In every country around the world, there is a significant need for effective water treatment and management facilities. Water is one of the planet’s most vital natural resources, and the global population needs access to clean and safe drinking water to survive. In addition, high volumes of water are used for irrigation in the agricultural sector, and many factories rely on clean and safe water supplies in the production of their goods.
In most residential areas, water treatment plants will be used to supply citizens with water that is fit for drinking and use in cooking. These plants take water from river supplies and undertake various processes to remove contaminants and any other undesirable substances from the water before it is supplied for home use. In this article, three key developments that have helped to shape the modern water treatment industry will be discussed.
Secondary sedimentation processes
Modern water treatment plants use a process called sedimentation to purify the water and make it safe for human consumption or industrial use. Sedimentation is where suspended solid particles and debris are removed from the supply. However, this is only the first step in the purification process. Today, most water treatment plants will use an additional process called secondary sedimentation. At this stage of the purification and treatment process, smaller particles that have not been able to be removed in the first stage will be taken out of the water supply. This is a vital stage when treating flood water as it ensures that microscopic particles that are not visible to the human eye are removed from the water.
Water treatment facilities commonly use a range of sedimentation tanks to achieve these processes. You can read more in-depth information on how they work by clicking here.
The reuse of wastewater
Traditionally, wastewater was taken from residential and industrial sources and treated before being released back into watercourses. However, in an age where environmental sustainability and the need to minimize waste processes are becoming more prominent, there are emerging new solutions for this wastewater. It is recognized that wastewater and the residual sludge may contain a range of valuable chemicals such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients that may be used in other parts of the economy (for example, nitrogen can be used in the agricultural industry in the production of fertilizers). By harvesting and reusing these chemicals, a more sustainable future can be assured in the water treatment industry.
Smart technology to monitor leaks
As part of a wider water treatment and management plan, it is vital to take steps that minimize the loss of water from commercial pipes that supply industry and homes. Leaking supply pipes can result in millions of gallons of water being lost from the wider supply each year and can be an extremely wasteful and costly practice. However, in recent years, the water industry has adopted new technology to pinpoint leaks and minimize wasted water. One example is the use of drones by water companies. These commercial drones are fitted with thermal imaging devices to identify the source of leaks. In addition, satellite technology may be used for identifying leaks across a large geographical area or region.