As the human population increases and industries increase in number, so do the byproducts of human and industrial existence. The need to preserve the environment today is very urgent. The idea of sustainable development today is that development should meet the needs of the present without jeopardizing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Global population growth means there will be an ever-increasing need for clean water for both residential and industrial use. We can recycle our water without necessarily harming our environment and polluting our rivers. More investments are needed to design and engineer better equipment for wastewater treatment plants, which will provide more than adequate benefits not only for humans, but also for the environment and other living creatures. One of the main uses of environmental biotechnology is in the treatment of industrial waste and wastewater. Microorganisms are important in wastewater treatment because of their ability to increase growth and metabolism. Bacteria are the main source of degradation. They require a source of energy and carbon for the creation of new cells and other nutrients as well as other trace elements. All microorganisms fall into 2 main groups: • Heterotrophs, which require organic matter to produce energy and from which to obtain carbon. • Autotrophs, which oxidize inorganic substances to produce energy and use C02 as a carbon source. A significant application of the science of microbiology is in wastewater treatment. To protect the environment, wastewater from various sources in a room must be treated before being released back into the environment. Wastewater has a substantial amount…half of paper…water quality is also affected. Without wastewater treatment much of the aquatic life we know would disappear. Therefore it can be seen that there are many advantages in using microbial methods in wastewater treatment. The main advantage would be the availability of the microorganisms that would produce the enzymes needed to break down organic matter, compared to preparing and using chemicals and other synthetic agents to perform the same task. The use of microorganisms uses a natural process which will logically cost less than other non-natural methods. Ultimately, the environment remains relatively unscathed, as the final effluents will no longer be considered pollutants. The supply of bacteria is endless and the costs associated with these organisms are literally minimal. The benefits of a healthy society and environment far outweigh the investment.
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