Do Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) pollute water in some way?

When a property doesn't have a connection to the main sewer system, such as in rural areas or in caravan parks, sewage treatment plants are frequently erected and utilized. They offer a practical and sustainable method of wastewater disposal, which doesn't contaminate the soil or nearby rivers.

In particular, if only a basic treatment procedure is implemented, sewage treatment plants can have a considerable impact on the biotic condition of receiving waterways, and contribute to some water pollution. For instance, receiving water bodies can become eutrophicated, without nutrient removal in sewage treatment plants.

Let’s see whether STPs contribute to the pollution of water in one or the other way.

What does sewage treatment entail?

Any water used in a building or place of business that is considered wastewater includes, wastewater from sink, toilet, and drain water from the bathroom and kitchen.

A sewage treatment facility has two chambers that allow wastewater to be processed, before being released safely into a watercourse, a ditch, or a soakaway, in contrast to a septic tank that holds wastewater and needs to be emptied on a regular basis.

During this procedure, sewage is separated from the water by sludge and scum, when it enters the treatment facility's first chamber. Solids make up sludge, whereas fats and oils make up scum. The pump aerates the water, once it has entered the second chamber. This promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria, which destroy dangerous bacteria to produce clean water that may be disposed of.

Can a sewage treatment plant discharge its wastewater into a waterway?

Any channel, through which water flows, whether created by nature or by man, is considered a watercourse. This covers canals, lakes, estuaries, rivers, and streams. After going through a sewage treatment facility, wastewater is sufficiently clean to be released into a watercourse, without endangering the environment.

Can a sewage treatment plant release water into a ditch?

An alternate choice is to dump wastewater into a ditch after processing, if a sewage treatment facility is situated on a site, without simple access to a river or other waterway. Here, it will slowly seep into the soil.

A ditch, like the watercourse, offers a way to dispose of the water from a sewage treatment facility, without having to change the surrounding environment.

Can a sewage treatment plant release waste into a soakaway?

A soakaway, sometimes referred to as a drainage field, is a sizable pit or hole that is lined with attenuation crates or coarse stone. Its liner allows water to pass through and slowly seep into the earth.

Despite the fact that a sewage treatment plant can discharge its waste into a soakaway, these structures need a sizable amount of land and sufficient natural drainage. As a result, installing a drainage field could not always be an option, necessitating the discharge of sewage into a ditch or a river.

Conclusion

Regrettably, sewage has mostly harmful consequences on the environment. Before it can be properly disposed of—typically into the ocean—it must be properly treated. There are, however, issues. Sewage that hasn't been fully treated before being dumped can contaminate water, and destroy a lot of species.

Consult with the experts!

At Netsol Water, we specialise in providing safe and dependable sewage treatment plants to assist our customers, with the processing and disposal of wastewater. Call our experts at +91 9650608473 for more information, or send us a message to start your inquiry.