Sewerage farms are an essential public service we prefer to forget however
along with compost heaps they are a classic example of traditional biotechnology. Microbes in both these situations convert waste into an environmentally friendly nutrient.

However microbes have the ability to be much more productive, and we are developing new methods to convert industrial and other waste into useful products, while at the same time reversing existing environmental damage.

Biotechnology and industrial waste

Biotechnology has always played a key role in removing organic solids such as human waste from millions of litres of organic waste generated every day in Australia.
Other contaminants though , such as phosphorus and nitrogen, have often been discharged into rivers and other water bodies where they can disrupt the delicate ecological balance.

Phosphates and nitrogen compounds cause excessive plant growth and algae blooms, this growth can choke rivers, lakes and dams. Algae can remove available oxygen at night and also release toxins into the water when it decays and this can poison fish and livestock. Biotechnology offers a clean, cheaper alternative.
Prior to release the waste is treated with bacteria ( generally both Aerobic and Anaerobic ) which break down these excess nutrients into nitrogen gas and carbon dioxide and trace elements.

To remove nutrients from waste water, sewage farms have been using costly chemicals.
Biotechnology, offers a cheaper and cleaner alternative. An extra anaerobic stage (one without oxygen) is added to the beginning of the sewage treatment process to help break down the organic materials. In the next aerobic phase, where oxygen is available, bacteria responsible for phosphorus removal, consume the readily available food source.

During the sewage treatment process, bacteria convert nitrogenous compounds into N2 and CO2

Treatment of waste products from other industries such as food processing, chemical manufacturing, textiles, brewing and distilling can also benefit from biological effluent treatment processes suited to individual waste streams.