The quality of water in our rivers, lakes, and streams is important for many reasons. People rely on water for drinking, cooking, bathing and irrigation; water is also essential for industry and agriculture. Healthy aquatic ecosystems depend on clean water and poor water quality can adversely affect human health. Consequently, water infrastructure in its various forms (e.g., dams, water treatment plants) can have a significant impact on water quality.
Here is how water infrastructure affects water quality.
Dams and reservoirs
Dams and reservoirs can help to control water pollution by trapping sediment and pollutants upstream of the dam. However, dam operations can also affect water quality downstream, for example by releasing warmer water (which can promote algal growth) or altering the natural flow regime.
Water treatment plants
Water treatment plants remove impurities from water using physical, chemical or biological processes. These can come in various forms, such as activated sludge plants, reverse osmosis or ultraviolet disinfection. These facilities are crucial for the provision of clean water and they help to protect public health.
Stormwater management
Stormwater management is the process of controlling and managing stormwater runoff. This is important for preventing flooding and protecting water quality. Stormwater management includes a variety of practices, such as detention basins, infiltration basins and catch basin inserts. Stormwater management is also important for controlling erosion and sedimentation, which, in turn, helps protect water quality.
Wastewater treatment
Wastewater treatment is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater. This is important for protecting public health and the environment. Wastewater treatment includes a variety of processes, such as primary treatment (settling), secondary treatment (biological processes) and tertiary treatment (advanced processes). These facilities are designed to remove pollutants from wastewater so that it can be safely discharged into the environment.
Flood control
Flood control is the process of managing and regulating floodwaters. This includes a variety of activities, such as levee construction and maintenance, floodplain management and riverine flooding mitigation. Flood control is important for protecting communities from the damaging effects of floods.
Monitoring and enforcement
Water quality monitoring is important for understanding the status of water resources and for identifying trends. Water quality data can be used to support decision-making on water resource management issues such as water allocation, pollution control and effluent discharge standards. Enforcement of water quality standards is crucial to ensuring that water resources are protected and used sustainably. Water quality enforcement activities can include inspections, monitoring and compliance actions.
AWD Civil is an Australian civil construction company that works with a variety of clients, including local governments and private developers. Our team has the knowledge and experience to design and build a wide range of water infrastructure solutions. We are dedicated to assisting our clients in creating a better future for our communities and the environment. Call us at (07) 3200 5766 to learn more about our products and services.