Water recycling

Water recycling

Water recycling, apart from rain water harvesting, is also one of the key strategies to conserve water. Water recycling is reusing treated wastewater for beneficial purposes such as agricultural and landscape irrigation, industrial processes, flushing in toilets and ground water recharge.

1. Water recycling stages

Conventional waste water treatment consists of a combination of physical, chemical and biological processes which remove solids, organic matter and nutrients from waste water. The waste water treatment involves the following stages:

Primary treatment

Primary treatment involves temporary holding of the waste water in a tank. The heavy solids get settled at the bottom while oil, grease and lighter solids float over the surface. The settled and floating materials are removed. The remaining liquid may be sent for secondary treatment.

Secondary treatment

Secondary treatment is used to remove the biodegradable dissolved organic matter. This is performed in the presence of oxygen by aerobic microorganisms (Biological oxidation). The microorganisms must be separated from treated waste water by sedimentation. After separating the sediments of biological solids, the remaining liquid is discharged for tertiary treatment.

Tertiary treatment

Tertiary or advanced treatment is the final step of sewage treatment. It involves removal of inorganic constituents such as nitrogen, phosphorus and microorganisms. The fine colloidal particles in the sewage water are precipitated by adding chemical coagulants like alum or ferric sulphate.

2. Uses for recycled water

·           Agriculture

·           Landscape

·           Public parks

·           Golf course irrigation

·           Cooling water for power plants and oil refineries

·           Toilet flushing

·           Dust control

·           Construction activities