Wastewater treatment has become a critical topic of discussion in the global and national arena. Both governments and private corporations work hand in hand to find a sustainable approach to recycling and reusing water. According to data from the United Nations, nearly 80% of wastewater from homes, industries, cities, and agriculture flow back into the water cycle via rivers, lakes, and other natural bodies. This process is repeated million times worldwide, every day polluting the groundwater table and losing minerals and nutrients in the process.
One of the targets in the UN’s Agenda for Sustainable Development by 2030 is to reduce the proportion of untreated wastewater by half and increase safe water reuse. Though often taken for granted, potable water is a finite natural resource, and wastewater treatment is the need of the hour. It’s high time that governments, businesses, and the general public take a commitment to recycle and reuse wastewater to make a difference.
Thankfully, a vast number of corporations and governments have started taking wastewater treatment seriously, and wastewater plants are now a critical component across all industrial sectors.
In today’s post, Sintech, a leading manufacturer of water pumps in India, highlights the different wastewater types. Only when we understand the terminologies, it’s possible to choose the right mode of wastewater treatment.
What is wastewater?
Generally speaking, wastewater is defined as any water that has met its intended purpose. Wastewater is created by individuals, businesses, agricultural practices like farming, and industrial processes like manufacturing. Depending on the source of wastewater, it can be classified into various types.
Two Broad Classifications of Wastewater
Wastewater can be broadly classified into two categories – sewage and non-sewage. Let’s take a closer look at each of these categories:
Sewage
Sewage is any wastewater that contains urine and faeces. It is generated via domestic activities. It refers to the toilet and bathroom water from houses, toilets, schools, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and other places.
Non-sewage
All other types of wastewater are referred to as non-sewage. It includes industrial wastewater, rainwater, storm-water, water from washing vessels, clothes, etc. It doesn’t contain human wastes and other harmful pathogens.
Wastewater Classification Based on Usage
Wastewater can also be further divided into three subcategories based on the source of generation. They are:
Blackwater
It refers to wastewater from toilets, bathrooms, dishwashers, kitchen sinks, and washing machines. It contains urine, faeces, toilet paper, discarded food particles, and other household cleaning agents. This water is highly contaminated and is brimming with disease-causing pathogens. Hence, the name Blackwater.
Greywater
In the simplest of terms, greywater refers to blackwater minus human contaminants. It’s wastewater that doesn’t contain urine, faecal matter, and food waste. Generally, water from washing machines and other regular household cleanings (minus bathroom and toilet) water is greywater. Water generated from industrial plants is also greywater. Though greywater contains chemicals and other harmful liquids, it’s more suitable for recycling and wastewater treatment. It doesn’t have any pathogens, thereby making it more ideal for treatment.
Yellow water
This is generally pure urine. It is urine that is collected from specific sources. It doesn’t contain faecal matter, chemicals, food particles, or other contaminants.
Final Thoughts
As mentioned above, water is a finite resource, and it has to be recycled and reused for a sustainable future. Mindless usage of water will deplete our precious water resources faster than ever before. The good news here is that wastewater has become a topic of global discussion. Governments, private organisations, companies, and the general public are invested in building efficient wastewater treatment plants.
At Sintech, we do our tiny bit for the planet by investing heaving in building energy-efficient and powerful pumps for desalination plants and other wastewater treatment plants. Our pumps are designed to help industries recycle and reuse the wastewater generated efficiently. For more information on the types of wastewater pumps we offer, get in touch with our friendly team.
Let’s work together to build a sustainable future for our future generations!