Effluent Treatment Process: Protecting Water And The Environment

By Author: Wilber Whitfield
Total Articles: 72
Comment this article

Water is one of the scarcest resources available to mankind. The amount of consumable water is depleting by the day and lowering ground water levels pose a serious threat to existence of human habitat in many parts of the earth. In such a dear situation, it becomes imperative that we conserve, preserve and value every available ounce of water.

The usage of water for domestic and industrial applications is unavoidable. The round water sources however are not increasing at the same pace as the channels of consumption. The effluents in the form of chemicals, waste, hazardous gases, impure water, etc. get mixed with the fresh water sources thereby resulting in water pollution. This water is not fit for human or animal consumption. Furthermore, when this effluent mixed water gets mixed with soil, it causes soil pollution, rendering the soil barren or less fertile. This in turn has a cyclic effect of flora and fauna.

Eventually, technology and science has produced what is called “water filtration treatment” or the process to treat “dirty” water before it leaves a factory. This treated water is ...
... then purified before being released back into natural water sources.

Effluent Treatment or Water filtration treatment is usually in three major steps:

In the primary step, the effluents are passed through wire mesh; wire cloth, mechanical separators to remove the high density impurities. This basic step is common across industries, households, civil terminals, etc. it is also equally capable of removing the insects and biological additives in the water.

In the secondary step, the stream of effluent is made to pass through aerators where oxygen is added to the effluent to retain the basic chemical structure of the water molecules. Also, oxygen removed inherent impurities from the solution. Chlorine is added to the effluent depending upon the level of impurities. This process is called as chlorination. The quantum of chlorine to be added is pre-decided depending on the pH value of the waste water. A mechanical separator is used to separate the hard and soft water at this stage. The hard water with high concentration of acids and chemicals recirculates in plant and used in non-consumption applications like heating and cooling of machines.

Tertiary: This last phase is used should effluent water contain high levels of chemicals, paint, oil, natural gas, etc. and filtration is not enough in the primary and secondary steps. In this phase, harmless organic matter that feed on or dissolve impurities are added to the water. After a period of time, the organic matter eventually dissolves as well.

Effluent Treatment has been proven to be 99.9% effective in purifying water, making it a scientific success for industrial water treatment. Water filtered in this way even becomes good for human consumption again. However, the problem of Effluent Treatment is not in the treatment but in the actual application of the process by industries.

Effluent treatment is a subject of great environmental repercussion. Industries ought to take greater responsibility towards the larger ecosystem. Considering the level of environmental hazards impure water can potentially cause to generations, Effluent Treatment becomes a matter of state interference. Governmental bodies are more active and constant checks are conducted on the quality of effluents released by manufacturing units in open waters. However, much needs and leaves to be done to create a global awareness about the need for effluent treatment across industry circles.

Environ Engineering Company is leading manufacturers of Effluent treatment plant( http://www.environengg.com ) & Aerators( http://www.environengg.com/energy-efficient-surface-aerators.html ) in India.