TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS CONCENTRATION ANALYSIS

OF WASTEWATER IN BAGUIO SEWAGE TREATMENT

PLANT

Valdez, Claudine C.

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

Saint Louis University

A case study submitted to the

Wastewater, Water and Ambient Air Management Division

City Environment and Parks Managemnt Office

City Government of Baguio

In partial fullfilment of the requirements

For the On-the-Job Training

Baguio Sewage Treatment Plant

North Sanitary Camp, Baguio City

April 2018
 I. INTRODUCTION

Wastewater treatment serves two main objectives, protecting the environment

and conserving fresh water resources. Treated municipal wastewater is considered, in
many major cities of the world, as a supplementary water source for several uses such
as agricultural irrigation, landscaping, industrial activities (cooling and process needs),
groundwater recharge, recreational and other uses (Tchobanoglous et al., 2003). The
continued dependence on treated municipal wastewater for the previously mentioned
uses coupled with emerging stricter policies/guidelines for such uses prompted
scientists and researchers to concentrate in improving current treatment technologies
and to come up with innovative ideas to treat municipal wastewater in an efficient and
cost effective manner.

Baguio City, known as the Summer Capital of the Philippines and City of Pines, is
geographically nestled within the Cordillera Central mountain range, enclosed by
province of Benguet. It is located around 5000 meters above sea level and its high
altitude accordingly having a temperature around 26 degrees Celsius.

As Baguio City slowly evolves into center of business, tourism and education in
Northern Luzon, the community has become attractive destination to simply visit as a
tourist or those looking for new place (Press Reader, 2018). The city is known to be
small in size but the increase of shopping centers and malls in such period of time can
easily rival even metro giants such as Metro Manila. Moreover, over the years,
according to statistics, this mountain city has grown into a university town with almost
half of its population considered students in local institution.

The increase in economic activity of the city results in increase of water

consumption thus having more waste and wastewater generated. The city comprises of
128 barangays and 4 river water catchments namely, Galiano, Balili, Bued and
Agno/Ambalanga. Out of the numbers of barangay, there are at least 53 barangays
who were using individual Septic tank (ST) and 12 barangays utilizing a Communal
Septic Tank (CST). These effluents were partially or fully connected to the Baguio
Sewage Treatment Plant (BSTP), as of 2013. Effluents flow through city pipelines and
manholes installed going to the treatment plant.

Wastewater salinity/total dissolved solids (TDS) is one of the principal factors

affecting water quality (NRC, 2001; Sharma et al., 2016b). Water having higher TDS
has been found to cause detrimental effects on animal health due to its adverse effect
on feed intake, absorption and its utilisation (Meyer and Casey, 2012). TDS is a
measure of the amount of material dissolved in water. This material can include
carbonate, bicarbonate, chloride, sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, calcium, magnesium,
sodium, organic ions, and other ions. A certain level of these ions in water is necessary
for aquatic life. Changes in TDS concentrations can be harmful because the density of
the water determines the flow of water into and out of an organism's cells (Mitchell and
Stapp, 1992. However, if TDS concentrations are too high or too low, the growth of
many aquatic lives can be limited, and death may occur. The concentration and
composition of TDS in natural waters is determined by the geology of the drainage,
atmospheric precipitation and the water balance (evaporation-precipitation) (L.K. Duffy,
2007).

TDS can be removed from industrial wastewater streams using one of the
different methods including:

 Reverse Osmosis (R.O.) – removes TDS by forcing the water, under pressure,
through a sysnthetic membrane. The membrane contains microscopic pores
which will allow only molecules smaller than 0.0001 microns to pass through. As
the molecules of dissolved metals and salts are large compared to the water
molecules, water squeezes through the membrane leaving metals and salts
behind.
 Distillation – The process involve boiling the water to produce water vapour.
Water vapour rises to a cool surface where it condensed back into the liquid
form. The dissolved salts are unable to vaporize and remain in the boiling
solution.
  Deionisation – In this process, water is passed through a positive and negative
electrode. The ion selective membranes enable the positive ions to separate from
the water and move towards the negative electrode. The end result is de-ionized
water with high purity.

Other wastewater treatment uses low-cost method in removing TDS in their stream like
the use of biochar and other naturally occurring plant adsorbents.

Table 1. Constituents of TDS.

Common Less Common

Calcium Strontium
Carbonate Barium
Bicarbonate Thallium
Nitrate Arsenic
Phosphates Lead
Sodium
Sulfate
Chloride
Manganese
Magnesium
Aluminium
Iron

The effluent from Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) adds dissolved solids
to a stream. The wastewater from domestic houses contains both suspended and
dissolved solids that are put down the drain. Most of the suspended solids are removed
from the wastewater at the WWTP before being discharged to the stream, but WWTPs
only remove some of the TDS. Important components of the TDS load from WWTPs
include phosphorus, nitrogen, and organic matter. According to DAO 35 (Revised
Effluent Regulations of 1990), the effluent standard for TDS in wastewater treatment
plant is 1000 mg/L.

In this study, electrical conductivity was used to measure the concentration of

TDS from the wastewater effluent and influent samples. Measuring electrical
conductivity is a method where a device was use, which has a probe, where it was just
dipped into the wastewater sample and the meter will measure how well the
wastewater conducts electricity. It then converts the measured conductivity to a
concentration of TDS.

II. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The study aims to evaluate the efficiency of the TDS removal at the Baguio Sewage
Treatment Plant with the activated sludge process and to determine what specific
factors contributing and affecting the removal.

III. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Baguio City has been now facing environmental problems like wastewater
management from notable unceasing increase of waste and waste water generation
from domestic, industrial, and commercial institutions and due to unstoppable increase
of population in the city.

TDS concentrations outside a normal range can cause a cell to swell or shrink.
This can negatively impact aquatic life that cannot compensate for the change in water
retention. This change is also the cause of organisms to float or sink beyond its normal
range in water.

For this study, the researcher seeks for the study of one parameter, TDS, on the
inflow and outflow of BSTP. It objects to determine the significant difference in the TDS
concentration of the wastewater coming into the plant and the treated wastewater
discharges from the plant.
 The study could help the city to improve the management its water consumption
and waste and wastewater generations. It could also help the treatment plant itself to
monitor its process in the future wherein the population within the city will not enough
for the capacity of the plant to treat its effluent.

IV. SCOPE AND LIMITATION

The study focuses on the determination of one parameter, TDS concentration,

considering only the inflow and outflow of the Baguio sewage Treatment Plant (BSTP).

The study utilizes only a TDS meter to determine its concentration, no further
experiment was conducted. The study was performed for consecutively 5 days of
testing the influent and effluent, morning and afternoon.
 V. MATERIALS AND METHODS

DATA GATHERING TOOLS

Apart from the data that will be obtained from the experiment itself, additional
information will also be gathered from published works and researches collateral to this
study. Information such as waste, wastewater, total dissolved solids, treatment plants,
influent and effluent will be collected. Internet sources will also be utilized, assuring that
data which will be obtained from it is highly dependable.

DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE

A. Collecting of the Fresh Sample

The fresh sample was gathered from the influent and effluent of the BSTP.
The influent and effluent wastewater sample was obtained on the grit
chamber and at the river located at the back of the treatment plant compound,
respectively. The collection time wherein the sample should be gathered is
between 9:00 to 11:00 in the morning and 2:00 to 3:00 in the afternoon. The
sample was collected through the use of a container submerged in the flowing
wastewater. The physical appearance of the wastewater in this state should
be observed in order to expect and to interpret the resulting concentration
tested.
B. HACH multi-parameter Device Calibration
Before utilizing the apparatus, it is to be calibrated by using the calibrating
chemical which is NaCl brine. The calibration is performed by submerging the
probe until the meter acknowledges the apparatus as “passed” in the
calibration.
C. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) concentration Determination
The determination was performed on-site. After the fresh sample was
collected in the sample container, HACH multi-parameter was utilized by
submerging its probe it into the sample and reading it until it was indicated in
the screen “stable”. The meter also gave readings for other parameters like
the conductivity and temperature of the sample.
List of equipment, and apparatus and its uses

Equipment/Apparatus Use
HACH multi-parameter Device

Measure specific conductance,

temperature and TDS.

YSI meter Device

Measures the combination of DO,

resistivity, pressure, pH and even nitrates

concentration.

Sample Container

Used for holding the fresh wastewater

sample.
TREATMENT OF DATA

After the experimentation was performed and the data were collected, the data will be

subjected to data analysis.

In order to determine the significant difference in the concentration of the inflow

and outflow concentration, the relationship of the two will be compared and percentage

removal will be computed.

Inflow concentration - Effluent concentration

%TDS Removal= 𝑥 100
Inflow concentration

The concentration will also be evaluated against the measured conductivity,

since the conductivity can greatly affect the salinity of the wastewater which also

comprises the total dissolved solids of the wastewater being studied.

 VI. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 6.1 shows the date for the influent, from the 1st day to the 5th day of sampling

and testing the wastewater characteristics for morning and afternoon ranging its value

of TDS from 567 up to the highest reading of 688 considering also other parameters

such as temperature, conductivity and pH.

INFLUENT
Date of Sampling Time of TDS Temperature Conductivity pH
Sampling Mg/L °C Μs/cm
1/11/2018 AM 9:06 606 21.5 1,176 8.22

PM 2:48 688 22.2 1,305 7.76

1/12/2018 AM 8:58 567 21.6 1,068 7.93

PM 2:20 598 22.9 1,157 7.92

1/15/2018 AM 11:44 595 21.8 1,125 7.94

PM 2:43 605 22.6 1,161 7.22

1/16/2018 AM 11:26 590 22.3 1,125 7.73

PM 2:52 623 23.4 1,311 8.01

1/17/2018 AM 11:20 654 21.6 1,228 7.64

PM 3:11 611 22.8 1,195 7.98

Table 6.1 Influent Wastewater Characteristic Results

Table 6.2 shows the date for the influent, from the 1st day to the 5th day of

sampling and testing the wastewater characteristics for the morning and afternoon

ranging its TDS concentration values from 570 up to the highest reading of 696

considering other parameters such as temperature, conductivity and pH.

 Effluent
Date of Sampling Time of TDS Temperature Conductivity pH
Sampling Mg/L °C μs/cm
1/11/2018 AM 8:51 598 22.3 1,234 7.93

PM 2:41 594 23.3 1,158 7.71

1/12/2018 AM 8:49 606 22.3 1,157 7.87

PM 2:27 695 20.8 1,280 7.90

1/15/2018 AM 11:36 605 22.6 1,161 7.91

PM 2:32 594 23.2 1,118 7.59

1/16/2018 AM 11:18 581 22.6 1,158 7.57

PM 2:43 603 23.5 1,172 7.98

1/17/2018 AM 11:12 613 21.7 1,154 7.58

PM 3:02 578 22.6 1,102 8.10

Table 6.2 Effluent Wastewater Characteristic Results

Based on the data, the highest reading of TDS corresponds also to a high value

of conductivity. This high level of TDS is due to the amount of calcium, potassium and

sodium which are the possible dissolved solids in the wastewater sample. The pH

presented can also take effect in the value of dissolved solids in the body of

wastewater, which in turn may influence the health of aquatic life.

Tables for the efficiency were summarized below:

Efficiency
Date of Time of Influent Effluent Percent Removal
Sampling Sampling
1/11/2018 9:06 607 598 1.482702
1/12/2018 8:58 567 606 -6.87831
1/15/2018 11:44 595 605 -1.68067
 1/16/2018 11:26 590 581 1.525424
1/17/2018 11:20 654 613 6.269113
Table 6.3 Efficiency (Morning)

Efficiency
Date of Time of Influent Effluent Percent Removal
Sampling Sampling
1/11/2018 2:48 688 594 13.66279
1/12/2018 2:20 598 695 -16.2207
1/15/2018 2:43 605 594 1.818182
1/16/2018 2:52 623 603 3.210273
1/17/2018 3;11 611 578 5.400982
Table 6.4 Efficiency (Afternoon)

Table 6.3 and Table 6.4 show a negative

efficiency on the second day, both in the morning

and afternoon sampling, noticed that the

wastewater flowing out the stream has higher TDS

than the raw wastewater flowing into the stream

also noting that the color of the treated wastewater

is darker. Using the data gathered, graphs

constructed were shown.

 TDS in Wastewater Sample (Morning)
660
650
640
TDS Concentration, mg/L

630
620
610
Influent
600
Effluent
590
580
570
560
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Days of Sampling

Figure 6.1 TDS Concentration in Wastewater Sample (Morning)

In Figure 6.1, it shows how the concentration of TDS varies for the five

consecutive days of experimentation. It can observe that the data measured at the

effluent were approximately ranging to a value of 590 to 610 mg/L while the influent had

various concentrations.

On the other hand, it was shown in Figure 6.2 the TDS concentration of the

wastewater sample in the afternoon. The data gathered in this figure was higher than

Figure 6.1. Also, the data for the effluent and influent TDS concentrations were closer.
 TDS in Wastewater Sample (Afternoon)
800
700
TDS Concentration, mg/L

600
500
400
Influent
300
Effluent
200
100
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Days of Sampling

Figure 6.2 TDS Concentration in Wastewater Sample (Afternoon)

VII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMMENDATIONS

From the data gathered for five (5) consecutive days, it is concluded that various

concentrations of TDS can occur in the wastewater in the Baguio Sewage Treatment

Plant. The TDS concentration data found mostly ranging from 570 up to 700 mg/L which

were in the range of good to fair quality of water. Although when values are compared

from the inflow to the outflow, sometimes outflow gives a much higher value of TDS

concentration compared to the inflow. This means that, TDS removal is sometimes not

as effective as it should be.

In Baguio City, possible sources of high-TDS in wastewater include mines

(active, inactive, and abandoned), landfills, and food chains and only low amount of

TDS are coming from the household.

 The treatment options for high total dissolved solids really depend on the nature

of the cations and anions. The plant can adapt several methods on reducing fluoride in

the wastewater, there are many different methods including TDS reduction via RO or

membrane technology for pre-concentration of wastewater discharge OR Microfiltration

(MF) for pre-treatment.

It was also found out that TDS concentration has a direct relationship with the

conductivity of the wastewater and that they vary with a common factor range of 0.5 –

0.6.

The study recommends using the apparatus carefully because of its sensitivity

with the output data and only raw wastewater sample should be tested for the study. It

is also recommend calibrating the meter before using it in the experimentation. For

further analysis of the wastewater parameters, a study for conductivity is recommended.

VIII. REFERRENCES

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