Chapter 9

Waste Water Treatment

Wastewater Water when used for different purpose like domestic commercial, industrial etc.,
receives impurities and become wastewater (sewage or municipal wastewater).
 Types of Wastewater from Household

Type of Water Source of Wastewater

Gray water Washing water from the kitchen,
bathroom, laundry (without faeces and
urine)
Black water Water from flush toilet (faeces and urine
with flush water)
Yellow water Urine from separated toilets and urinals
Brown water Black water without urine or yellow water
Waste Water Treatment

Wastewater Characteristics
Physical Properties determined the physical analysis using color, odor,
temperature and turbidity.

Chemical Properties helps in indicating the stage of sewage decomposition, its

strength, and extent.

Biological Properties determined the bacteria found in the sewage.

Waste Water Treatment

Physical Properties
Color
The color of the sewage indicates the freshness of sewage.

Odor
Odour is produced by gas production due to the decomposition of organic matter or by substances added to
the wastewater.

Temperature
The temperature has an effect on the biological activity of bacteria present in the sewage and it also affects
the solubility of gases in sewage. It also affects the viscosity of sewage (more is the temperature, lesser is the
viscosity of sewage).
 Physical Properties
Turbidity
The turbidity depends on the quantity of solid matter present in suspension state. The turbidity depends on
the quantity of solid matter present in suspension state.

Solids
Suspended Solids are those solids which remain floating in sewage.
Dissolved Solids are those which remain dissolved in sewage just as a salt in water.
Colloidal Solids are finely divided solids remaining either in solution or in suspension.
Settle-able Solids are that solids which settles out, if sewage is allowed to remain undisturbed for a
period of 2 hrs.
Waste Water Treatment

Chemical Properties

Characteristics Sources

Chemical constituents: Domestic, commercial, and industrial wastes

Organic:
Carbohydrates
Fats, oils, and grease Domestic, commercial, and industrial wastes

Pesticides Agricultural wastes

Phenols Industrial wastes

Proteins Domestic, commercial, and industrial wastes

Priority pollutants Domestic, commercial, and industrial wastes

Surfactants Domestic, commercial, and industrial wastes

Volatile organic compounds Domestic, commercial, and industrial wastes

Other Natural decay of organic materials

Waste Water Treatment

Chemical Properties

Characteristics Sources

Chemical constituents: Domestic wastes, domestic water supply, groundwater

Inorganic: infiltration
Alkalinity
Chlorides Domestic wastes, domestic water supply, groundwater
infiltration
Heavy Metals Industrial wastes

Nitrogen Domestic and agricultural wastes

PH Domestic, commercial, and industrial wastes

Phosphorus Domestic, commercial, and industrial wastes natural

runoff
Priority Polluter Sulphur Domestic water supply; domestic, commercial. And
industrial wastes
Waste Water Treatment

Biological Properties

Characteristics Sources
Biological constituents: Open watercourses and treatment plants
Animals
Plants Open watercourses and treatment plants
Eubacteria Domestic wastes, surface water infiltration,
treatment plants .
Archaebacteria Domestic wastes, surface-water infiltration,
treatment plants
Viruses Domestic wastes
 Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS)

Onsite (or decentralized) wastewater treatment systems are used to treat wastewater from a home or business and
return treated wastewater back into the receiving environment. They are typically referred to as septic systems, because
most involve a septic tank for partial treatment.

Traditional Septic System consist of a septic tank that gravity flows to a soil adsorption field for final
treatment and dispersal. The septic tank allows particulate matter to settle to the bottom of the tank so
that large solids do not plug the drain field. An effluent screen placed in the outlet of the septic tank is
used to filter suspended solids out of the effluent. Final treatment and dispersal of the wastewater takes
place in the soil adsorption filed.

Non-Traditional Septic System performs the same basic actions as the conventional septic systems.
Differences arise when location, space, laws and regulations, soil type, and/or quantity of wastewater being
treated become a limiting factor. A non-traditional system in this case refers to any OWTS that uses
pumps or advanced treatment. These systems use technologies that require greater frequency of operation
and maintenance.