Water Treatment Processes

This paper aims at analyzing the drinking water issue in the Mediterranean region, highlighting the principal problems and the appropriate technologies applicable in the different countries. The countries of this area are characterized by a huge variety from social, cultural, economic and environmental point of view. In particular, water distribution is inhomogeneous between the North, East, and South; even the type of water sources and the related quantity and quality problems differ country by country. Potable water comes from brackish and seawater, surface water, groundwater and water reservoirs with each source face different issues. The main problem of brackish and seawater for example is the high salinity and the contamination by disinfection byproducts, in addition to the microbiological and chemical contamination due to human activities that characterize also other surface water sources. Groundwater is also affected by human activity and it is not exempted from salinity because of the water intrusion. Moreover, water reservoirs are often contaminated by seasonal algal blooms. Technologies applied for drinking water treatment vary country by country. The paper presents the main treatment processes associated with the main water pollutants, according to the Mediterranean region. Case studies of drinking water treatment plants are also analyzed, presenting alternative technologies appropriate for specific contexts, among others. The characteristics of each specific context should be carefully analyzed in order to develop the most appropriate technologies; high-end technologies for drinking water treatment may not be applied equally to all countries or communities of the Mediterranean region.

Darigold operates a milk products facility in Lynden, Washington. Production processes include evaporation of milk, which generates what is referred to as condensate of whey (COW) water. COW water contains low molecular weight organic compounds including traces of lactic acid, alcohols, acetoin, and non-protein nitrogen (Möslang, 2017). COW water and non-contact cooling water from the Darigold Lynden facility are currently discharged to Outfall 001, which combines with stormwater and the City of Lynden’s wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent discharge to the Nooksack River through the City’s outfall. Darigold’s discharge is regulated under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit No. WA0002470 administered by the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology). In the future, Darigold’s COW Water and non-contact cooling water will be directly discharged to the Nooksack River in a new outfall pipe (Outfall 002) currently being constructed by the City.