Water consumption in hospitals, known for their high human traffic, is considerably elevated. The reclamation of greywater within hospital premises yields numerous environmental and economic benefits. A forward-looking approach should prioritize making greywater, excluding toilet wastewater, reusable.
Greywater, distinct from blackwater which includes toilet wastewater, comprises easily treatable waste in hospitals, devoid of blackwater. This category includes substances such as soap, toothpaste, food residues, hair, nails, skin particles, dandruff, creams, and detergents, arising from activities in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry, and dishwashing. The treated water can be effectively utilized for activities like flushing, garden irrigation, and cleaning, contributing significantly to the judicious use of our limited natural resources.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WATER TREATMENT DEVICES IN HOSPITALS FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE WATER CYCLE
Hospitals and healthcare facilities play a crucial role in safeguarding human health, but their high human activity levels lead to substantial water consumption and waste generation. According to the World Health Organization, an individual requires an average of 50-100 liters of water per day for a healthy life, totaling approximately 18-36 thousand liters per year. However, in developed countries, the average annual water consumption per individual is around 1.4 million liters. This rapid depletion of water resources contributes to the growing threat of water scarcity, projected to impact 40% of the world's population by 2030. Consequently, the imperative to reduce water consumption, ensure water conservation, and implement wastewater treatment and reuse strategies in hospitals becomes paramount for preserving our finite natural resources.
Furthermore, the wastewater produced by hospitals is classified as the most hazardous waste category for both human health and the environment, necessitating specialized handling procedures. Effective water and waste management in hospitals offers numerous economic and environmental benefits.
The adoption of wastewater recovery technologies in hospital settings yields significant advantages in terms of investment and operational cost-effectiveness, along with contributing to water conservation. By diminishing the reliance on potable water, which is extensively used, these technologies help save on the costs associated with distributing water through networks. Additionally, they play a crucial role in preserving limited natural resources for the future. Treated greywaters are stored in reservoirs for reuse in high-consumption areas, such as laundry washing, garden irrigation, and cleaning and disinfection processes.
The recovery of wastewater in hospitals is a crucial concern with significant implications for both the environment and the economy. Specialized water treatment technologies are employed in hospitals to treat and make greywaters, excluding toilet waste, reusable. These technologies prove cost-effective in terms of both initial investment and ongoing operation, promoting the conservation of water resources. The substitution of treated greywater for heavily consumed potable water in hospitals results in cost savings related to network water distribution and water bills. Additionally, it contributes to the safeguarding of limited natural water sources, mitigating the risk of water scarcity. Greywaters, stored in reservoirs post-treatment, find reuse in areas with high water consumption, including laundry washing, garden irrigation, cleaning, and disinfection processes. Consequently, efficient water and waste management practices in hospitals yield benefits for both the hospital budget and environmental well-being.
Greywaters, deriving from domestic activities excluding toilet waste, represent a significant wastewater source in hospitals. If left untreated or unrecovered for an extended period, accumulated or stored greywaters pose serious health and environmental risks. These risks include the development of odors, color changes, sludge formation, and the proliferation of microorganisms, bacteria, and microbes. Such conditions reduce oxygen levels in the water, degrade water quality, produce unpleasant odors, and alter taste. Furthermore, if this contaminated water mixes with sources used by humans and animals for drinking, bathing, watering, or swimming, it can lead to various diseases, infections, poisoning, and potentially fatal consequences.
On the flip side, medical wastes emanate from hospitals and healthcare institutions, representing the most perilous waste category for both human health and the environment. These wastes encompass materials such as blood, tissues, organs, bodily fluids, drugs, needles, serums, dressings, gauze, cotton, masks, gloves, surgical items, laboratory waste, radioactive waste, pathological waste, infectious waste, chemical waste, and more. Discharging medical wastes into sewers or the environment without proper cleaning, neutralization, or disinfection processes can lead to severe consequences. Such actions may result in sewage system blockages, contamination of water sources, soil and air poisoning, harm to plants and animals, and the transmission of diseases, including infections, cancer, allergies, birth defects, genetic disorders, organ failure, and even human fatalities.
In the context of the ongoing pandemic, meticulous management of medical waste and greywater in hospitals is paramount to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Implementing measures such as segregation, temporary storage, transportation, sterilization, and disposal of medical waste and greywater at their source is crucial to safeguard the health of both hospital staff and the broader community. The Medical Waste Control Regulation delineates technical and administrative principles related to the management of medical waste and greywater. Adherence to this regulation, including the implementation of a medical waste management plan and a greywater treatment and recovery system in hospitals, would yield benefits both environmentally and economically.
Given the heightened concentration of chemicals in the materials used in hospitals' kitchens, bathrooms, sinks, and machinery, it becomes crucial to implement treatment systems for greywater accumulation. This precaution is particularly important in hospitals, frequented for health reasons, to ensure that greywater does not pose a threat to human health. To avert potential risks, greywater must be reclaimed promptly, without accumulation or storage. The efficient reclamation of used water is pivotal for effective management of limited natural resources and the sustainability of essential services. The use of greywater recovery and treatment systems in hospitals becomes indispensable for protecting the environment and ensuring sustainability in the delivery of crucial services.
GREYWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND THEIR UTILIZED TECHNOLOGIES
Greywater, characterized by elevated concentrations of suspended solids, diverse chemicals, and microorganisms, ideally should lack phosphorus. Various treatment methods encompassing physical, chemical, and biological approaches can be applied for greywater reclamation. The treatment technologies employed include:
- MBBR Systems (Moving Bed Bioreactor): This system utilizes a biological treatment process where microorganisms attached to moving plastic carriers break down organic matter in the greywater.
- Activated Carbon Filtration Systems: Activated carbon is used in these systems to adsorb impurities and contaminants, effectively purifying the greywater.
- Multimedia Filtration Systems: Employing sand beds, these systems filter out suspended solids and other impurities from the greywater.
- MBR Systems (Membrane Bioreactor): Combining biological treatment with membrane filtration, MBR systems separate solids from the water using membranes.
- Disinfection Systems: Various techniques, such as chlorination or ultraviolet (UV) radiation, are implemented in these systems to eliminate or reduce harmful microorganisms in the greywater.
- Ultrafiltration (UF) Systems: Utilizing ultrafine membranes, these systems separate suspended solids, bacteria, and other contaminants from the greywater.
- Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems: These systems use a semipermeable membrane to remove a wide range of impurities and contaminants, resulting in high-quality treated greywater.
In hospitals, where water consumption is significant for our future, the composition of greywater varies depending on factors such as the number of employees, service recipients, prevalent treatments, and the use of chemicals. The design of water treatment technologies is influenced by the contaminant values required for purification. Prior to the design phase, a thorough analysis and determination of all desired values are essential to select appropriate technologies. Once a purposeful design is established, the project can move forward.
To reclaim wastewater, a combination of physical, chemical, and biological treatment methods is employed. The systems implemented for reclamation serve as economically viable water treatment solutions, effectively eliminating all undesired pollutants to produce purified water ready for reuse.
Preliminary treatment involves the use of physical methods. This initial step is considered standard practice before proceeding with other treatment processes. It aims to remove large particles through sedimentation and filtration processes. Membrane filters play a crucial role in eliminating suspended solids, including oils and other contaminants. Specifically designed for kitchen applications, smaller systems like oil separators are employed for oil separation, while larger hospital-wide treatments utilize Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) systems. DAF units employ air flotation to effectively remove oils. Importantly, physical processes are conducted without the application of any chemical methods.
Biological methods play a key role in purifying greywater by breaking down organic pollutants, allowing microorganisms to use them as nutrients. This process, followed by sedimentation, efficiently removes organic pollutants such as bacteria and fungi. It not only economically purifies the water but also hinders the reproduction of microorganisms, making it a straightforward method.
Chemical techniques involve coagulation, demineralization, and deionization processes, where wastewater undergoes cleaning stages in sedimentation pools. Various chemicals are added to precipitate unwanted substances and separate molecules. Greywaters are chemically purified by eliminating contaminants, with disinfection units utilizing UV and chlorination methods.
Disinfection and neutralization systems play a crucial role in balancing pH levels and eliminating viruses and bacteria in liquid medical waste. These technologies ensure the safe discharge of liquid medical waste into sewers, preventing the spread of viruses.
Wastes, nearly purified, undergo a final filtration stage using membrane filters. After the application of physical, chemical, and biological methods, any remaining unwanted wastes are filtered through highly sensitive filters, allowing only very fine water molecules and some ions to pass through. The water quality is then thoroughly checked, meeting both purification and legally specified standards.
The purified water is now ready for use, suitable for storage in tanks and subsequent reuse. It can be applied for cleaning, garden irrigation, and flushing purposes.
Greywater recovery systems stand as crucial technologies that enhance the image of hospitals, especially for healthcare institutions prioritizing nature, the environment, human health, and patient well-being. These technologies not only support the conservation of natural resources but also prove to be essential devices for our collective future. With low energy consumption and cost-effectiveness, they offer significant benefits.
RİVAMED provides tailored recovery solutions for hospitals, healthcare institutions, clinics, dental clinics, and private dialysis centers, ensuring the effective and efficient use of water. We offer container-type or mobile solutions for healthcare institutions facing space constraints.
For inquiries regarding water conservation, reclaimed water usage, environmental compatibility, virus prevention, cost reduction, sustainability support, and nature preservation, feel free to reach out to us.
World Health Organization1 2: Water Consumption and Water Conservation3: Water Scarcity4: Waste Management in Hospitals: [Water Use and Sustainable Water Management in Public Hospitals]5: What is Greywater6: Greywater Treatment Systems7: What is Medical Waste?8: Medical Waste Management9: Regulation on the Control of Medical Wastes: [Water Treatment and Recovery in Hospitals]: [Water Conservation and Waste Management in Hospitals]