By Lauren Harrington, Industry Director, North America Infrastructure, Rockwell Automation
In wastewater treatment, aeration plays a critical role in the fight against pollution and contamination and in the effort to protect communities and comply with new contamination regulatory requirements. This fundamental step of aeration is the cornerstone of wastewater treatment facilities worldwide.
It’s essential for purifying water by breaking down organic pollutants and ensuring its safety for reuse or discharge back into the environment. However, its voracious appetite for energy, accounting for 60% of facility power requirements, poses a considerable challenge to the operational costs and sustainability of wastewater treatment plants.
Role of Aeration
Aeration, simply put, is the process of infusing oxygen into wastewater to stimulate the growth of beneficial microorganisms. These microorganisms, in turn, devour organic matter to effectively cleanse the water of harmful pollutants such as pathogens, nitrogen compounds and organic chemicals.
Without adequate aeration, the microbial activity essential for wastewater treatment would grind to a halt, resulting in compromised water quality and environmental hazards.
The Energy Dilemma
Aeration is a crucial process, but it comes with a significant operational cost — energy consumption. Aeration systems use motors to continuously pump air into large basins that support the microbial population necessary for wastewater treatment. As a result, energy costs can account for up to 30% of a utility's total operation and maintenance (O&M) expenses, with aeration systems being the primary energy consumers within wastewater treatment plants.
