In the realm of healthcare, the role of hospitals is undisputed. But, we do turn a blind eye to their impact on the environment.

The truth is that hospitals and clinics inject a substantial volume of pollutants into our drinking water systems through untreated sewage. 

Recognizing this environmental challenge, governments worldwide have established standards that mandate dedicated sewage treatment plants for hospitals.

This blog looks at the benefits of sewage treatment plants for hospitals, especially where meeting the green norms is concerned. 

Why are Sewage treatment plants for hospitals a necessity?

Hospitals contribute significantly to water pollution, as they discharge a substantial array of pollutants into water systems, stemming from medical processes, sanitation, and other operational activities. 

These contaminants, if left untreated, pose a serious threat to water quality, the health of the ecosystem, and public well-being. 

This happens because the complex cocktail of pollutants generated by hospitals including drugs,  pathogens, and chemicals find their way into water bodies, posing a direct health risk to us who are dependent on this water for drinking and daily processes.

Hospital Wastewater Pollutants in Focus

The pollutants hospitals discharge into water systems are the follows:

• Pharmaceutical residues from drugs: Hospitals release pharmaceutical compounds into wastewater through the excretion of drugs by patients and the disposal of expired or unused medications. 

These are potent and can persist in water systems, potentially impacting aquatic ecosystems and posing risks to human health.

• Pathogens: Medical facilities contribute to water pollution by discharging pathogens such as bacteria and viruses from various sources, including clinical labs, patient care areas, and urine and faeces from infected individuals. Inadequate treatment of this sewage can lead to the spread of waterborne diseases like typhoid and cholera.
• Chemical agents: The use of cleaning agents, disinfectants, and laboratory chemicals in hospitals results in the discharge of various chemical pollutants. These can include heavy metals, detergents, and other hazardous substances that compromise water quality.
• Nutrients: Hospital wastewater contains elevated levels of nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, derived from medical processes, cleaning agents, and human waste. Excessive nutrient levels in water bodies can contribute to nutrient pollution, leading to issues such as algal blooms and oxygen depletion in water, making it unfit for human use.
• Heavy metals: Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in hospitals involve the use of heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, and cadmium. Improper disposal of medical waste containing these metals can result in their release into water systems, posing significant risks to both the environment and public health.

The volume and composition of these pollutants depend on the size and specialization of the hospital, as well as the effectiveness of their existing wastewater management practices. 

What are sewage treatment plants and how can they make hospital wastewater safe for discharge?

Sewage treatment plants are the frontline defence against the dangerous pollutants discharged by hospitals, playing a pivotal role in mitigating the adverse impact of hospital wastewater on the environment.

The sewage treatment plant types use diverse wastewater technology and processes like microfiltration, ultrafiltration, sequencing batch reactors, etc.

Hydromo’s sewage treatment plant process ensures that hospital wastewater undergoes thorough treatment before re-entering natural water systems. 

The criticality of sewage treatment in the healthcare sector lies in its ability to address the following key aspects:

1. Pollution reduction: Sewage treatment plants are designed to efficiently remove drug residues, pathogens, chemicals, and other pollutants from hospital wastewater. Through a series of physical, chemical, and biological processes like Double RO, desalination etc these facilities significantly reduce the concentration of contaminants, safeguarding water quality and minimizing the ecological impact.
2. Public health protection: Effective sewage treatment is not only an environmental imperative but also a key element in protecting public health. By eliminating pathogens and harmful substances, these plants ensure that the treated water poses minimal risks to communities that depend on water sources for drinking and household use.
3. Regulatory compliance: STPs are mandatory to ensure that the water discharged after treatment complies with strict wastewater discharge standards by the CPCB and state pollution boards.

They act as compliance checkpoints for hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Hydromo’s Sewage Treatment Plants 

Hydromo sewage treatment plants are an industry-leading solution for wastewater treatment. Experts design them to provide an efficient and cost-effective way to treat wastewater to reduce pollution and improve water quality. 

These plants use advanced technology and processes to ensure the safe and effective treatment of wastewater, removing contaminants and returning clean water to the environment. 

Hydromo STP plants use the state of art technologies such as MBR, and MBBR, as well as SBR and Eco Bud. 

What sets these technologies apart is that they maximize the reuse of water that would otherwise be wasted. Hydromo’s sewage treatment plant types also make less sound, are automated, and are optimised for space. 

Hydromo is also the proud Dealer of Mitsubishi Membranes that are super efficient in removing the most stubborn pollutants from hospital wastewater.

And finally, Hydromo’s STPs maximize the reuse of water that would otherwise be wasted.

Reach out to us to enhance or install STPs in your healthcare facility by calling us at 

Let’s preserve the Gold of Green Together!