BHE314 - Environmental Health and Safety

Module 3 - Case

Water Quality; Wastewater Management

It is a common practice, particularly in the Western United States, to treat wastewater to a very high level, and then inject it back into ground, where it can be used to replenish the groundwater table. Suppose that you are managing a large water district and a local city council member wants to use secondary treated wastewater instead of tertiary treated wastewater to recharge the groundwater basin.

Write a 2-3 page paper in which you:

1) Describe the waste water treatment process including primary, secondary and tertiary treatment methods.

2) Compare and contrast the secondary water treatment methods to tertiary water treatment (also known as advanced or final water treatment) methods in terms on their impact on water quality. In your answer, consider that there are multiple secondary water treatment methods and multiple tertiary water treatment methods.

2) Discuss the appropriate uses of reclaimed water. Describe at least three examples.

3) Explain whether you would recommend secondary treatment or tertiary treatment for the groundwater recharge, if this water were to end up being used for drinking. Explain the rationale of your choice.

Support your opinion with evidence from the literature.

Assignment Expectations

Use information from the modular background readings as well as any good quality resource you can find.

LENGTH: 2-3 pages typed and double-spaced, in addition to a cover page.

The following items will be assessed in particular:

Precision: Each of the questions of the assignment is specifically addressed in the paper. Your paper describes the 3 stages of the waste water treatment process. The paper compares and contrasts the secondary water treatment methods to the tertiary water treatment methods, in the context of the wastewater treatment process. Your paper also discusses the appropriate uses of reclaimed water. In your paper, you explain whether you would recommend secondary treatment or tertiary treatment for the groundwater recharge, if this water were to end up being used for drinking.

Clarity: The paper reads clearly, it is not confusing. It is well structured and grammatically correct.

Breadth: The paper presents appropriate breadth covering the questions of the assignment. Your paper takes into account that there are multiple secondary water treatment methods and multiple tertiary water treatment methods.

Depth: The paper thoroughly describes the tasks of the assignment. The primary, secondary and tertiary wwaste water treatment methids are described. The secondary and treatment water methods and how they affect water quality is explained. Appropriate uses of reclaimed water are described well. Your paper describes the rational for choosing secondary treatment or tertiary treatment for recharging groundwater that may end up being used for drinking.

Critical Thinking: The paper integrates your understanding of wastewater treatment processes, public health protection and issues of cost.

References: At least, two in-text citations are provises as well as a reference list is provided at the end of your paper (APA formatting is not required but is highly recommended).