Waste water can be treated in a variety of ways, depending on the facility’s abilities and the amount of waste that must be removed from it before it is released into the environment. Waste water generally passes through different treatment phases before it is released or reused. The process is carried out in a way that creates useful water options that can be recycled easier.

The two main water options are gray water and black water. Gray water is derived from generally clean sources that do not contain human wastes and other materials that may be very harmful to the environment. Gray water tends to come from dish washing, laundry cleaning, and other processes that are easy to clean. Black water contains human waste and its dark color shows that it is very unsuitable for use unless processed.Waste Water Treatment

When waste water is treated, it must be done at the closest processing location to ensure that proper cleaning is done before the water is too foul to be cleaned.

Waste water can be treated where it is produced. Septic tanks, bio-filters, and aerobic treatment systems are equipped to properly treat the water before it is taken for reuse. Of course, these options are usually not as well equipped as a centralized facility that is specifically designed to treat waste water.

Collecting and treating sewage depends on local, state, and federal regulations and standards. These regulations generally provide the most reliable options for the treatment of the waste in the water. Sewage is treated in three stages: primary, secondary, and tertiary, which make the water usable again.

Pretreatment of Waste Water

Waste water is pretreated in order to rid the water of waste that is easily removed before the water enters the facility for primary treatment. This is where larger waste matter that can clog pumps and make water movement more difficult is collected. Preventing this problem at the pretreatment stage reduces the amount of machinery and facility maintenance that would otherwise be necessary.

Grit, fat, and grease are usually removed at the pretreatment stage. These materials are often screened, thereby allowing liquid waste treatment to be a smoother process.

Primary Waste Water Treatment

Primary treatment must be done to the water that is entering the facility. This process allows heavy solids in the waste water to settle into layers of removable waste. The heavy materials sink to the bottom while the oils, greases, and lighter solids remain at the top. This process allows the majority of the solids to be left behind while the waste water is moved to secondary treatment.

Primary treatment is the holding tank area where at least 60% of suspended solids are removed. This contributes to a 30% decrease in biochemical oxygen demand, which results in an increase in the amount of oxygen in the water once the treatment is complete.

Secondary Waste Water Treatment

Secondary treatment is the next step in removing materials from the water. Dissolved and suspended matter derived from biological wastes are removed at this stage. There may also be a large amount of organisms that must be removed. Such organisms may be minuscule, such as the microbial unicellular ones that come from the waste that is processed out in the primary treatment stage. A specialized process reduces the amount of microbes in the water before transferring it to the tertiary treatment section.

Secondary treatment often uses natural resource systems to carry out some of the complex tasks to remove some of the dissolved components from the water. Activated sludge treatment is important as it helps to create usable materials that can be recycled. Surface aerated basins such as lagoons and wetlands really help to reduce the amount of suspended solids in the waste water.

In the secondary treatment stage, filter beds are used to further oxidize and purify the water. Soil bio technologies make it possible to totally reuse the waste water over time. These and many more options may be available in a secondary treatment plan for waste water.

Tertiary Waste Water Treatment

Tertiary treatment is any type performed after primary and secondary treatment, after which the water can be released into locations that may have delicate ecosystems. This means that the water must be treated in a way that is harmless to the ecosystem. The water can then be used to water locations such as a golf course, which is then naturally absorbed into the ecosystem later on.

Some of the more important reasons for tertiary treatment is really to be able to reuse and recycle the water. Although this may not always be possible through irrigation or other options, it is always possible to move the water to a location where the treated water can be recycled into the natural water supply once more. The process is generally very simple and makes it possible for much more to be done with waste water than ever before.

Why is it Important to Clean Waste Water Before it is Returned to Nature?

The importance of cleaning water before it is returned to nature is simple. When there is decaying matter in water, valuable oxygen is extracted from the water, which makes it difficult for fish and other organisms to live comfortably. The excessive nutrients serve as food for bacteria and algae, which will grow faster in the water. Chemicals that are left in the water could also inadvertently kill organisms that are beneficial to the water treatment process. There are various types of heavy metals in many water sources. By applying several processes, heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium can be removed from the water so that they do not pose as much danger to wildlife or humans.

Interesting Gray Water Uses

Companies are generally interested in entertaining their (potential) customers. They often use gray water in fountains and other aesthetically pleasing features. Although water is scarce, large scale work has been done on one of Las Vegas, Nevada’s most popular attractions on the strip. The Bellagio fountains, which are famous for their synchronized music routines and more, use gray water systems to keep the fountain filled with water without impeding on natural and other important water resources. A similar and spectacular use of this technology is in Dubai (United Arab Emirates). Gray water is recycled in a location that has a climate similar to Las Vegas, Nevada’s.