The quality of waterbodies is constantly declining because of large discharges of toxic effluents from industries and residential homes. This constant pollution not only makes aquatic life inhabitable for aquatic beings but also makes it challenging to dispose of the polluted water safely. Since all life forms, especially animals and plants, sustain on water, we at the Tribhuvan College of Environment & Development Sciences, one of the most trusted environmental science colleges in Delhi, believe wastewater must be treated and freed from contaminants for everyone’s greater good.
While authorities are testing numerous modern methods and scientific technologies to aid wastewater management, the active involvement of microorganisms is showing promising results. Microorganisms are emerging as the silent workers dedicated to transforming contaminated water into a resource eligible for usage or safe discharge. Read along if you’re curious about how these tiny organisms make a significant difference in wastewater treatment.
Common Microorganisms and Their Role in Wastewater Treatment
Numerous wastewater treatment plants use microorganisms to break down complex waste in the contaminated water. Since there are multiple microorganisms, each with a distinct role in treating wastewater, it’s important to have sound knowledge about each. To make things easier for you to understand, we at the Tribhuvan College of Environment & Development Sciences have distilled all the relevant information for you in the following points. So read about the microorganisms shared below and understand their precise role in wastewater treatment.
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Aerobic Bacteria
These bacteria thrive in oxygen-rich environments and play a vitally critical role in the initial stages of wastewater treatment. Aerobic bacteria are microorganisms known for consuming organic pollutants present in wastewater. They use aerobic respiration to transform complex waste substances into simpler and less harmful compounds, laying the foundation for effective wastewater treatment.
There are numerous strains of aerobic bacteria, of which Pseudomonas and Bacillus species are known to break down hydrocarbons. These bacteria species are specially used to treat wastewater released from industries dealing in oil and petroleum products.
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Facultative Bacteria
It is among the most versatile microorganisms because it can thrive in both oxygen-rich and oxygen-depleted environments. This quality makes facultative bacteria highly desirable for various stages of wastewater treatment. Many wastewater facilities use these bacteria to reduce the organic matter found in polluted water, making it safer than before.
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Anaerobic Bacteria
These bacteria thrive in oxygen-depleted environments and are mostly used in the second stage of wastewater treatment. These bacteria use anaerobic digestion to break down complex organic compounds and create by-products like methane gas for later usage. Since anaerobic bacteria feature dual functionality, it is regarded as a critical player in treating industrial wastewater, helping in pollution control and energy generation. Many wastewater treatment plans currently in action are focused on optimizing anaerobic digestion to enhance methane production to fulfill local energy needs.
Are Microorganisms Useful in Wastewater Treatment?
Studies have shown that using microorganisms in wastewater treatment has various benefits. They enhance the efficiency of wastewater treatment processes while contributing to the environmental sustainability of the process. If you research about wastewater, you’ll find the biggest challenge in treating them is getting rid of fats, oils, and grease infused into the water, especially the wastewater discharged from areas with high culinary activities.
In this case, microorganisms like aerobic bacteria stand out and help prevent the accumulation of these substances in the treatment systems. Bioaugmentation is also being explored to address the localized challenges related to wastewater tainted with fats, oils, and grease. Another benefit of using microorganisms in wastewater treatment is their ability to reduce biochemical oxygen demand. This reduction ensures that there is no oxygen depletion in water bodies and that aquatic beings can sustain themselves without any challenges.
Big treatment plants are also exploring how to optimize the use of certain microorganism groups to efficiently break organic and inorganic contaminants in wastewater and significantly reduce the chemical oxygen demand. Together, all these methods are supporting the environmental conservation and thoughtful sustainable management of water resources in water-scare regions.
Microscopic Marvels Delivering Profound Impact
Wastewater treatment isn’t a static process and demands innovative approaches for the best results. While numerous treatment methods are being explored and tested for optimal efficiency, the use of microorganisms has offered promising results. We at the Tribhuvan College of Environment & Development Sciences, one of the environmental science colleges in Delhi, firmly believe that microorganisms, though tiny, stand out loud in playing a crucial role in safeguarding our environment by harnessing their natural abilities in wastewater treatment. They not only break the complex and harmful water pollutants but also convert them to potentially less harmful components.
The process also creates by-products like methane gas, contributing to the renewable energy repository. Currently, researchers are exploring the possibilities of microorganisms being used to generate renewable energy from wastewater, recovering valuable nutrients for agriculture, creating renewable energy sources, and much more. Since various microorganisms and their different strains are being tested to find the most effective solution for wastewater treatment, there is a high hope of optimally controlling wastewater challenges in the coming years.