Chapter 7
Water and Wastewater Treatment
Abstract Water pollution remains a crucial problem in the quest for sustainability
today. Safe drinking water is pivotal for good health, but a significant proportion of
the water used for drinking today remains contaminated. This chapter seeks to shed
light on the purpose of water and wastewater treatment. It also seeks to enhance
understanding of preliminary, primary, secondary, and quaternary treatment, as well
as discuss wastewater treatment plants. The aforementioned processes are crucial
for enhancing the quality of water and ensuring that it is safe and acceptable for
end-use. The arguments in the chapter are reinforced by the case study of the curse
of oil in Nigeria, experiment on bioremediation, and individual matter of Ken SaroWiwa. Future trends in the various continents are also explored to determine the
future of water and wastewater treatment.
Keywords Oil · Primary treatment · Secondary treatment · Tertiary treatment ·
Quaternary treatment · Ken Saro-Wiwa
7.1 Overview
Water treatment is defined as a process that enhances the quality of water in order
for it to become more acceptable for end-use. This can be industrial water supply,
river flow maintenance, drinking, water recreation, or safely returning it to the
environment. On the other hand, wastewater treatment is defined as a process used
for converting wastewater into an effluent that can be returned to the water cycle
with less effect on the environment (Qasim 2017).
Water reclamation enables wastewater to be utilized for other purposes. Treatment occurs in a wastewater treatment plant, usually called a water resource
recovery facility. Wastewater treatment forms a crucial part of the sanitation field.
It is worth noting that sanitation also entails human and solid waste management.
Sewage sludge, screenings as well as grit are some of the by-products from plants
that can be treated in treatment plants.
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
A. A. Akinsemolu, The Principles of Green and Sustainability Science,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-2493-6_7
155
Water and Wastewater Treatment
Abstract Water pollution remains a crucial problem in the quest for sustainability
today. Safe drinking water is pivotal for good health, but a significant proportion of
the water used for drinking today remains contaminated. This chapter seeks to shed
light on the purpose of water and wastewater treatment. It also seeks to enhance
understanding of preliminary, primary, secondary, and quaternary treatment, as well
as discuss wastewater treatment plants. The aforementioned processes are crucial
for enhancing the quality of water and ensuring that it is safe and acceptable for
end-use. The arguments in the chapter are reinforced by the case study of the curse
of oil in Nigeria, experiment on bioremediation, and individual matter of Ken SaroWiwa. Future trends in the various continents are also explored to determine the
future of water and wastewater treatment.
Keywords Oil · Primary treatment · Secondary treatment · Tertiary treatment ·
Quaternary treatment · Ken Saro-Wiwa
7.1 Overview
Water treatment is defined as a process that enhances the quality of water in order
for it to become more acceptable for end-use. This can be industrial water supply,
river flow maintenance, drinking, water recreation, or safely returning it to the
environment. On the other hand, wastewater treatment is defined as a process used
for converting wastewater into an effluent that can be returned to the water cycle
with less effect on the environment (Qasim 2017).
Water reclamation enables wastewater to be utilized for other purposes. Treatment occurs in a wastewater treatment plant, usually called a water resource
recovery facility. Wastewater treatment forms a crucial part of the sanitation field.
It is worth noting that sanitation also entails human and solid waste management.
Sewage sludge, screenings as well as grit are some of the by-products from plants
that can be treated in treatment plants.
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
A. A. Akinsemolu, The Principles of Green and Sustainability Science,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-2493-6_7
155