CANBERRA, Jul 5 (NNN-AAP) – Researchers are advancing a green solution to water scarcity by using algae to recycle wastewater, in drought-stricken rural regions.
Flinders University researchers in South Australia are trialing enhanced high-rate algal pond (HRAP) systems, that incorporate native filamentous algae, enabling faster, more efficient wastewater treatment and easier removal of solids, according to a statement from the university yesterday.
This breakthrough not only improves water quality for non-potable uses like irrigation, but also offers a low-cost, energy-efficient alternative to traditional sewage treatment, addressing critical water shortages faced by regional communities, the statement said.
Local councils in South Australia are using HRAP systems, where low-energy paddlewheels circulate wastewater through channels filled with microalgae and bacteria that remove contaminants, researchers said.
“Algae-bacterial granule formation is a positive way for biofilms to form dense, fast-settling biomass and improve treated wastewater quality,” said Flinders University PhD researcher, Sam Butterworth.
Researchers are now testing advanced “sequencing batch reactor” HRAP technology, at a South Australian wastewater treatment plant, aiming to optimise biological processes for faster, more efficient wastewater treatment without major new investment.– NNN-AAP
