Social and environmental protection has become a major global issue, and water pollution control is a crucial part of it. As an effective means to control and reduce water pollution, sewage treatment plays an irreplaceable role in maintaining ecological balance and ensuring human health. However, the traditional sewage treatment technology is not perfect, and there are some problems to be solved urgently, which not only restrict the further improvement of its efficiency, but also bring potential risks to the environment.

I. Energy consumption and carbon emissions

The traditional sewage treatment process needs a lot of power support, especially in the biological treatment stage, and the energy consumption in the aeration process accounts for a large proportion of the total cost. High energy consumption not only increases operating costs, but also intensifies greenhouse gas emissions, which is contrary to the development goal of low-carbon economy. Therefore, how to reduce the power consumption of sewage treatment plants has become one of the focuses of current research.

Second, the use of chemicals and the risk of secondary pollution

In order to meet the national discharge standards, many sewage treatment facilities have to rely on chemicals to remove some refractory substances or heavy metal ions. Although the effluent quality can be effectively improved in the short term, in the long term, excessive addition of chemical reagents may cause secondary disasters such as soil salinization and groundwater pollution, and some chemicals are toxic and pose a threat to human health.

Third, the problem of sludge disposal

With the acceleration of urbanization, the surge of domestic sewage has led to a sharp increase in sludge production. At present, the sludge treatment capacity in most areas of China is seriously insufficient, and the remaining sludge is mainly treated by landfill, which wastes resources and occupies land, and is easy to produce malodorous gas, which affects the quality of life of surrounding residents.

Faced with the above challenges, we should actively seek innovative solutions:

1. Promote efficient and energy-saving sewage treatment processes, such as MBR (Membrane Bioreactor) technology, to reduce the floor space and save energy by increasing the microbial concentration in unit volume;

2. Develop ways to recycle sludge under the circular economy mode, such as using harmless sludge for agricultural fertilization or incineration for power generation;

3. Increase investment in scientific research, explore safer and more effective alternative water purification materials and technical solutions, and gradually reduce dependence on harmful chemicals;

4. Establish and improve the system of laws and regulations, clarify the responsibilities and obligations of all parties, and ensure the healthy development of the sewage treatment industry while taking into account the needs of ecological environment protection.

In a word, only by facing up to and properly dealing with the shortcomings in the field of sewage treatment can we truly realize the goal of sustainable utilization of water resources and build a beautiful home where man and nature coexist harmoniously.