Wastewater Treatment

Wastewater Treatment Systems

(CE 132)
1
2
What is wastewater?
Domestic wastewater generated by activities
such as bathing, cleaning, sanitation, laundry,
cooking, washing and other kitchen activities
Industrial wastewater discharge from
manufacturing plants
Agricultural wastewater discharge from
animal farms (poultry and livestock),
agricultural runoffs include organic wastes
such as decayed plants, livestock manure,
dead animals, pesticide and fertilizer residues
3
Domestic
48%
Industrial
15%
Agricultur
al
37%
Share of Domestic, Industrial and Agricultural BOD
at the National Level
4
Domestic water demand and
wastewater generated
Items Urban Rural
Per capita water
consumption (l/d)
150 75
Per capita
wastewater
generated (l/d)
120 60
5
Approximate wastewater flows for
Residential units (US, 1996)
Type of
establishment
Liters per person per
day
grams of BOD per
person per day
Large single-family
house
450 91
Typical single-
family house
300 77
Apartments 230 to 284 77
Small dwellings or
cottages
190 77
6
Typical composition of
untreated domestic
wastewater
Constituent Concentration
(mg/L)
BOD
5
100 - 300
Suspended solids (SS) 100 - 350
Total dissolved solids (TDS) 200 - 1000
7
Effects of water pollution
Effects on human health spread of disease-
causing bacteria and viruses which may cause
gastro-enteritis, diarrhea, typhoid, cholera,
dysentery, hepatitis, and SARS
Effects on aquatic ecosytem depletion of
oxygen leads to death of aquatic life;
eutrophication; paralytic shellfish poisoning
occurs during the red tide phenomenon when
there are toxic phytoplankton blooms
Effects on aesthetics unsightly, sources of foul
odors and gases
8
Economic costs

Health (PhP 3B annually)

Fishery production (PhP 17B)

Tourism (PhP 47B)

In 1997, Boracay
Island experienced a
60% decline in
occupancy rate
because of the news
on high levels of
coliform
9
Wastewater treatment unit
operations
Raw sewage
Pretreatment
Primary treatment
Secondary treatment Tertiary treatment
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Source:
www.rdn.bc.ca
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Unit operations of
pretreatment

Bar screens: to remove large objects

that would damage pumps, valves
and other mechanical equipment

Grit chambers:
grit: inert dense materials such as
sand, broken glass, silt and pebbles

Comminutors: macerate wastewater

solid (rags, paper, plastic and other
materials by revolving cutting bars)
12
Bar screen
13
Comminutor
14
Equalization

Improves effectiveness of both secondary and

advanced wastewater treatment processes

The purpose of flow equalization is to dampen

these variations so that the wastewater can
be treated at a nearly constant flow rate

Large basins are constructed to collect and

store the wastewater flow and from which the
wastewater is pumped to the treatment plant
at a constant rate
15
Primary treatment

Removal of light organic suspended

solids by gravity in a sedimentation
basin

Settled solids raw sludge

Tanks can be round or rectangular

50 60 % of raw sewage suspended

solids and 30 35% BOD
5
may be
removed in the primary tank
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Secondary treatment

Purpose: to remove the soluble BOD that was

not removed in primary treatment and to
provide further removal of suspended solids

Basic ingredients for secondary treatment:

availability of many microorganisms, good
contact between these organisms and organic
material, availability of oxygen, and other
factors (favorable temperature, and sufficient
time for reactions to occur)
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Role of microorganisms

The stabilization of organic matter is

accomplished biologically using a
variety of microorganisms

Conversion of colloidal and dissolved

carbonaceous organic matter into
various gases and into protoplasm

Protoplasm can be removed through

gravity settling
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Microbes used in wastewater
treatment

Bacteria: highest population of

microorganisms in a wastewater
treatment plant and use soluble food

Fungi: Its cells require only half as

much nitrogen as bacteria, thus, in
nitrogen-deficient environments,
dominate over bacteria

Algae: Produce oxygen through

photosynthesis
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Microbes used in wastewater
treatment (cont.)
Protozoa: Consumes bacteria. Desirable
in wastewater effluents because they act
as polishers in consuming the bacteria
Rotifers: Consume bacteria and small
particles of organic matter
Crustaceans: Source of food for fish, and
their presence is indicative of a high level
of dissolved oxygen and a very low level
of organic matter
Conversion of organic waste to
end products and residual cell
tissue
Oxidation:
COHNS + O
2
+ bacteria CO
2
+ H
2
O +
NH
3
+ other end products + energy
Synthesis:
COHNS + O
2
+ bacteria + energy
C
5
H
7
NO
2
Endogenous respiration:
C
5
H
7
NO
2
+ 5O
2
5CO
2
+ NH
3
+ 2H
2
O
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Secondary (biological)
treatment systems

Trickling filters

Activated sludge

Oxidation ponds

Rotating Biological Contactors (RBC)

Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Trickling Filters

Attached-growth process

Not primarily a filtering or straining process

In a rock filter, rocks are 25 to 100 mm in diameter

too big to act as filter

Filter media provide surface area where

microorganisms cling and grow in a slime on the
rocks as they feed on the organic matter

Excess growth of microorganisms are washed out

have to be settled out in a secondary clarifier
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Trickling filter
Sewage in
Bar racks
Grit chamber
Primary settling tank
Trickling filter
Secondary settling
tank
Disinfection
Digester
Digester
recirculation
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Primary factors considered in the
design of trickling filters
Distribution system
F
i
l
t
e
r

m
e
d
i
a
Underdrain system
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Schematic diagram of attached
growth process
S
u
p
p
o
r
t
M
e
d
i
u
m
Anaerobic
zone
Aerobic
zone
BOD
Water layer
O
2
CO
2
Fixed water layer
Moving water layer
Oxidized
organics
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Ideal Filter Media

High surface area per unit volume

Low in cost

High durability

Does not readily clog

Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Materials used for trickling
filters

Rocks (height ~ 3 m)

Synthetic plastic media (Corrugated

plastic sheets, Plastic rings)
Lighter than rocks, Can be 12 m high
Larger surface areas
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Corrugated plastic sheets
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Distribution system

Rotary distributor: reliable and easy

to maintain

Speed of revolution will vary with the

flow rate, but should be in the range
of 1 revolution in 10 minutes, for a 2-
arm distributor
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Underdrain system
Supports filter medium
Carries the wastewater passing through
the filter and the sloughed solids from
the filter to the final clarifier
Provides for ventilation of the filter to
maintain aerobic conditions
Made of vitrified clay blocks
Laid on a slope of about 1 percent
toward a common collection point
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Recirculation

Return of a portion of the effluent to

flow through the filter

Ratio of the returned flow to the

incoming flow is called the
recirculation ratio
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Trickling filter
Sewage in
Bar racks
Grit chamber
Primary settling tank
Trickling filter
Secondary settling
tank
Disinfection
Digester
Digester
recirculation
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Why recirculate?
To increase contact efficiency between
waste and biological material
To dampen variations in loadings over
24-hour period
To raise the DO of the influent
To improve distribution over the surface,
reducing tendency to clog and reduce
filter flies
To keep filter wet
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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2-stage trickling filters

Two trickling filters in series

Provides a means of improving the

performance of filters

Filter media may be the same or

different for both stages
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Design of trickling filters

Empirical equations were developed

to predict the efficiency of the filters
based on the BOD load, the volume
of the filter media, and the
recirculation.
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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For a single stage filter, or the first stage

of a 2-stage filter, the efficiency is
5 . 0
1
12 . 4 1
1
]
]
]

VF
QC
E
in
E
1
= fraction of BOD
5
removal for first-stage at 20
0
C, including
recirculation and
sedimentation
Q= wastewater flow rate, m
3
/s
C
in
= influent BOD
5
, mg/L
V = volume of filter media, m
3
F = recirculation factor
( )
2
1 . 0 1
1
R
R
F
+
+

Secondary Treatment Systems

(CE 132)
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R = recirculation ratio = Q
r
/Q
Q
r
= recirculation flow rate, m
3
/s

Q = wastewater flow rate, m

3
/s
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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For second-stage filter
5 .
1
2
1
12 . 4
1
1

,
`

.
|

VF
QC
E
E
e
Where E
2
=fraction of BOD
5
removal for 2
nd
stage filter at 20
0
C
E
1
= fraction of BOD
5
removed in first stage
C
e
= effluent BOD
5
from first stage, mg/L
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Effect of temperature on
efficiency
( ) 20
20

T
T
E E
Where = 1.035
T = actual wastewater temperature
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Conditions to derive NRC
equations

Filter media was rock (25 100 mm)

Second-stage filter preceded by an

intermediate settling tank
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Advantages of trickling
filters
Simple, reliable, biological process
Suitable in areas where large tracts of land
are not available
Can treat high concentrations of organics
Appropriate for small to medium-sized
communities

Rapidly reduces BOD

5
Durable process elements
Low power requirements
Moderate level of skill and technical expertise
needed to manage and operate the system
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Disadvantages of trickling
filters

Possible accumulation of excess biomass that

cannot retain an aerobic condition

Requires regular operator attention

Incidence of clogging is relatively high

Depending on medium, may require low

loadings

Vector and odor problems

Snail problems
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Problems

Disagreeable odors from filter

Ponding on filter media

Filter flies

Icing

Rotating distributor stops or slows

down
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Trickling filters under construction
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Activated sludge process

Suspended growth process

A mixture of wastewater and biological sludge is

agitated and aerated

Activated sludge: the individual organisms

clumped together forming an active mass of
microbes (biological floc)
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Activated sludge system
Sewage in
Bar racks
Grit chamber
Primary settling tank
Aeration tank
Secondary settling
tank
Disinfection
Digester
Return sludge line
Digester
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Aeration
Air is injected to mix the activated sludge with the
wastewater and to supply the oxygen needed for the
organism to break down the organics
Mixed liquor mixture of activated sludge and
wastewater
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Secondary clarifier
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Effluent Line Ready for Discharge
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Oxidation ponds

Aerobic ponds: shallow ponds, less

than 1 m in depth, where DO is
maintained throughout the entire
depth, mainly by the action of
photosynthesis Wind mixing
oxyge
n
Daytime
Sun
Algal photosynthesis
oxygen
Evening
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Facultative ponds

Ponds 1 to 2.5 m deep, which have

an anaerobic lower zone, a
facultative middle zone, and aerobic
upper zone maintained by
photosynthetic and surface aeration

The most common type wastewater

treatment system for small
communities
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Facultative ponds
CO
2
+ H
2
O + light Algae + O
2
Organics + O
2
CO
2
+ H2O
Organics Organic Acids
Organic Acids CH
4
+ CO
2
Aerobic zone
Anaerobic
zone
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Anaerobic ponds
Deep ponds that receive high organic
loadings such that anaerobic conditions
prevail throughout the entire pond depth
Used primarily as a pretreatment process
and are particularly suited for the
treatment of high-temperature, high-
strength wastewaters.
Used to treat municipal wastewaters
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Maturation or tertiary ponds
(polishing pond)

Used to polish effluents from other

biological processes
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Aerated lagoons

Ponds oxygenated through the action

of surface or diffused air aeration
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Rotating Biological Contactors
(RBC)

Consists of a series of closely spaced

disks (3 3.5 m in diameter)
mounted on a horizontal shaft and
rotated, while about one-half of their
surface area is immersed in
wastewater

Disks made of lightweight plastic

Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Purposes of disks

Provide media for the buildup of

attached microbial growth

Bring the growth into contact with

the wastewater

Aerate the wastewater and the

suspended microbial growth in the
reservoir
Secondary Treatment Systems
(CE 132)
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Secondary Treatment Systems
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Additional Notes

BOD
5
amount of oxygen needed to degrade
organic matter, measured 5 days after
collection
Raw wastewater
TSS = 300 mg/L

BOD
5
= 350 mg/L
Septic tank treated water
TSS = 85 mg/L

BOD
5
= 100 mg/L
DENR standards
TSS = 50 mg/L

BOD
5
= 30 mg/L
Additional Notes

Parameters used in an activated

sludge process:

Aeration period (detention time, )

BOD loading per unit volume

food to microorganism ratio

Sludge age,
c

(mean cell residence time)

Additional Notes
5-14) Determine the surface area of a primary
settling tank sized to handle a max hourly flow of
570 cms at an overflow ratio of 60 m/day [A=820.8
m
2
, t = 1.2 hours)
5-18) Determine the concentration of the effluent
BOD
5
for a 2-stage trickling filter. The wastewater
temp is 17
o
C. Design flow = 0.0509 cms, influent
BOD
5
= 260 mg/L, diameter of each filter = 1.83 m,
recirculation rate for each filter = 0.0594 cms