
After the water has gone through all stages of the process and has been disinfected, it can be used again in a range of different applications in industry or agriculture. If you do wish to dispose of wastewater, or reuse wastewater or sludge, there are strict environmental regulations which must be complied with. You may also need to implement a properly managed testing regime to make sure that the water you are reusing is of a consistently safe standard to prevent the growth of microbes.
What about reusing and recycling water?
The climate change emergency and increased focus on what we are all doing to use resources more efficiently has turned the spotlight on what companies are doing to reduce their environmental impact and use their resources – including water – in a more sustainable way. There are lots of technological solutions on the market which allow wastewater to be reused and there is also the possibility of turning wastewater into energy.
But reusing wastewater isn’t just about scoring environmental brownie points. Costs for disposing of waste are rising rapidly too, and if you can minimise the volume of fresh water which you are consuming, and also reduce the volume of sludge and wastewater you are sending to disposal, this will increase your costs dramatically too.
Finding the correct balance of solutions for your particular industry and situation isn’t always straightforward and requires specialist knowledge and experience. Working with experts in the dewatering and wastewater industry such as Water Treatment Services can deliver bespoke solutions that both minimise your impact on the environment and save you money into the bargain.
Expert industrial wastewater treatment solutions
Water Treatment Services offer a comprehensive range of innovative water and wastewater management solutions for business. Our experts can provide advice and support to help you identify the most appropriate strategies for the identification, investigation and implementation of environmentally sensitive testing, monitoring and treatment solutions for industrial wastewaters and trade effluents.
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained engineers and wastewater treatment specialists we offer cost effective environmental support solutions across the whole of the UK and internationally.
Contact us today to learn how our wastewater solutions can help you reduce costs and improve environmental performance.
