Generally an excellent article. Disinfecting WW is difficult and chlorine converts to chloramines which are not great disinfectants. Also. it is unlikely that breakpoint will be reached. Chlorine does not touch crypto, but it can disinfect giardia under the right conditions. DBPs are not a serious issue with wastewater since we don't drink it.They are marginal in drinking water (see may article on THMs and Bladder Cancer in JAWWA, January 2019. Wastewater discharges can also be a source of microplastic particles in surface receiving waters. Although they are not known to be harmful at the small numbers to be found, it would be worth mentioning that they are among the particles that are well removed by good WW treatment. Joe Cotruvo
Published by Joseph Cotruvo, President at Joseph Cotruvo & Associates, Water , Environment and Public Health
Generally an excellent article. Disinfecting WW is difficult and chlorine converts to chloramines which are not great disinfectants. Also. it is unlikely that breakpoint will be reached. Chlorine does not touch crypto, but it can disinfect giardia under the right conditions. DBPs are not a serious issue with wastewater since we don't drink it.They are marginal in drinking water (see may article on THMs and Bladder Cancer in JAWWA, January 2019.
Wastewater discharges can also be a source of microplastic particles in surface receiving waters. Although they are not known to be harmful at the small numbers to be found, it would be worth mentioning that they are among the particles that are well removed by good WW treatment.
Joe Cotruvo
3 Comments
also chlorine is carcinogenic element, there are new disinfectant substances, the problem is the norm obsolescence
Electrochemical AOP doesn't need chemical dosing when is right manged in acceptable degradation, but commonly recurred
Good explanation.
Published by Arturo Constante, Wastewater Purification - Zero Emissions
Thank you Joseph for your comments. Yes, microplastic particles can be a potential issue, however, they are typical well removed in tertiary filtration is used accordingly to not pose a problem in receiving water.
Published by Nick Nicholas, App Eng/Technical Director at Genesis Water Technologies, Inc.
An effective waste water treatment plant will have very low levels of ammonia, which means that chloramine levels will be very low. Any chloramines can be eliminate by bubbling air through the water, which drives the chloramines out of the water. Water to be re-used should be filtered first anyway, ideally with AFM and UV treated prior to chlorination, this will remove any potential Cryptosporidium and Giardia. These two organisms being parasites, do not thrive within an activated sludge plant.
Published by Don Sharpe