Industrial effluent treatment involves a process of treating the wastewater generated by industrial plants and factories. The main goal of industrial effluent treatment is to reduce the pollution of water bodies and ensure that the effluent meets the applicable standards for effluent discharge. Depending upon the type of effluent, the appropriate treatment techniques need to be employed.
An industrial effluent treatment plant is a facility designed to receive and treat wastewater from industrial sources. The plant may be a public or a private facility, and it is usually located adjacent to or near the industrial sources it serves. The treated effluent is typically discharged into a nearby water body.
The plant typically includes a variety of processes and technologies to remove pollutants from the wastewater, including physical, chemical, and biological treatment. Physical treatments may include sedimentation, filtration, and flocculation. Chemical treatments may include precipitation, oxidation, and neutralization. Biological treatments may include activated sludge, aeration, and anaerobic digestion.
The treated effluent often meets certain effluent standards set by the regulating authority, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These standards may include limits on concentrations of pollutants such as suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, and total nitrogen.