Water is, undoubtedly, the most important element for sustaining life on earth. But, did you know that of all the water that is present on the planet, about 97.4% is saline, which means it is not fit for any form of human consumption i.e., drinking, bathing, washing, etc. And of the 2.5% freshwater of the planet more than 60% is locked away in glaciers and icecaps and only 1.2% is fresh surface water.
Unfortunately, we live in a world where ever-growing industrial activities and urban populations have disturbed the natural balance in the water world. Where more water is being discharged, into natural water bodies, as wastewater, then treated. This untreated sewage causes damage not only to the water ecosystem but also compromises public health.
Benefits of domestic wastewater treatment unit
Domestic wastewater treatment plants are an amazing engineering marvel, which not only treat domestic wastewater but offer you several other benefits. Some are explained below:
Environmental conservation
One of the other environmental benefits of an on-site wastewater treatment plant is that you can use the treated wastewater for on-site activities i.e., watering gardens, flushing, cleaning, etc. Although it may seem to be a small quantity of water per household, it amounts to huge water savings when we talk about large communities. This water recycling means that the pressure on freshwater resources is greatly reduced.
Compliance with discharge standards
Governments and environmental protection agencies around the world have worked together to draft environmental regulations. These regulations ensure that the activities of domestic and commercial entities do not cause any harm to the environment. With environmental issues becoming more and more prominent and catastrophic these regulations have also become more and more stringent. In the context of wastewater treatment and its impact on local waterbodies, more strict regulations mean that homes and businesses need to be proactive when it comes to managing their wastewater. Adherence to such regulations serves them protection against serious implications that may arise as a result of non-compliance.
With new chemicals introduced daily to the home industry, the regulations are becoming more and more specific to cover every chemical that may be part of domestic wastewater. Apart from Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), etc. they now regulate the discharge of specific chemicals i.e., nitrogen, phosphorus, etc. that are most commonly used in homes. Removing such chemicals does not come under the scope of conventional septic tanks that have been a common solution, up until now, for most homes. It is properly engineered and maintained domestic wastewater treatment plants that are capable of treating the domestic wastewater to satisfy the environmental regulations.
Long-term cost savings
Environmentally conscious or not, every human decision involves the Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA). While the upfront of a domestic wastewater treatment plant may be high, it reaps multiple benefits in the long term. Some of them are briefed below.
Savings on water bill
One of the immediate benefits of installing your domestic wastewater treatment plant is that your monthly water bill will be cut significantly. This is because the wastewater that your plant treats can be used for many non-potable purposes. These may include, toilet flushing, irrigating your garden, floor washing, etc. This translates into lower demand for freshwater, which means lower monthly water bills.
Savings on maintenance of municipal treatment plants
Although, centralized municipal wastewater treatment plants do their job. But oftentimes the maintenance costs associated with their operations are a headache for the homeowners. The installation and maintenance cost of vast pipelines connecting different parts of communities to the wastewater treatment plant, maintenance of infrastructure of the treatment plant, etc. are among the major contributors to the increased sewage treatment bills. But having your domestic wastewater treatment plant gives you good cost-cutting, with zero to minimal maintenance costs.
Savings in unprecedented situations
Droughts and water scarcity are water-management-related issues that are becoming more frequent across various countries of the world, including France, Italy, and Spain among many others. In such countries or regions, water becomes an extremely precious life-saving element for the society which is commonly followed by price hikes or strict extraction restrictions. In these vulnerable situations having your own, up and running, wastewater treatment plant can save you from obvious price hikes and help you meet your water demands just fine.
Efficiency
When we talk about domestic wastewater treatment, we have two options names septic tanks and domestic wastewater treatment plants. Although the installation cost of septic tanks is far less than that of wastewater treatment plants they have several downsides in the long-term. Which include, poor effluent quality, regular maintenance and cleaning of the tank, more space requirements, etc. Several environmental regulations have opted against septic tanks as a treatment option in favor of domestic wastewater treatment plants because of their low efficiency in treating wastewater.
Conclusion
Domestic wastewater treatment plant is an environmentally conscious and socially responsible decision that offers significant benefits to both communities and the environment. Treating wastewater on-site means that you are protecting your ecosystem, conserving freshwater reserves, and preventing public health. Also, compliance with your local environmental regulations means that you are leading a responsible lifestyle where your actions are not damaging the local environment.
No matter what wastewater treatment solution you opt for just acknowledge that having a wastewater treatment plant installed is always a sustainable option. It means you are playing a part in preserving our water resources and contributing to a better future for generations to come.
Frequently Ask Questions
