subject: The Truth About Microbial Water Treatment [print this page] People everywhere are paying close attention to the health of the environment. More than ever before, we want protect our natural resources. We especially want to know where our food and water comes from. Is it safe? What has it been exposed to? What chemicals have been used to treat it? With this kind of concern, it is no surprise that microbial water treatment has come under scrutiny.
Part of the fear centers around what a microbe really is. A microbe is any organism that is so small it cannot be seen without the use of a microscope. Therefore, by definition a microbe is any virus, bacteria or even fungus! When people hear that water is being treated with microbes, they fear the water supply will be filled with dangerous microorganisms that can cause disease and death.
The truth, however, is that while there are dangerous viruses and bacteria, there are also helpful ones. They appear in our lives every day. Yeast, which makes bread rise, is actually a fungus. Bacteria is responsible for making cheese. We even have bacteria in our bodies that help us digest food.
In the same way, beneficial microbes are used in the treatment of our waste. In waste water management facilities, microbial water treatment is essential for reducing sludge. Sludge is organic solid waste that is left after the filtering process. This sludge has to be doused with chemicals and properly disposed of.
But this solution is as bad as the problem! We all know that chemicals can cause everything from cancer to animal species die-offs. When waste water management facilities use microbial water treatment solutions to reduce sludge, they also reduce the amounts, and types, of chemicals introduced into our ecosystems.
While microbial treatment is primarily used in industrial and waste water scenarios, these kind of treatments can be used around the home. One common example can be found in sewer maintenance. There are bacterial additives you can pour into your septic tank that will clean the pipes and help break down the organic materials that keep your septic system from working properly.
While it is really important to understand our water, one must separate the facts from the fiction. The media is full of articles on dangerous microbes in our water. Just know that microbes can be helpful as well as harmful. Microbial water treatment options are a safe and environmentally responsible solution to waste water management.
