Everything You Need to Know About the Water Reclamation Process

The water reclamation process significantly reduces how much water is wasted and allows reusable water to be allocated for essential purposes. What would typically go to waste can be used in agriculture and irrigation, groundwater replenishment, industrial processes, and more.

Also known as water reuse, the water reclamation process often happens naturally, although you can utilize a system to intentionally implement water reclamation into your industrial water treatment process. Reducing wastewater disposal not only cuts down on waste but also saves money and conserves vital resources. 

Today’s blog contains everything you need to know about the water reclamation process with a focus on the industrial water supply. Keep reading to learn more. 

What Is Water Reclamation? How Does It Work?

We know that water reclamation allows us to reuse water instead of wasting it. But how exactly does the process work? Water reclamation recycles pre-treated wastewater so that it can be used again. It can be used multiple times, too. You can use the water reclamation process for wastewater, stormwater, saltwater, or gray water.  

Simply put, the used water goes through the sewer system to a wastewater treatment plant, where the water is treated for its subsequent use. Water intended for use in an industrial building will be treated differently than water for irrigation. The difference? Not everything that needs water requires the same level of cleansing.

Once the wastewater is treated, it’s sent to a pump station, where the water is distributed to its destination(s). All the water can go to the same place, but it’s equally common for it to have multiple uses in different locations.

Reclaiming Wastewater In Industrial Settings

In industrial settings, reclaimed water is most often used for cooling system makeup water, boiler feed water, process water, and general washdown. For example, industrial wastewater could be mixed with activated sludge to achieve a high-quality effluent, thus maximizing quality and preventing toxicity. 

There are two primary ways that industrial water suppliers can utilize the water reclamation process. You can either reclaim the rejected feedwater at the inception of the process or reclaim the rejected wastewater at the end of the process. 

Reclaiming Rejected Feedwater

You can reclaim rejected feedwater after the first stage of reverse osmosis by introducing the rejected water as feed in a second reverse osmosis stage. 

Doing so does require more treatment due to the high salinity and total dissolved solids, but it’s a good way to save otherwise wasted water. It’s a good idea to use a modular system that can work in tandem with what you already have to cut down on extra costs. With the right system, you can save over 90% of the rejected feedwater.

Reclaiming Rejected Wastewater

You can reclaim rejected wastewater at the end of the process by installing a secondary filtration system that specializes in recycling rejected wastewater. 

Reclaiming rejected wastewater can be direct or indirect with the water that’s processed until it’s safe for reuse. Direct reuse involves agricultural and municipal water sources, while indirect reuse involves discharging water to a stream, impoundment, or aquifer, where it’s diluted and mixed with fresh water. 

Why Re-Use Wastewater?

Reusing wastewater allows us to reuse the same water over and over instead of constantly looking for new water sources. 

It’s unnecessary to use brand new water for everything, especially sludge water that’s used to achieve high-quality effluence. That would quickly debilitate our water infrastructure, preventing it from supplying water everywhere it’s needed. 

The water reclamation process enables us to protect our industrial water infrastructure while ensuring that clean water with a safe disposal method is available for everyone. Water reclamation protects our waterways and prevents our centralized treatment facilities from becoming over-burdened with water demands. 

The numbers speak for themselves; check out these stats. Up to 20 to 50% of the feedwater that goes through the city water conversion process gets rejected. There’s nothing wrong with that water. It just needs to be treated so that it’s safe for use. It’s a complete waste allowing that water to go unused simply because it was rejected in the feedwater process. 

Reusing your water can save up to 90% of that water that would normally go to waste. Water reuse reduces the environmental impact of wastewater discharge and saves money by reducing how much feedwater is purchased. 

Treating rejected wastewater also prevents it from flowing back into the ecosystem without being treated. Untreated wastewater isn’t safe for use and, as a result, contaminates clean water when it merges with it. Treating the rejected water before it flows into the ecosystem means preserving clean water and adding to that supply.

Use WTRBOX Mobile for Your Reclamation System.

WTRBOX allows industrial businesses just like yours to reclaim 90% or more of the water that would be lost in the process of converting feedwater. You can add a WTRBOX wastewater reclamation system to an existing feedwater treatment process. 

WTRBOX reclamation systems are modular, easy to install, and economical. They leave a small footprint and will save you money while increasing your water treatment capacity and enhancing the quality of your water. 

WTRBOX reclamation systems offer quick delivery, installation, and start-up with flexible contracts and no capital investment. We offer a pilot program to ensure you get the results you’re looking for. There’s virtually no risk involved. 

Ready to Get Started? J.Mark Systems has what you need.

J.Mark Systems is here to provide your industrial water treatment solution, whether that be WTRBOX or something else. Our turnkey systems efficiently manage the water in your industrial process. Our water treatment systems come with premier performance and eco-friendly systems. 

We offer WTRBOX mobile systems, along with reverse osmosis, multimedia filtration, membrane separation, ion exchange, bulk chemical feeds, and sludge dewatering and drying. 

Do you have questions? Are you ready to upgrade your water filtration system? Contact J.Mark Systems today, and rely on our decades of experience to help you pick out your perfect solution. We have the right turnkey solution for your needs.