Which Process Should You Use to Treat Wastewater?

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Domestic wastewater is not safe to drink or cook and need to undergo a purification process to eliminate the pollutants and contaminants that can cause diseases. You can use simple or advanced wastewater treatment methods, depending on the treated water's end-use and the desired water quality.

Generally, simple techniques might be cheaper but cannot purify wastewater when you want to use the treated water for sensitive applications. The following are wastewater treatment methods suitable for treating water under different conditions, as explained.

1. Chemical Wastewater Treatment Methods

These methods involve using chlorine, ozone, and other chemicals to kill bacteria in wastewater directly. Chemicals work by neutralizing the acidity or alkalinity in water to bring it to its neutral state. The chemicals also prevent bacteria from reproducing when added to the water. 

Chemicals are also helpful in removing dissolved pollutants from water. They can also be used in advanced water purification methods. For instance, you can add a certain chemical to react with non-wanted contaminants such as metals already dissolved in water.  

2. Biological Wastewater Treatment 

In these industrial and domestic wastewater treatment processes, food, oil, soap, and human waste present in water need to be broken down. This is achieved by injecting microorganisms into the wastewater, which decompose or ferment the organic matter into non-harmful components. The selection of the domestic wastewater treatment systems depends on what elements you want to remove. This method may not remove nitrogen and phosphorous from water, and you might need to use other techniques for better results.

3. Sludge Treatment Processes 

This method involves separating solids from liquid matter. It is applied as an intermediate or initial treatment process, after which the chemical and biological processes are applied. An example of the separation techniques used is the centrifuge. In this case, the solids are removed from wastewater by rotating all components until gravity force separates solids from the liquid.

4. Physical Water Treatment 

Physical water treatment is one of the primary methods of treating wastewater in domestic wastewater treatment systems. Solids are eliminated in this initial treatment process by a combination of treatment methods. These methods don't remove any dissolved and unwanted chemicals from water. 

Sedimentation, which is common in simple treatment equipment at home, involves letting the heavy non-dissolved solids settle down and decanting the clean water. Screening consists of the passage of water through screens to remove solids. Another physical wastewater treatment procedure is aeration, which involves increasing oxygen in water by circulating air through the water. 

Filters are also commonly used in both simple and advanced wastewater treatment practices. Different pore sizes of filtering screens or filters are used to remove non-dissolved matter. It is used to mainly remove sand and other materials.

Domestic wastewater treatment systems combine different treatment techniques to suit different domestic wastewater treatment needs. The correct method depends on the amount and type of pollutants in the wastewater. Therefore, you should consult the experts to help you choose the right domestic wastewater treatment solution.

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