Waste water treatment will be tomorrow’s most significant industry
Today, water and waste water treatment put together is a huge industry with billions of dollars in investments globally. The process of treating wastewater is a system used to remove contaminants from wastewater and convert it into an effluent that can be returned to the water cycle. Once the effluent is returned to the water cycle, it creates a positive impact on the environment or is reused for various purposes (called water reclamation).
As the global climate is changing, the interest in consumable water is increasing every year, with a developing worldwide populace as well as contamination levels. Water bodies that have been the customary wellsprings of drinking water for humans are additionally getting contaminated by the disturbing pace of the biological weight. Water treatment processes are reasonably evaluated to improve their span across various monetary layers of customers. The primary purpose of wastewater treatment is to eliminate as much of the suspended solids as could reasonably be expected before the excess water, called emanating, is released back to the climate.
Exposed solid material disintegrates, it goes through oxygen, which is required by the plants and creatures living in the water. It involves substances, for instance, human waste, food scraps, oils, cleansers, and synthetic compounds. Within residences, this includes water from sinks, showers, baths, latrines, clothes-washers, and dishwashers. Organisations and ventures, additionally, contribute a lot of utilised water that should also be cleaned. As it has been observed that because of the low degrees of disinfection and risky water assets, youngsters, particularly in rustic networks of non-industrial nations are in danger from waterborne sicknesses. Every year, about 1.6 million kids (<5 years old) bite the dust because of waterborne sicknesses of which 84 per cent live in provincial territories. It has been assessed that 1.7 billion rural citizens did not approach internationally approved safe drinking water and proper disinfection levels till 2015.
The development of the water and wastewater treatment market is fundamentally determined by quickly developing populace and urbanisation. According to research data, worldwide primary water and wastewater treatment market size was US$ 12.52 billion in 2020 and is projected to increase at 3.5 per cent CAGR to reach US$ 15.92 billion by the end of 2027.
According to various reports, the market is analysed in terms of product terrain, application spectrum, and geographical bifurcation. Additionally, the market also depends on the competitive area by compiling extensive profiles of the top contenders, alongside their product portfolio, market share, and financials. Several strategies by the stakeholders such as product launches, mergers, geographic expansion are also explicated to aid stakeholders in making informed choices.
Increasing demand for clean and potable water along with growing necessity of constructing new slurry treatment plants are primarily driving the industry growth. Positive initiatives by government and regulatory bodies are likely to enhance the market expansion in the upcoming years. In this regard it is contextual to remember the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) programme in the United States which is aimed at boosting demand for wastewater management systems by expanding federal funding in the wastewater management sector.
Recently, in a press statement, Toshiba Water Solutions (TWS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toshiba Infrastructure Systems and Solutions Corporation, said it has bagged a contract to construct a sewage treatment plant in Bihar. It is a government sponsored initiative and is one of the sewage construction projects as part of its efforts to clean the Ganges.
“Toshiba Water Solutions Pvt Ltd. has signed a contract with Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (BUIDCO) for a project to construct a sewage treatment plant, including a pump station, and operation and maintenance (O&M) of the project,” the company said in a statement.
The government-led project involves constructing a sewage treatment plant in Hajipur, a city located along the Ganges and a 15-year contract for the operation and maintenance of the plant. As part of the activated sludge process, the new plant employs cutting-edge technology in order to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from sewage. The sewage treatment plants along the Ganges have the technology to treat only part of sewage discharged into the river every day.
Talking of major waste water treatment projects, one of the biggest is in Singapore. The small island nation has meagre natural water sources and has long had to rely majorly on supplies from neighbouring Malaysia.
Way into the bowels of the earth, giant pumps rotate at a plant in Singapore that helps transform sewage into water so clean it is fit for human consumption while reducing ocean pollution. To achieve self-reliance, Singapore has developed a leading-edge system for treating sewage involving a network of tunnels and high-tech plants.
Additionally, this project has helped Singapore meet 40 per cent of the country’s water demand — a figure that is expected to rise to 55 per cent by 2060, according to the country’s water agency. However, a majority of the treated water is used for industrial purposes, some of it is added to drinking water supplies in reservoirs in the city-state of 5.7 million people. Incidentally, the waste water treatment system significantly helps reduce maritime pollution, as only a small amount of the treated water is discharged into the sea.
