Chapter 3.1.3 : Assessing the Efficiency of Wastewater Treatment

Abstract:

Wastewater treatment is one of the most important of societal commitments to the health of human populations. This summary provides an overview of analyzing how well the processes meet the goal of providing discharges that do not degrade the environment nor put the health of populations dwelling in or affected by that environment. Basic processes of waste treatment are illustrated and both aqueous and solid discharges are addressed with the most important treatment processes and the parameters that are sampled to assess their efficacy presented. In common with most biological systems studied, recent advances in molecular, whole genome or metagenome techniques and procedures have allowed great advances in our understanding of how these microbial systems function. Bioassays of enormously complex means of biological treatment are shown in context. New methods of understanding whole-system microbiomes are noted with seminal publications. Older bioassay techniques are explained and the empirical underpinnings of many processes that are only now understood more fully are reviewed.