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Industrial Wastewater 101: A Simple Explanation

It’s never been more essential to deal with the many dangerous polluting elements of our society. A good way to start being more environmentally friendly right away is to ensure that the industrial wastewater that is a by-product of our work operations is dealt with in a safe and effective way. Ensuring that this is cleaned efficiently means that our organisations not only do their bit for the environment, but they make sure that they stay within the legal regulations set out by the government around treatment of effluent.

Industrial wastewater comes in a number of forms, depending on what industry is producing it. From pharmaceuticals to food and beverage production, from chemical plants to the automotive industry, effluent is everywhere and it has never been more important to treat it properly.

Below, we’ll go into some details about what industrial wastewater is and how it is treated, so that you can better understand the process.

What is Wastewater?

Wastewater is not just one thing. It is water that has been impacted by use either commercially, domestically or, in our case, industrially. Industrial wastewater is the by-product of the water being used in a variety of industries. Because no two industries are alike, the contaminants in the water will be different depending on the sector. For this reason, treatment will vary depending on the specific need.

How is it Treated?

Effluent can be treated in a number of ways, depending on the nature of what contaminates it. A common starting point is to allow the water to settle until the larger components have settled at the bottom. These can then be separated from anything that floats on top. Taking away these two aspects of the effluent means the water is slightly cleaner than when it started!

Once that stage is complete, more biological factors can come into play. Bacteria can be used to remove contaminants that are not visible and therefore impervious to our human efforts. Other techniques that can get you to a clean finished process include filtration systems and treatment with disinfecting chemicals.

What are Some Types of Wastewater?

If you’re in the automotive or manufacturing industry, then your effluent may contain heavy metals. These are potentially very dangerous to life if released before cleaning, and can include lead, mercury and arsenic.

Agriculture, food production and a few other sectors might find that they are laden with water full of nitrogen. This can come from chemicals that are used in the processes of those businesses.

Oil is another type of contaminant that can be very tricky to treat. You can find this anywhere where fats and oils are used – including manufacture, meat processing and even restaurants.

Call in the Experts

Unlike other regulatory frameworks, the need to treat industrial wastewater safely and effectively is never something that you should attempt yourself. Even with the best will in the world, the processes are complex, sometimes dangerous and, if anything goes wrong, the results can be catastrophic. For this reason, rather than going with an unsafe DIY approach, it’s always advisable to call in a team of experts who have years of experience in the field and have worked treating effluent in a number of sectors. Their know-how will be invaluable to you and can ensure that your obligations are completely fulfilled.

Author Plate

Sean Clifford is an advisor at AllWater Technologies Ltd, a wholly independent company providing consultation and water treatment equipment to treat industrial wastewater, including reverse osmosis water systems. Bringing together a host of experience and specialist knowledge, the company is committed to building and maintaining long-term relationships and creating maximum value and benefit for their customers.