Most of us have heard about it, but what is wastewater treatment exactly? Does it affect us, and if so, how? These are a few of the questions concerning what does wastewater treatment mean and its impact on our lives. If you drink water, take baths or showers, or use water to clean and do laundry, then wastewater treatment impacts your life.
What Is Waste Water Treatment?
If you are wondering what is wastewater treatment and if it matters to you, here are a few things you will want to know. And yes, it matters.
Pollution Control
Wastewater treatment is one of the most common forms of pollution control and one of the most important. Years ago, before most of us were here or can remember, streams, rivers, lakes, and other natural water sources would naturally handle and remove water waste. Today, our natural water systems can no longer keep up with the increasing population and the increased waste that accompanies population growth.
That is also where the process of wastewater treatment takes center stage. The answer to the question, what does wastewater treatment mean, might surprise you, because it isn’t necessarily about people or the techniques to remove waste from water.
So, what does wastewater treatment mean, and how does it work? The goal of wastewater treatment is to give nature a helping hand and to promote the natural process of removing waste from our water systems. Here are the basics.
Basic Steps of Wastewater Treatment
We have a massive system of collection sewers and drains, pumping stations, and treatment facilities. These systems collect wastewater from our homes, businesses, streets, and various industries. That water is then delivered to water treatment plants. Wastewater treatment is vital to ensuring the removal of contaminants, waste, and dangerous or unhealthy particles from our water supply.
Primary Treatment
When water enters wastewater treatment plants, screening is the first step in the wastewater treatment process. As water comes in, it passes through a screen that catches any large debris, waste, or other items.
From there, the water enters a grit chamber designed to gather and collect cinders, sand, and small stones that settle to the bottom. Once the grit is removed, the next step is eliminating the smaller contaminants and particles. The sedimentation tank collects these minute particles that are often used to create fertilizer or sent to landfill dumps.
Secondary Treatment
A tricking filter (typically a bed of stones) is used to complete the screening process. Additionally, another process, referred to as the activated sludge process, is applied before employing chlorine treatments to finish treating the water. This process removes about 99% of all contaminants, bacteria, and waste.
Gullett Sanitation Services, Inc.
If you need assistance with your aeration or jet aeration system, we can help. From helping clean sewer lines to transporting non-hazardous wastewater and sludge removal, we are here for all your water sanitation needs. Contact Gullett Sanitation Services to learn more or to schedule an appointment today.