Ways your wastewater treatment plant can reduce its environmental impact
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The environmental impact of a wastewater treatment plant not working to its optimum can be huge. Here, we look at how a treatment plant can reduce the impact of your business on the environment:
Protecting our waterways
Whilst there is a statutory imperative for proper wastewater treatment, with often heavy penalties for failure to do so, the environmental impact of untreated or poorly treated wastewater can be huge.
Wastewater produced by industrial processes can contain sludge, oil or grease, organic material, toxic chemicals and harmful heavy metals.
If these pollutants are released into the water system, they can have a catastrophic impact on rivers, lakes and oceans.
An effective wastewater treatment plant will ensure that harmful substances are removed, thereby safeguarding waterways and preventing environmental damage.
Water conservation and reuse
As highlighted in a previous blog, wastewater treatment plants have an important role to play in conserving water.
By allowing water recirculation and reduce within industrial processes, wastewater treatment plants can reduce industrial demand for freshwater whilst also minimising the amount of wastewater that must be treated and discharged.
In doing so, businesses can reduce their environmental impact whilst also conserving water for future generations.
Reducing carbon emissions and increasing energy efficiency
Existing wastewater treatment plants can be retrofitted with new technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote energy efficiency.
For example, adding a combined heat and power system (also known as CHP) will allow w treatment plants to use the biogas produced to create energy.
By generating heat and power simultaneously, CHP can reduce carbon emissions by up to 30%, whilst saving around 20% on energy bills.
If CHP isn’t a viable option, it is still possible to reduce the environmental impact of your business by adding energy efficient equipment.
Looking to the future
Legislation regarding the environmental impact of industrial wastewater will likely become stricter, with compliance for the removal of heavy metals already set to become stricter.
Therefore, if your business has wastewater treatment plant it is well worth considering how it can operate more sustainably in the future.
Reduce the environmental impact of your wastewater treatment plant with Aqua Advice
As industrial wastewater treatment experts, Aqua Advice can assess your treatment processes and advise on any upgrades or replacement plants that are required.
Working with our partner in the wastewater treatment technology industry, we can then deliver bespoke treatment solutions that will minimise your impact on the environment and ensure your plant is running as efficiently as possible.
Get in touch today to discuss what we can do for you.