Settlement in lagoons Irrigation onto land Filtration through beds of sand or gravel, fine metal filters
Effluents may also be disinfected if there is a danger of pathogens affecting nearby activities such as bathing Techniques used are the same as for the treatment of water supplies ie
Sludge treatment
Sludge treatment
Output of sewage treatment: After treatment to suitable stds, the effluent can be safely returned to surface water system (rivers etc) Sludge however has to be further treated and then transported for disposal Sludge treatment can represent 50% of the capital & operating costs for sewage treatment
Liquid effluent Sludge solids
Sludge treatment
Sludge from primary & 2ndary treatment has typically 90% water content and needs treatment to reduce this The exact methods depends on the nature of the sludge and the proposed disposal method Common processes used:
Thickening Stabilisation dewatering
Sludge treatment
Thickening-process of reducing volume of sludge, often by gravity settlement. As the sludge concentration increases, the volume typically decreases by 3-5 times Stabilisation- a process which prevents anaerobic breakdown of the sludge & subsequent offensive odours. (Anaerobic digestion- method which utilises the organic matter in the sludge). Chemical stabilisation is an alternative method involving the addition of lime (calcium hydroxide) to the sludge, creating an alkaline environment unsuitable for micro-organisms. Dewatering- process of reducing water content of sludge by physical methods incl. drying, filtration, squeezing, centrifugal action & natural compaction
Sludge Disposal
Increasing volume becomes a technical & environmental challenge. Options for disposal are:
Landfill Land disposal Sea disposal incineration
Sludge Disposal
Landfill Disposal directly to landfill sites has been a common practice, with undesirable characteristics:
Contamination of waters by leaching fr the landfill Risk to public health by pathogen transfer Increased methane production during decomposition Environmental pollution by odour, flies & transport
Land disposal applied to farmland as a soil conditioner & fertilizer. The value of the sludge depends on the treatment it receives, but it is rich in organic matter & nutrients such as nitrogen & phosporus. The sludge may need to be balanced with other nutrients & cannot be spread onto farmland all year long
Sludge Disposal
Sea disposal In the past, it was convenient for some communities near the sea to dispose of sewage sludge by loading it onto special boats & discharging it out at sea EC do not permit this method Incineration Sludge contains considerable quantities of combustible materials & once dried, can be burnt During incineration, the organic & volatile components (incl toxic compounds) are destroyed The inert ash that remains is a hazardous waste that still needs to be disposed of via a controlled waste management site Incinerators have a high capital cost but are increasingly being used by large cities There are opportunities to mix sludge with refuse material , burn it and use it as a source of energy
Single buildings Isolated groups of buildings Buildings & communities which lack the resources for bldg or maintaining treatment plants Communities who wish to use more natural methods of sewage treatment Communities who have enough unused land to put aside for alternative treatments Initial treatments of strong industrial waste water Tertiary treatment of effluent from some treatment plants
Cesspool
Is a watertight underground container used for the storage of household sewage No treatment of sewage occurs & the tank must be periodically emptied & the sewage taken away for treatment Constructed in variety of ways incldg in situ concrete, prefabricated plastic & fibreglass set into concrete
Cesspool
Usually used for single dwellings or small groups of houses & require no resources or monitoring apart from emptying However, running cost of emptying the tank is high & large underground tanks can be expensive to construct or install
SepticTank
Is a small scale sewage treatment plant in the form of an underground tank in which treatment takes place & from which there is continuous discharge of liquid The tank contains separate zones which allow solids to settle & form a sludge layer where anaerobic processes decompose the sewage Lighter materials may form a scum layer which helps prevent oxygen transfer & provides useful thermal insulation
Septic Tank
The tank acts as a primary treatment & the effluent fr the tank needs further treatment such as 2ndary filter or percolation into the soil via a system of percolated drainage pipes Usually rectangular in shape, if constructed on site or may be supplied as rounded prefabricated tanks in plastic or glass-reinforced plastic Usually require no particular maintenance apart fr removal of sludge
Septic Tank
Septic Tank
After desludging, a small percentage of sludge is kept in the tank to seed the new sludge & the tank is filled with water Commonly used for isolated single dwellings but can also be used for small rural communities such as a village A reed bed might be used following a bank of septic tanks arranged so they can be maintained without interrupting operation
Stabilisation ponds
Stabilisation ponds or lagoons is any enclosed body of water where organic waste is allowed to oxidise by natural activity Ponds can simply be contained by earth embankments & used in combination if necessary Easiest to operate where there is plenty of sunshine & land available
Stabilisation ponds
Simple to maintain & very effective at removing dangerous pathogens Have been used since early times, are the most common form of treatment in developing countries & are of increased interest to all communities The operation of the ponds can be grouped according to their method of operation
Stabilisation ponds
Methods of operation: Anaerobic ponds Oxidation ponds Aeration ponds
Stabilisation ponds
Anaerobic ponds-formation of sludge & a top crust creates good anaerobic conditions. Particularly suitable for stronger thicker wastes Oxidation ponds-an aerobic system where the oxygen is taken from the atmosphere & also supplied by the activity of algae in the ponds. The ponds are kept shallow (1-2m) to allow maximum penetration of sunlight Aeration ponds- ponds in which the oxygen is supplied by aerators & not by action of algae
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