Our planet is suffering from global warming and is facing its harmful consequences sooner than ever before. What’s more shocking is that we’re expecting a jump of 2-5 degrees Celsius, over the span of 30 years. But in this situation of crisis, what mostly gets overlooked, is the impact of global warming on wastewater treatment. This creates situations like inundated water supplies that lead to increased levels of contaminants in the water, the tension on wastewater treatment infrastructure, and worn water systems due to extreme climatic conditions.

Challenges in wastewater treatment

1. Inundated Water Supplies

As the glaciers and ice in the northern hemisphere melt, the sea level continues to rise. And with that, the water treatment plants near the coastal region face the risk of increased water levels for treatment, than anticipated. The coastal regions are expected to see a 7-10” increase in sea level by 2050. This rise in water levels could lead to a lesser number of wastewater treatment plants and cause pollution of clean treated water reservoirs. Adding to the damaged situation, the warmer water in the current supply of water would adversely impact the delicate ecosystem, present in the water bodies.

2. Increased Pressure on Wastewater Treatment Plants

Due to the rising global temperature, the water treatment infrastructures are currently under pressure. Listed below are two ways of how global warming directly impacts the treatment plants:
1. The increasing water levels push the treatment plants to relocate at an elevation. This is done to limit the pressure on the water treatment plants.
2. The erratic change in climatic conditions require the plants to be more adaptive. The already existing infrastructures can’t withstand hurricanes, storms, floods etc. that are expected to happen with global warming.

The melting of ice will lead to fewer water resources available for treatment & use. This will add on costs to wastewater treatment processes and hence put pressure on existing plants.

3. Biological Reactions in Wastewater Treatment Plants

The surging temperatures lead to intense organism (mostly bacteria) activity in the water. Even a minor change in temperature triggers widespread biological reactions in water. These biological reactions lead to release of oxygen which causes rusting and corrosion of pipes. This calls for a repeated replacement of equipment due to increased wear & tear.

These reactions often cause the temperature to rise and hence causes evaporation too. The reaction increases water density caused by more sediments proportionally than before; making it more difficult to treat.

With unpredictable climatic changes, capitalizing on wastewater treatment is not a wise choice. Along with bringing policies that positively affect our environment, companies and industries can always choose to benefit from our ‘Pay Per Use’ model that allows them to only pay for the volume of wastewater treated, rather than the whole wastewater treatment infrastructure. With us, you can upgrade your wastewater treatment equipment anytime and get equipment as per your needs and requirements.

When it comes to wastewater management for your company, as per your tailored needs think of us! A cost-effective way to reuse and recycle the water, LEASE wastewater treatment equipment with us and grow your business while meeting environmental regulations, all at the same time. A One Stop Shop for all your wastewater management woes!!! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube for more updates and announcements.