Wastewater FAQ - Norweco - Frequently Asked Questions

What does a wastewater treatment plant do?

Treatment plants remove impurities contained in wastewater so that the treated wastewater can be safely returned to the environment.  This same stabilization process occurs in nature to break down wastewater into its most basic components of carbon dioxide and water.  Common methods of treatment include physical, biological and chemical treatment steps to stabilize the wastewater.  Norweco wastewater treatment plants are designed to accelerate and control nature’s process to insure proper treatment is provided.

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Where does the water go once it is treated?

Treated wastewater is returned to the environment by a number of different methods.  Depending on the degree of treatment and local regulations, it may be absorbed into the soil, discharged directly into a surface waterway or reused by a method like spray irrigation.

Are wastewater treatment systems really necessary?  My grandparents never had to worry about them.

Your grandparents also had to worry a lot more about typhoid, cholera and other infectious diseases that are transmitted by unsanitary water.  Wastewater treatment systems serve primarily to protect the health of the general population by insuring that water supplies remain clean.  In today’s world, people live a lot longer than they used to and higher population concentrations result in increased organic loading to the waterways from a variety of sources.  Modern wastewater treatment systems contribute to a safer, cleaner environment by reducing this organic load and controlling the presence of bacteria and waterborne diseases.

What is the difference between a sewer system and an onsite treatment system?

A sewer system is a series of pipes that collect wastewater and transport it to a remote location where the wastewater is processed by a municipal treatment system.  An onsite treatment system collects, treats and disposes of wastewater from a single source in the same location that it is generated.  Municipal and onsite treatment systems utilize many of the same treatment processes, but a municipal sewer system collects and treats wastewater from many different locations.

Why are onsite systems necessary? Why don’t they just run sewers everywhere?

Population density, the topography of the area, soil conditions and numerous other factors are involved in the construction and operation of a sewage collection system.  Increasing migration to suburban and rural areas make municipal sewers more difficult and costly to build and maintain.  Onsite treatment systems are often the most practical and cost-effective solution for wastewater treatment and disposal.

I recently moved from the city to the country.  What are the considerations to having a septic tank or onsite treatment system?

A good rule of thumb is don’t put anything into your wastewater treatment system that is not biodegradable.  Your local health department can provide you with guidance on the operation and care of your onsite treatment system.  Just as a municipal treatment plant requires a staff to provide operation and maintenance, your onsite system will require periodic inspection, service and maintenance.  Remember, your onsite treatment system is an asset that you own.  Like any other asset (such as a car, furnace, etc.) the better you take care of it, the better it will serve you.

I cannot locate my septic tank.  How do I find it?

Your local health department should have information regarding the location of your septic tank.  Also, a local septic tank pumping service or your Norweco distributor can employ several different types of technology to verify the tank location.

My local regulatory agency wants me to pay them to inspect my onsite system, or to buy a service contract from a local company.  Why should I do this?

All wastewater treatment systems require periodic service and maintenance.  A service contract from a local company or regulatory agency is an economical insurance policy against premature system failure and forced replacement.  This type of service contract is usually much cheaper than paying municipal sewer bills.

May we help you?

With the meteoric increase in population comes a meteoric increase in water consumption and pollution! The challenge is therefore to develop wastewater treatment technologies that are both efficient and accessible to all so that no more polluted water is discharged into the environment.

First of all, it is essential to know what is considered to be wastewater. This includes water from homes and businesses, but also snowmelt and runoff from outdoor activities. 

In this article, we will highlight the different steps and methods that can be used to treat this wastewater, but also the characteristics that should be taken into account when choosing the right wastewater treatment system.

Why is water treatment so important? 

Wastewater contains all kinds of pollutants: biological, physical, and chemical. This is why it is important to ensure that the water released into the environment is clean and can be reused for agricultural purposes such as soil irrigation. 

The goal is to preserve nature while saving costs and energy.

What are the different phases of wastewater treatment?

Step 1: Primary Decantation

Water treatment is done in several phases and at each stage, a different method is used.

Be reassured, the first two stages of treatment, which are sufficient for the treatment of domestic wastewater, do not use any chemical products. Good news, right?

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The first phase of water treatment uses a physical approach to remove the densest impurities from the water, hence the name: physical method.

The physical method, or primary decantation, is done in a tank called "Primary Tank". By the force of gravity, all solids, heavier than water, fall to the bottom of the tank and all oily materials float to the surface. The pre-treated water then passes through a pre-filter, which looks like a large brush, before flowing into the treatment tank.

Step 2: Secondary Treatment

Let's introduce the second phase which comes after the decanting or pre-treatment stage. At BIOROCK, all our products use a biological method!

This biological treatment involves the use of micro-bacteria. These bacteria feed on the pollutants present in the water, thus allowing the decomposition of waste and the elimination of all polluting micro-particles.

Two processes can be used to treat water biologically:

• The aerobic process: This is the process we use in our BIOROCK wastewater treatment systems. Bacteria are hungry for the organic waste present in the wastewater, devour them and convert them into CO2. For this to work, there must be a circulation of oxygen in the tank. Bacteria need to breathe, just like us!

• Fermentation process (Anaerobic): The waste in the water ferments at a certain temperature. Unlike the aerobic process, no air is required for this process.

At BIOROCK, we want to use only the most ecological and sustainable sanitation methods possible. That's why our solutions filter water using a mineral media: rock wool. Our two-stage ECOROCK and MULTIROCK non-collective sanitation solutions consist of an all-water tank (primary decantation) and a treatment tank using an aerobic treatment process.

Which methods should be chosen for water treatment?

To choose the right wastewater treatment method for your needs, you must take into account several characteristics: the type of wastewater you want to treat, the bacteria present in this water, and also the destination of the water after its treatment.

Don't forget that the method(s) you choose must always respect the regulations in force in the locality where the installation is located. Naturally, they must respect the environment as much as possible in order to respect your sustainable development approach.

Do you want to choose the most ecological, economical, and efficient non-collective sanitation solution on the market for your home, restaurant, or even hotel? Our qualified technicians are at your disposal to assist you in your project.

Contact them right away by sending an to the following address:

Water treatment is a crucial element for the protection of the environment.

Discharging clean water back into nature or using it for agricultural purposes for soil irrigation, contributes to the protection of biodiversity and our planet, and therefore of future generations.

Treating your water biologically before releasing it into nature is protecting the environment and the biodiversity that surrounds it, so what are you waiting for?

Are you interested in learning more about GFS Tanks? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!