As the population increases and natural habitats deteriorate, ensuring everyone has access to safe water sources becomes more challenging. Industry and agriculture are the main users and polluters of water. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides contaminate groundwater and surface waters, while industrial waste is often discharged into water bodies without treatment. Consequently, wastewater management is being significantly overlooked.
Untreated sewage is a major issue in urban areas, especially in regions with higher poverty levels, where a significant amount of wastewater is discharged untreated into nearby water bodies. In densely populated residential areas, household effluent, human waste, toxic chemicals, and medical waste are among the pollutants that degrade the environment. Therefore, reducing pollution and improving wastewater management are crucial components of the solution.
What is wastewater?
Wastewater is water that has been used for domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes. While 99.9% of wastewater consists of water, the remaining 0.1% contains organic matter, bacteria, and inorganic substances. Wastewater effluents affect various habitats, including lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, estuaries, and seas. Additionally, storm runoff, containing harmful compounds washed off rooftops, parking lots, and highways, also falls under the category of wastewater.
Importance of Treating Wastewater
The treatment of wastewater is crucial for both the environment and our health. Clean water is essential for the plants and animals that rely on it and for the continuation of various species, which is important for the fishing industry. Furthermore, water bodies serve as recreational areas for many people, and if the water is polluted, it can pose health risks. Over 80% of all wastewater is discharged globally without any treatment. Therefore, treating wastewater is vital for preserving the limited resource of water and ensuring the safety and well-being of people and the planet.
Wastewater Treatment with UV technology
In municipal wastewater and water reuse, UV technology is crucial in the tertiary stage of treatment for reducing pathogens through disinfection and chemical pollutants through photolysis and accelerated oxidation. UV systems and synergistic technologies are being increasingly utilized worldwide to disinfect wastewater, ensuring that the treated water is suitable for reuse in processes like gardening and toilet flushing without any unintended harmful effects. This method is appealing as it significantly reduces, if not completely eliminates, the use of chemicals, and it is effective in deactivating microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses, without forming disinfection by-products that pose risks to human and wildlife. As a result, UV technology has become an effective way to mitigate environmental dangers without the use of chlorine, especially in developed parts of the world.
Case studies of Wastewater Treatment Plants using UV Technology around the World
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co
The Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Chico, California uses UV-treated water for maintaining consistent beer quality and for water reclamation, where cleaned water is reused for landscape irrigation.
- City of Silverton
The City of Silverton, also known as Oregon’s Garden City, sends one million gallons of treated effluent per day to the Oregon Gardens before it is returned to Silver Creek for recycling. The treatment plant utilizes conventional wastewater treatment technologies, including ultraviolet (UV) disinfection in the tertiary stage.
- Avani Khao Lak Resort – Thailand
The wastewater treatment facility at the Avani Khao Lak Resort processes the wastewater, some of which is then reused for watering the resort’s gardens and streams, while the rest is discharged into the public sewer. UV technology is used as part of the wastewater treatment processes, ensuring the effectiveness of the treatment while meeting sustainability requirements and preventing contamination hazards.
Alfaa UV – A leader in UV treatment solutions
Alfaa UV is a leading water and wastewater disinfection company in India, providing solutions for municipal, industrial, and recreational water applications. The company’s wastewater disinfection systems aid processes such as wastewater treatment, reverse osmosis (RO), and de-ionization, contributing to the reuse of wastewater and playing a key role in environmental sustainability and conservation of fresh water resources.
Some Alfaa UV Wastewater Disinfection Case Studies
Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport uses Alfaa WWR Series to treat wastewater in the tertiary stage of the sewage treatment plant, and then reuse the water for cooling towers, gardening, and toilet flushing.
