There is no need to think twice about why you need proper methodologies and strategies for effective treatment of wastewater. It is indeed the need of the hour. Yes, you heard that straight, wastewater treatment is now a central factor significantly contributing to sustainable development. Today’s most prominent industries have voluntarily joined the bandwagon of responsible nature conservation. Furthermore, there are other major benefits you get to enjoy when you adapt to effective biological wastewater treatment and chemical treatment procedures. Here in this article, we will also take a closer look at the various facets involved with bakery & dairy industry wastewater treatment and why you need to go for it.
Significance of wastewater treatment
Water is for sure one of the most precious life-supporting resources that we have, of which only a meager 2.5% accounts for the world’s freshwater resource. On the contrary, the wastewater produced by us humans from various domestic, industrial, and agricultural activities can only be reused after effective chemical wastewater treatment and biological treatment techniques. This is what exactly makes the wastewater treatment process inevitable to lead a highly supportable life ahead.
Environmental benefits of wastewater treatment
You can see that there are two major environmental benefits you can enjoy with effectual wastewater treatment. One is the rightful protection of our precious ecosystem, and the other is the protection of biodiverse species.

- Ecosystem protection
There is no doubt that when you carelessly release untreated wastewater into nature, it harms the aquatic ecosystem around you. Chemicals such as phosphorous and nitrogen present in wastewater cause eutrophication. Eutrophication is simply a phenomenon that makes waterbodies enriched with extra nutrients. This added spur of chemical nutrients leads to excess growth of algae that can block sunlight, deplete oxygen, and generate excess oxygen, which turns out to be hazardous for other life forms in the aquatic surroundings. By adapting to effective chemical wastewater treatment methods, you can curb such issues to a large extent.
- Biodiversity protection
Aquatic ecosystems are considered one of the most extensive on our planet. These aquatic bodies host vast, diverse species of plant life, invertebrates, and fish. Releasing untreated wastewater leads to habitat degradation for these diverse aquatic lifeforms. They may even have to face extinction due to the presence of chemicals and other toxic substances. Treating wastewater and removing these pollutants enables you to ensure that the released wastewater is safe and does not cause any harmful impact but rather results in effective biodiversity conservation. Adding to that, wastewater after proper chemical wastewater treatment can also be further reused for irrigation purposes.
What is biological wastewater treatment?
At the surface level, you might find it a simple and easy process. However, there is much more to it. The biological treatment method for purifying wastewater uses a complex procedure that helps you naturally decompose the organic substances present in it.
When it comes to biological wastewater treatment, bacteria, and other small pathogenic organisms play a significant role in breaking down organic wastes through cellular processes. The main goal of this biological treatment method is to use the final decomposed or filtered waste particles for safe disposal back into nature. This type of wastewater treatment is considered safer and more economical when compared to other chemical as well as mechanical wastewater treatment procedures.
Comparison of chemical and biological treatment of wastewater process
- Chemical treatment process
The chemical treatment process is more useful when you want to remove toxic soluble substances present in the wastewater, such as zinc, cobalt, nickel, lead, aluminium, and mercury. Bacteria and other pathogens are not effective in breaking down such toxic chemical pollutants. In such cases, you need to go for wastewater treatment processes that use chemicals sodium or calcium hydroxide. This is because sodium and calcium hydroxides combine with other chemicals to create insoluble metal hydroxides, which can be easily removed from the wastewater.
- Biological treatment process
The biological treatment procedure for the purification of the pollutants starts when you introduce wastewater into a precisely created bioreactor. Pathogens such as bacteria and fungi in the bioreactor decompose and help to eliminate the toxic pollutants from the wastewater. This natural wastewater treatment process makes it safe for disposal or usable for other purposes.
As mentioned before, today, various industries need to adhere to proper wastewater treatment methodologies. Among them comes the bakery and dairy products production industry. We all love bakeries as they are the primary source of fresh baked food items. However, these baked yummies can also lead to the production of waste materials and wastewater. This ultimately calls for effective bakery wastewater treatment methods.
What makes bakery wastewater treatment important?
Bakery wastewater is formed in various ways. Most of it is created when you clean the entire facility. It can be either with the cleaning of floors or cleaning of equipment/containers used to store them or maybe both. There is a large possibility of the formation of waste compounds such as fats, oils, dairy products, sugars, and much more. All these dairy-related waste materials make the wastewater highly acidic, which can be harmful when you recklessly discharge it to sewage systems without proper treatment methods. This is exactly why you need to have an effective dairy wastewater treatment plan to mitigate such harmful effects and make the wastewater safe for disposal.
Basic steps involved in bakery wastewater treatment
The first and foremost step involved in bakery & dairy wastewater treatment is to make the effluents undergo a pretreatment procedure. This process is initiated with the removal of bulky solid items, which may consist of cooking gloves or hairnets used during the production of baked food items.
After the preliminary step is done comes the chemical process for you to carry on with the bakery/dairy wastewater treatment procedure. This chemical treatment process lets you proceed with the further breakdown of any suspended solids present in the wastewater.
Once you can neutralize the suspended solid particles along with any FOG charges formed, polymers are added. This step helps you to create a sludge that binds both the solids as well as FOG at the high surface level. Following that, the sludge is separated and disposed of the wastewater using a clarifier or a Dissolved Air Flotation, aka DAF system. You should remember that this pre-bakery/dairy industry effluent treatment is not still adequate for the final disposal of the sewage or the usage of other treatment plants.
This is where the next step in the dairy industry effluent treatment, comes into play. With the following process, you can minimize the Biological Oxygen Demand, aka BOD levels. A biological treatment method is required to reduce the BOD levels in the wastewater.
Importance of drainage in dairy industry effluent treatment
The first thing you need to make any wastewater treatment procedure successful is to ensure that the whole system is connected to a proper drainage system. Only then will you be able to discharge the effluents safely after the entire wastewater treatment is carried out.
Significance of having an effluent treatment plant in dairy industry
You should never ignore the importance of having one if you are a dairy products manufacturing company owner. This is because you will be able to reduce the harmful environmental impact, optimize your resource recovery, and, most importantly, adhere to various environmental regulations.
It is true that, like many other major industries, the dairy industries are also at the top of the list when it comes to the formation of waste and wastewater. This is why every company must have an effluent treatment plant in dairy industry.
In this highly competitive world, it is imperative to use the best resources available to you and make the most of having a competitive edge. The major benefits that you get to enjoy by having a modern effluent treatment plant in dairy industry are that you can minimize your operation costs substantially, successfully perform daily tasks, and effectively comply with the environmental regulations.
Conclusion
Wastewater treatment is indeed a quintessential process that helps you ensure a sustainable environment. Having a modern and fully equipped wastewater treatment plant installed for your company also provides other substantial benefits that we mentioned over here. It is also important to get the proper technical support and guidance from a professional team. The ones who are the real experts in this domain. Why wait? Contact Northamps now and enjoy the best results that await you.