“If you define the problem correctly, you almost have the solution.”
– Steve jobs
Before we move forward, we need to understand the meaning of sewage treatment plantwater. A STP plant
is a process of removing contaminants present in the wastewater. Sewage
water is released from households and industries. It contains a high
amount of organic and inorganic matter. Therefore, it needs to be
treated before it is discharged into the environment.
Sewage treatment plants include various biological,
chemical, and physical processes to remove the contaminants and produce
environmentally safe treated wastewater. The treated water from sewage
can be utilized for various purposes. Various purposes include landscape
irrigation, car washing, and flushing. The advantage of doing this is
to reduce the consumption of freshwater.
But it should be kept in mind that the wastewater must be treated
properly. Otherwise, it will do more harm than good. The idea behind
this is very simple. The sewage waste water contains
organic and inorganic matter such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and
biological impurities, which are very harmful. High salinity levels are
detrimental to irrigation and gardening. It promotes water retention and
affects the growth of plants. It is associated with promoting
corrosion.
In STP, pH, organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus are treated. Total dissolved solids,
i.e., the salinity of the soil, are not treated. Therefore, to achieve
clarity, the treated water needs to pass through the disinfection unit.
Chlorine or ozone is very effective for killing bacteria.
Therefore, the water needs to be treated properly, and it must be clear,
colorless, odorless, and free of suspended material. Apart from this,
it should also be pH neutral, meaning thereby its pH should be in the
range of 6.5- 8.5. If treated sewage water is used for irrigation
purposes, it can considerably prove beneficial to the plant’s health and
soil quality. It can also decrease the necessity of using fertilizers.
It improves the physical properties and nutrient content in soils.
Overall, properly treated sewage water is extremely useful for
irrigation and gardening purposes since it helps improve the health of
plants and soil.
Apart from gardening, it can also be used in the process of flushing
after proper treatment. Otherwise it will damage the metallic mechanism
of flush tanks and reduce the metallic life of metallic pipes.
Therefore, an even RO system will be required to treat
the STP water. A simple thing to remember is to treat the water before
reusing or recycling it. Reusing and recycling are good and conservative
steps towards the environment. But, precautions are needed to avoid the
problems faced if it’s not treated well.
