In the primary water treatment process, sediments and substances such as oil are removed from the wastewater. Scientists have been able to control and refine both aerobic and anaerobic biological processes to achieve the optimal removal of organic substances from wastewater.īiological wastewater treatment often is used as a secondary treatment process to remove material remaining after primary treatment with processes including dissolved air flotation (DAF). “Aerobic” refers to a process in which oxygen is present, while “anaerobic” describes a biological process in which oxygen is absent. ![]() ![]() Biological treatment is used worldwide because it’s effective and more economical than many mechanical or chemical processes.īiological treatment usually is divided into aerobic and anaerobic processes. The goal of biological wastewater treatment is to create a system in which the results of decomposition are easily collected for proper disposal. It also may contain pathogenic organisms, heavy metals, and toxins. Wastewater typically contains a buffet of organic matter, such as garbage, wastes, and partially digested foods. Biological wastewater treatment harnesses the action of bacteria and other microorganisms to clean waterīiological wastewater treatment is a process that seems simple on the surface since it uses natural processes to help with the decomposition of organic substances, but in fact, it’s a complex, not completely understood process at the intersection of biology and biochemistry.īiological treatments rely on bacteria, nematodes, or other small organisms to break down organic wastes using normal cellular processes. It can be used to compare alternative wastewater treatment processes or to analyse the environmental impacts associated with a wastewater treatment plant and potentially identify the need for new techniques with lower emissions.Biological wastewater treatment - which relies on microorganisms to break down organic waste - has a long history, and ranges from simple cesspits to conventional activated sludge plants all the way to technologically advanced solutions like MABR. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a valuable assessment methodology which can be used for assessing the sustainability of wastewater treatment plants. Interpretation is the final step, where the results obtained from inventory analysis and the impact assessment are considered together and analysed based on the goal and scope of the LCA study. The life cycle impact assessment is a step used to evaluate the type and extent of the environmental impacts that will arise based on the inventory data collected. Inventory analysis involves the collection of data and the quantification of inputs and outputs which include the raw materials used, energy consumption, products and by products from waste and emissions to air, land, or water by substance. The goal and scope will define the aim of the study and the reason to carry out the LCA study. LCA involves 4 steps: goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation. An LCA can be conducted to calculate the intensity of the environmental damage caused by wastewater treatment plants. LCA is a tool that assesses a product or an entire system’s environmental impact over the course of its full life cycle. ![]() To assess the environmental impacts associated with the WWTP, there are several environmental assessment tools present, such as Environmental Impact Assessment, Material Flow Assessment, and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The operation of a wastewater treatment plant involves a range of direct and indirect emissions, so it is crucial to develop new ways and techniques to treat wastewater that causes minimal damage to our environment. The process emissions from wastewater treatments account for two thirds of the total greenhouse gases generated by the water and sewage companies. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are mainly designed to reduce wastewater and environmental pollution, but the raw materials, energy consumption and emissions from the WWTP subsequently result in different environmental impacts. It's #TechnicalTuesday so Ayash Anwar, a #teamWRc Graduate Water Process Engineer, is talking about the environmental impacts of wastewater treatment plants and the tools available to assess them.
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