Wastewater Story

a. Cleaning of water is process of removing contaminants.

Contaminants are the suspended and dissolved impurities of water.

b. Wastewater released by houses is called sewage.

Sewage is a liquid waste which causes water and soil pollution.

c. Dried sludge is used as manure.

Semi-solid wastes like faces that settle down at the bottom during wastewater treatment are called sludge.

d. Drains get blocked by cooking oil and fats

Cooking oil and fats should not be thrown down the drain. They can harden and block the pipes.

Sewage is the waste-water which contains both solid and liquid wastes released by homes, industries, hospitals, offices, and other users.

It also includes rainwater that has run down the streets during a storm or heavy rain.

Sewage contains various contaminants including disease-causing microbes.

If untreated sewage is discharged into rivers or seas, then the water in the rivers or seas would also get contaminated and it would be harmful to aquatic animals and plants.

That is why; it is harmful to discharge untreated sewage into rivers or seas.

Oil and fats harden and block the sewage pipes. In an open drain the fats block the soil pores reducing its effectiveness in filtering water. That’s why oil and fats should not be released in the drain.

The steps involved in getting clarified water from wastewater are as follows:

1. Wastewater is passed through bar screens to remove large objects like rags, sticks, cans, plastic, packets, and napkins.

2. Water then goes to a grit and sand removal tank where sand grit and pebbles settle down.

3. The water is placed in a large tank where solid impurities, like faeces, settle down and are removed with a scraper which is called sludge. Floatable solids like oils and grease are removed with a skimmer.
Water, thus form after passing from the above process is called clarified water.

Semi-solid wastes like feces that settle down at the bottom during wastewater treatment are called sludge.

The sludge is removed using a scrapper and then transferred to a separate tank where it is decomposed by the anaerobic bacteria to produce biogas.

This biogas is used as fuel for cooking, heating, etc.

The Untreated human excreta is a health hazard. It pollutes soil and water sources including groundwater. Groundwater is a source of water for wells, tube wells, springs and many rivers. When this polluted water is used for drinking, it can cause water-borne diseases including cholera, typhoid, polio, meningitis, hepatitis and dysentery.

Therefore, lack of sanitation resulting in drinking of polluted water can cause health problems.

Two chemicals used to disinfect water are Ozone and chlorine.

Ozone: Ozone has great actions against bacteria and virus.

Chlorine: It is highly effective disinfectant.

Bar screens are large filters which are placed in the form of vertical screens. This is used in wastewater treatment to remove large objects like rags, sticks, cans, plastic packets, napkins.

1. Sanitation and disease are related to each other because poor sanitation is the cause of large number of diseases.
2. The Untreated human excreta are a health hazard. It pollutes soil and water sources including groundwater.
3. Groundwater is a source of water for wells, tube wells, springs and many rivers. When this polluted water is used for drinking, it can cause water-borne diseases including cholera, typhoid, polio, meningitis, hepatitis and dysentery.
4. Therefore, lack of sanitation resulting in drinking of polluted water can cause health problems.

Role as an active citizen in relation to sanitation are:

•contribute in maintaining sanitation at public places. We should not scatter litter anywhere.

•Preventing clogging of drains by not releasing oil and fat and solid waste into the drain.

•Ensure that the sewerage system in the house is properly managed.

•Ensure that my surrounding and neighborhood is maintained and help the municipality in maintaining proper sanity.

Ozone is used to disinfect water during wastewater treatment. Ozone is an unstable gas that destroys bacteria and virus.
It also absorbs ultraviolet rays coming from the sun.