Wastewater Treatment Helps Meet Energy and Water Scarcity

Sludge may be one of the water industry’s greatest unacknowledged issues, but it could also be its next profitable venture. Sewage enters a water treatment facility and two things come out the other end: clean, treated water and sludge. Wastewater treatment inevitably produces tons of sludge per year. New studies are showing that this byproduct could help meet two of our planet’s greatest challenges: scarcity of fuel and drinkable water.

From Byproduct to Product

Innovation is all about improving efficiency and finding utility for untapped resources.  One of the most famous examples is gasoline, which for years was a dangerous byproduct of oil refining. Wastewater sludge has similar potential.

Meeting Water Scarcity with Wastewater Treatment

As we said, lack of energy and clean water are global issues. Here in the United States we may take energy and clean water for granted, but in many areas they’re rare and precious resources. Even today we’re seeing water shortages across the western United States, particularly in California. It’s in countries like Tanzania, where water and energy scarcity is a deadly serious issue, that we begin to see the full potential and utility of wastewater treatment. A recent article in the Tanzania Daily News described how improper wastewater treatment created a “perfect storm” by polluting the country’s already small water reserves. Now the country is investing heavily in updated water treatment technology in the hopes of expanding—not reducing—the useable water supply.

Wastewater Sludge as Fuel?

Several companies in Europe are experimenting with turning wastewater sludge into fertilizer, solid fuel, or syngas. With some pollutants, the conversion rate from sludge to fuel reaches 50%. Many rural communities lack access to advanced water treatment facilities, and their sludge ends up going into a landfill. The goal of the project is to develop a self-sufficient sludge-to-fuel and sludge-to-fertilizer facilities that remote cities and villages can operate themselves.  The project has huge potential, and it should give hope to countries like Tanzania, where wastewater treatment is intimately connected to the availability of water, sustainability of agriculture, and access to fuel.

Wastewater Treatment with Advanced Waste & Water Technology, Inc.

Here at AWWT, we’re always up-to-date with the latest water management news. We’ve developed our own patented technology for water treatment, and we’re always working to stay one step ahead of the industry. We work with municipal governments to provide clean and safe water to the public. For more interesting water management news, read our previously published blogs. If you’re interested in our waste management solutions, please visit our homepage.