INTERNATIONAL TURKISH HOPE SCHOOL

2014 2015 ACADEMIC YEAR

CHITTAGONG SENIOR SECTION
SEWAGE TREATMENT
CLASS IX and X
Name : ..................
Date : ......................
SYLLABUS CONTENT
Section 4: Ecology and the environment
d) Human influences on the environment
Students will be assessed on their ability to:

4.15 understand the biological consequences of pollution of water by sewage including

increases in the number of microorganisms causing depletion of oxygen
4.16 understand that eutrophication can result from leached minerals from fertilizer

HUMAN BIOLOGY
14. Environment

i) Understand the biological consequences of pollution of water by untreated sewage including

increases in the number of microorganisms causing depletion of oxygen.
j) Explain how eutrophication can result from leached minerals from excess nitrogen fertiliser
or treated sewage.

Teacher in Charge: ARIF ULLAH - 01817721521

1|P age

Sewage Treatment
Sewage is the water-borne waste of a community. It has three main constituents- domestic
waste, industrial waste and surface water.
Domestic Waste include

Tea leaves from kitchen sinks

Detergent from washing machines

Soaps in bathwater, faeces and urine

Industrial Waste include

Plant waste such as cellulose from paper mills

Pharmaceuticals

Clay from potteries

Oil from garages and machinery works

Heavy metals such as Zinc, Iron and Lead

Surface water includes rainwater from paved areas, roads and roofs.
Risk of Leaving sewage untreated and exposed to rain and flies:
When raw sewage is discharged into a lake or river, not only does it constitute a health hazard,
but it provides so much for bacteria that they increase in vast numbers. These are aerobic
bacteria which make such a demand on the oxygen dissolved in the water that fish and other
organisms are deprived of oxygen and die. This is called eutrophication.
Moreover, by urinating and defecating carelessly about the place, people can make it easy for
vectors such as houseflies, cockroaches and rats to become infected with pathogens which can
spread to other, healthy people.
Carelessness over these functions also results in the cysts of amoebic dysentery, the eggs of
tapeworm and blood fluke, and the larvae of hookworm.
Description and identification from a drawing, a section through a pit latrine
1. Concrete slab at the top- It prevents seepage into the surrounding soil and prevent entry of
rats and other vectors
2. A long handle cover over the squatting plate, prevents the escape of smells and entry of flies.
3. A fly wire over the ventilation keeps out flies while ventilating at the same time
4. The lower part of the pit must be lined with bricks to prevent the soil from collapsing inwards.

Teacher in Charge: ARIF ULLAH - 01817721521

2|P age

The reasons for the careful seating of pit latrines in relation to water sources
1. Pit latrine is located in areas where the soil is permeable to water
2. There should be no wells within 30m of the pit latrine to prevent contamination by seepage
3. The latrine should never be sited uphill from a well of water source
4. The pit latrine should be dug as deep as the soil will allow so
Aim of Sewage treatment
1. To lower the BOD sufficiently so that the effluent from the sewage works can be discharged
into a natural watercourse without grossly upsetting its ecological stability
2. As far as possible to destroy or eliminate pathogens which
may endanger wildlife such as shellfish and birds living in the water. Humans may also eat
shellfish from, or bathe in which treated sewage is discharged.
Both these aims can be achieved by a combination of physical, chemical and microbiological
processes.
Large Scale Sewage Treatment Plants
Large scale sewage treatment is the best method of disposal which is essential in urban areas. A
very gentle slope called sewer, carries the sewage to the sewage work. At a sewage work, two
main methods of sewage disposals are used. They are the activated sludge method and the
biological filter method. Both involve the same initial treatment of sewage.
Screening - First the crude sewage flows through a grid or screen in, which large materials like
paper and sticks are held. These are removed and burned.
Sedimentation- Sewage then slowly passes over open channels where the grid settles. This is
later washed and returned to the land. The sewage now passes into sedimentation tanks where
the solid materials settle at the bottom as sludge. Ferric sulphate may be added to speed up the
settling by flocculating the particles. The liquid part, called effluent, remains at the top. The
sludge is then pumped into tanks where the bacteria decompose it. It is then dried, either by
spreading it out on the land or by heating. The drying produces gas methane, which can be burned
to supply the source of heat. The dehydrated sludge is finally used as manure, but not for root
crops or others where the manure would come into direct contact with the part used for food.

Teacher in Charge: ARIF ULLAH - 01817721521

3|P age

Biological Filter
This process uses a biological filter to treat the effluent run off from the sedimentation tank.
This filter consists of concrete tanks some two meters high, filled with clinker, coke, or small
stones. These stones become covered with a film containing numerous bacteria and protozoa. The
clinker also ensures a good air supply so that these microorganisms are extremely active and feed
on sewage. The effluent is sprinkled on to these filters from rotating pipes above them. The larva
of some flies may also feed on sewage and speed up the process.
The effluent from this filter now passes through a humus tank to allow any remaining solids to
settle. The effluent is now pure and is passed into rivers. Tests are done to ensure the purity of
this effluent.
Activated Sludge
Activated sludge method takes up less space and it is a quicker process. After large objects and
grit have been removed the liquid is stirred by paddles, driven by machines. This breaks up
organic matter, chiefly faeces and paper into small particles. The liquid and particles pass into
one or more sedimentation tanks and then into a large aeration tank where air is bubbled through
the liquid. The oxygen in the air enables aerobic decomposing urea and other organic materials
such as cellulose.
The liquid passes to a further sedimentation tank in which sludge settles out. This sludge contains
both bacteria and ciliates which feed on the remains. The ciliates also produce effluents, which
binds dumps of organic materials, bacteria and ciliates together. Some of the sludge is returned
to the aeration tank, where it keeps up the supply, of active organisms. Most of the sludge passes
into a large closed digestor. Anaerobic bacteria live in the digestor and these decompose the
sludge to produce methane, a gas which will be collected and used as a fuel. Sometimes enough
methane is produced to provide all the power needed to drive the machinery at the sewage works.
Eventually the sludge which contains no more pathogens is removed from the digestor dried and
used as a fertilizer.

Teacher in Charge: ARIF ULLAH - 01817721521

4|P age

Teacher in Charge: ARIF ULLAH - 01817721521

5|P age