Mitigation Measures for Water pollution

Contamination due to industries

Mitigation aims at preventing adverse impacts from happening
and keeping those that do occur within acceptable levels.
Aims of Mitigation
• Developing measures to avoid, reduce, remedy or
compensate significant adverse impacts of development
proposals on environment and society;
• Enhancing beneficial effects and lower costs for
environmental protection and conservation of natural
resources as an outcome of development where possible;
and
• Fostering better opportunities for business through positive
outcomes for environmental conservation, sustainable
livelihoods and human well being.
 Mitigation Measures for Water pollution
Contamination due to industries
 Conjunctive use of ground/surface water, to prevent
flooding/water logging/depletion of water resources.
Included are land use pattern, land filling,
lagoon/reservoir/garland canal construction, and rainwater
harvesting and pumping rate.
 Stormwater drainage system to collect surface runoff
 Minimise flow variation from the mean flow
 Storing of oil wastes in lagoons should be minimised in
order to avoid possible contamination of the ground water
system.
 All effluents containing acid/alkali/organic/toxic wastes
should be properly treated.
 Monitoring of ground waters
 Use of biodegradable or otherwise readily treatable
additives
 Mitigation Measures for Water
pollution Contamination due to
industries
 Neutralization and sedimentation of wastewaters, where applicable
 Dewatering of sludges and appropriate disposal of solids
 In case of oil waste, oil separation before treatment and discharge into
the environment
 By controlling discharge of sanitary sewage and industrial waste into the
environment
 By avoiding the activities that increases erosion or that contributes
nutrients to water (thus stimulating alga growth)
 For wastes containing high TDS, treatment methods include removal of
liquid and disposal of residue by controlled landfilling to avoid any
possible leaching of the fills
 All surface runoffs around mines or quarries should be collected treated
and disposed.
 Treated wastewater (such as sewage, industrial wastes, or stored surface
runoffs) can be used as cooling water makeup.
 Mitigation Measures for Water
pollution Contamination due to
industries
Wastewater carrying radioactive elements
should be treated separately by means of de-
watering procedures, and solids or brine
should be disposed of with special care.
Develop spill prevention plans in case of
chemical discharges and spills
Develop traps and containment system and
chemically treat discharges on site
What happens when wastewater is discharges in
natural environment ?
Pollutants undergo different processes:
Transport
Advection, Diffusion, Dispersion, Leaching
Phase Transfer / Relocation
Sorption‐desorption, Volatilization
Transformation / Degradation
Biotic, Abiotic and Photo degradation
Treatment of Industrial wastewater
 Popular Treatment Systems for
Wastewater Treatment
Biological low‐rate systems (“natural” systems):
 Constructed wetlands, vertical soil filters, soil infiltration
 Ponds
 Septic tank or UASB plus sand filters
 Biological high‐rate systems (with biofilms)
 Activated Sludge Processes
 Trickling filters
 Rotating biological contactors (RBC)
 Membrane treatment:
 Membrane bioreactor (MBR) (also a biological high‐rate system)
 Nano‐filtration, ultra‐filtration
 Reverse osmosis
 Treatment Philosophy
Treat only to desired degree based on reuse application
 Standalone units are often insufficient or highly
uneconomic, so a combination of units must be used in
the most cost effective manner to achieve the treatment
targets.
Technical feasibility
vs
Financial viability
vs
Environmental sustainability
vs
Social acceptability
 Challenges and Risks in Wastewater
Recycling
The trend of water reuse shows an increasing quantity of reclaimed water use
around the globe; however, certain challenges exist affecting its universal
applications.
 Complicacy:
Reclaimed water use is far more complicated than using conventional
water resources.
 Technical Competence:
The high degree of technical competence is needed for wastewater
recycling than conventional water uses.
 Higher Cost:
Water recycling typically has higher costs than using conventional
water.
 System Reliability:
Ensuring reliability is must for wastewater treatment facilities
targeting water recycling.
 Challenges and Risks in Wastewater
Recycling
Reclaimed water of any quality can be produced, resulting in risk reduction by
using available technologies if financial resources are adequate. However,
there are several other challenges that needs to be overcome for successful
adaptation of wastewater recycling programmes, including:
Social Acceptability:
There is public perception (stigma) that recycled water can pose a
significant human
health risk.
Trade Barriers:
Possibility of trade barriers, especially for food products grown using
reused water.
Political Constraints:
Lack of political motivations is one of the major hurdles in
wastewater recycling.
 Research Trends in Wastewater
Treatment and Recycling
 Water Reclamation And Reuse
Intensive research focus on reusing treated
wastewater effluent for both drinking water (direct
potable reuse and indirect potable reuse) and industrial
applications.
 Fit‐for‐Purpose Water Reuse
Identifying the cost‐effective treatment extents
needed for fit‐for‐purpose water reuse.
 Integrated UrbanWater Management
Integrating wastewater in an urban water cycle to
use this as an alternate resources along with stormwater,
rainwater and usual surface and groundwater resources.
 Challenges and Risks in Wastewater
Recycling
 Energy Production And Conservation
Wastewater treatment and recycling
requires energy, and the energy industry
itself requires a significant amount of water
to operate. The researchers are exploring
water‐energy nexus to develop and establish
more energy‐efficient technologies for
wastewater treatment and alternative
energy production methods from
wastewater and sludge processing.
 Nutrient Management
Changing regulations and increasingly
stringent effluent limits have brought
nutrient management to the forefront of the
wastewater industry.
 Challenges and Risks in Wastewater
Recycling
 Residuals and Biosolids Management
The management of sludge, especially biosolids,
which has historically been a burden, is being
evaluated as a source of potential revenue after
reclamation.
 Industrial Wastewater Processes
Modelling, design, and operation of industrial
wastewater treatment systems, biological industrial
treatment processes, ZLD options, regulatory
impacts etc. are being studied for all water
intensive industries.
 Innovative Technology Development
Cutting‐edge technology and services are being
developed for water and solids recovery along with
innovative infrastructure solutions.
 Challenges and Risks in Wastewater
Recycling
Wastewater Utility Management
Managing utilities involving troubleshooting,
funds management, meeting regulatory
criteria and most importantly public outreach
are getting important.
– Instrumentation, Control and Automation
With the technological advancements,
instrumentation control and automation in
wastewater systems are getting increasingly
popular and getting due research attention.
– Cost Reduction
Reducing the cost of high end treatment
processes such as membrane filters and
advanced oxidation methods for making
these more affordable.
 Complexity of Wastewater
Management Systems
Wastewater treatment and recycling
systems are complex and dynamic in
nature.
 The challenge of treating
wastewater and ensuring its safe
and reliable reuse is influenced by
the various interactions of factors
including water quality, available
treatment technologies, available
funds and economic feasibility of
treatment solutions, regulatory
requirements, operational
constraints, public perception, and
environmental concerns etc.
 Thermal pollution and its adverse
effects
Thermal pollution is defined as accumulation of
unusable heat from human activities that
disrupts the eco systems in the natural
environment .
Thermal pollution is generally described in
context to local problems, as on global basis,
the change in heat is significant.
The most important anthropogenic sources of
thermal pollution are industries that reject heat
in the environment.
 Thermal pollution and its adverse effects

 Nuclear power plants release much more heat

which is estimated to be about 67%
The cooling of water which is normally 10-30
degree F warmer than nearby source, is the
major cause of thermal water pollution
Aquatic ecosystems are more delicately
balanced ecosystems which do not fluctuate
much in temperature as do the land masses
 Thermal pollution and its adverse
effects
Physical effects
 The temperature influences the viscosity , density,
vapor pressure, surface tension, gas solubility and gas
diffusion rates
 Heated water has low density and spreads on the
surface of water bodies causing them to stratify
thermally. The stratification is a barrier to the oxygen
penetration into the deeper layers. This is also disrupts
the normal circulation patterns, the ecological
consequences of which would be drastic,
unpredictable and almost certainly deleterious.
 Thermal pollution and its adverse
effects
Physical effects
At elevated temperatures, the sedimentation of
suspended materials increases due to reduction
in density and viscosity of water
Evaporation rate of water increases at high
temperature
Warm water reduces its palatability
Once the receiving water becomes warm, it is not
suitable further as cooling water because of the
decrease in efficiency of heat transfer
 Thermal pollution and its adverse
effects
Chemical effects
Chemistry of waters greatly depends upon the
temperature.
 Rate of chemical reactions normally increases
with rise in temperature which is about two-fold
with rise of every 10 degree Celsius.
BOD is also increased with temperature
 Thermal pollution and its adverse
effects
Biological effects
 As different species favors different temperatures,
thermal pollution may lead to population decline of
one specie and growth of the another. This results in
shift of flora & fauna of water
 Since, almost all proteins and enzymes are heat liable,
temperature changes often play an important& highly
regulatory role in the growth of aquatic organisms.
 Behavior, reproduction cycles, respiratory rates,
digestive rates and many other physiological processes
are normally temperature dependent.
 Thermal pollution and its adverse
effects
Biological effects
 At high temperature, the dissolved oxygen decreases, while
the metabolic rates of the organisms, requiring oxygen,
increases, thus accentuating the stress. At the same time
the bacterial activity increases, further reducing oxygen
supply. The water may rapidly become unfit for all but few
anaerobic species. High temperature works as barrier for
oxygen penetration into cooler deep waters. The aerobic
degradation gives way for the aerobic degradation, making
the water more polluted. Further, in organically polluted
waters, multiplication rate of bacteria increases with
increase in temperature, especially where the food supply is
in plenty.
 Thermal pollution and its adverse
effects
Biological effects
 Fishes may starve at high temperature by becoming
moribund & unable to capture food. The effect is
further accentuated as the food requirement
increases at the same time at higher temperature
 The disease resistance in fishes lowers & pollutants
become more toxic at elevated temperature. The
species become more vulnerable to parasites
 Natural mitigation of fish is also affected due to
formation of thermally polluted zones which act as
barrier to the migration
 Thermal pollution and its adverse
effects
 A variety of chemicals are added in the cooling of
waters to prevent formation of biological growths,
wood decay, corrosion,& scaling of the equipment.
 Chlorination & addition of biocides are common
practices to prevent the biological growths in the
cooling towers & condensers.
 The scales in the equipment are prevented by addition
of polyphosphates or some other organics.
 To check the corrosion, a number of chemicals such as
sodium & potassium chromates, silicates, nitrites, Ferro
cyanides, moly bates, salts of zinc, nickel, manganese &
chromium, etc. are added to the cooling towers
 Thermal pollution and its adverse
effects
 In the normal operation, the dissolved solids level of
cooling waters go on increasing because of
continuous evaporation, which can not be tolerated
after a certain range.
 At this time, the whole circulating water is replaced
by new water; the process is called ‘blow-down’.
 The blow-down water often has a high solid content,
besides additional chemicals which have been added
to prevent biological growths, scales & corrosion.
This blow-down water poses a serious threat of
water pollution in receiving waters.
 Self purification of streams
Natural Purification (or
Self‐Cleansing) in Rivers
 Always present in surface water and
is able to remove or reduce most of
the conventional pollutants
 A series of physical, chemical and
biological processes takes care of
sediments and decomposable
organic waste and relives stream of
its pollution burden.
 This process is known as self
purification or natural purification
process.

 The rate and extent with which these

processes occur depend on many
variable like flow rate, turbulence,
nature of river bed, type of biota
present, and variations in sunlight
and
 temperature.
In rivers, solid matters and soluble
substances are reduced or changed by:
 Dilution
Sedimentation
Filtration
Adsorption
Sediment transport
Hydrolysis
Biodegradation (oxidation)
Photodecomposition
 Natural Purification in Rivers
Major processes
Natural Purification in Rivers
Major processes
Natural Purification in Rivers: Process
Classification
Physical Processes: Purifying effect caused by the hydraulic
characteristics of the river water
・Dilution, sedimentation, filtration, aeration, sediment transport
Physicochemical Processes: Purifying effect caused by the flow and
the river bed material
・Adsorption, aggregation, (oxidation and reduction)
Biological (or Biochemical) Processes: Purification action arising as
microorganisms in water
・Adsorption, oxidation, decomposition and synthesis of organic
matter
・Uptake of organic matters and nutrient by plants and
sedimentation
Photochemical Processes: Purification action by the sunlight
・Photo‐degradation of organic matter
 Factors Affecting Natural Attenuation
Temperature and Sunlight
Temperature affects the rates of dilution, sedimentation, chemical and biological activities. It
also influences the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water body. Sunlight regulates temperature as well
as offers photodegradation opportunities.
Hydrography
The velocity, depth, and surface expanse controls the turbulence, stratification, distribution of
sediments, DO, and microorganism etc. The degree of turbulence governs the re‐aeration rate for
dissolved oxygen, which eventually affects the rate and extent of biodegradation. It also affects dilution,
sediment transport, and high turbulence could retards algal growth.
Nature of River Bed and Biota Present
These affects the sorption ‐ desorption, nutrient uptake and kinetics and extent of
biodegradation of organic matter incoming with the wastewater.
 Zones of Pollution in a River Stream
1. Clean Zone
2. Decomposition
Zone

3. Septic Zone

4. Recovery Zone

1. Clean Zone
 Role of stakeholders
 A wastewater treatment system is
comprised of an array of treatment
technologies in different treatment
stages in order to meet the criteria
of a specific reuse application.
 Alternative technologies are
available in primary, secondary,
tertiary and advanced treatment
stages, and have various cost and
performance levels.
 Since, the number of alternative
processes has been steadily
growing, the decision making on the
selection of an optimum treatment
sequence is becoming an important
challenge for the designers
 Decision Making in Wastewater
Management
The trend of reclaimed water use has been increasing
worldwide and is expected to surpass desalination in the
future. Therefore, it of high importance to device a
mechanism for identifying the most cost‐effective and
sustainable ways to achieve the reclaimed water use
targets.
However,
 A system suitable for wastewater management
(treatment and recycling) in some region may or may not
be applicable to other places, even in the same country.
 This calls for customized solutions based on locally
assessed characteristics and specific reuse purpose.
 Decision Making in Wastewater
Management
The continuously changing drivers of the wastewater management industry,
embodied by rigorous environmental and health regulations and the challenge of
emerging contaminants, necessitates the development of decision support systems
for the selection of appropriate treatment trains.
o A Decision Support System (DSS), an information system that supports a user in
choosing a consistent, near optimum solution for a particular problem, could be used
for helping in decision making.
o The range of applications of DSSs in wastewater management systems include:
selection and design of treatment processes, sequencing of selected processes either
in parallel or in series in a treatment train, monitoring and control of treatment
plants, and identifying recycling or reuse options.
 Elements of Decision Support System
Listing of possible
alternatives
– Evaluation of alternatives
– Identification of most
appropriate alternatives
under the given constraints
[Cost, energy, removal
efficiency, land availability,
environmental impacts etc.]
– Assessment of possible
impacts
of implementation of
schemes
Example of Decision Support System
Framework