Mangosuthu University of Technology

The department of Civil engineering and

Surveying

Name: L F Makwedini
Student No: 21731713
Work: WATER ENGINEERING II ASSIGNMENT
Date: 29 August 2018
Abstract
To report on the design required for the biological filter and more about how it could be installed
including the methods, the outlet structure capacity, help the EThekwini municipality in
purification and distribution of the water, the spillway capacity, the stilling basin and the
necessary river bed lining, taking into account the stability problems. And the water to be
treated ranges to 2 million litres per day.

Introduction
The biological filter is a process where water is treated through different stages which involve
the growth and containment of specific microorganisms working as a consortium to maintain
a natural and balanced aquatic environment and it is knowns as the breaking down operator
of converting the very dangerous toxic bacteria to less toxic. The biological filter operates like
a regular drinking water filtration unit, with few labelled critical complications. Like in a water
filtration system, water flows inside the filter through the wash water troughs, to the trough
weirs, and down through the opener to the underdrains

These biological filters can be used to remove the poisonous substances by the three
mechanisms namely; biodegradation, adsorption of micro-pollutants and filtration of
suspended solids.

Biological filtration is the use of bacteria to remove toxic wastes like dangerous ammonia by
converting them into less toxic wastes like nitrites. This bacteria appears and grows in porous
surface areas. Taking to note the few examples such as the rocks, sponges and gravel that
can be recognised as the underlying substances for the bacteria.
 Design of biological filtration
During the whole designing process of the biological filtration system a very close one careful
attention is needed in ensuring that the right types of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria are used,
biofilters control procedures are based on the maintenance of its bacterial community similarly
are the beneficial aspects that either engineered or non-engineered biological treatment
systems have in the drinking water production process. The biological treatment in the
production of drinking water occurs through bio filtration process in which microbial
communities are immobilized in a support bed material in contact with the water phase, in
conservation of its associated activity and in the assurance of the physical, chemical, and
biological quality of the corresponding effluent. Among others, important factors in developing
and controlling bio filter performance include bio filter maturation time, operational
temperature, adequate oxygen levels, redox control, appropriate contact time between the
fluid and fixed phases and proper backwash conditions.

The filter backwash design rate is 17g pm/ft2 to achieve 50% filter bed expansion for less
than 20 minutes. The frequency of backwash was established during full-scale operation to
only be once per three weeks such that only one filter was backwashed per week. Filters were
backwashed with finished chlorinated water. Filters were backwashed with non-chlorinated
water in the pilot to avoid destroying the nitrifying biofilm. Photograph of pressure filters.
Whether using chlorinated backwash water has a negative effect on biological activity within
the filters. Past work that documented a full-scale biologically active nitrifying water treatment
plant in Ohio that used chlorinated finished water to backwash the filters showed no negative
impact on the nitrifying ability of the filter.

The timeframe for a bio filter to reach steady state biological activity is an important design
parameter. For example the acclimation period in sand filters to achieve consistent
manganese removal can be up to two months. EBCT refers to the time required for the influent
water to move through the media and is considered a vital component for effective bio filtration.
Empty Bed Contact Time is based on the loading rate and the volume of the filter media. As
of great example, an EBCT of 10 to 20 minutes has been shown to remove 90 percent of bio
filter influent organic matter. However optimal EBCTs may be determined by the composition
of the biofilm microbial consortia as well as the nature and levels of contaminants to be
removed. Concerning temperature, it has been shown for instance that while ammonia
removal efficiency by bio filtration can reach up to 90 percent at temperatures ranging between
4 to 10º C, it decreases to about 30 percent at temperatures below 4º C. Regular backwashing
is necessary for the continuous operation of fixed-bed bioreactors, the operating procedure
for backwashing may affect reactor performance. For example, if backwash water contains
chlorine, when other operating parameters are not optimal, the reactor performance will be
impaired, similarly, backwash intensity and frequency can also affect reactor performance as
well as the distribution and/or activity of the microbial communities present in the bioreactor.

Questions still remain regarding the capacity and safety of engineered bio filtration in the
context of drinking water production. In this regard Abundant clean water is widely recognized
as one of the top survival priorities, with most survival instructors saying that you need at least
a gallon per person per day for drinking and cooking.
The most common means of purifying water is by using a filter but there are other options like:
– Boiling the water – it’s hard to purify enough water to meet a family or group’s survival needs
and you would still have to filter the particles;
– Chemical purification (such as using chlorine) – requires that you have enough of a stock of
chlorine to last through the crisis.
 And so it seems the bio-filter is your best option in a crisis. Bio-filters can easily be made out
of readily available materials. They essentially duplicate the same process that a water
treatment plant uses to purify water, but on a much smaller scale. This multi-stage process
removes dissolved and suspended solids, as well as almost all waterborne pathogens.
The pathogens are the important part of water filtration. These pathogens are bacteria and
protozoa which can infect our digestive systems, causing diarrhoea and dehydration. Left long
enough, they can cause death by dehydration. More than anything, they are the ingredient
hiding in most fresh water sources, which can make us ill. So, that has to be our focus.
How would our biological filter work that would produce clean water would be a three stage
filter, allowing each stage to provide a finer level of filtration.

The first action

The first level consists of gravel and is there to remove larger solids, such as leaves, twigs,
bugs and even pieces of faeces that might be in the water.
Secondly
The second layer is sand, which will remove floating and dissolved particles of solids as the
water passes through it.
Close to end
At this point, all that is left to be a problem is the microscopic pathogens, which are reduced
by over 99 percent by the final layer, that of activated charcoal.

During studies on biological drinking water treatment have mainly focused on removing the
target of interest, they have not extensively addressed other characteristics of effluent quality
that might be affected by the biological treatment processes. For instance, considering that
either microbes or adsorbed contaminants from the biological treatment process could end up
in the reactor’s effluent, more data is needed about its microbiological quality.

Bio-Filter
There are a number of ways you can use to build own bio-filter, the problem is that the filtration
is not as thorough as it is for larger filters. You need a thick layer of activated charcoal, so that
it can remove the pathogens from the water. So, I recommend building it in six tank.

Biological filter will need:

 100 tons of sand

 100 tons of pea gravel
 50 tons bag of activated charcoal or carbon (volume will be of equal to the sand and gravel)
 Six tanks (cylindrical ones)
 Screening
 Stand, such as two cinder blocks standing on their end

By using six tanks, we are able to use plenty of material to ensure that the bio-filter will work
effectively. This ensures that the filter will work for a long time, rather than becoming clogged
up with garbage quickly. Basically, the bigger the filter, the longer it can filter effectively and
the better a job it can do of filtering. Therefore, in view of its low operating cost, high water
recovery and a potentially efficient simultaneous multiple contaminant removal, a better
understanding and control of particular bio filtration processes would be necessary for a more
widespread acceptance and use of engineered bio filtration steps in the production of drinking
water. The amount of water that will be approximately be produced will be 65 000 litres
per/min.
 Slow sand filtration
It improves the biological quality of water, since it has to be taken into account during
designing and installing of the filter. This process includes the filtration of water at rates that
determine the accumulation of organic matter at the surface of the filter media. This layer is
able to support the colonization and maintenance of microorganisms that in turn become the
predominant filtering mechanism of the system. This biologically active layer is called the
“schmutzdecke” and works as the primary bio filtration component to remove potential
contaminants present in the incoming water.

Slow sand filters are used without the addition of coagulant. The lower velocities used mean
more particles are retained which in turn encourages biological activity. Within days the layer
of organic material on the surface, becomes capable of removing colour and turbidity and
large numbers of bacteria. Principal mechanisms are straining and entrapment but digestion
of dissolved organics also takes place by a variety of organisms, such as protozoa, algae, and
bacteria.. Slow sand filters are cleaned by removing the surface layer of sand

Bio filtration processes offer the following advantages

 Because microorganisms are retained within the biofilm, bio filtration allows the
development of microorganisms with relatively low specific growth rates;
 Bio filters are less subject to variable or intermittent loading and to hydraulic shock
 Operational costs are usually lower than for activated sludge;
 Final treatment result is less influenced by biomass separation since the biomass
concentration at the effluent is much lower than for suspended biomass processes;
 Attached biomass becomes more specialized (higher concentration of relevant
organisms) at a given point in the process train because there is no biomass return.

Factors to be considered concerning deep bed biological filtration

When designing biological filter, certain factors should be taken into account to avoid poor
work. For instance, if severe shortage of water were to occur like in this case of EThekwini
municipality (Durban),The bio filter station should be built correctly and be maintained correctly
because if not can cause injury and damage. If is poorly maintained, it can pose a reliability
threat because the bio filter may not meet the current structural safety and hydraulic
requirements. Therefore such things can result in a probability of failing if they are not taken
into consideration.
Commission
The first step in water treatment should be filtration. Some suggest that there should be an
initial sterilization stage, but oxidizable water consumes a lot of disinfection agents, and the
large quantities needed lead to a high content of disinfection by-products remaining in the
treated water. It is necessary to initially oxidize metals such as iron using an oxidation unit and
remove them before the water is disinfected. Some types of raw water also need a flocculation
stage.

The removal of particles by packed-bed filters is the oldest technology in water treatment but
still one of the most widely used. This robust and simple technology uses gravel of different
sizes. The smaller the gravel size the better is the removal of particles, but also the pressure
drop in the packed bed increases for smaller gravel size.

Apart from sand filters, multilayer filters consisting of different grades of sand, gravel, and
anthracite are used. Anthracite is a coal-based material suitable for depth filtration. This means
that particles are not only removed at the surface but also within the bed. This makes the
removal capacity higher, and this type of filter is capable of dealing with higher concentrations
of particles.

At intervals, the removed particles are rinsed out from the packed

Installation
We are going to align the pair of tanks up, with each of them taking on one part of the filtration
process. To make this possible, it would require a path for the water to pass from one tank to
the next. So, using the electric drill and the 1″hole saw, drill a hole in the bottom (outlet) of six
of the tank. Then change over to the 2″ hole saw and drill a hole in the top (inlet) of the tanks.

The activated charcoal needs to be crushed, if it isn’t already. You don’t need it to be powder,
but you do need it to be small pieces, a couple of millimetres across. Start by rinsing all three
m filter Medias (gravel, sand and activated charcoal). The sand and gravel will have dust and
dirt in them and the activated charcoal will have charcoal dust in it. This needs to be rinsed
out
 Conclusion
In conclusion the first filters for municipality of ethekwini drinking water treatment were slow
sand filters where water was passed through a bed of fine sand at slow speed. Through the
new design and installation of the deep bed biological filtration water that would be produced
by the new biological filters will process to treat approximately 2 million litres per day of water

The rate of filtration would be 65 000 litres per/min this would increase the water in the
municipality and the quality, the amount of water treated. This method biological filtration
reduces microbial, bacterial and other organisms.
Table of content

Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1

Design of biological filtration………………………………………………………………………………………………….2-3

Constructing biological filtration………………………………………………………………………………………………...3

Slow sand filtration……………………………………………………………………………………………………...………….…4

Factors to take into consideration concerning deep bed biological filtration……………………………….4

Commission…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5

Installation……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…5-6

Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..6

References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….…7
References
1. Deep bed filtration: mathematical models and observation by v jagatheesan
2. Rich m – off the grid news, how to build a bio filter Water Research Foundation in July 2009 by HJ
smith
3. Joseph S. DeVenny, Marc A. Deshusses and Todd S. Webster (1999).
4. Water management consultants-water maxim, Biological filtration secondary treatment system
5. M.G. Healy; M. Rodgers & J. Mulqueen (2007). Treatment of dairy wastewater using constructed
wetlands and intermittent sand filters. Bioresource Technology.
6. D.S. Chaudhary, S. Vigneswara, H.-H. Ngo, W.G. Shim and H. Moon (2003). Biofilter in water and
wastewater treatment (PDF). The Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.20 No.6
7. Lytle et al., 2007
8. Biofiltration for Air Pollution Control. Lewis Publishers. ISBN 1-56670-289-5