Water Rationing due to High

Ammonia Contamination in
Malaysia
Presented by: The Night Owls
Kong Ka Man
Wong Win Yee
Nur Amirah Hani binti Mohd Azmi

Water Rationing Issue in

Malaysia 2014

Water
Rationi
ng
Issue
in
Malaysi
a
2014

Problem Statement
High ammonia contamination in Sungai Langat early this
year has caused the closure of two water treatment plants
which are the Batu 11 and Bukit Tampoi water treatment
plant. The closure of both the plant has caused water
rationing around Klang Valley and Kuala Lumpur area. The
Selangor government short-term measure is to fork out
RM350,000 per month for chemicals that will increase the
ventilation rate while the long-term plan is to replace the
water filter at the treatment plants with sodium
aluminosilicate. However, the cost for the proposal is
RM5million and the plan takes a long time to complete
which is between 6-8months.

Focus

High Ammonia
Contamination

Look for Alternative Solution

This is because:
Leads
to
adverse
effects
on
environment and human health
High cost
Low efficiency of ammonia removal

Alternative Solution: Immobilized Nitrifying

Bacteria
Adopted from NITROGEN CYCLE
ANAEROBIC
PROCESS

Effluents discharged
Nitrogen

2 NO3- + 2H+ N2 + H2O

+ 2.5 O2

AEROBIC
PROCESS

NH4+ + 1.5 O2 NO2- +

H2O +2H+

NO2- + 0.5 O2
NO3-

Significant Idea: Immobilized Nitrifying

Bacteria
What is IMMOBILIZED NITRIFYING
Polymer Aqueous Gel
BACTERIA?
Microorganisms
(Nitrifying bacteria:
Nitrosomonas & Nitrobacter)

Immobilized support to
hold the
nitrifying bacteria
Bacteria easy to be multiplied on the
inside surface
Multiply in aerobic tank efficiently

How Problem Solved

Usage of Nitrosomonas &
Nitrobacter:
Reduce usage of chemicals
No adverse effects on
environment and human
health
Save the cost spend on
chemicals purchasing and
treating

How Problem Solved

Nitrosomonas & Nitrobacter
suitable to be used due to its:
Optimal
temperature
between 25 to 30oC
Optimum
pH
ranged
between 7.0 and 8.5
Nitrosomonas
growth
is
inhibited at pH 6.5

How Problem Solved

By using immobilized
nitrifying bacteria:
Initial
Sedimentatio
n Tank

C
Aerobic Tank Anaerobic
Tank
6 8 hours

Final
Sedimentatio
n Tank

: Nitrifying Pellet

Without immobilized
nitrifying bacteria:
Final
Sedimentatio
n Tank

Initial
Sedimentatio
n Tank

Aerobic Tank Anaerobic

Tank
12 16 hours

How Problem Solved

By using immobilized
nitrifying bacteria:
Initial
Sedimentatio
n Tank

C
Aerobic Tank Anaerobic
Tank
6 8 hours

Final
Sedimentatio
n Tank

: Nitrifying Pellet

Shorter time is taken to remove the

ammonia
Removal of ammonia can be carried
out earlier when problem detected as
this
system
is
implemented
in
sedimentation instead of filtration

Sketch

Initial
Sedimentatio
n Tank

Final
Sedimentatio
n Tank

Aerobic Tank Anaerobic

Tank
: Nitrifying Pellet