RECYCLING OF DOMESTIC AND INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER USING VERMIFILTRATION TECHNOLOGY

One of the biggest problems of our time is the growing shortage of fresh water. According to the World Health Organization, by the middle of the 21st century, half of the planet's inhabitants will experience an acute shortage of fresh water. Simultaneously with the growing consumption of clean water, the annual volume of wastewater from municipal, agricultural and industrial enterprises also increases. At the same time, the volume of water used annually is more than an order of magnitude higher than the volume of treated wastewater. Untreated wastewater is characterized by a high content of organic impurities and pathogenic microorganisms capable of causing diseases that are dangerous for human life. In connection with the outlined extremely urgent task is to ensure effective purification of wastewater from pollution with subsequent recycling of purified effluents - their reuse for other purposes: in the circulating system of industrial enterprises, agricultural and landscape irrigation systems. From this point of view, the process of vermifiltration - wastewater treatment using earthworms - is of great interest. The technology is based on the ability of worms to work as "biofilters". Worms absorb organic and inorganic pollutants from wastewater, digest them and release them in the form of their excrement (coprolites) into the environment. With such processing, wastewater is cleaned, disinfected, and detoxified; treated effluents are suitable for reuse. There is also a transformation of organic and inorganic components into organo-mineral fertilizer - vermicompost and biomass of earthworms, which can serve as raw materials for the fodder and pharmaceutical industry.