Finding the optimal wastewater management technique

In its “Emerging Technologies for Wastewater Treatment and In-Plant Wet Weather Management” report, the Environmental Protection Agency lists more than 60 technologies that range in maturity from the research phase to an established process. Many of these processes are described to be in adaptive use, meaning they are continuously evolving and transforming.

The first step in understanding wastewater treatment needs is to ensure a thorough understanding of federal and local regulations as they relate to permissible levels of pollutants in effluent. Some organizations may decide to treat their wastewater to higher levels than required to anticipate increasing stringency in regulations, reduce their environmental impact or comply with societal expectations for minimizing the effect of industrial processes.

Understanding which technology or process is best suited for your facility, operational requirements and wastewater characteristics needs to be evaluated to determine the technology that will achieve the necessary results and provide added benefits to the organization such as producing energy in the form of biogas, minimizing the footprint of wastewater treatment facilities or reducing maintenance requirements.

Wastewater management is a rapidly growing and evolving field — as our understanding of the effects of pollutants on our atmosphere grows and technology improves, the number of options and level of sophistication in wastewater management techniques increases. Effective wastewater management should prioritize identifying solutions that ensure environmental responsibility, benefit businesses and improve health to create the products and energy the world relies on. (责任编辑：Alice Lee)