Wastewater Treatment Plant vs Water Treatment Plant: Understanding the Key Differences

Introduction

A Brief Comparison Between Water Treatment Plant and Wastewater Treatment Plant Introduction Both water treatment plant and wastewater treatment plant are related to the removal of chemicals and pollutants; the former uses water as the input and converts it into potable form and the latter treats sewage or agricultural runoff into a form that could be released to the environment.

The lack of water resources is a worldwide concern, and promotes the development of better water management. Two major actors in this world are Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) and Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs). Even though they are both crucial for providing clean, usable water, one of them serves the end of the water cycle.

In the present work, water treatment plant (WTP) is considered, which purifies natural water such as river, lake and groundwater, into potable water intended for human consumption. Alternatively, a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) has the duty of treating dirty or unhealthy waters (e.g.; sewage, industrial discharges, stormwater) so it can be re-used or discharged safely to the environment.

But in this post we’re going to cover the main differences between these two systems, what they’re both trying to achieve, and piece apart the groundbreaking technology that is revolutionizing the face of water treatment as we know it!

Fundamental distinctions of WTPs and WWTPs

The most significant difference between WTPs and WWTPs is the 'raw' water supply they treat.

Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) are designed to receive natural water from rivers, lakes or groundwater. These sources are usually relatively clean, and yet standard-bear such impurities as sediments, organic matter and microorganisms, which must be removed to meet drinking-water standards.

Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs), on the other hand, process contaminated water coming from such sources as sewage, industrial discharge and stormwater. This water is usually heavily contaminated with organics, chemicals, toxicants, heavy metals and variety of pathogens. It is the objective of WWTPs to treat these waters for discharging as safe effluent or recycling, e.g., to applications in agriculture irrigation, industrial uses or non-potable municipal uses.

Primary Goal

The objective of the WTP is, first and foremost, producing drinkable water which can be directly consumed or used for the preparation of food. This is achieved through the removal of harmful pollutants and safe disinfection to EPA and WHO drinking water quality. The scope of WTPs is to provide microbiologically and chemically safe water that is suitable for human consumption.

In contrast, WWTPs are not intended primarily to produce drinking water but to protect the environment. Contaminated water in treated in WWTP to eliminate harmful pollutants in order to be safe to be discharged in to the natural water bodies, or to be reused for non-potable use e.g. irrigation and in industrial processes. This is important for environment equilibrium and to prevent further pollution of the water bodies.

Key Processes

WTPs as well as WWTPs employ advanced treatment techniques, the technologies applied are, however, completely different (Table 1).

Water Treatment Plants (WTPs): The most commonly used treatment methods at WTPs are:

Coagulation and Flocculation: The application of chemicals to the water that cause particles to coalesceinto larger particles (flocculates) that can be removed.

Filtration: Where water filters through a series of layers of sand, gravel or other filter media removing smaller particles.

Disinfection: Chlorine or ultraviolet (UV) light is typically used to destroy any remaining microorganisms at WTPs.

Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs): WWTPs use more detailed and sophisticated treatment, such as:

Bio Digestion: Live bacteria and other microbes help to digest waste in the waste water.

Advanced Oxidation: A treatment process in which persistent pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides and industrial compounds, are broken down using chemical reactions.

Treatment and Disposal of Sludge: Once the water has been processed, the remaining sludge, which is solid waste, is treated again to reduce its volume and treat it by either disposing of it or reusing it.

Output Quality

The last product from a WTP has to comply with those very strict drinking water norms formulated by authorities such as the EPA and WHO. The water needs to be clear of dangerous pathogens and contaminants for it to be safe to drink.

The end product for WWTPs is usually non-potable water of a certain quality suitable for either re-use or discharge into the natural environment. This effluent can be used for irrigation, industrial uses, or stormwater control. The goal is to clean the water up to such a degree that it is safe for these uses while not harming the ecosystems affected by these pollutants.

Emerging Technologies in Water Treatment

The water treatment market is quickly changing, thanks to new technologies that enhance the sustainability, efficiency and efficacy of WTPs and WWTPs.

Advances in Water Treatment Plant (WTP)

Among them, the graphene oxide membranes are regarded as one of the most promising WD techniques. These membranes are really good at pulling microplastics and other micropollutants out of water. Compared to the conventional filtration technology, the GO membrane is a promising alternative due to its higher filtration efficiency and lower energy cost.

Technological advances in WWTPs

In the case of WWTPs, a front-runner technology is Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidizing (Anammox). This removes nitrogen from waste water more efficiently and with less energy than traditional methods. Anammox assists in the treatment of industrial wastewater with high concentrates of nitrogen, like with waste water from food production or power plants.

Bridging the Gap: Hybrid Solutions

Over the years, we at Amalgam Biotech have developed the integrated AOP-RO (Advanced Oxidation Process and Reverse Osmosis) systems to upgrade WWTP output to that of potable-grade quality. The Hinjewadi Reuse Project in Pune is one such where this technology is being leveraged to complete the loop from the treatment of waste water to the supply of treated waste water to be used as potable and as drinking water.

Future Trends in Water Treatment

In the light of the growing water stress around the world, the future WTPs and WWTPs will be determined by several developing trends fulfilling sustainability, effectiveness, and integration.

Direct Potable Reuse (DPR)

Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) is becoming increasingly popular, especially in areas with enormous water problems. This includes treating polluted water to such a high-degree that it re-emerges as potable water. Advanced treatment processes such as ozone-biofiltration-RO (reverse osmosis) are employed to achieve this.

Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG)

WTPs are investigating the feasibility of Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) units, where water is harvested from the atmosphere through condensing of atmospheric moisture. This will be particularly effective in monsoon-prone areas where the humidity is high.

Decentralized Micro-Plants

“Rural decentralized treatment systems, or ‘micro-plants,’ are progressively more widespread, particularly in urban areas or where infrastructure is not readily available. These small sewer system models are capable of performing both collection and conveyance, offering a decentralized approach for water treatment and reuse.

Conclusion

Finally, WTPs and WWTPs are crucial in the direction of clean water management. Whereas WTPs remove impurities from the nature water sources to make it suitable for human consumption, WWTPs treat contaminated water for recycling or release for protecting ecosystems.

AT the vanguard of such innovation is Amalgam Biotech, holder of various hybrid technologies that straddle wastewater treatment and potable water supply. Solutions such as AOP-RO systems and state-of-the-art technologies such as graphene oxide membranes and Anammox, make Amalgam Biotech to contribute for a more sustainable water future.

Learn how Amalgam Biotech can maximize your water treatment plan. Click here to Visit Amalgam Biotech's Wastewater Treatment Solution today to consult.