Wastewater Protozoan-Driven Environmental Processes for the Protection of Water Resources

Abstract

The various perspectives on the role of microorganisms in water and water resources have been highlighted in order to gain a deeper understanding of the intricate web of relationships between man, microbes and the environment. Microorganisms do not exist in a vacuum. They interact with the environment, causing harmful and beneficial effects which are in a delicate balance. It is well known that wastewater treatment consists of physical, chemical and biological treatment processes. All these processes may be required to produce effluent of a high quality that can result in the protection of water sources. Individual wastewater treatment processes cannot be applied in a universal fashion. Each process has limitations and should be used in combination with several other processes to deliver effluent of an appropriate quality