Improving the Efficiency of Wastewater Biological Treatment at Chemical Plants

The potential for improving the efficiency of wastewater biological treatment by using carbonate slime (heat power engineering waste) as a secondary material resource is illustrated by the case of Kazan Synthetic Rubber Works. The details of interaction between carbonate slime and activated-sludge microorganisms with inorganic components of plant wastewater are considered. The authors came to the conclusion that adsorption material should be used and developed a process flow chart for wastewater biosorption treatment.     

我国城市水源水库水质风险成因及对策

我国城市水源中约40%为湖泊或水库,且大部分为水库,因此水源水库的水质状况对我国城市安全极其关键。本文综述了我国水源水库水质问题研究进展,分析了22个代表性水源水库的周年水质状况。结果发现,当前我国城市水源水库水质风险类型主要是异味问题、藻类水华、铁锰超标、有机质偏高、营养盐超标等。引发水源水库水质问题的主要原因包括流域开发强度过大、库底淤积及内源释放、生态系统结构失衡、气候与水文异常变化等。针对上述主要问题,提出了构建在线水质监测预警体系、控制流域土地开发强度、构建面源拦截及流域净化系统、疏浚底泥、优化生态系统结构、实施应急曝气与控藻工程、完善流域生态保护法律法规等多种水源水库水质安全保障技术措施。鉴于水源水库水质及水生态对暴雨、高温热浪等极端气象响应敏感而复杂,在当前极端天气事件频发、强度不断增加的气候背景下,还应加强水库生态学基础研究,以深入理解水源水库水质对气候变化的响应机制,提高水库水安全保障科技支撑能力,满足我国城市高质量发展的水资源需求。     

The impact of wastewater treatment effluent on microbial biomasses and diversities in coastal sediment microcosms of Hangzhou Bay

Disposal of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent into sea, a typical anthropogenic disturbance, may influence many environmental factors and change the coastal microbial community structure. In this study, by setting up coastal sediment microcosms perturbed by WWTP effluent, the changes of microbial community structure under different degree of disturbances were investigated. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) were used to analyzed the biomass and biodiversity. High throughput sequencing analysis was used to identify the classification of the microorganisms. Our study suggested that low ratio of WWTP effluent may stimulate dominant species, which increase the biomass but decrease the biodiversity; while high ratio of WWTP effluent may depress all species, which decrease the biomass but increase the biodiversity. In other words, the impact was dose-dependent. The changes of microbial community structure may provide a metric for water environmental assessment and pollution control.     

Effect of pore water of fine sediments on the ecological conditions of hydrosphere under oil-and-gas technogenesis conditions

Experimental models are used to study the poorly known function of pore waters, i.e., their role in hydrosphere pollution. This issue is studied as applied to modern bottom sediments, soil-forming grounds of the aeration zone, and impermeable clays in aquifers. The natural and technogenic geodynamic loads, accompanied by compaction and destruction of water-bearing rocks, are shown to intensify the processes of pore water pressing with the release of rock-forming elements, heavy metals, and organic substances into bottom water layers in water bodies, free soil or intermediate waters. This results in an environmental damage to water bodies, which could be used for drinking water supply and fishery. This study is of particular importance in areas of present-day oil and gas production.     

Wastewater reclamation and reuse in Eureau countries

Eureau is the Union of most National Associations of Water Suppliers and Wastewater Services in Europe. Most northern Eureau countries have abundant water resources. There, the need for extra supply through the reuse of treated wastewater is not a priority, but the protection of the receiving environment is considered important. The situation is different in the southern Eureau countries, where the additional resources brought by wastewater reuse can bring significant advantages to agriculture (e.g. crop irrigation) and tourism (e.g. golf course irrigation). There, wastewater is reused but under very diverse regulatory environments. Therefore, considering its various potential benefits (protection of water resources, prevention of coastal pollution, recovery of nutrients for agriculture, augmentation of river flow, savings in wastewater treatment, groundwater recharge, and sustainability of water resource management, etc.), wastewater reclamation and reuse can be applied to the advantage of both northern and southern Eureau countries. In order to take advantage of its full potential, Eureau would like to become involved in setting up international best practices and guidelines related to the reuse of treated wastewater. Such criteria and/or guidelines should contribute to a better management of water resources, a better protection of public health and of the environment and to a more sustainable development. Reclaimed wastewater is a reliable source of water that must be taken into account in formulating a sustainable water policy. To encourage wastewater reclamation and reuse in all Eureau countries and to establish its safe practice, European guidelines for most applications must be developed.     

Remediation of Contaminated Ground Water Using Biological Techniques

On-site biological cleanup following spills of biodegradable hazardous organic compounds in lagoon, soil, and ground water environments is a cost-effective technique when proper engineering controls are applied. Biodegradation of hazardous organic contaminants by microorganisms minimizes liability by converting toxic reactants into harmless end products.
Three case histories presented in this paper detail:
• Bench-scale evaluation of the potential for biological remediation in the spill site matrix
• Field implementation of biological treatment techniques.
Cost-effectiveness, minimal disturbance to existing operations, and on-site destruction of spilled contaminants are several of the advantages identified for implementing biodegradation as a technique for spill cleanup and environmental restoration.     

Evidence of methylmercury production and modification of the microbial community structure in estuary sediments contaminated with wastewater treatment plant effluents

The Seine’s estuary (France) waters are the receptacle of effluents originating from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). In this estuary, mudflats are deposition zones for sediments and their associated contaminants, and play an essential role in the mercury (Hg) biogeochemical cycle mainly due to indigenous microorganisms. Microcosms were used to assess the impact of WWTP-effluents on mercury methylation by monitoring Hg species (total dissolved Hg in porewater, methylmercury and total mercury) and on microbial communities in sediments. After effluent amendment, methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations increased in relation with the total Hg and organic matter content of the WWTP-effluents. A correlation was observed between MeHg and acid-volatile-sulfides concentrations. Quantification of sulfate-reducing microorganisms involved in Hg methylation showed no increase of their abundance but their activity was probably enhanced by the organic matter supplied with the effluents. WWTP-effluent spiking modified the bacterial community fingerprint, mainly influenced by Hg contamination and the organic matter amendment.     

Wasserchemie und Stoffwirtschaft

For the solving of the most important main tasks of water quality economy, of the supply of drinking water, industrial water and irrigation water without damaging or otherwise detrimental substances we need the available findings and results of specialized research in water chemistry. In the logical continuation of the further development up to the level of maturity for practice, the experts of the engineering disciplines have to be consulted. The design of the sequence of water treatment processes depends on the aims of the tasks set, there being increasing by raised the question concerning the possibilities of the saving and winning of energy and raw materials. — Already in the sphere of production, however, in the interest of environment protection one endeavours to achieve a direct or indirect low-waste or non-waste process design. Finally, possibilities of materials and power economy are discussed by the examples of the treatment of the wastewaters of the chemical industry and of municipal wastewaters.     

Ocean storage of nuclear wastes? Experiences from the Russian Arctic

An international demonstration (RD&D) project for ocean storage of radioactive wastes should be proposed, to study the feasibility of the concept of ocean storage of nuclear waste. This international project should utilize the scientific, engineering and technical capabilities of selected universities, oceanographic institutions, NGOs and industries. This project would need to be an independent (non-governmental) study, utilizing the capabilities of selected universities, oceanographic institutions, environmental NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) and industries. Scientists and engineers first need to conduct an engineering, environmental, and economic feasibility study of the concept. The goal of the project would be to determine if ocean-based storage reduced the risks to the environment and public health to a greater degree than land-based storage. This would require comparing the risks and factors involved and making the data and information available to anyone, anywhere, anytime on the internet. The mere presence of an investigation of the ocean storage option could facilitate scientific and engineering competition between the two options, could subsequently reduce environmental and public risks and provide better protection and cost benefits in the system utilized. One of the primary concerns of the scientific community would be related to the sensitivity and precision of the monitoring of individaul containers on the ocean bottom. An advantage of the land-based option is that if there is a release, its presence could be detected at very low levels and be contained in the storage facility. On the ocean bottom, a release from a container might not be easily detected due to dispersion. Therefore the containment system would have to be a system within a system with monitoring between the two providing greater protection. Ocean storage may have greater technical and political hurdles than land-based options, but it may provide greater protection over time, because it negates the threat of terrorism, it therefore merit further study. In the future if the use of nuclear energy and nuclear wastes increases, the global society could benefit from this international project, because it could reduce environmental and public health risks and promote energy independence.     

Affordable Enteric Virus Detection Techniques Are Needed to Support Changing Paradigms in Water Quality Management

In light of water quality monitoring paradigms shifting to a more holistic approach, it is essential that environmental microbiologists embrace new methodological developments in clinical virology to create rapid, laboratory‐free methods for the identification of wastewater pollution. It is widely accepted that routine monitoring of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) does not adequately reflect human health risks associated with fecal pollution, especially risks posed by viruses. Enteric viruses are typically more resistant to wastewater treatment and persist longer in the environment than FIB. Furthermore, enteric viruses often have extremely low infectious doses. Currently, the incorporation of sanitary surveys, short‐term monitoring of reference pathogens, exploratory quantitative microbial risk assessments, and predictive ecological models is being championed as the preferred approach to water management. In addition to improved virus concentration methods, simple, point‐of‐use tests for enteric viruses and/or improved viral indicators are needed to complement this emerging paradigm and ensure microbial safety worldwide.

     

Water quality management in a wetland system using an inexact left-hand-side chance-constrained fuzzy multi-objective approach

Water quality management is a significant item in the sustainable development of wetland system, since the environmental influences from the economic development are becoming more and more obvious. In this study, an inexact left-hand-side chance-constrained fuzzy multi-objective programming (ILCFMOP) approach was proposed and applied to water quality management in a wetland system to analyze the tradeoffs among multiple objectives of total net benefit, water quality, water resource utilization and water treatment cost. The ILCFMOP integrates interval programming, left-hand-side chance-constrained programming, and fuzzy multi-objective programming within an optimization framework. It can both handle multiple objectives and quantify multiple uncertainties, including fuzziness (aspiration level of objectives), randomness (pollutant release limitation), and interval parameters (e.g. water resources, and wastewater treatment costs). A representative water pollution control case study in a wetland system is employed for demonstration. The optimal schemes were analyzed under scenarios at different probabilities (p _i , denotes the admissible probability of violating the constraint i). The optimal solutions indicated that, most of the objectives would decrease with increasing probability levels from scenarios 1 to 3, since a higher constraint satisfaction probability would lead to stricter decision scopes. This study is the first application of the ILCFMOP model to water quality management in a wetland system, which indicates that it is applicable to other environmental problems under uncertainties.     

Physico‐Chemical and Bacterial Characteristics of Water Quality in Three Villages West of Lake Nasser,Egypt

The present study aims to investigate physico‐chemical and bacterial characteristics of Nasser Lake water and houses drinking water, as well as fish cultures and its wastewater, in three villages west of Lake Nasser, Egypt. Fifteen representative water samples (Nasser Lake, different drinking water, fish cultures, and wastewater sources) were collected from three villages (Garf Hussein, Bashaier, and Kalabsha) in the west of Lake Nasser. Physico‐chemical, total viable counts, and bacterial qualification of water were achieved. The obtained results indicated that the produced water, supposed to be for domestic use in the three villages, contained all the tested organisms. The investigated water samples of the lake and drinking water in the selected three villages are supposed to be chemically safe according to World Health Organization and to Egyptian standards for drinking water. Water pollution index (WPI) was used in this study and the result concluded that for irrigation canals from the lake to the agriculture site, fish cultures (both concrete and earth pond systems), and drainage canal of fish ponds need to be treated before it is discharged to the lake. It is better to reuse it after treatment for agricultural purposes or recycled it to the fish cultures.     

人工湿地废水处理系统的生物学基础研究进展

主要阐述了人工湿地废水处理系统中生物学基础的研究进展,至今,对作为湿地生产者的水生植物研究较多,水生植物除直接吸收利用废水中的营养物质,吸附和富集重金属外,还起输送氧气至根区,形成根区多种微环境和维护湿地水力传输的作用;而对作为湿地分解者的微生物的研究较少,湿地微生物的代谢活动是废水中有机物质降解的基础机制。     

Variations in wastewater composition in the water use system of Kovdorskii mining-and-processing integrated works

Variations in wastewater composition in the case of seepage through levees bounding treatment facilities as a function of the composition of dump rock and recirculation water of the concentrating mill. The character and degree of pollutant leaching is established as a function environmental pH. Measures for mitigating the adverse impact of the interaction between disintegrated tailing dumps and rock-forming overburden with the recirculation water of tailing dump on water resources of the area of production activity of the Kovdor Mining-and-Processing Integrated Works (MPIW)     

Inexact quadratic joint-probabilistic programming for water quality management under uncertainty in the Xiangxi River, China

An inexact quadratic joint-probabilistic programming model for water quality management (IQJWQ) is developed and applied to supporting multiple-point-source waste reduction in the Xiangxi River, China. The IQJWQ is a hybrid of interval quadratic programming, joint probabilistic programming and multi-segment water quality simulation. It has advantages in reflecting uncertainties expressed as joint probabilities of system risk, probability distributions of water quality standards, interval parameters and nonlinearities in the objective function. An interactive and derivative algorithm is employed for solving the IQJWQ model. The results indicate that the Pingyikou chemical plant and Liucaopo chemical plant contribute more to pollution of the main stream in the Xiangxi River, which should be the prior plants to reduce the wastewater discharge and enhance the wastewater treatment efficiencies. Meanwhile, the environmental agencies should choose the joint probability carefully to balance the tradeoff between production development and pollution control. Compared with the conventional chance-constrained programming method, the IQJWQ exhibits an increased robustness in handling the overall system risk in the optimization process. Although this study is the first application of the IQJWQ to water quality management, the proposed methods in the IQJWQ can also be applicable to many other environmental management problems under uncertainty.     

太湖湖滨带的生态建设

太湖湖滨带是太湖流域重点污染控制区之一。本文根据流域生态学与流域管理学的原理,提出了太湖湖滨带生态建设的途径。（1）发展生态农业,减少农田污染。（2）入湖河道沿岸两侧建设河岸林带,成为农田与河流间的缓冲带。（3）加强沿岸丘陵的水土保持。（4）充分利用湖泊湿地的净化功能,作为治理太湖富营养化的有效措施。（5）选择入湖河道河口,在试验基础上建立人工湿地。推动太湖湖滨带生态建设工程顺利开展的措施：（1）提高全社会的环境保护意识。（2）从组织和制度上加强湖滨带污染控制管理。（3）建立环境监测和信息管理系统。（4）开展湖滨带污染控制工程的试验研究。     

Algal Cultivation for Treating Wastewater in African Developing Countries: A Review

The tremendous increase in human population and rapid decline in freshwater resources have necessitated the development of innovative and sustainable wastewater treatment methods. Africa as a developing continent is currently backing on sustainable solutions to tackle impending water resource crisis brought forward by wastewater‐induced environmental pollution and climate change. Microalgae‐based wastewater treatment systems represent an emerging technology that is capable of meeting the new demand for improved wastewater treatment and climate change mitigation strategies in an environmentally friendly manner. This review critically looks at the opportunities of Africa in harnessing and exploiting the potential of microalgae for the treatment of various wastewaters based on their capacity to recycle nutrients and for concurrent production of valuable biomass and several useful metabolites. Wastewaters, if improperly/completely untreated and discharged, simultaneously pollute freshwater sources and present significant health and environmental risks. Nutrients in wastewater can be utilized and recovered in the form of marketable biomass and products when integrated with the cultivation of microalgae. Several valuable bioproducts can be generated from wastewater‐grown microalgal biomass including biofuels, biofertilizers, animal feed, and various bioactive compounds. This biorefinery approach would most certainly improve wastewater treatment process economics, enhancing the technical feasibility of algae‐based wastewater remediation in African countries.     

香港水环境管理重点分析

With a high population density, immense commercial and industrial activities, Hong Kong produces over two million tonnes of municipal wastewater each day. Until recently, about 50% of the municipal wastewater enters water courses, rivers, and coastal waters without treatment. Untreated organics, heavy metals and refractory synthetic materials accumulate in certain areas, and have led to breakdown of aquatic and marine ecological systems, closure of beaches, red tides and bioaccumulation in seafood. In 1974, a team of consultants was commissioned to study the water pollution problems encountered in Hong Kong. After two decades in the effort to improve the water environment, a flexible framework for environmental planning and management over the following ten years has been designed. This programme comprises (1) establishment of water control zones and pollution control legislation, (2) upgrading of services and facilities for management of municipal sewage and chemical wastes, and (3) construction of the "Strategic Sewage Disposal Scheme". In line with this programme, a priority has been set on implementing a "polluter pays policy" which requires the industries to share the costs of sewage treatment and encourages them to install on-site wastewater pretreatment facilities to reduce wastewater generation and to ensure sustainable development.     

Treatment of Integrated Steel Plant Wastewater Using Conventional and Advanced Techniques

The integrated steel industry is considered as one of the important industrial sectors, and its outputs are inputs for other sectors including construction, engineering, medical and scientific equipment, and defence. Massive production, consumption, and export of steel signify a country's economic index. This review outlines the World's steel production quantities, the processes involved, and wastewater generation from the industry and its treatment. Wastewater generated from steel plants is highly complex and requires intensive treatment before discharge into natural water bodies. Technologies adopted for treating wastewater generated from steel industries are deliberated, focusing on coking wastewater treatment. Microbial mediated processes provide an effective means of degrading the contaminants, but the toxicity of certain compounds during higher pollutant load inhibits its further treatment. However, these processes can be integrated with either electrochemical technologies or advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), which can reduce the toxicity level. Hence, when a highly concentrated and complex mixture of contaminants is considered, an integrated approach is a resourceful option in terms of cost-effectiveness and treatment efficiency.