Are there wastewater regulations to consider?
Removing micropollutants from water and wastewater is not only an environmental issue which could prevent damage to the environment but also a regulatory one.
Increasingly sensitive analytical techniques are enabling regulators to identify the presence of organic micropollutants in both water and wastewater.
Inadequately treated effluent containing organic micropollutants is causing environmental and public health concern on a global scale. Regulation states that when discharging to the sewer or the environment, levels of micropollutants must not breach specified limits and fines are issued when they do. As conventional wastewater treatment processes were not designed to remove organic micropollutants, they can persist treatment and residues are found in water bodies around the world.
Reusing water after micropollutant removal
Because freshwater scarcity is a worldwide issue, the amount of water being consumed in industrial processes is a huge problem and means it is becoming ever more important to reuse treated wastewater.
As the message about the importance of protecting water resources becomes more recognized, many organisations are turning to a more sustainable method of water use which includes reusing process water following treatment to reduce environmental impact and overheads.
From a cost perspective, the contribution to operational costs of using vast amounts of water in industrial processes is a huge driver in looking for alternative treatments which make water reuse more effective.
