Industrial Pollution: Strategies For Reduction And Control

Industrial pollution has had a detrimental impact on biodiversity over the past two centuries, and it is still increasing globally. Industrial pollution can be categorised by where it is found—in the air, water, or soil—or by its type, such as chemicals, noise, or light. To reduce industrial pollution, a combination of regulation, manufacturing developments, and environmental initiatives is required. This includes stricter environmental regulation, improvements in energy efficiency, a shift towards less polluting manufacturing processes, and voluntary schemes to reduce environmental impact. Additionally, consistent remediation, waste management, and treatment of industrial effluents are crucial steps in reducing industrial pollution.

Treat industrial effluents in three phases: primary, secondary, and tertiary

Industrial pollution has been a pressing issue for the past two centuries, with far-reaching consequences for biodiversity. While it is challenging to remove pollution from aquatic systems, there are effective ways to treat industrial effluents in three phases: primary, secondary, and tertiary.

The primary treatment phase involves mechanical processes such as screening, grinding, flocculation, and sedimentation to remove large materials like wooden pieces, metal, paper, and fibres from industrial waste. This step also helps reduce suspended solids and normalize high or low pH levels. For instance, if the pH is too high or too low, it can be neutralized using acids, alkalis, limestone, or caustic soda.

The secondary treatment phase employs biological processes, including trickling filters, anaerobic digestion, oxidation ditches, aerated lagoons, and the activated sludge process. Trickling filters, for instance, are artificial beds that allow wastewater to trickle through, forming a bacterial film that facilitates the oxidation of organic matter.

The tertiary treatment phase utilizes biological, chemical, and physical processes, including recycling wastewater. This phase focuses on removing bacteria and dissolved inorganic matter, such as metals and metal compounds, through methods like reverse osmosis, chemical precipitation, removal by algae, activated carbon, and ion exchange resins.

By implementing these three phases of treatment, industries can effectively manage their waste and reduce pollution, contributing to the restoration of biodiversity and the health of the planet.

Reduce water usage by reusing and recycling

Water reuse and recycling can play a significant role in reducing industrial pollution, particularly in decreasing water diversion from sensitive ecosystems and reducing water pollution. Here are some ways to reduce water usage by reusing and recycling:

Water Reuse in Industrial Applications

Water reuse involves reclaiming water from various sources, treating it, and reusing it for beneficial purposes. In an industrial context, recycled water can be used for manufacturing processes, such as car manufacturing, or for cooling data centers. Water reuse can also occur onsite, where an industrial facility recycles water used for processes like cooling. This approach can be more cost-effective and energy-efficient, as the water may have limited contact with humans, reducing the need for extensive treatment.

Guidelines and Best Practices for Water Reuse

Several resources and guidelines are available to support the development of industrial water reuse projects. The Context-Based Decision Guide for Water Reuse and Recycling (2020), developed by the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER), promotes the adoption of water reduction, reuse, and recycling practices across industries. The Water and Wastewater Treatment/Volume Reduction Manual (2014) by the Brewers Association offers checklists and tools for effective water and wastewater management. Additionally, the EPA's Guidelines for Water Reuse (2012) provide valuable insights, including regional variations, advances in wastewater treatment technologies, and international water reuse practices.

Benefits of Water Recycling

Water recycling offers environmental and economic advantages. By reusing treated wastewater, we can significantly increase our total available water resources, especially in water-scarce regions. Water recycling helps decrease water diversion from sensitive ecosystems, reducing the negative impact on plants, wildlife, and fish that depend on sufficient water flows. It also reduces wastewater discharge, preventing pollution of oceans, rivers, and other water bodies.

Examples of Successful Water Recycling Projects

Several successful water recycling projects have been implemented across the United States. For instance, the South Bay Water Recycling Program in California provides recycled water for irrigation and industrial use, protecting the area's natural salt water marsh. The Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Arizona uses recycled water for cooling purposes. Additionally, recycled water has been used for irrigation at golf courses, vineyards, and public parks, as well as for industrial processes in facilities like paper mills and carpet dyers.

Reducing Water Usage in Daily Life

In addition to industrial applications, individuals can play a role in reducing water usage by adopting water-saving practices in their daily lives. This includes buying reusable items instead of disposable ones, maintaining and repairing products to extend their lifespan, and borrowing, renting, or sharing items that are used infrequently. These small actions can collectively have a significant impact on reducing water consumption and promoting sustainability.

Harvest rainwater to meet requirements

Harvesting rainwater is an ancient practice that has gained popularity as an eco-friendly and sustainable way of life. Rainwater harvesting is the process of collecting rainwater runoff and storing it for later use, both indoors and outdoors. This method of obtaining water is becoming increasingly popular worldwide, with countries like Australia and Germany embracing the green building movement and rainwater harvesting becoming the norm.

Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting:

• Conserving water resources and promoting water self-sufficiency.
• Reducing costs on water expenses, as rainwater can be used for both indoor and outdoor needs.
• Providing cleaner water for plants, as rainwater is free from chlorine and other contaminants commonly found in tap water.
• Serving as an alternative primary or backup water source during emergencies.
• Reducing excessive water runoff that can damage the ground.
• Simple, inexpensive, and easily maintained technology.

Ways to Collect Rainwater:

• Using barrels: This is the easiest and most common method. Barrels are installed at the gutter downspout to collect rainwater. They can be new or recycled and are ideal for limited spaces. However, the amount of rainwater collected is restricted, and barrels can overflow during heavy rainfall.
• The "dry" system: This method uses a larger storage device located near the house. The water collection pipe directs rainwater from the roof directly into the storage tank. It is suitable for areas with infrequent rainfall and large storms.
• The "wet" system: This system allows for the rainwater collection tank to be located away from the house by using underground pipes to connect multiple downspouts and gutters. It can collect rainwater from a larger surface area but is more expensive due to the need for underground piping and potential pressure application.

Water Treatment and Legal Considerations:

Rainwater collected for drinking and indoor use should be properly treated and filtered to ensure its safety. Filtration and disinfection methods, such as chlorine, ultraviolet lights, or membrane technology, can be employed to remove contaminants and kill harmful substances. Additionally, legality issues regarding rainwater harvesting vary across countries and states. While some places have no restrictions, others may have regulations on the amount and method of collection. It is essential to check the specific laws and incentives in your region.

Industrial Applications:

Rainwater harvesting can be applied in industrial settings to reduce pollution and water consumption. By collecting and treating rainwater, industries can decrease their reliance on mains water, which often requires energy-intensive treatment processes and can introduce pollutants into the environment. Rainwater harvesting can also help industries achieve environmental objectives, such as reducing emissions and waste generation, by providing an alternative water source for various industrial processes.

Treat hot water and effluents before releasing them into water bodies

Industrial pollution has had a detrimental impact on biodiversity over the past two centuries and continues to increase globally. One way to reduce this is to treat hot water and effluents before releasing them into water bodies.

Hot water and effluents from industrial processes can contain harmful substances such as heavy metals, ammonia, cyanide, and volatile organic compounds. If released into water bodies without treatment, these substances can have toxic effects on aquatic life and ecosystems. Therefore, it is essential to properly treat this wastewater to remove pollutants and reduce potential harm to the environment.

The treatment of industrial effluents can be done in three phases:

Primary Treatment

This involves mechanical means of removing pollutants, including screening, grinding, flocculation, and sedimentation. Screening removes large objects and debris from the wastewater, while grinding reduces the size of solid particles to make them easier to treat. Flocculation is a process where chemicals are added to the water to help small particles clump together into larger ones, which then settle out of the water during sedimentation.

Secondary Treatment

This phase involves biological processes to treat the wastewater. Microbes and fungi are used to break down and remove organic pollutants. This process is highly effective in treating wastewater and is often used in industrialised countries.

Tertiary Treatment

The final phase combines biological, chemical, and physical processes to further treat the wastewater. This includes recycling wastewater, using microbes or fungi to break down pollutants, and physical methods such as changing the acidity or absorbing pollutants into the soil.

By implementing these treatment methods, industries can significantly reduce the amount of pollutants released into water bodies, minimising their impact on the environment and protecting aquatic life.

Additionally, it is important to minimise water usage during industrial processes by reusing and recycling water wherever possible. This can be achieved by implementing successive stages of water usage, where water is used for one process and then treated and reused for another, less demanding process.

Waste management: reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, and dispose

Industrial pollution has had a detrimental impact on biodiversity over the last two centuries and continues to increase globally. To reduce it, we can categorise pollution by where it is found (in air, water, or soil) or by type (chemicals, noise, or light). Another way to look at it is to consider its sources. Some sources are spread out, such as cars, agriculture, and buildings, while others can be assessed as individual emission points, like factories and power plants.

The waste management hierarchy is a framework designed to guide and rank waste management decisions at both the individual and organisational level. It gives top priority to waste prevention, followed by reuse, recycling, recovery, and finally, disposal.

Reduce

The first priority of the waste hierarchy is to reduce or prevent waste generation as much as possible. This stage encourages industries, communities, and governments to reduce their use of virgin raw materials to produce goods and services. It involves maximising efficiency and preventing the unnecessary consumption of resources. For example, industries can procure raw materials that require the fewest resources to refine, avoid disposable or single-use goods, and optimise inventory to prevent perishable goods from going to waste.

Reuse

The second-best approach to waste management is to reuse materials in their original form. Aside from reducing landfill impact, reusing waste allows businesses to avoid spending on new goods or virgin materials or paying for waste disposal. For instance, office-based businesses can refill toner and printer cartridges, use durable mugs and cutlery instead of disposable alternatives, reuse envelopes and packaging materials, and donate or sell used furniture and equipment.

Recycle

Recycling involves processing materials that would otherwise be sent to landfills and turning them into new products. It is the third step in the waste hierarchy because of the extra energy and resources required to create a new product. To maximise recycling opportunities, businesses need to have the proper recycling infrastructure in place, such as an on-site recycling facility or a total waste management provider that can handle segregation, collection, and recycling.

Recover

When further recycling is not practical or possible, energy or materials can be recovered from waste through processes such as anaerobic digestion or incineration. The recovered energy can be made available for the organisation's use or fed back into the electricity grid.

Dispose

The final step in the waste hierarchy is disposal, which involves landfilling and incineration without energy recovery. This is considered an unsustainable method of waste management because waste in landfills can continue to have a damaging environmental impact. For example, landfills can leak chemicals and toxic liquids that contaminate the soil and groundwater underneath.

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