Wastewater is water that is contaminated through use, most often because of human consumption or a process that is human-derived.
A good example of wastewater is sewage which flows from your property to the sewer system. Another example is the water used in automotive finishing processes. All this water is wastewater because it has been used.
Most of the water we use ends up in a water treatment plant providing the water flows into a sewer system or is collected and delivered to water treatment plants.
The purpose of water recycling is to return water to a specified quality so that it can be returned to the environment or reused.
As the world battles with climate change and the social and environmental problems brought about by it, wastewater is an area where big differences can be made. Here’s why the world needs to recycle its wastewater:
1. It cleans up the environment
It is estimated that 80% of the world’s wastewater is released back into the environment untreated. This means untreated water is being discharged into our oceans, rivers, lakes and even our water supply lines without adequate recycling.
This widespread problem is bad for the environment and our health. By recycling wastewater properly, we can reduce pollution and our impact on the planet by discharging less untreated water. This is good for all ecosystems.
2. It’s essential for public health
Water can carry bacteria, viruses, diseases and organic compounds that are hazardous or fatal to our health. In some underdeveloped countries, such as Africa, people are forced to drink contaminated water that is potentially lethal.
In the UK and much of Europe, we are lucky to have clean drinking water. However, this is only possible with the correct water treatment. Water treatment processes are essential for us to recycle wastewater to drinkable quality.
3. It reduces demands on freshwater supply
Freshwater is naturally-occurring water, like the water in lakes and ponds. Agriculture is one of the biggest consumers of freshwater for things like irrigation.
Although using freshwater is not a bad thing in isolation, the supply is not unlimited and removing water from the environment can be bad for local ecosystems. It’s also unneeded if there’s a sufficient supply of recycled water.
Using recycled water is a good thing in areas that are prone to water scarcity and in seasons when droughts are common, like summer.
4. It reduces the need for water transportation
Most industrial and agricultural processes are extremely water-intensive, yet many businesses choose to have wastewater treated externally.
If your business uses a lot of water then you might like to consider recycling wastewater onsite. This will slash your carbon footprint by eliminating the need to have wastewater transported to offsite facilities and reducing the frequency of new water deliveries. You will also save money on transportation and disposal costs.
Onsite recycling is not only better for the environment, but it can pay for itself in the medium to long-term.
We are market leaders in technology for water recycling and we provide financial flexibility packages to smooth out your investment. Feel free to contact us for advice and a chat about your water recycling requirements.