The environmental effects of water management
Waterways throughout the UK have traditionally acted as a dumping ground for waste until the UK government introduced legislation to prevent this.
Continuing this behaviour would have resulted in harm to several animals living in these waterways. Any polluted animals that go on to be consumed by humans would then also affect humans!
Where does water contamination come from?
Most water contamination comes from industrial processes (such as metal and solvents) as well as human activities (such as sinks and toilets). Despite the introductory legislation, industrial processes still count for up to as much as 25% of water incidents in the UK. Because of this, many companies are trying new techniques to understand the best ways to treat water and its contamination.
There are many reasons that have motivated this:
- To comply with regulations
- Re-using water saves money
- Becoming environmental advocates
- Reducing discharge costs of untreated water
What are the benefits of wastewater treatment on the environment?
It goes without saying the less pollution in water, the safer it is for humans and animals. However, what impact does this have on the environment? A healthy ecosystem depends on a lot more than healthy humans and animals. It also needs a balance of bacteria and fungi which all interact with each other, be that directly or indirectly.
If toxins were left untreated in our ecosystem then they would ‘spread’ and eventually become harmful to all forms of life. By treating our waterways we enable a level of balance to be restored. This treatment also minimises pathogens spread which in turn helps us humans stay healthier.
The importance of net-zero water buildings
Another environmental consequence that should be considered is treating water itself. There are environmental consequences in the treatment of water, that’s why facilities are aiming for net-zero water buildings. This means the volume of water returned to the water source is the same as the volume of water used. In the long-term this prevents deterioration in natural water resources in terms of quality and quantity. Other water sources can be used to minimise the use of freshwater.
How can water be reused to prevent environmental consequences.
This process requires 4 stages: primary; secondary; tertiary and sludge treatment. Here we go into a little more detail in what each stage needs.
- Primary treatment: this separates SS (suspended solids) from the water. More than 70% of these materials are removed through specific processes such as flocculation. Chemical reagents are sometimes introduced at this stage also.
- Secondary treatment: biological treatments are introduced at this stage to remove pollutants such as carbon or nitrogen.
- Tertiary treatment: at this stage all dissolved SSs will be removed and the water will be purified and disinfected so it can be reused.
- Sludge treatment: any pollutants and materials which were removed in any of these 3 stages are turned into sludge and often sold on for processes that fuel heat and gas for example.
Converting a building into a place where water is not only tested but is efficiently treated so it also benefits the environment is not an easy task. The right machinery, chemicals and systems are all crucial! If you are looking to treat the water in your business or premises it is often simpler and more efficient to partner with a specialist water treatment company like AquaStat. In the long run this will save your business, time, money and environmental suffrage.