The pros and cons of using treated wastewater for drinking water and agriculture
Wastewater treatment is a process carried out to convert the wastewater into effluent without having negative effects on the environment. It has been practiced for a long time raising debates whether it is useful or not. There are several pros and cons of using treated water.
Pros
Wastewater contains arsenic a contaminant that would be ingested if not removed. Arsenic filtration and other forms of water treatment will ensure improved water quality safe for drinking, watering crops and cooking. Water treatment also guarantees health and general wellbeing of human being, animals and plants. Treated water also contains some nutrients in the form of nitrogen hence working better for crops.
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Cons
On the other hand, treated wastewater has some disadvantage to both agriculture and domestic consumption. Some form of water treatment uses chemicals hence having some side effect on the body and plants (Lema & Suárez, 2017). It is a costly process since expensive machinery, and chemical are used to re-purify the water filters used at home might manage to remove chlorine and other solid material like mercury and metal but fail to remove chemicals like pesticide. Taking such water may increase the risk of cancer.
Water treatment process
Stage one or screening stage is the first stage of wastewater treatment. This stage removes large objects that might destroy equipment. The second stage is also known as primary treatment. The second stage involves removal of organic solid matter from the wastewater. The third stage is also known as a secondary treatment where water is put into a rectangular tank also known as aeration lanes. Air is then pumped into the water to help bacterial to break down small parts of sludge that might have escaped the scrapping process. The fourth stage is also known as the final treatment is where the water goes through settlement tank. Sludge’s forms at the bottom if tank which is scraped and collected for treatment. The water is filtered through a wall to remove more particles. Water at this stage is safe for consumption (Stuetz, 2004).
Apart from drinking and watering crops, water treatment process can be carried out for other use like industrial water supply and water recreation. Boreholes are perfect alternative water solutions for areas heavily hit by drought. Various governments in places hit by drought have invested heavily in boreholes to provide water for drinking and agriculture (Kabisch, et al., 2017).
Reference
In Kabisch, N., In Korn, H., In Stadler, J., & In Bonn, A. (2017). Nature-based solutions to climate change adaptation in urban areas: Linkages between science, policy and practice .
In Lema, J. M., & In Suárez, S. (2017). Innovative wastewater treatment & resource recovery technologies: Impacts on energy, econom, and environment .
Stuetz, R. (2004). Principles of water and wastewater treatment processes . London: IWA Pub.
