Test Methods and Equipment for Wastewater Treatment

Water is arguably the world’s most precious resource, making wastewater treatment critical. This process purifies water for reuse, benefiting both people and the environment. Operators and engineers must conduct tests before and after wastewater treatment — and use the right equipment to do so — to ensure safety and compliance with the necessary regulations.

Essential Considerations

Professionals must prioritize safety when working with wastewater. Some steps operators can take to remain safe include following standard operating procedures to minimize chemical exposure, avoiding banned reagents, and obtaining the necessary permits for treatment.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulates wastewater discharge into American water sources. Companies treating wastewater should comply with these regulations by participating in the NPDES permit program.

Wastewater Testing

Prior to wastewater treatment, testing can inform treatment teams about the wastewater they’re working with, offering a helpful reference for treatment steps. This way, they can ensure the final treated effluent meets all requirements before discharge.

During wastewater testing, operators can analyze the following elements and components:

Physical properties: Testing the physical properties of wastewater includes looking at the pH balance, temperature, salinity, turbidity, color, and odor. Acidic water has a pH lower than 7, and alkaline water is above 8. A pH of 7 indicates neutral water, with regular tap water around 7.5.
Biological measurements: Biological treatment involves looking at factors like bioassays and coliform measurements to understand the contaminants contained in the wastewater and their adverse effects on the environment, specifically living organisms like fauna and flora.
Nutrients: Too many nutrients in water can lead to excessive algae, so agricultural and similar wastewater should be tested to determine whether their nutrients may harm people or wildlife.
Metal: Water from textile, paper, and metal finishing companies contribute to heavy metal contamination. Industrial wastewater should be tested for metals such as copper, mercury, lead, nickel and zinc.
Bacteria: Some types of bacteria use dissolved oxygen to degrade organic matter, affecting aquatic creatures that rely on this oxygen to live.
Solids: Operators should test wastewater for various solids, including dissolved, settled and suspended ones. A high amount of solids can absorb light and affect water temperature, affecting organisms living in the water.
Organic material: Even if contaminants are organic, they can still harm the environment. Wastewater should be tested to determine the level of organic pollutants and whether they pose a danger.

Types of Wastewater Testing Methods

Those in charge of wastewater management may benefit from understanding the different treatment options, the equipment needed to perform these tests, and which situations they’re best for.

Colorimetric

Colorimetric testing evaluates the concentration of certain substances in wastewater. This process involves adding chemicals to water and noting color changes caused by reagents. Some chemicals may produce an immediate reaction, whereas measuring the substance levels in others in others may take longer.

The test kit should state which colors indicate which results. Although a visual test procedure is convenient and easy to use, it can sometimes be challenging to identify the exact color and obtain a precise measurement.

Electrometric

Electrometric testing is one of the most common ways of determining the effectiveness of wastewater treatment. It can test various factors, like pH level or levels of different contaminants.

When conducting this test, operators isolate wastewater samples and insert electrodes. They then pass a small voltage through the water and obtain the reading. While this testing method might be expensive initially, it yields more accurate results.

Titrimetric

Titrimetric testing requires separating and testing a sample. Similar to the colorimetric method, this method uses an indicator reagent. The difference is that titrimetric testing is done alongside a titrant (reacting reagent), and the testing isn’t measured by the color of the wastewater when the reagent is added but rather by how many drops of the titrant it takes for the water to change color.

With this testing method, operators should use a calibrator to ensure all drops are equal in size.

Turbidimetric

When electrometric tests are too expensive, or operators are concerned about the accuracy of using color as the main metric for measurement, alternative methods of interpreting test results might be helpful.

Turbidimetric testing looks at the cloudiness or turbidity of a water sample to determine the level of chemicals or contaminants. Higher turbidity levels indicate a greater concentration of substances.

Testing Equipment Solutions

Regardless of your chosen testing method, you should have the equipment to test wastewater and obtain accurate results effectively. Some standard wastewater test equipment includes:

Chemical oxygen demand: This equipment tests wastewater’s biochemical oxygen demand to determine the amount of organic matter in the water throughout various phases of treatment.
Adenosine triphosphate: While more expensive, this equipment is often worth the investment due to its advanced testing capabilities. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) evaluates operating conditions. It’s performed less frequently than other tests — once operators have used it to establish a baseline, they only need to use it to determine if conditions have changed periodically.
Reverse osmosis: Reverse osmosis equipment is well-suited to regular tests, as it collects data daily and inputs it into a system. However, engineers and other wastewater experts should consistently monitor these results and invest in multimeters and silt density index to ensure accurate data collection.
Oxygen uptake rate: This equipment is more affordable than other options and is a versatile solution. Most equipment that tests oxygen uptake rate can also test other variables, allowing operators to determine the status of their wastewater using multiple metrics.

The Importance of Working With Experts

If your business generates wastewater, you must properly treat and dispose of it. Failure to do so harms the environment and may lead to fines or other consequences. For example, dumping pollutants into ocean water without a permit can lead to a fine of $250,000, among other implications, making it critical to dispose of waste legally.

Instead of worrying about researching and selecting the right equipment and treatment methods and then maintaining those treatment systems, consider partnering with a professional company specializing in wastewater management. This way, you can have peace of mind that your wastewater will be tested, treated and handled with the proper experience and knowledge.

Contact SSI Aeration, Inc for Effective Wastewater Management

At SSI Aeration, Inc, we aim to help businesses manage their wastewater through innovative treatment equipment and solutions. We understand every company is unique, so we offer various products, allowing you to select the best option for your needs.

Our high-quality, reliable equipment and systems give you efficient results. If you’re ready to take the next step, learn about our wastewater treatment options today, and contact us to see how we can help you achieve your goals.

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