WASTEWATER

TREATMENT
Luchavez, Geneva L.
Villacencio, Cielo
 INTRODUCTION
• Waste water has historically a nuisance to be discarded in the
cheapest, least offensive manner possible. This meant the use of on-
site disposal systems such as the pit privy and direct discharge into our
lakes and streams. Over the last century it has been recognized that
this approach has an undesirable effect on the environment. This led
to the variety of treatment techniques that characterize today’s
municipal treatment systems, which are the focal point of this chapter.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF DOMESTIC
WASTEWATER
• Physical Characteristics
Fresh, aerobic, domestic
wastewater has been said to have
the odor of kerosene or freshly
turned earth. Aged, septic
sewage is considerably more
offensive to the olfactory sense.
Fresh sewage is typically gray in
color. Septic sewage is black. This
color results from the precipitation
of iron sulfide.
• Chemical Characteristics
Because the number of chemical
compounds found in wastewater is
almost limitless, we normally restrict our
consideration to a few general classes.
The biochemical oxygen demand test
and another closely related test is the
chemical oxygen demand test.
The COD test is used to determine
the oxygen equivalent of the organic
matter that can be oxidized by a strong
chemical oxidizing agent(potassium
dichromate) in an acid medium.
The COD test can be conducted
in about an hour. If it can be correlated
with BOD, it can be used to aid in the
operation and control of the wastewater
treatment plant(WWTP).
• Characteristics of Industrial
Wastewater
Industrial processes
generate a wide variety of
wastewater pollutants. The
characteristics and levels of
pollutants vary significantly from
industry to industry. The
Environmental Protection Agency
has grouped the pollutants into
three categories: conventional,
nonconventional, and priority
pollutants.
 ON-SITE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS
In less densely populated
areas where lot sizes are large and
houses are spaced widely apart it
is often more economical to treat
human waste on-site, rather than
use a sewer system to collect the
waste and treat it at a centralized
location. On-site systems are
generally small and may serve
individual homes, small housing
developments(clusters), or isolated
commercial establishments, such
as small hotels or restaurants.
• Alternative On-Site Treatment and
Disposal Systems with Water Septic
Tanks and Absorption Fields.
About 85-90% of the on-site
wastewater disposal systems are
conventional septic systems. A
conventional septic system consists of
three parts: the septic tank, a
distribution box, and an absorption
field(a leach or drain or tile field). The
septic tank and tile field are a unit.
Neither part will function as intended
without the other.
 When the system is
operational, bacteria produce a
slime layer at the bottom of the
trench. This layer, commonly
called the clogging mat, creates
a barriers that slows the
movement of water into the
surrounding soil, which allows the
flow in the surrounding soil to
remain unsaturated, permitting air
to move through the soil. This
maintains aerobic conditions,
which are essential to proper
treatment of the effluent.
• Septic Tank and Absorption Field
Modifications.
As mentioned earlier, often
the reason for the failure of
absorption fields in poorly draining
soils is excessive growth of the
clogging mat. Reduction of the
BOD of the wastewater can
reduce the rate of growth of the
mat. Two types of treating systems
commonly used to reduce the
wastewater BOD are aerobic
treatment systems and sand filters.
• Aerobic Systems
A wide range of aerobic
treatment systems are available. The
common feature of these units is the use
of some mechanism to inject or circulate
air inside the treatment tank. If sufficient
air is introduced, then aerobic conditions
can be achieved in the wastewater.
Because aerobic degradation is rapid,
good removal of BOD can be achieved
under these conditions, which reduces
the rate of growth of the clogging mat
and extends the life of the absorption
field.
• Sand Filter Systems
The sand filter is also an aerobic
treatment system. The filter consists of a
bed of granular material (usually sand,
but other material such as anthracite can
be used). The surface of the bed is
intermittently dosed with wastewater that
percolates through the sand to the
bottom of the filter.
The sand bed is dosed anywhere
from 12 to 72 times a day. The size of the
dose should be such that the sand bed
does not become saturated. This allows
the wastewater to flow as a thin film
around the sand particles, so good
contact between the wastewater and
the air can be achieved.
• Dosing Systems
Another solution to the
clogging problem can be to
replace the conventional
absorption trenches with a
disposal system that is less prone to
failure. In a conventional
absorption field the effluent flows
by gravity into the trenches. This
helps to maintain unsaturated
condition in the soil surrounding
the trench.
• Shallow Absorption Fields
In these systems the
distribution piping is often covered
with large half pipe rather than
gravel. The trenches are only
about 0.25 m deep. Better
treatment can be achieved, as
the upper soil layers have a higher
concentration of microbes.
• On-Site Treatment and Disposal
Systems for Unfavorable Site
Conditions
Where site conditions are
unfavorable for conventional
septic systems, alternative
treatment-disposal systems may
be required. Among the limitations
that might preclude the
installation of a conventional
system are high groundwater
tables, shallow limiting layers of
bedrock, very slowly or rapidly
permeable soils, close proximity to
surface water, and small lot size.
• Mound System
Mounds are both treatment
and disposal systems because the
effluent from the mound percolates
directly into the native soil. The design
overcomes certain site restriction such
as slowly permeable soils, shallow
permeable soils porous bedrock, and
permeable soils with high water
tables. A mound system is a pressure-
dosed absorption system that is
elevated above the natural soil
surface. Effluent from the septic tank
is pumped or siphoned to the
elevated absorption area and
distributed through a piping network
located in the coarse aggregate at
the top of the mound.
• Barriered landscape water-renovation systems (blwrs).
The BLWRS differs from the NODAK mound system in that
the mound of soil underlain by an impervious water barrier. As the
renovated water passes beyond the edge of the barrier, it may be
collected in drains or be allowed to recharge the aquifer. The mound is
constructed of a fine sand. The dimensions of the BLWRS depend on the
soil texture and expected wastewater application rates.
The wastewater is spread on the top of the mound by a sprinkler.
As the wastewater percolates down, the organic particles are filtered
out and remain on the surface.
The BLWRS must be operated in a cyclic fashion to allow the soil
microorganisms time to degrade the waste and to maintain aerobic
conditions in the soil.
• Other On-Site Treatment and
Disposal Options
Constructed wetlands can be
used for on-site wastewater treatment
and disposal. The use of these systems
is more common in warmer climates.
In arid areas, evapotranspiration beds
are alternative to conventional
absorption beds. In an
evapotranspiration system, water-
tolerant vegetation is planted in a
shallow sand bed. The plant roots
draw the water up through the sand
and it is evaporated or transpired to
the atmosphere.
• Alternative On-Site treatment-
Disposal Systems Without Water
In areas away from population
centers, such as national or state
parks or vacation homes, there may
be no reliable water supply. The
absence of a water supply or water
scarcity may preclude the use of flush
toilets. In this case, other systems for
the disposal of human waste need to
be considered. Commonly used
systems are the pit privy and vault,
chemical, and composting toilets.
• The Pit Privy
The principle of operation of
the pit privy is that the liquid materials
percolate into the soil through the
cribbing (an open lattice box) and
the solids “dry out.”
• The Vault Toilet
This is the modern version of
the pit privy. Its construction is the
same as that of the pit privy with
the exception that the pit is
formed as a watertight vault. A
special truck is used to pump out
the vault at regular intervals.
• The Chemical Toilet
The airplane toilet, the
coach-bus toilet, and the self-
contained toilets of recreation
vehicles are all versions of the
chemical toilet. The essence of the
system is a strong disinfectant
chemical used to carry the waste
to a holding tank and render it
inoffensive until it can be pumped.
 MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER
• The Composting Toilet
Consists of a large tank
located directly below the toilet
room. Wastes enter the tank
through a large-diameter chute
that connects to the toilet. No
water is used for the toilet, but a
bulking agent (such as wood
shavings) is added to improve
liquid drainage and aeration.
TREATMENT SYSTEMS
• Alternatives
1. primary
2. secondary
3. advanced treatment
The purpose of pretreatment is
to provide protection to the
wastewater treatment plant
equipment that follows. In some older
municipal plants the equalization step
may not be included.
 The major goal of primary
treatment is to remove from wastewater
those pollutants that will either settle or
float. Primary treatment will typically
remove about 60% of the suspended
solids in raw sewage and 35% of the BOD.
Soluble pollutants are not remove.
The major goal of secondary
treatment is to remove the soluble BOD
that escapes the primary process and to
provide added removal of suspended
solids. The secondary treatment is
typically achieved by using biological
processes. The secondary treatment
processes are designed to speed up
these natural processes so that the
breakdown of the degradable organic
pollutants can be achieved in relatively a
short time.
• In cases where secondary levels
of treatment are inadequate,
additional treatment processes are
applied to the secondary effluent to
provide advanced wastewater
treatment (AWT). These processes may
involve chemical treatment and
filtration of the wastewater– much like
adding a typical water treatment plant
to the tail end of a secondary plant–
they may involve applying the
secondary effluent to the land in
carefully designed irrigation systems
where the pollutants are removed by a
soil crop system.
DEGREES OF TREATMENT
 UNIT OPERATIONS OF
• Pretreatment of Industrial Wastes
1. To prevent the introduction of the
PRETREATMENT
WWTPs of pollutants that will 1. Bar Racks
interfere with the operation of a
WWTP, including interference with 2. Grit Chambers
its use or disposal of municipal 3. Comminutors
sludge
4. Equalization
2. To prevent the introduction into
WWTPs of pollutants that will pass
through the treatment works or
otherwise be incompatible with
such works
3. To improve opportunities to
recycle and reclaim municipal
and industrial wastewaters and
sludge
PRIMARY TREATMENT
With the screening completed
and the grit removed, the
wastewater still contains light organic
suspended solids, some of which can
be removed from the sewage by
gravity in a sedimentation tank. The
mass of settled solids is called raw
sludge. The sludge is removed from
the sedimentation tank by
mechanical scrapers and pumps.
Floating materials, such as grease
and oil, rise to the surface of the
sedimentation tank, where they are
collected by a surface-skimming
system and removed from the tank
for further processing.
 UNIT PROCESSES OF SECONDARY
• Role of Microorganisms TREATMENT
convert the colloidal and
dissolved carbonaceous organic • Some Organisms of Interest in
matter into various gases and into Wastewater Treatment
protoplasm. 1. Bacteria
• Classification of Microorganisms 2. Fungi
microorganisms may be 3. Algae
classified by their trophic levels that is,
4. Protozoa
by their energy and carbon source
and their relationship to oxygen. And 5. Rotifers and crustaceans
also by their preferred temperature
regime.
• Bacterial Biochemistry
1. Metabolism
• Decomposition of Waste • Sludge Return
1. Aerobic Decomposition • Sludge Production
2. Anoxic Decomposition • Process Design Considerations
3. Anaerobic Decomposition • Secondary Clarifier Design
Considerations
• Population Dynamics
• Oxidation Ponds
1. The microbial ecosystem
1. Aerobic ponds
2. The monod equation
2. Anaerobic ponds
• Trickling Filters
3. Facultative ponds
• Activated Sludge
• Rotating biological contactors
• Completely Mixed Activated Sludge
Process

• The last treatment step in a
secondary plant is the addition
of a disinfectant to the treated
wastewater. The addition of
chlorine gas or some other form
of chlorine is the process most
commonly used for wastewater
disinfectant in the united states.
Chlorine is injected into the
wastewater by automated
feeding systems. Wastewater
then flows into a basin, where it is
held for about 15 min to allow
the chlorine to react with the
pathogens.
DISINFECTION
• Although secondary treatment
processes, when coupled with
disinfection, may remove over
85% of the BOD and suspended
solids and nearly all pathogens,
only minor removal of some
pollutants is achieved. In this
cases, processes capable of
removing pollutants not
adequately removed by
secondary treatment are used.
ADVANCED WASTEWATER
TREATMENT
• Filtration
• Carbon adsorption
• Phosphorus removal
• Nitrogen control
• Nitrification-denitrification
• Ammonia stripping
• Land treatment is the LAND TREATMENT
application of effluents, usually
following secondary treatment, • Slow rate
on the land by one of the several
available conventional irrigation • Overland rate
methods. This approach uses • Rapid infiltration
wastewater, and often the
nutrients it contains, as a
resource rather than considering
it as a disposal problem.
Treatment is provided by natural
processes as the effluent moves
through the natural filter
provided by soil and plants.
• In the process of purifying
SLUDGE TREATMENT
wastewater, another problem is
created– sludge. The higher the • Sources and Characteristics of
degree of wastewater Various Sludges
treatment, the larger the residue
of sludge that must be handled. 1. Grit
The exceptions to this rule are 2. Primary or Raw Sludge
where land applications or
3. Secondary Sludge
polishing lagoons are used.
Satisfactory treatment and 4. Tertiary Sludges
disposal of the sludge can be 5. Solids Computation
the single most complex and
costly operation in a municipal
wastewater treatment system.
 SLUDGE DISPOSAL
• Sludge Treatment
Processes
• Ultimate disposal
1. Thickening • Land spreading
2. Stabilization • Landfilling
3. Conditioning • Dedicated land disposal
4. Dewatering • Utilization
5. Reduction • Sludge disposal regulations
 CONCLUSION
• So a future without treatment plants is impossible, but we can
decrease the size and energy consumption of these plants if more
people use an individual system. This will be economically better for
people that use the individual system and also for people that live in
the cities. Smaller plants are cheaper to build, maintain and uses less
energy. Hereby the government has smaller costs, so people can pay
less water treatment costs to the government.
 REFERENCE:
• Principles of Environmental
Engineering and Science by
Mackenzie L. Davis & Susan J.
Masten