Industrial wastewater is not just a by-product of oil and gas or mining and petrochemical companies, but also a by-product of a multitude of Industrial Wastewater like food and beverage processing industries, paper and pulp, textiles, leather factory, refineries, mining, metal etc.
What is Industrial Wastewater?
Water is needed in practically every stage of production across many manufacturing industries. It is used for such purposes as cleaning, fabricating, processing, washing, diluting, cooling etc. After being used, the resulting water is then classified as waste water. Once the contaminant concentration of wastewater is reduced to safe volumes, the water needs to be treated before it can be safely discharged back to the natural environment, into bodies of water, or reused in plant operations.
Why is it necessary to treat industrial wastewater, and what does the water contain? We’ll answer these questions below.
Why Is It Important to Treat Industrial Wastewater?
Industrial wastewater is one of the most common by-products of industrial or commercial activities. The indiscriminate discharge of these waste water streams into the environment can be very harmful to the local ecosystem. This water often contains toxic compounds, organic matter, metals, and the like that are difficult to break down and have a pH far from neutral. If not properly treated before being discharged, it can pollute the receiving bodies of water, consequently endangering living species, including any surrounding population dependent on these water sources. The best strategy to prevent such health hazards is to treat the highly contaminated and toxic industrial wastewater before discharging it into the environment.
What Does Industrial Wastage Contain?
Depending on the industry, industrial wastewater may contain a number of constituents requiring treatment. Some contaminants of concern in waste water are:
- Acids
- Additives, like calcium phosphate
- Ammonia
- Automotive fluids
- Bleach
- Calcium and magnesium ions
- Chlorine
- Chloroforms
- Cellulose
- Cyanide
- Detergent
- Fats-oils-grease (FOG),
- Food waste
- Heavy metals
- Dyes
- Hormones and antibiotics
- Motor oil
- Nutrients, like nitrates and phosphates
- Organic and inorganic chemicals
- Paints
- Petroleum by-products
- Phenols
- Prescription and over-the-counter drug residues
- Priority pollutants
- Selenium
- Solvents
- Sludge
- Sugars and fats
- Suspended solids (TSS)
What is Industrial Wastewater Treatment?
Sewage treatment plants and wastewater treatment facilities gather wastewater from industrial and municipal sources, remove its impurities and purify it to the point where it may be used in agriculture, industry, and even as a source of potable water.
How is Industrial Wastewater Treated?
Treatment of industrial wastewater involves various steps, including:
- Removing solids
- Removing oil and grease
- Removing organic matter
- Neutralizing acids and alkalis
- Precipitating heavy metals
- Deionization to remove unwanted ions
- Membrane filtration to remove chlorine and other contaminants
Closing Thoughts
Wastewater treatment is often an overlooked necessity of modern times. Recent data indicates a huge gap between wastewater generated and wastewater treated, highlighting a clear disconnect between the two. This indicates an urgent need for better water management. Without proper wastewater treatment facilities, our cities would be ripe with disease and human waste everywhere.
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