Energy Use in Municipal Wastewater

Municipal wastewater is a complex mixture of human waste, suspended solids, debris and a variety
of chemicals derived from residential, commercial and industrial sources. It is 99% water plus the added
impurities while it is being used, including feces and urine from the toilet, food wastes, oils and grease and
chemical cleansers.
Wastewater treatment is necessary to remove organic and inorganic matter which will otherwise
cause water pollution, and to remove pathogenic organism which can cause waterborne diseases. In general,
wastewater treatment is done to protect environment and human health.
However, according to Environmental Management Board (2015), only 10% of wastewater
generated in the country is treated, while the rest is disposed to water bodies and allowed to seep through
the ground causing 58% of the groundwater being contaminated. About 4,200 people die each year due to
contaminated drinking water.
Ideal municipal sewer system is illustrated in the figure below. Wastewater from houses and
industrial buildings are sent to a common sewer, along with the surface run-offs in the event of rain and
storm. Collected wastewater shall be sent to Wastewater Treatment Facility, while overflow shall be
directed to outfall (i.e. sea, rivers, and lakes).

Wastewater Treatment Facility may vary in configuration depending on the concentrations of

impurities present in the water, but basically has the primary, secondary and tertiary treatment sections. The
purpose of the primary treatment section is to remove bulk solids from the liquid waste to form homogenous
feed to the secondary treatment section. Secondary treatment is done to remove biological contaminants in
the wastewater with the use of aerobic microorganism. Tertiary treatment depends on the discharge location
of the effluent.
Primary Treatment
Raw sewage from the collection header is sent to the wastewater treatment facility via intake pump,
to provide sufficient head in order to overcome pressure drop along the pipe line and equipment. The
wastewater passes the bar screens to remove coarse solids and large materials (i.e. toys, wrappers,
containers).

Solids removed from the wastewater shall be sent to treatment facility, while wastewater will be
sent to the communitor. Communitor cuts and shreds pieces that could plug the pumps and downstream
equipment (i.e. sanitary napkin and diapers). Grit chamber removes smaller but heavier solids like sand,
stone, coffee grounds and eggshell though gravity settling. Primary clarifier removes suspended solids in
the wastewater though sedimentation, and oils and grease though floatation.
The overflow in the primary clarifier is considered as the primary effluent and it is sent to the
aeration tank for the treatment of biological contaminants. The aeration tank contains floc of aerobic
microorganisms that feed with the organic matter in the wastewater, converting them into carbon dioxide.
Air is provided to these bacteria to sustain their growth. The outlet stream of the aeration tank is a mix of
both living and dead bacterial cell suspended in the treated wastewater. It is separated in the secondary
clarifier through sedimentation. The solids collected in the bottom of the secondary clarifier is called
activated sludge. Part of the activated sludge is recycled back to the aeration tank to balance organic to
bacteria ratio.
The overflow in the secondary clarifier is considered as the secondary effluent. As mentioned
earlier, tertiary treatment varies with the discharge location of the wastewater effluent. Before being
discharged to bodies of water like rivers, lakes and sea, the secondary effluent undergoes disinfection in
order to kill potential bacteria present in the treated water.
Ozone disinfection is a much expensive method of disinfecting the treated wastewater, but has
better odor control.
 For some countries which has stricter effluent quality standard, tertiary treatment can be modified
to satisfy their standard.
In the Philippines, DAO 2016-08 requires lower concentration of phosphorus and ammonia in the
effluent discharging to freshwater thus some industries are implementing Biological Nutrient Removal
(BNR) as additional treatment process.

Strategies to Improve Energy Efficiency

According to International Conference in Energy and Environment (2013), percent energy used in
activated sludge sewage treatment plants are as follows:

Aeration
3%
9% Pumping
Other Loads
21% Lighting

67%

Aeration and pumping operations are the largest energy consumer in a wastewater treatment, thus
energy-saving strategies implemented in plants are often concentrated in these operation.
A. Aeration Operation
1. Use of tapered aeration
2. Intermittent aeration
3. Use of Automated Dissolved Oxygen Control
4. Combined Heat and Power (CHP) application
5. Shifting operation on off-peak rates
B. Aeration Operation
1. Pump motor to be operated at nameplate voltage
2. Replacing standard motor with energy-efficient motors
3. Use of Variable Speed Drive
4. Use of Capacitor banks
5. Regular pump testing

Alternative Sewage Treatment System

1. Use of urine as Urea fertilizer
2. Food waste disposer to produce biogas
3. Composing food waste as soil conditioner
4. Use urine and feces as fertilizer