UNIT 4.

PRIMARY TREATMENT

GENERAL

1. Finely divided solids too fine to settle within typical primary settling detention times are called:
COLLOIDAL SOLIDS
2. To be most effective, the shape of a settling tank should be: THE SHAPE OF A SETTLING TANK DOES
NOT AFFECT EFFICIENCY
3. A typical weir overflow rate for primary settling tank is: 15 000 gpd/ft (2 L/ms)
4. Weir overflow rates are reported in the units: gpd/ft (L/ms)
5. Gas produced in primary settling tanks is a problem because it: BUOYS SLUDGE AND CAUSES SOLIDS
TO RISE

TANK CONFIGURATION

1. In order to remove solids, primary settling tanks rely on: GRAVITY

2. The length of time wastewater remains in settling tank is called: DETENTION TIME
3. Surface overflow rates are reported in units of: gpd/sq ft (gpd/sq m)
4. When comparing removal efficiencies of settleable solids, suspended solids, and BOD in primary
settling tank, the lowest efficiency would be in removing: BOD
5. Primary settling tank weirs should be adjusted and made level in order to: UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTE
FLOW

PROCESS CONTROL

1. The most effective: VISUAL OBSERVATION OF THE PROCESS

2. Pumping thin sludge from a primary settling tank: MAY BE REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN DEGRITTING
PROCESSES DOWNSTREAM
3. A method of determining the concentration of sludge pumped from a primary settling tank is by: ALL
OF THE ABOVE
4. The total solids concentration in primary sludge is generally: 4-6%
5. Primary sludge density is most accurately determined by using: THE TOTAL SOLIDS TEST

SLUDGE PUMPING

1. Primary sludge can be pumped utilizing: ALL OF THE ABOVE

2. Adjustable speed pumps maybe utilized for primary sludge pumping in order to: REDUCE THE
CHANCE OF CONING
3. Density meters may be used in conjunction with primary settling tanks in order to: STOP SLUDGE
PUMPS

SAFETY

1. Because primary treatment is one of the first unit processes in a plant, the operator must be on the
lookout for: HYDROGEN SULFIDE
2. Falls are common around primary setting tanks because of: WATER, SLUDGE, SCUM, AND
GREASE/OIL.
UNIT TEST

If the outlet weir of clarifiers are not kept level, which conditions are likely to occur? Solids removal will
decrease and uneven flow distribution will occur

A colored dye solution was introduced into the wastewater entering a primary settling tank. The dye color
was noticeable in the effluent in 15 minutes, and ll the color had passed through the tank in 30 minutes.
This indicates that: Wastewater is passing through the tank too quickly and settling is probably not
adequate

The smallest particle to be removed in a settling tank should: Drop to the far end of the tank within the
average detention time

A cross collection in a primary tank is used to: Move sludge across the influent end of the tank to the
sludge hopper in one corner

Excessive primary sludge pumpage will result in: excessively thin sludge

In order to provide for 2 hours detention time in the two primary tanks at a 7 mgd flow rate, these tanks
would need a combined capacity of: 583 000 gal

Given the following information, how many gallons of primary sludge containing 5% solids must be
pumped daily?
Data:
Flow: 3 million gal per day
Primary influent: 200 mg/L of suspended solids
Primary effluent: 100 mg/L of suspended solids
Solution:
%Solids = (solids, lb/d/sludge, lb/d) x 100
Dry lb = 2502 gal
Wet lb = 50040 gal = 50 040 x (gal/8.34 lb) = 6000 gal

A method of determining the concentration of the sludge pumped from a primary settling tank is by: All
of the above

Some wastewater treatment works include aeration of the raw wastewater before primary setting. Assume
that preaeration at a certain plant treating domestic wastewater provides an average of 45 minutes of
retention time and that about 1500 m3 of air/m3 of wastewater is applied. The effect of this preaeration
on the primary setting, when compared with the settling without preaeration would be:
Increase the percentage removal of both BOD and SS

Of the following treatment units, which is not dependent on aerobic bacteria for its efficiency? Primary
treatment unit

Proper operation of both the primary settling tank and digester depends a great deal on withdrawing the
proper amount of sludge from the primary settling tank. An effective means of knowing when sufficient
sludge had been drawn is: To note the consistency and the appearance of the sludge by sampling
The total solids concentration in primary sludge is generally: 4-6%

The purpose of a primary tank is: To reduce the flow of wastewater, so that settling and flotation will
occur to remove suspended solids

What is the efficiency of a primary tank if the influent is 200 mg/L, and the effluent TSS of the tank is 140
mg/L? 30%

Surface overflow rates are reported in units of: gpd/ sq ft (gpd/sq m)

Primary settling tanks are usually designed for a detention time of: 1 to 2 hrs.

The velocity of wastewater in a primary clarifier is: A fraction of 1 ft/s (a fraction of 0.3 m/s)

625 lb of dry solids are removed from a tank daily. If the moisture content is 95.5%, what is the total
volume of the sludge in gallons?
ANS: 1 665 gal
Solution: (625/0.045)/8.34

Results of the settleable solids test using Imhoff cones can be used to: CALCULATE THE POUNDS OF
PRIMARY SOLIDS PUMPED TO THE DIGESTER

Appreciable quantities of septic sludge "blurping" to the surface of primary settling tanks may indicate:
SLUDGE IS NOT BEING PUMPED IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES

Sludge from a primary tank is normally pumped to another process -- such as an anaerobic digester -- for
further treatment. TRUE

Weir overflow rates are reported in the units: gpd/ft (L/ms)

To prevent drowning in open tanks: FLOTATION SAFETY RINGS WITH THE THROW LINES SHOULD BE
LOCATED AROUND TANKS

Particularly during our warm summer weather, the more frequent the withdrawal of sludge from a primary
settling tank, the better the operation, so long as the water content of the sludge can be held normal:
TRUE

When pumping primary sludge to an anaerobic digester, and operator should sure that: SMALL
QUANTITIES OF SLUDGE ARE PUMPED THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND AS THICK AS POSSIBLE

The suspended solids of a raw waste entering a primary tank is 200 mg/L, and 60% of the suspended
solids settle out as a sludge. The flow is 3.79 ML/d. How many kilograms of suspended solids, dry weight,
was removed from the given flow in 24 hours?
ANS: 455 kg
Solution: (200 mg/L)(0.60)(3 790 000 L/d) = 454 800 000 mg ~ 454.8 kg

The effluent weir of settling tank should be level in order to prevent: AN UNEVEN FLOW AND SHORT-
CIRCUITING
An Imhoff cone result is 5.5 mL/L. Approximately how many gallons of primary sludge will nedd to be
pumped if the flow is 0.7 mgd?
ANS: 3 850
Solution: (700 000 gal)x(3.7L/gal)x(5.5 mL/L)x(L/1000mL)x(gal/3.7L) = 3850

If the baffle is missing at the influent end of a primary tank, then the following could occur: SHORT-
CIRCUITING

An Imhoff cone is used to determine the amount of: SETTLEABLE SOLIDS