Future of Wastewater Management -The Changing Paradigms
of the Wastewater IndustryKenneth J. Williamson School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering
School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering
Paradigms
• Paradigm: typical example, model that forms a basis or conceptual framework
School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering
Operating Paradigms
• Wastewater should be managed separately from the rest of a city’s public works • Large treatment systems are better than smaller ones • Large reactors are better than smaller ones • Storm runoff should be removed rapidly • Wastewaters should be disposed into surface waters
School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering
Topics
• • • • • • • Sustainability Water Recycling,Reuse,Reclamation Biomimicry/Biotechnology Wastewater and Stormwater Infiltration/Injection Trace, Persistent and Emerging Contaminants Stormwater Effluents and Permits Residuals
School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering
Sustainability
•Reduce Energy •Reduce Costs •Reduce Water Use •Reduce Residuals Sustainability efforts will want to close the loops.
Wastewater treatment needs to be an integral part of a community’s sustainability plans
School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering
Living Buildings
• • • • • • • Major Challenges: No “greenfield” land use Habitat exchange Net zero water Net zero energy Avoids certain chemicals, “red list” Local use of materials
School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering
Water Recycling, Reuse, Reclamation
Nutrient Removal
• Residual nitrogen/phosphorus • Bioavailability/ecosystem impacts
Polishing
• Mixing zones • Advanced oxidation (uv, ozone, hydrogen peroxide) • Membrane technologies
Social Issues
Water=food=life
School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering
Biomimicry/Biotechnology
• Wastewater treatment will need to make full use of biotechnology – Special bioprocesses/small reactors – Mimic the natural cycle of carbon to soils/sediments; pathogen issues – Biowastes to products – Energy from microbial fuel cells – Biological sensors
School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering
Wastewater Infiltration/Injection
Polish effluents by infiltration/injection with bioremediation-biomimicry
– Engineered recirculation groundwater reactors – Stable biofilms – Co-metabolic processes – Phytoremediation – Temperature reduction
School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering
Trace, Persistent and Emerging Contaminants
• Issues with trace toxicants, persistent organic pollutants, emerging contaminants • Fish consumption values for specific human populations/WQS • Limitations of epidemiological studies
School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering
Stormwater Effluents and Permits
• 70% of surface water pollutants are attributed to stormwater runoff • Recent lawsuits will move stormwater discharges to specified limits/ quantitative permits • Better monitoring methods • Technologies for distributed treatment • Improved public involvment
School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering
Residuals/Biosolids
• Use of toxics reduction programs • Improved reductions of pathogens • Integration into bioproducts industries • Significantly improved risk analysis and communication
School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering
Emerging New Paradigms
• Wastewater needs to be integrated with all of the city’s activities including sustainability plans • Treatment systems will become much more decentralized • Future treatment will involve more small, manufactured reactors • Stormwater should be retained, reduced and recycled • Wastewaters/stormwaters will be increasing treated and infiltrated/recycled
School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering
What does this mean for you?
1. Syst appr em oach 2. r ercolabor i G eat l aton 3. r com pl t G eat exiy 4.ncr I eased oppor unii t tes
School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering