Hazards and Treatment of Wastewater Contaminants (eBook)

Dipika Jaspal, Arti Malviya (Autoren)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025
676 Seiten
Wiley (Verlag)
978-1-394-21736-6 (ISBN)

Infos

OVERVIEW OF THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF POSSIBLE CONTAMINANTS IN WASTEWATER WITH INFORMATION ON TREATMENT METHODS FOR EACH CONTAMINANT

Hazards and Treatment of Wastewater Contaminants presents the gist of extensive research that is being carried out on several contaminants, which pose a threat to the environment and living organisms.

In Hazards and Treatment of Wastewater Contaminants, readers will find:

• Insights on the connection between water quality and water body deterioration
• Chapter-by-chapter discussion on different categories of possible contaminants in wastewater and different treatment methods used
• Information on specific contaminants such as dyes, pesticides, oil, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, etc. that can render wastewater unsuitable for reuse
• Studies giving due emphasis to incorporating novel methods and integrating different techniques and materials for wastewater treatment

Hazards and Treatment of Wastewater Contaminants serves as an excellent reference for professionals, researchers, and students in the fields of environmental science, chemical and civil engineering.

DIPIKA JASPAL, PHD, served as a Professor and Researcher in the Department of Applied Science, Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, Maharashtra, India. Dr. Jaspal has more than 19 years of teaching and research experience.

ARTI MALVIYA, PHD, has over 14 years of professional experience in research and teaching. Currently, Dr. Malviya is working as a Professor in one of the most reputed colleges of India, Lakshmi Narain College of Technology, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

Textauszug

Chapter 1
Introduction

Water is an important life-sustaining commodity. It is fundamental for the ecosystem, agriculture, industries, and living organisms. The availability of clean water for drinking and several other purposes is, however, declining due to mounting industrialization, population growth, land development, urbanization, and pollution. The uncertainties expressed due to climatic changes further pose a threat to the availability of usable water for almost 80% of the world’s population [1, 2]. As per a report published by UNESCO, approximately 26% of the population globally has no access to safe drinking water, which poses a threat to livelihood. Also, only 10% of the wastewater is being treated for reuse and making it safe.

Although water is being replenished every year naturally through the hydrological cycle, due to the continuous increase in population and industrialization, there has been a competition for pure and clean water. The management of water demand without any change in the supply will be the key to effective water management. Industrialization is a vital element in the growth of the economy. However, industrialization has been one of the prominent and instrumental factors contributing to the deterioration of the available water bodies. Industries such as the paper industry, textile, iron and steel, tannery, and distillery are the prominent contributors. Although the discharge limits of different components in wastewater are in place, several industries tend to directly discharge their wastes into the water streams and water bodies without treatment. Several components, ranging from colorants to heavy metals, are being let into the water bodies [3]. Some constituents in the industrial effluents can be easily treated with the conventional treatment facilities, but some components, such as oils, fats, heavy metals, etc., need special treatment [4].

1.1 Water Pollution: A Global Concern – Facts and Figures

There has been deterioration in the quality of water available in the water streams and water bodies, due to the influx of chemicals and contaminants from the industries, agriculture, domestic, and commercial places. The consumption of unsafe drinking water leads to the death of almost 829000 people every year. Several diseases, such as diarrhea, cholera, gastrointestinal diseases, etc., are caused [5]. In addition to the mentioned several skin diseases, allergies [6] and even cancer [7] are also witnessed after coming in contact with polluted and contaminated water. Polluted water not only has harmful implications for human life, but the aquatic flora and fauna are also equally affected by its impacts. The oxygen level in the water bodies reduces substantially, posing a threat to the different varieties of fish in the water, degrading their ability to reproduce. Further, the pollutants harm the gills, epithelial layer, reduce metabolism, and cause several diseases [8]. Some toxic substances, such as mercury, can be converted into more toxic forms, such as methyl mercury, due to the action of the microbes in the water bodies. Some aquatic organisms can further amplify the concentration of several toxicants without any harm to them. Many histological changes which appear in the bodies of fish can be correlated directly to the level of contaminants in the water bodies, thus serving as biomarkers of pollution [9]. Another harmful effect of water pollution is the retarding light penetration, limiting the photosynthetic activity, leading to an improper growth of the aquatic flora [10].

Considering the adverse effects of water pollution, there has been a shift in the focus of different policies in the current scenario. Focus is now also being laid on providing clean water by setting goals and adopting different measures. Water quality problems are generally unaddressed, especially in countries of Asia and Africa, owing to poor wastewater management. According to a report by the United Nations, in case we do not work toward controlling water quality, this would pose a risk to the well-being of around 4.8 billion people around the globe by 2030 [11].

1.1.1 Sustainable Development Goals

Unavailability of clean drinking water is a concern across the globe, and measures are to be taken to make clean water available to the population, ensuring enhanced human health. One of the main agendas brought to the forefront for international action in the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is water quality. The demand for safe and clean water is increasing in domestic, industrial, and agricultural sectors due to an increase in the population. Setting international goals in the SDGs is a clear indication of the pressing need for water quality management. Access to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation has been identified as a human right by the United Nations General Assembly in 2010. Goal 6 in the SDGs is dedicated to clean water and sanitation. The target points under goal 6 [11] are:

1. 6.1 Having affordable and safe drinking water for all by 2030, and having universal and equitable access.
2. 6.2 To have adequate and equitable hygiene and sanitation for all, ending open defecation, with special attention to females and those in vulnerable situations, by 2030.
3. 6.3 Reducing pollution and minimizing release of hazardous materials and chemicals. It aims to increase recycling and safe reuse of wastewater globally by 2030.
4. 6.4 Increasing water-use efficiency by 2030 across all sectors, making sure that the withdrawals are sustainable, addressing the scarcity of freshwater, and reducing the number of affected people from water scarcity.

As per the data by the United Nations, UN water, the level of global water stress in the last year 2020 is shown in Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1 Regions of water stress globally. Adapted from UN-Water https://sdg6data.org.

The region-wise water stress is depicted in Figure 1.2.

1. 6.5 Implementation of water resources management at all levels, by 2030, incorporating appropriate trans boundary cooperation by 2030.
2. 6.6 Restoring and protecting water-related ecosystems, by 2020, including forests, mountains, rivers, wetlands, lakes, and aquifers.
3. 6.7 To expand international cooperation for developing countries, along with capacity-building support, sanitation, and water-related programs and activities by 2030, including water efficiency, wastewater treatment, water harvesting, desalination, reuse, and recycling technologies.
4. 6.8 Strengthening and supporting the participation of local communities in the improvement of sanitation and water management.

Figure 1.2 Regions of maximum freshwater withdrawal in proportion to the available water resources. Adapted from UN-Water https://sdg6data.org.

1.1.2 Climate Change and Water Stress

The changes in the overall climatic patterns have substantial implications for the water resources. The rate of water evaporation, uncertainty in rainfall, scarcity of rainfall and its excess, increased temperature of water bodies affecting aquatic life, along with the physical and economic consequences, cannot be ignored. The United Nations experts mention that there is a 20% drop in the water resources which are renewable for every 1 °C increase in the average temperature of the globe. This intensifies the problem of water crises in the regions which are already under stress. For these regions under water stress, agriculture further becomes a concern due to unpredictable climate and rainfall. In these regions, unpredictable and uncertain changes in the climate also lead to floods in certain regions, which sweep off the beneficial topsoil and components, which can clog the water treatment facilities. Due to increased global temperature, soil moisture decreases, which is necessary for plant growth and controlling droughts. The winter precipitation also increases. Further, an increased water temperature affects the decomposition of the organic matter, thereby affecting the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water bodies. The quality of water in the water bodies is thus affected, inhibiting its use and posing a greater pressure on the existing and available clean water sources. There is an increase in the sea level, which leads to an intrusion of salt into the groundwater, thereby affecting the freshwater sources affecting coastal water supply. Events of high-intensity rainfall also adversely affect the water quality, as these lead to increased runoff and erosion.

It thus becomes crucial to protect existing water resources as well as to follow a wastewater management approach, by collecting, treating, and reusing wastewater. An effective wastewater management system aims at treating and managing wastewater for nonpotable utilization. It also intends to combat pollution and damage to the environment, sustenance of the water table and water bodies.

1.1.3 Wastewater and Its Types

Wastewater can be, in general, be classified into two main types: nonsewage and sewage wastewater. Water discharged from domestic and household activities is placed under sewage water. It is the wastewater coming from the sanitary facilities, houses, educational institutes, hotels, hospitals, public places, etc. It mainly comprises of urine and feces. On the other hand, the wastewater generated from all the nondomestic or commercial places and water processing activities carried out in the industries is nonsewage...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 16.12.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Chemie
• Schlagworte: Contaminants • Dyes • Hazards • Heavy metals • Microplastics • Oil Spill • Pesticides • pharmaceuticals • wastewater • Wastewater Treatment • water contamination • Water Quality Deterioration
• ISBN-10: 1-394-21736-6 / 1394217366
• ISBN-13: 978-1-394-21736-6 / 9781394217366