Reflections

What are the two broad tasks of

environmental engineers?
What is the connection between the broad
tasks of environmental engineers and
building a water treatment plant?
Why may the water need to be
changed/treated?

Simple Sorting
Goal: clean water
Source: (contaminated) surface water
Solution: separate contaminants from water
How?

Where are we going?

Unit processes* designed to
remove ___________
particles
remove __________
___________
dissolved chemicals
inactivate __________
pathogens
*Unit process: a process that is used in similar
ways in many different applications
sedimentation
filtration
...

Unit Processes Designed to

Remove Particulate Matter
Screening
Sedimentation
Filtration
Disinfection
Storage
Distribution

Conventional Surface Water

Treatment
Raw water
Filtration

Screening

sludge

sludge
Disinfection

Storage

Sedimentation

sludge

Distribution

Screening
Removes large solids
logs
branches
rags
fish

Simple process
may incorporate a mechanized trash
removal system

Protects pumps and pipes

Sedimentation
the oldest form of water treatment
uses gravity to separate particles
from water

Filtration
is commonly the mechanical or physical
operation which is used for the separation
of solids from fluids (liquids or gases) by
interposing a medium through which only
the fluid can pass.
The fluid that passes through is called the
filtrate.

Disinfection
Disinfection: operations aimed at killing or
inactivating pathogenic microorganisms
____________
Ideal disinfectant
_______________
Toxic to pathogens
Not toxic to humans
_______________
Fast rate of kill
_______________
Residual protection
_______________
Economical
_______________

Disinfection Options
Chlorine
chlorine gas Poisonous gas risk of a leak
sodium hypochlorite (bleach)

Irradiation with Ultraviolet light

Sonication
Electric Current/Electrocoagulation

Removal of Dissolved
Substances (1)
Aeration (before filtration)
oxidizes iron or manganese in groundwater
oxidized forms are less soluble and thus
precipitate out of solution
removes hydrogen sulfide (H2S)

Softening (before filtration)

used to remove Ca+2 and Mg+2
usually not necessary with surface waters

Removal of Dissolved
Substances (2)
Activated Carbon (between filtration and
disinfection)
extremely adsorbent
used to remove organic contaminants

Reverse Osmosis
semi-permeable membrane allows water molecules
to pass, but not the larger ions and molecules
primarily used for desalination
also removes organic materials, bacteria, viruses,
and protozoa

PROCESS

Screening
Screening is the first operation at any wastewater treatment works. This process
essentially involves the removal of large non-biodegradable and floating solids that
frequently enter a wastewater works, such as rags, papers, plastics, tins, containers and
wood.
Efficient removal of these constituents will protect the downstream plant and equipment
from any possible damage, unnecessary wear & tear, pipe blockages and the
accumulation of unwanted material that will interfere with the required wastewater
treatment
processes.
Wastewater screening is generally classified into either coarse screening or fine
screening. Screens may be manually or mechanically cleaned, with only the older and
smaller treatment facilities using manually cleaned screens as their primary or only
screening device. Coarse screens are typically used as primary protection devices, and
usually have openings of 10mm or larger.

Screener

Grit Chamber
Grit chambers are basin to remove the
inorganic particles to prevent damage to the
pumps, and to prevent their accumulation in
sludge digestors.

What problems can grit cause in a wastewater treatment

system?

At any point in a wastewater collection or treatment

system where flow velocity is less than 1.5 ft/sec, grit will
begin to fall out of suspension and collect. These low
velocity areas can include drains, channels and pipelines.
As grit collects in unintended areas, clogs can form,
stopping wastewater flow. The trapped organic matter in
these areas can then rapidly form pockets of anaerobic
(i.e., septic) digestion that produce gaseous by-products
that are harmful to both collection and treatment system
surfaces as well as human health.

What problems can grit cause in a wastewater treatment

system?

Grit is extremely abrasive and will produce

abnormal wear on pumps and treatment system
surfaces, significantly reducing the operational life
of a wastewater treatment system and its
components. The life of a pump impeller can be
reduced by as much as 30 percent due to the
abrasive action of grit.

What problems can grit cause in a wastewater treatment

system?

Grit will accumulate within the major treatment

basins (e.g., waste stabilization ponds), eventually
causing a loss in treatment capacity. In addition,
since grit quickly settles out of wastewater and to
the bottom of basins, the cumulative effect of the
grit is often not known until major problems arise
in loss of treatment efficiency

How does grit chamber operates?

Grit chambers are nothing but like sedimentation tanks,
designed to separate the intended heavier inorganic
materials (specific gravity about 2.65) and to pass forward
the lighter organic materials. Hence, the flow velocity
should neither be too low as to cause the settling of lighter
organic matter, nor should it be too high as not to cause the
settlement of the silt and grit present in the sewage. This
velocity is called "differential sedimentation and
differential scouring velocity". The scouring velocity
determines the optimum flow through velocity.

CLARIFIER
A clarifier is generally used to remove solid particulates
or suspended solids from liquid for clarification and (or)
thickening. Concentrated impurities, discharged from the
bottom of the tank are known as sludge, while the particles
that float to the surface of the liquid are called scum. Some
of the solids collected in the secondary clarifier (return
activated sludge) are sent back to the aeration tank to treat
more wastewater and the excess (waste activated sludge) is
pumped to another location in the plant for further
treatment. The clean water that flows out the top of the
clarifier is sent along for disinfection.

Clarifier operation
In order to maintain and promote the proper processing of a
clarifier, it is important to remove any corrosive, reactive
and polymerisable component first, or any material that
may foul the outlet stream of water to avoid any unwanted
side reactions, changes in the product or cause damage to
any of the water treatment equipment. This is done by
routine inspections and the frequent cleaning of the
quiescent zones and the inlet and outlet areas of the
clarifier in order to ascertain the extent of sediment build
up and to clean and remove any scouring, litter, weeds or
debris that may have accumulated over time. [14]

Clarifier operation
Water being introduced into the clarifier should be controlled to reduce the velocity of
the inlet flow. Reducing the velocity maximizes the hydraulic retention time inside the
clarifier for sedimentation and helps to avoid excessive turbulence and mixing; thereby
promoting the effective settling of the suspended particles. To further discourage the
overt mixing within the clarifier and increase the retention time allowed for the particles
to settle, the inlet flow should also be distributed evenly across the entire cross section of
the settling zone inside the clarifier, where the volume is maintained at 37.7 percent
capacity.
The sludge formed from the settled particles at the bottom of each clarifier, if left for an
extended period of time, may become gluey and viscous, causing difficulties in its
removal. This formation of sludge, promotes anaerobic conditions and a healthy
environment for the growth of bacteria. This can cause the resuspension of particles by
gases and the release of dissolved nutrients throughout the water fluid, reducing the
effectiveness of the clarifier. Major health issues and problems can also occur further
down the track of the water purification system or hinder the health of the fish found
downstream of the clarifier.

Aeration
Aeration is used in water treatment as a pretreatment in the process of
removing iron and hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell) from water.

It is a process of exposing water to air by dividing the water into

small drops, by forcing air through the water, or by a combination of
both. Aeration is used to add oxygen to water and to remove carbon
dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and taste-producing gases or vapors.

 Air is a powerful oxidizer of both iron and hydrogen sulfide. It quickly converts
unfilterable ferrous iron to filterable ferric iron, and it reduces hydrogen sulfide to
elemental sulphur, which is easily removed from water by a filter.
Aeration is also an effective method of bacteria control.
METHODS OF AERATION
The water-fall aerator. Through the use of spray nozzles, the water is broken up into
small droplets or a thin film to enhance countercurrent air contact.
In the air diffusion method of aeration, air is diffused into a receiving vessel containing
counter-current flowing water, creating very small air bubbles. This ensures good airwater contact for "scrubbing" of undesirable gases from the water.