The surfactants and ...
Published by Andrew Tran, Engineer
The surfactants and synthetic chemicals would have a negative impact on the environment. Especially in our rivers and oceans. Please visit http://www.goesfoundation.com/ to see why. This is why I do not recommend reusing grey water without treatment.
Modern pharmaceuticals and other chemicals are becoming increasingly harder to breakdown. The government here considered this a few years ago. I would recommend otherwise until we learn how to treat these new chemicals.
Hydrodynamic cavitation could be the key, we have successfully removed 91 agricultural chemicals for a drinking water project here in Australia recently.
A membrane bio-reactor could be used although, the bacteria may not survive if concentrations of synthetic chemicals are too high. We have had a successful reuse project in China using this method of treatment for a hotel. The treated effluent is resued for their toilets and wash basins.
1 Comment
The Goes issues are generally irrelevant to recycled greywater. Recycling actually reduces transport to waterways and oceans, Soil applications allow soil bacteria to degrade many chemicals, about as well as sewage treatment plants. Recent pharmaceuticals are not more or less degradable then older ones. The most relevant question is whether certain substances would be taken up by food plants. Of course, waste recycling has been used for perhaps thousands of years, but it is probably better to avoid use on food plants, primarily because of possible pathogen recycling, if the wastewater or night soil has not been composted or sterilized. There are standards for that.
Published by Joseph Cotruvo, President at Joseph Cotruvo & Associates, Water , Environment and Public Health