COMPONENTS OF WASTEWATER FLOW

Introduction
Wastewater may be defined as a
combination of the liquid or water-carried
wastes
removed
from
residences,
institutions,
and
commercial
and
industrial establishments, together with
such groundwater, surface water, and
stormwater as may be present (Metcalf
and Eddy, 2003). Wastewater is any
water that has been adversely affected in
quality by anthropogenic influence due to
environmental pollution and pollutants
originating in human activity. Wastewater
refers to waste in liquid state that contains pollutants or waste substances.
Principal Constituents of Wastewater
Suspended Solids
Suspended solids include soils, and grits, which mostly generated from farms,
lands which are being deposit and thus lead to sludge formation and anaerobic
conditions when it is disposed untreated to the aquatic environment.
Biodegradable Organics
Composed principally of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. These are the
principal cause of the development of septic conditions which lead to depletion of
natural oxygen sources. These are measured in terms of biological oxygen demand
and chemical oxygen demand.
Pathogens
Pathogens are living organisms that can be found in wastewater. These
pathogens are the major cause of diseases which can be transmitted through
contact with other organisms.
Nutrients
Nutrients are substance which support growth and development of life.
Nutrients include nitrogen and phosphorus which are essential for growth mostly in
aquatic environment. If the wastewater is left untreated, these nutrients may lead
to growth of undesirable aquatic life which may result to water pollution.
Priority Pollutants
These are organic and inorganic compounds selected on the basis of their
known or suspected carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, or high acute toxicity

Refractory Organics
These are constituents which tend to resist conventional methods of
wastewater treatment. These include surfactants, phenols and agricultural
pesticides.
Heavy Metals
Heavy Metals are constituents which result usually from an industrial
use/activities. These heavy metals were left unremoved which are commonly
principal cause of water pollution if left untreated properly.
Dissolved Inorganics
Inorganic constituents such as calcium, sodium, and sulfate are added to the
original domestic water supply as a result of water use and may have to be
removed if the wastewater is to be reused.
Sources of Wastewater
1. Infiltration
Infiltration is the flow of groundwater into sanitary sewers. It is generally the
collection of wastewater through indirect means. The leak of water is possible due
to the presence of pores and voids under soils which allows the vertical flow of
groundwater into sewage. Sewers are often placed below the groundwater table,
and any cracks in the pipes will allow water to seep in. Infiltration also may include
ground pipe leaks which any leaking water passes through any sewerage system.
2. Inflow
Inflow refers to the wastewater source that is generated unintentionally by
the sanitary sewers. Inflows include stormwater where it enters the collection
system from storm drain connections such as downspouts, roof leaders.
3. Industrial
Industrial wastewater has a wide variety of types and classification based on
the different industries and the contaminants which they control and release
in accordance with the laws. Table 1 shows a list of common industrial sectors
that contribute pollutants from its wastewater produced.
Table 1. Wastewater Pollutants from various industrial sectors
Sector
Iron and Steel

Pollutant
BOD, COD, oil, metals, acids, phenols,
and cyanide

Textiles and leather

Pulp and paper
Petrochemicals and refineries
Chemicals
Non-ferrous metals
Microelectronics
Mining

BOD, solids, sulfates, and chromium

BOD, COD, solids, chlorinated organic
compounds
BOD, COD, mineral oils, phenols, and
chromium
COD, organic chemicals, heavy metals,
SS, and cyanide
Fluorine and SS
COD and organic chemicals
SS, metals, acids and salts

The metal-working industries discharge chromium, nickel, zinc, cadmium,

lead, iron and titanium compounds, among them is the electroplating industry which
a potential pollutant contributor. The pulp and paper industry relies heavily on
chlorine-based substances, and as a result, effluents from pulp and paper mill
contains chlorine organics and dioxins, as well as suspended solids and also organic
wastes. Wastewater from food processing industries are high in suspended solids
and organic material. From these pollutants produced, the treatment of industrial
wastewater must be designed specifically for the particular type of effluent
produced.
4. Domestic
Domestic wastewater is the water that
has been used by a community and which
contains all the materials added to the water
during its use. Domestic wastewater is also
termed as sewage. It is thus composed of
human body wastes (feces and urine) together
with the water used for flushing toilets, and
sullage, which is the wastewater resulting from
personal washing, laundry, food preparation and the cleaning of kitchen utensils.
Domestic wastewater has its scale
according to the amount. Domestic wastewater
can
be
pertained
as
residential
wastewater/sewage which are wastewater
collected from a very specific community. When
these wastewater are collected together with
other nearby community, it can be pertained as
municipal wastewater. If the wastewater is
generated from agricultural activities (farming,
poultry and the like), it can be pertained as agricultural wastewater.
Sources of Domestic Wastewater
The principal sources of domestic wastewater in a community are the
residential areas and commercial districts. Other important sources include
institutional and recreational facilities.
Constituents of Domestic Wastewater

a) Blackwater
Blackwater
refers
to
the
domestic
wastewater
which
contain human excretions such
as faeces, and urine in which are
being disposed in toilets.

b) Graywater
Graywater refers to the domestic wastewater
which
does
not
contain
any
fecal
contamination.
It
also
refers
to
the
wastewater coming from other household
activities (washing, cleaning, etc.) which
contain lesser pollutants with blackwater.
Sources of graywater include kitchen sink,
faucets.

Fig.1. Schematic Representation of Residential/Household Wastewater Flow

and its Sources

Fig.2 Typical Breakdown of Wastewater Generated from Households

Source: Rocky Mountain Institute, 1995

Pathogens found in Domestic Wastewater

Several pathogenic microorganisms and parasites are commonly found in
domestic wastewater as well as in effluents from wastewater treatment plants. The
three categories of pathogens encountered mostly are as follows:
(1) Bacterial Pathogens
(2) Viral Pathogens
(3) Protozoan Parasites
Table 2 shows a summarized list of the commonly bacterial pathogens found
in the sewage. Most of the bacterial pathogens greatly affects the digestive system
of their host.

Table 2. Major Bacterial Pathogens found in Domestic Wastewater

References
Bitton, Gabriel (2005). Wastewater Microbiology, Third Edition. Wiley Publications
Inc, New York