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What modern uses does the Archimedes screw have in wastewater treatment?

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Portrait of Archimedes by Giuseppe Nogari shows an elderly man with white hair and beard, holding a compass, gazing downward, set against a dark background. — Archimedes Archimedes, oil on canvas by Giuseppe Nogari, 18th century; in the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum, Moscow. Archimedes was an ancient Greek mathematician and inventor.

The Archimedes screw remains a highly effective tool in modern wastewater treatment plants. In these facilities, the device is adapted into a screw pump, which typically features a helix rotating within an open, inclined trough.1

This design is particularly advantageous for handling sewage because the open trough and the specific configuration of the screw allow debris to pass through the system without causing clogs. By rotating the helix, the pump efficiently lifts wastewater to the necessary elevation for further processing, demonstrating the enduring utility of this ancient invention in contemporary infrastructure.1