What Is Wastewater?

What Is Wastewater?

Before understanding wastewater treatment, it is important to have an idea of what wastewater itself is before looking at how it is treated. Wastewater as the name suggests is water that is waste. It is usually made this way as the result of human processes. This can be through industrial processes or general living from built up areas. Sewage is a derivative of wastewater which has been contaminated with urine or faeces however the two terms are often used to mean the same thing.

Because of the way that society operates, then a lot of wastewater is produced, as a lot of actions, even mundane ones mean that the water is affected. Therefore it is important to have an appropriate system for wastewater treatment, in order to prevent pollution to the environment and to stop contaminated water getting into the water that is used for human consumption.

So What Is Wastewater Treatment

Wastewater treatment, is the process of making contaminated water much safer and pollution free. There are different methods of doing this, however they all have the same goal in mind – to avoid environmental damage and harm and disease to the human population by having unsuitable water for human consumption. Different methods can be used; some are more intensive, depending on the type of wastewater that is involved.

Methods Of Wastewater Treatment

• Wastewater Treatment Plants – in more built up and urbanised areas these are often in one form or another, the main wastewater treatment method. These are intensive plants that are designed to treat wastewater – using physical chemical and biological processes.
• Constructed Wetlands – these are areas where the water is considered a resource – where the water is treated naturally and lends itself to a use for migratory wildlife. This can also be a help for stormwater management.
• Onsite sewage facilities – things such as septic tanks and other smaller versions of wastewater treatment plants are used in more rural areas, so that these areas aren’t simply left with waste water and can deal with it by their own means.
• Industrial onsite treatment – heavy industry and chemical plants often have their own wastewater treatment facilities onsite, as it is important that with their high risk processes, that any by products and contaminated water are dealt with in the appropriate fashion, in order to limit any damage they could cause.

Why Is Appropriate Wastewater Treatment Important?

It is important to have appropriate measures in place for wastewater treatment because of the impact that untreated polluted water could have; both on the human population and on the wider environment. If contaminated water were allowed to get into the drinking water then people could be seriously ill, and in less developed countries where water can be less abundant, untreated water is used for irrigation and can cause serious ill health.

Similarly if allowed into the natural water cycle, then serious damage to wildlife can be done. It can have adverse affects on both plants and living creatures, and as such appropriate measures need to be taken to prevent this occurring.