Wastewater Treatment Technology: Natural Solutions to Pollution
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Using the word technology when describing bioremediation is a bit misleading. The use of live and naturally occurring bacteria to consume pollutants resulting from industry is technology with a twist.
Rather than adding more chemicals and toxins into the process, some wastewater treatment technologies are using simple and natural approaches to solving the problem of polluted waters.
Bioremediation is defined as any process that uses microorganisms, bacteria, fungi, green plants or their enzymes to return the natural environment altered by contaminants to its original condition.
Currently, there are only a handful of companies that are offering ‘industrial strength’ bioremediation solutions but interest in this method of treating wastewater is growing very rapidly. In a world with an increasing population, limited natural resources and a growing middle class in developing countries (hairdryers, BigMacs, and yes, more cars), solving the problem of pollution naturally is vital.
Industrial wastewater treatment technology isn’t a naturally occurring phenomenon. Industrial wastewater collects in places like marine ports, oil excavation sites and diesel power plants just to name a few.
Industrial wastewater is a direct result of manmade industry and its literal byproducts. However, a natural solution to the problem is now at hand and available to industries ranging from oil and medical waste, to food processing, feed lots and numerous other examples. The name of this solution is ‘bioremediation.’
In his book, “Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television,” author, Jerry Mander writes about how he and his family were vacationing somewhere in Micronesia. They were led on their tour of the islands by a native who spoke English very well.
At one point in the trip, Mander noticed that unlike all of the tourists who had been warned to wear thick-soled sneakers to avoid the venomous poison of a native starfish, the guide walked around barefoot. Mander asked the guide why this was so, to which he answered, “If you step on one all you have to do is pick it up, turn it over, and place its underside directly on your wound. It will suck its own poison back out of you.”
Mander asked how the guide knew this to which he said, “Everybody around here knows that. Whenever there is something poisonous its antidote is never more than a few yards away. Everybody knows this. It’s the same everywhere.” This local fisherman knew what we only too often forget about our problems; that the answer is oftentimes closer than we think.
Learn more about Industrial wastewater treatment technology
John Smith is an author of a number of articles and papers on industrial processes and the pollutants produced by these activities. He has a BA in Industrial Engineering from Boston College and currently writes for journals focused on clean technology. Read his materials at: http://www.biopetroclean.com Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/wastewater-treatment-technology-natural-solutions-to-pollution-1177139.html