Combating water pollution — Treatment inventory

Depending on the type of production, industrial activities generate a wide variety of continuous or discontinuous pollutant discharges.

The aim of industrial wastewater treatment is essentially to protect the natural environment, i.e. to obtain purified water that meets the discharge standards laid down by legislation. However, as part of the measures required for good water management in an industrial environment, treated water can also be reused in the plant, in particular for cooling and certain types of washing.

Depending on the nature and extent of the pollution, different processes can be used to purify industrial effluent, depending on the specific characteristics of the effluent and the degree of purification required. It should also be noted that, for the same type of pollution, different treatment solutions can be envisaged. The choice of solution must take into account not only technical considerations, such as the relative efficiency of the various possible processes, but also economic considerations, such as the estimated investment, operating and running costs. Finally, the chosen solution must be flexible enough to allow for subsequent adjustments to take account of rapid developments in pollution control techniques and stricter regulations.

This article presents the various treatment processes or chains for industrial wastewater, sewage sludge and odors that may be generated. For more detailed information, please refer to the specific articles (in this "Environment" treatise) in which the various technologies for treating industrial wastewater and sewage sludge are described.