Effluent treatment plants are among the necessities of washing the water used by industries. A major duty of an ETP is to eliminate suspended solids from water. Suspended solids are very small particles that do not dissolve in water and once channeled into the rivers or lakes or the seas are dangerous. Suspended solids consist of particles of dust and debris such as organic materials as well as waste production from Industries. In this blog we will discuss How Suspended Solids Removed From Effluent Treatment Plant , why this process is carried out and the techniques used while handling it.
What are Suspended Solids?
These particles are light and do not settle in the water but remain suspended in water. Impurities in which the solid particles known as suspended solids make the water to appear to be cloudy. These are too small and tend to perch individually. If not treated, they tend to continue and continue.
Suspended solids may be made of:
1) Organic Matter: Fallen leaves, plants, and waste from animals.
2) Inorganic Matter: Soil, sand, and small fragments of metal or plastic.
3) Industrial Waste: Chemicals, by-products, and other wastes arising from industrial plants.
The necessity to remove suspended solids
Suspension solids need to be removed from the effluent for the following reasons:
1) Prevention of Water Pollution: When the solids have not been removed from water, pollution like the one that affects fish in water occurs.
2) To Maintain Good Quality Water: Domestic, Industrial, Agricultural and other uses such as in watering of crops demand good quality water.
3) Saves Human Health: The suspended solids in the untreated water samples retained dangerous bacteria and chemicals which are feared to affect human health.
4) Meets Environmental Standards: In recent years many governments have laid down standards to check the emission of pollutants in the atmosphere. Clearance of suspended solids makes sure that industries achieve norms.
Steps Involved in ETPs to Remove Suspended Solids
Different steps are employed by effluent treatment plants for removing suspended solids. Let’s see the primary steps involved:
A. Screening
Screening is the term given to the preliminary process of removing suspended solids. It uses physical barriers, like metal or plastic screens, to filter out large particles from the water.
- How It Works: Wastewater is passed through screened materials with holes or gaps. Large debris, including plastic bags, leaves, and sticks, get caught by the screen.
- Importance: Screening prevents large particles from entering the treatment process and clogging it.
B. Sedimentation
After screening, a process known as sedimentation is followed in the treatment of the water intended for consumption.
- How It Works: The water flows to a sedimentation tank. Since the tank is stationary, the heavier particles in the water, such as sand and soil, settle to the bottom of the tank over time.
- Significance: The sedimentation process allows the heavy particles in the water to be taken out, which will make it easier to handle during further operations.
C. Flocculation and Coagulation
For those particles that will not settle independently, ETPs make use of a process called flocculation and coagulation.
- How It Works: Coagulants are chemicals that can be added to the water, which cause small particles to clump together. This clumps of particles are called flocs. The flocs settle down once they become large enough, much like the sedimentation process.
- Importance: Flocculation and coagulation will be useful when removing very small-sized particles that would be hard to remove simply by the use of sedimentation.
D. Filtration
It doesn’t mean that the water is now totally pure. Very tiny particles are still there in it. Most of them are much too light to sink after the other coarse particles have sunk. The process applied here is filtration.
- How it works: Passing water over filters made up of materials like sand and gravel, catching fine particles. Pure water only passes through the filters.
- Importance: Filtration enables suspended solids of even the smallest size to be completely removed from the water, making it much cleaner.
E. Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF)
At times, the ETP uses a process called Dissolved Air Flotation which segregates the suspended solids. It undergoes the addition of air bubbles into the water which attach to the solids making them rise up to the surface.
- How It Works: Pressure is applied with air to the water. The suspended solids are attached to the air bubbles, which carry them upwards. The solids can be skimmed off the top of the water.
- Importance: DAF is very effective in removing oils, greases, and other light particles which do not settle easily.
Advantages of Suspended Solids Removal
Suspended solids removal from effluent has the following advantages:
1) Protection of Aquatic Life: Fresh water provides a means of living and survival of fish and other species.
2) Protection of Water Body: Aggressive forms of pollution can completely damage ecosystems and render drinking water sources bad.
3) Reuse of Water Treated: Water is reused in many industrial applications, irrigation, and even as a cooling system for factories.
4) Less Charges for Treatment: Properly treated effluent implies less burden to subsequent processes of water treatment.
5) Better Compliance with Environmental Laws: Suspended solids removal will thus ensure the industries meet environmental standards free from penalties.
Challenges in Suspended Solids Removal
Removal of suspended solids in the treatment of water is pertinent but has some challenges:
1) Higher Costs: It requires advanced equipment like filters and a DAF system that is expensive to purchase.
2) Maintenance Requirements: Screens, filters, and all equipment require regular maintenance to work effectively.
3) Chemical application: The coagulation and flocculation process requires addition of chemicals, which needs to be done in a controlled manner not to contribute to the secondary pollution.
4) Different types of effluent: The different industries produce different types of effluent. Even the types of suspended solids are different. The ETPs must have the flexibility and adequate techniques for each type of effluent.
Environmental Impact
When suspended solids are not removed from the effluent, the wastewater causes critical environmental problems.
1) Sedimentation in water bodies: If discharged to rivers and lakes, suspended solids settle at the bottom harming aquatic environments.
2) Oxygen depletion: Organic suspensions decompose and consume the oxygen dissolved in water. Fishes cannot live there as well as many other animals
3) Contamination of Source of Drinking Water: Suspension solids can enter sources of source drinking water, cause suspensions to render the water unsafe to drink.
Effluent treatment plants thus protect the environment while producing clean water for future generations by successfully removing suspended solids.
Conclusion
Suspended solids in industrial wastewater poses great danger to the environment, and removal of suspended solids is necessary for the latter. Removal of suspended solids involves various processes such as screening, sedimentation, flocculation, and filtration within an effluent treatment plant. So these are the factors where we can say that How Suspended Solids Removed From Effluent Treatment Plant.
Every single step has an important role in making the water cleaner and purer. It catches large debris in screens, uses air bubbles to lift little particles to the surface, every method helps reduce pollution and maintains our water body health.
Do you need an advice or assistance on selecting the best water and waste water treatment unit? We have solutions for all your problems!
Let us know your problem, our experts will make sure that it goes away.
For an assistance or related query,
Call on +91-965-060-8473
Or write us at enquiry@netsolwater.com
