WRV – Waste and Recycling Expo Việt Nam

Understanding Industrial Wastewater Treatment: 5 Solutions

Manufacturing plants have sprung up in industrial zones that help create jobs for workers and grow national GDP. However, the amount of industrial wastewater discharged more and more dangerous components, a complex in quantity and composition, pollutes water sources, harms the environment and directly affects human health. Understanding what industrial wastewater is and industrial wastewater treatment solutions, will help businesses, factories and enterprises find the most appropriate and effective wastewater treatment plan. This also creates economic benefits for businesses. Therefore, this is also an environmental responsibility, businesses work together to build a green industry in Vietnam. Join RX Tradex to explore this topic through the following article.

What is industrial wastewater?

What is wastewater? Water that is discharged after being used for a certain purpose, is no longer valid for reuse. Depending on the origin, there are types: Industrial wastewater, domestic wastewater, rainwater ,…

Industrial wastewater is a form of wastewater generated in the industrial production process of factories and processing facilities of organizations and enterprises. These include: Wastewater used to clean machinery and activities of workers involved in production. Wastewater will contain many substances and compounds dissolved or suspended in the aquatic environment to create a contaminated, reactive or toxic mixture that is harmful to humans or the living environment.

Wastewater is usually preliminarily treated at each factory and then sent to the treatment system of the industrial park (IP). The standard wastewater output at each unit will follow a minimum number of regulations. If it is necessary to handle the next steps, the enterprise will pay a fee for the IP. On average, 1m3 of wastewater will have a treatment fee of 1,200-2,500 VND/m3. [1]

Common types of industrial wastewater

Industrial wastewater is very diverse in composition, the amount generated depends on: Production field, technology applied, newness of machinery, operator’s consciousness,…

Industrial wastewater can be divided into the following forms:

· Water contains metal ions.

· Soluble organic matter or emulsion. Examples: Surfactants in washing powders, phenols and derivatives, dyes, compounds containing functional groups of nitrates, nitrites and chlorides.

· Greases and suspended solids: Sand, fibers, latex, metal oxides and hydroxides,…

· CN, Cr, S2.

· Strong acid and base salts, ionized and non-ionized organic matter.

· Sugars, phenols, and other easily degradable organic matter.

Sources of industrial wastewater.

Industrial wastewater is not only a by-product of oil and gas production or mining companies, chemicals but also a by-product of the food and beverage processing industry; or of the production of clothing and footwear,…

Most factories and industrial production facilities generate wastewater. Some typical industries with complex wastewater, difficult to treat such as:

· Mining, oil and gas.

· Electronics manufacturing.

· Metalworking, mechanical, metallurgical, iron and steel plants.

· Power plants.

· Boiler services.

· Paper mill.

· Industrial laundry.

· Leather shoes, garments, textile dyeing, printing.

· Food and beverage production and processing.

· Production of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, plant protection drugs, stationery, building materials,…

· Wastewater discharged from livestock breeding or slaughtering facilities.

Harm of industrial wastewater.

According to the source of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the total amount of wastewater discharged from industrial parks nationwide reaches about 3 million m3/1 day and night [2]. Of which, up to 70% [2] is discharged directly into canals, ponds and lakes without any treatment. The amount of industrial wastewater is at this alarming level, causing serious and far-reaching impacts on all aspects of human life.

· Environmental destruction: Wastewater easily circulates, spreads to rivers and lakes and seeps deep into the ground, polluting groundwater. It then alters the properties of water sources, causing living organisms to be poisoned, die or mutate genes. This affects humans directly or indirectly through the food chain and domestic water.

· Economic impact: Polluted water sources cause agro-forestry-fishery activities to reduce productivity and low quality of finished products. People lost their income, quit their jobs or were unemployed. Socio-economic life is seriously affected.

· Impact on human health: First water pollution, then air and the environment. People living in polluted areas will be more susceptible to dangerous respiratory diseases and even cancers and mutations,… and many other infectious diseases.

Therefore, there should be clear regulations on standards of wastewater discharged into the environment and penalties for non-compliance. In addition, it is necessary to join hands, contribute and awareness of managers as well as employees of each factory to reduce the burden of environmental pollution.

Summary

Through the article, readers must have understood somewhat about “What is industrial wastewater? And industrial wastewater treatment solutions”. The effective management of industrial wastewater not only helps protect the living environment that is increasingly under serious threat, but also helps businesses improve their reputation and develop a sustainable brand. WRV23 exhibition is the ideal destination to help troubleshoot questions about industrial wastewater treatment. At the same time, in 2023, there are also international exhibitions Vietnam Manufacturing Expo, METALEX Vietnam, NEPCON Vietnam to meet the expectations of businesses in the industry.

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[1] Wastewater treatment costs.

[2] Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Information – Total Wastewater.

[3] Mechanical method.