We might think about wastewater for a few seconds every year. A brief question of wondering where all the water goes when we drain the bath or do the dishes, but the answer is a lot more interesting than that. You see, wastewater goes through a whole treatment process before it can be released back into the environment and it’s absolutely essential.
But why is it so important that wastewater is actually treated before it goes back out into the world? In short, it contains toxins that are dangerous for both humans and animals, which means it needs to be cleaned and made safe before it can be discharged. In this guide, we take you through the details so that you can learn more about why this process is vital.
Protecting Humans and the Environment
Wastewater contains toxins that are harmful to humans as well as ecosystems, and this is what makes the purification process so important. With regards to human health, unclean water poses a number of serious health risks which is why sewage treatment systems are commonly seen across the developed world.
90% of unclean water deaths are seen in developing countries, which are slowly having wastewater treatment systems installed to better the quality of life there. In fact, the number of people who die as a result of unclean water is a staggering 1.7 million each year. The most common diseases caused by untreated water are cholera and schistosomiasis.
These illnesses are widespread in the developing world and pose a serious risk to life and wellbeing, which is why it is so important that we continue working on better treatment systems in these countries. In these countries, less than 5% of urban and domestic wastewater is actually treated before it is released into the environment.
In addition to protecting humans, wastewater treatment also protects ecosystems. This is because fish and other forms of aquatic life require water that is fresh and clean in order to live and thrive. Aquatic environments that become overwhelmed with untreated wastewater turn into hostile environments in which the aquatic life cannot survive.
Chemicals, such as nitrogen and phosphates, are found in untreated wastewater and if too much of this enters the environment it causes excessive plant growth that releases toxins into the water. This then leads to oxygen depletion and dead zones in the water, meaning that fish and other aquatic life cannot exist there.
Normally, this happens in rivers, streams, and other large bodies of water where wastewater is released back into the environment. However, the wastewater in the developed world has usually been thoroughly treated and is safe to go back into these waters. This is why the treatment process is so important.
Growing Populations Put a Strain on Natural Purification
Nature is capable of treating and purifying water itself, and it has done so for millennia. While it is true that nature does its best to process untreated wastewater, we have to take the ever-growing human population into account. An increasing number of humans means that there is added strain on nature in general – not including the amount of wastewater.
As a result of the massive human population, nature is not able to keep up with purification demands. If all wastewater was left untreated it would have catastrophic consequences. This is why sewage treatment plants are so essential, it takes some of the strain off nature and ensures we aren’t causing further damage to ecosystems.
Installing Wastewater Treatment Systems
While most homes and businesses are connected to the mainline sewer systems and so don’t need to worry about wastewater treatment, this is not the case for everyone. When this happens, you’re likely to need a wastewater treatment system installed – this works like a much more advanced version of your septic tank.
With Filta, you get an advanced and high-quality sewage treatment pumping system that is made with the best components and receives regular maintenance and inspection to ensure everything is working as needed.
To Conclude
As you can see, wastewater treatment really is an essential process. Without it, dangerous toxins would be entering the environment and pose a massive risk to human and aquatic health. Thanks to the continued efforts of sewage treatment solutions, developed countries don’t see these issues and it’s something that is constantly improving in the developing world.
At Filta, we can help you with any wastewater treatment solutions you may need, and we know that it can be hard for homes or businesses that cannot connect to the mainline sewer system. Get in touch, we’d love to help.
Read More Become the No. 1 Wrestler choose champion Belt .
