Humanity experienced a sudden boom of industrialization, in the early 1950s, that spread around the world relatively quickly. The mass production of daily-use items and other manufacturing activities, a problem arose along with the advancements. The problem of waste, in particular the generation and management of wastewater. In almost every activity that human beings carry out whether it be industrial production or domestic consumption, water is the most commonly used element.

Conventional wastewater treatment technologies have indeed been somewhat successful in controlling water pollution up until now. The recent advancements in industrial processes and new products being introduced every day, new kinds of chemicals are being introduced to wastewater.

Conventional wastewater treatment facilities are not designed to treat these persistent pollutants. Therefore, the need for continuous research and the introduction of new wastewater treatment technologies is pivotal so that the already endangered environment is saved from further chaos and destruction.

Emerging Wastewater Treatment Technologies

Microbial Fuel Cells

One of the issues associated with conventional wastewater treatment units is that they consume energy generated from fossil fuels, hence, contributing to problems like global warming. Microbial Fuel Cells are a step forward in this regard in that they hold the potential to generate electricity while treating wastewater. The microbes in the Activated Sludge oxidize the organic pollutants and convert the chemical energy of organic pollutants into bioenergy, which is most commonly referred to as bioelectricity.

An MFC contains two electrodes, a series connection of these electrodes, and a Cation Exchange Membrane (CEM) that separates the Cell into two sections. The microbial oxidation of organic materials in the wastewater releases electrons in the wastewater which results in the formation of potential difference between the cathode and anode. This formation of potential difference forces the electrons to flow in the circuit, hence, generating electric current.

Microalgal Wastewater Treatment

Although conventional wastewater treatment plants get rid us of organic water pollution, they do not treat certain nutrients, mainly Nitrogen and phosphorus. The introduction of microalgae into wastewater treatment not only promises to resolve this issue, it also generates high-value products i.e., biofuel, fertilizers, etc.

We know that nutrient-rich water is an excellent environment for algal growth. In Microalgal Wastewater Treatment we introduce algae into wastewater in a controlled environment where the algae consumes the nutrients and turn them into biomass. This biomass can then be used as biofuel or fertilizers. It is worth noting that microalgae performs photosynthesis which means that it consumes atmospheric carbon dioxide and turns it into oxygen. The oxygenation of wastewater hence achieved means that the oxygen demand of wastewater treatment is reduced. This also helps aerobic bacteria better decompose organic waste. Consumption of atmospheric carbon dioxide and formation of aquatic oxygen makes this unique wastewater treatment approach to be environmentally friendly as well.

Electrocoagulation

Electrocoagulation is an advanced wastewater treatment practice where electric current is used to remove water pollutants i.e., oil and grease, heavy metals, suspended solids, dissolved solids, etc. Electric current is applied to metal electrodes while the wastewater is flowing through them. The electrodes are oxidized because of application of current and form metal oxides. These positively charged metal oxides act as coagulants, collecting suspended and dissolved solids and heavy metals onto their surface and removing them from wastewater.

This method of coagulation is more sustainable than its chemical counterpart because it generates much less sludge or solid waste than chemical coagulation. Also, electrocoagulation removes pollutants from wastewater that the chemical method can not i.e., oil & grease and heavy metals making it a scalable option equally acceptable for small domestic units to large industrial applications.

IoT and sensors

Wastewater treatment is a continuous process which means that it needs continuous and uninterrupted monitoring. This can become hectic for most homeowners with their busy routines and lack of technical knowledge. Luckily, Internet of Things (IoT) and sensors have a solution. Their integration into an already installed wastewater treatment plant ensures monitoring of key performance parameters i.e., pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Temperature, etc. These sensors are connected to mobile or web apps over the internet and provide the owner, wherever they might be, with the insight into system’s health and generate timely maintenance requests. For example, in the case of functional anomalies like continuously changing oxygen levels or pH of the incoming wastewater (both of which are bad for aerobic bacteria), the system will promptly generate warning messages and inform the homeowner and the maintenance team to immediately inspect the system to avoid costly future maintenance.

Most of the minor adjustments are taken care of by the system itself. For example, sudden pH change in the wastewater is bad for aerobic bacteria which is to be avoided at any cost. In the event of a sudden pH change, the sensors will detect the change and adjust the plant conditions to neutralize the acidic wastewater, hence, preventing the death of essential microbes.

Furthermore, IoT and sensors can track the record of the long-term performance of your wastewater treatment plant which can be used to fine-tune every wastewater treatment plant specifically for the user. It can also help the manufacturers with improvement in their future treatment plant models.

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 and 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.

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