As with electricity and energy, there’s more of an emphasis than ever on finding green wastewater treatment solutions in El Paso. Millions of gallons of wastewater are used every day throughout the country, and it all gets sent to wastewater treatment facilities. Cleaning and recycling this water requires a ton of energy, which has experts looking for more sustainable solutions. 

Here, we will explore how commercial wastewater treatment plants can play a role in finding sustainable solutions and creating a greener future. To learn more about wastewater treatment technology, contact Clowe & Cowan in El Paso online or call (915) 593-8833 today.

The Problem With Commercial Wastewater Treatment 

While wastewater treatment in El Paso has come a long way, it still has a long way to go. Before wastewater treatment was invented, people disposed of their wastewater directly into the ground or larger bodies of water. As a result, drinking water would get contaminated, resulting in a plethora of deadly diseases. 

While wastewater treatment largely took care of that problem, it created a new one. On average, a wastewater treatment plant uses 30 terawatt-hours of electricity each year, resulting in a $2 billion energy bill. In addition to being costly in terms of dollars, this amount of electricity usage is also terrible for the environment. As such, it’s necessary to find sustainable wastewater treatment solutions. 

Use Renewable Energy Sources 

The first and most obvious way to cut down on carbon emissions and greenhouse gases is by using electricity from renewable resources. Currently, Texas is a national leader when it comes to renewable energy, with a heavy emphasis on wind and solar power. 

However, there currently isn’t enough wind and solar energy to power all wastewater treatment facilities, which means there needs to be an emphasis on increasing the number of wind and solar plants in Texas. 

Exploring Alternative Energy Sources 

In addition to common renewable energy sources, such as the sun and wind, it may be time to explore other alternative energy options, such as the following: 

• Fuel Cell Technology 

Rather than using fossil fuels, such as gas and oil, fuel cell technology creates electricity out of hydrogen and similar gases. With wastewater treatment plants, the sewage in the wastewater can be converted to hydrogen, which then is converted into energy for treatment. 

• Photovoltaic Systems 

Photovoltaic systems are very similar to solar panels in that they use the sun to generate energy for electricity. However, a photovoltaic system converts sunlight directly into electricity, which streamlines the process. Photovoltaic systems that convert artificial light into electricity can also be used. 

• Solid Waste for Energy 

Another exciting way to generate renewable electricity is by using solid waste. This is especially true for El Paso wastewater treatment facilities, as wastewater is filled with municipal solid waste. By converting the waste into energy, the wastewater treatment plant is essentially self-sufficient in terms of electricity usage. 

Clowe & Cowan is Leading the Way! 

At Clowe & Cowan, we’re all about finding sustainable wastewater treatment methods to promote a greener and better future. Call (915) 593-8833 to learn more about our products.