MID TERM TEST

1 st MARCH 2012

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 Wastewater
Treatment System
Ms Noor Rosyidah Binti Sajuni
School of Engineering

rosyidah@ucsi.edu.my
Content
Regulation and standard for wastewater
Principle of wastewater treatment in industrial and domestic sewage,
Primary treatment methods,
Secondary treatment and
Tertiary treatment methods

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Sources of Wastewater

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Wastewater Collection System
Sewers are underground conduits for conveying wastewaters by
gravity flow from urban areas to points of disposal.

Storm waters enter a storm drainage system through inlets located in

street gutters or depressed area that collect natural drainage.

Sanitary sewer transport domestic and industrial wastewaters by

gravity flow to treatment facilities.

Sanitary sewers are placed at sufficient depth to prevent freezing and

to receive wastewater from basement.

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 Principle of wastewater
treatment in industrial and
domestic sewage
Municipal wastewater treatment
systems are designed to serve the
needs of towns and cities
The steps in treatment:
Collection
Preliminary treatment
Primary treatment
Secondary treatment
Advanced treatment
Disposal of residue

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 Conventional Wastewater Treatment Process
Pretreatment Chemical Treatment is
involves: used in conjunction with the
Screening physical and chemical
Grit Removal processes:
Oil separation Chemical precipitation
Flow equalization Adsorption

Disinfection can use:

Chlorine compounds
Sludge Treatment and Disposal
Bromine Chloride
involves:
Ozone
grinding, degritting, blending,
UV Radiation
thickening, stabilization, conditioning,
disinfection, dewatering, heat drying,
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thermal reduction, ultimate disposal
 Considerations in Plant Design
Effluent quality: normally govern by local government authority.
Example:
Environmental Quality (Sewage & Industrial Effluents) Regulation
1979
Specify the requirement for new sources of discharges requiring
written permission of the Director General of Environment.
It regulates the acceptable conditions of discharge into inland
waters by specifying parameter limit of effluent.
There are 2 standard: Standard A & Standard B
Standard A: discharge that into any inland water within catchment
areas.
Standard B: discharge into any other inland water.

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 Design Loading.
Wastewater quantity used for sizing basins and equipment varies with
the nature of the equipment and whether the process is hydraulic or
loading limited.
The selection of the flow and load values must take into account
hourly, daily, and seasonal variations.
Flow and load values are typically expressed in terms of peak hour,
max. day, min. day, max. average month; and annual average.
Loading may be lbm of BOD, SS, concentration.
Flow values are important during the sizing pumps, pipes, and
hydraulically limited equipment.
The loading value are important in sizing aeration and digestion
equipment to meet peak demands.

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Typical Design Criteria for
Treatment Processes
Process Loading
Flow measurement Peak hrly flow
Bar Screen Peak hrly flow
Pump Peak hrly flow
Min. hrly flow
Grit chamber Min. hrly flow
Max. monthly flow
Primary settling Max. monthly flow
Biological Max. monthly BOD loading
treatment Peak hrly BOD loading
Final settling Max. monthly flow
Disinfection Peak hrly flow
Thickening Max. daily sludge flow, max. solid loading
Digestion Max. monthly volatile solid load, max. monthly sludge
flow
Dewatering Max. sludge flow, max. solid loading
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 On-site Disposal Systems
About 85-90% of on-site wastewater disposal system are conventional
septic systems.
A conventional septic system consists of 3 parts: septic tank, a distribution
box and absorption field.

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 Septic tank: to remove large particles and grease, which would otherwise
clog the tile field. Heavy solids settle to the bottom and undergo
decompositions. Grease float on the surface and trapped.
The size of the tank should able to accommodate a holding time for
water in a septic tank of at least 24 hrs. For individual homes : 3m 3
tank min., 4m3 for 3 bedrooms house; 5m3 for 4 bedrooms house, and
6m3 for 5 bedrooms house.
Bacteria action in the tank helps to degrade the organic matter in the
wastewater.
Distribution box: to distribute the septic tank effluent throughout the
absorption field.
Absorption field: Consists of a series of trenches that contain perforated
PVC pipes that are about 10cm in diameter.
The pipes are placed over 15cm deep layer of drainrock and then
buried with an additional layer of drainrock.
Most septic system will fail eventually. The normal lifetime of an
absorption field is 20-30 years. 14
 Water-tight sewer lines
Septic tank
Disposal system
Subsurface drain field
Absorption trenches
Infiltration chambers
ET/Absorption trenches
Aerobic system with sprinkler
Total retention lagoons
Pre-approved alternative disposal systems

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 A wastewater system is made up of several connected components. Water-
tight sewer lines convey wastewater from the house to the septic tank and
from the tank to the disposal system.

All systems will have a septic tank to digest organic solids. The effluent, or
liquid waste discharged from the tank goes to some type of disposal system.
The most common disposal system is a subsurface drain field. Traditionally
this has been a perforated pipe buried in a gravel-filled trench. Recently
polyethylene infiltration chambers have been used in place of the traditional
absorption trench.

In the case of sites where soils are not suitable for absorption trenches
(usually because of poor infiltration rates, but also because of shallow water
tables or rock outcrops) other types of disposal systems may be required.

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 Unit Operations of
Pretreatment
Pretreatment have little effect in reducing BOD5.
Physical unit operations are normally the 1 st treatment methods to be used.
Screening is generally as the 1 st unit operation in the wastewater treatment
plant.
A screen is a device with openings, generally uniform size, that is used
to retain solids found in the influent wastewater to the plant or
combined wastewater collection systems.
The principle role of screening is to remove coarse materials from the
flow stream that could:
i. Damage subsequent equipment
ii. Reduce overall treatment process reliability and effectiveness
iii. Contaminate waterways
Sometimes, fine screens are used in place of or following coarse screens
where greater removals of solid are required to:
i. Protect process equipment
ii. Eliminate material that may inhibit the beneficial reuse of biosolids

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Classification of Screens
Screening

Coarse Microscreen Fine

Screen screens
< 0.5 m
6-150 mm < 6 mm

Hand Mechanically Static drum Step

cleaned cleaned wedgewire

Chain- Catenary
Reciprocating Continuous
driven
rake belt

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 Coarse Screen (Bar Racks)
To remove large objects that would damage or foul pumps, valves, and other
mechanical equipment.
Hand-Cleaned Coarse Screens
Used frequently ahead of pumps.
Mechanically cleaned bar screens

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Design Factor for Coarse
Screens
Design consideration
Location
Approach velocity
Clear opening between bars and mesh size
Headloss through screens
Screen handling, processing and disposal
Control

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Fine Screens

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

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 Equalization
Flow equalization is not a treatment process but a technique that can be used to
improved the effectiveness of both secondary and advance wastewater
treatment processes.
Wastewater does not flow into a municipal wastewater treatment plant at a
constant rate.
The purpose of flow equalization is to dampen the variation so that the
wastewater can be treated at a nearly constant flow rate.
For existing plant, it can improve the performance.
For new plant, it can reduce the size and cost of the treatment unit.

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Primary Treatment
With the screening completed and the grit removed, the wastewater still
contains light organic suspended solids.
Some of these can be removed from sewage by gravity in a
sedimentation tank. The mass of settled solids is called raw sludge.
Sludge can be removed from sedimentation tank by mechanical scrapers
and pumps.

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 Sedimentation
Sedimentation or clarification is the removal of particulate matter, chemical floc, and
precipitates from suspension through gravity settling.
The common criteria for sizing settling basins are detention time, overflow rate, weir
loading, and with rectangular tanks, horizontal velocity.
Detention time, expressed in hour as:
V
t where V ba sin volume(m 3 ), Q average daily flow(m 3 / day ), t hour
Q
Overflow rate (surface loading):

Q
Vo where Vo m 3 / m 2 day, A surface area
A

There are 2 types of sedimentation tank: circular and rectangular tanks

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Type of Sedimentation
Type I: Discrete particle settling - Particles settle individually without
interaction with neighbouring particles.

Type II: Flocculent Particles Flocculation causes the particles to

increase in mass and settle at a faster rate.

Type III: Hindered or Zone settling The mass of particles tends to settle
as a unit with individual particles remaining in fixed positions with
respect to each other.

Type IV: Compression The concentration of particles is so high that

sedimentation can only occur through compaction of the structure.

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Comparison of Type I and II sedimentation

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Coagulant
Coagulation is the destabilization of colloids by addition of chemicals that
neutralizes the charges of the colloids.
The chemicals are known as coagulants, usually higher valence cationic salt (Al 3+,

Fe3+ etc.)
Flocculation is the agglomeration of destabilized particles into a large size

particles known as flocs which can be effectively removed by sedimentation or

floatation. The addition of another reagent called flocculant may promote the
formation of the floc.

Al2 ( SO4 )3 14 H 2O 6 HCO3 2 Al (OH )3 ( s ) 6CO2 14 H 2O 3SO42

Al2 ( SO4 ) 3 14 H 2O 2 Al (OH ) 3 ( s ) 3H 2 SO4 8 H 2O

FeCl3 7 H 2O 3HCO3 Fe(OH ) 3 ( s ) 3CO2 3Cl 7 H 2O

FeCl3 3H 2O Fe(OH )3 ( s ) 3H Cl

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Biological Treatment
Optimize primary treatment efficiency. BOD removed by primary
treatment requires less energy than BOD removed by biological
treatment, also surplus sludge should not accumulate in the primary
clarifier to avoid dissolving and carry-over to the secondary process.
Control amount of aeration to avoid excessive dissolved oxygen.
Improve aeration system efficiency. For example, fine-bubble diffusers
can increase oxygen transfer efficiency in comparison to coarse-bubble
diffusers.
Attached Growth
Suspended Growth
Types: Combined Systems
Aerobic Processes
Anoxic Processes
Anaerobic Processes Aerobic
Combined Aerobic- Maturation
Facultative
Anoxic-Anaerobic
Anaerobic
Processes
Pond Processes 30
 Air activated sludge is an aerobic process in which bacteria consume
organic matter, nitrogen and oxygen from the wastewater and grow
new bacteria. The bacteria are suspended in the aeration tank by the
mixing action of the air blown into the wastewater. There are many
derivations of the activated sludge process, several of which are
described in this section.
High purity oxygen activated sludge is an aerobic process very similar
to air Activated sludge except that pure oxygen rather than air is
injected into the wastewater.
Aerated pond/lagoon is an aerobic process very similar to air activated
sludge.
Mechanical aerators are generally used to either inject air into the
wastewater or to cause violent agitation of the wastewater and air in
order to achieve oxygen transfer to the wastewater. As in air activated
sludge, the bacteria grow while suspended in the wastewater.

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 Trickling filter is a fixed film aerobic process. A tank containing media
with a high surface to volume ratio is constructed. Wastewater is
discharged at the top of the tank and percolates (trickles) down the media.
Bacteria grow on the media utilizing organic matter and nitrogen from the
wastewater.
Rotating biological contactor (RBC) is a fixed film aerobic process similar
to the trickling filter process except that the media is supported
horizontally across a tank of wastewater. The media upon which the
bacteria grow is continuously rotated so that it is alternately in the
wastewater and the air.
Oxidation ditch is an aerobic process similar to the activated sludge
process. Physically, however, an oxidation ditch is ring-shaped and is
equipped with mechanical aeration devices.

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Major Aerobic Biological Processes
Type of Common Name Use
Growth

Suspended Activated Sludge (AS) Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)

Growth
Aerated Lagoons Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)
Attached Trickling Filters Carbonaceous BOD removal. nitrification
Growth
Roughing Filters (trickling Carbonaceous BOD removal
filters with high hydraulic
loading rates)

Rotating Biological Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)

Contactors
Packed-bed reactors Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)
Combined Activated Biofilter Process Carbonaceous BOD removal (nitrification)
Suspended & Trickling filter-solids
Attached contact process
Growth Biofilter-AS process
Series trickling filter-AS
process
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Activated Sludge Process
The aeration tank contains a suspension of the wastewater and microorganisms, the
mixed liquor. The liquor is mixed by aeration devices (supplying also oxygen)
A portion of the biological sludge separated from the secondary effluent by
sedimentation is recycled to the aeration tank
Types of AS Systems: Conventional, Complete-Mix, Sequencing Batch Reactor,
Extended Aeration, Deep Tank, Deep Shaft

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Advantages/Disadvantages
Advantages
Flexible, can adapt to minor pH,
organic and temperature changes
Small area required
Degree of nitrification is
controllable
Relatively minor odor problems
Disadvantages
High operating costs (skilled labor,
electricity, etc.)
Generates solids requiring sludge
disposal
Some process alternatives are
sensitive to shock loads and metallic
or other poisons
Requires continuous air supply
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Trickling Filters
The trickling filter or biofilter consists of a bed of permeable medium of either
rock or plastic
Microorganisms become attached to the media and form a biological layer or
fixed film. Organic matter in the wastewater diffuses into the film, where it is
metabolized. Periodically, portions of the film slough off the media

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Advantages/Disadvantages
Advantages Disadvantages

Good quality (80-90% BOD5 High capital costs

removal) for 2-stage Clogging of distributors or
efficiency could reach 95% beds
Moderate operating costs Snail, mosquito and insect
(lower than activated sludge) problems
Withstands shock loads
better than other biological
processes

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Rotating Biological Contactors
It consists of a series of circular disks of polystyrene or polyvinyl
chloride that are submerged in wastewater and rotated slowly through it

The disk rotation alternately contacts the biomass with the organic
material and then with atmosphere for adsorption of oxygen

Excess solids are removed by shearing forces created by the rotation

mechanism

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Advantages/Disadvantages
Advantages Disadvantages

Short contact periods Need for covering units

installed in cold climate to
Handles a wide range of flows protect against freezing
Easily separates biomass from Shaft bearings and mechanical
waste stream drive units require frequent
maintenance
Low operating costs
Short retention time
Low sludge production
Excellent process control

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Major Anaerobic Biological
Processes
Type of Common Name Use
Growth
Suspended Anaerobic Contact Process Carbonaceous BOD
Growth removal
Upflow Anaerobic Sludge- Carbonaceous BOD
Blanket (UASB) removal
Attached Anaerobic Filter Process Carbonaceous BOD
Growth removal, waste stabilization
(denitrification)
Expanded Bed Carbonaceous BOD
removal, waste stabilization

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Anaerobic Contact Process
Untreated wastewater is mixed with recycled sludge solids and then
digested in a sealed reactor
The mixture is separated in a clarifier
The supernatant is discharged as effluent, and settled sludge is recycled

Advantages/Disadvantages
Advantages Disadvantages

Methane recovery Heat required

Small area required
Volatile solids destruction
Effluent in reduced chemical form
requires further treatment
Requires skilled operation
Sludge to be disposed off is
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Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket
Wastewater flows upward through a sludge blanket composed of biological
granules that decompose organic matter
Some of the generated gas attaches to granules that rise and strike degassing
baffles releasing the gas
Free gas is collected by special domes
The effluent passes into a settling chamber

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Advantages/Disadvantages
Advantages
Low energy demand
Low land requirement
Low sludge production
Less expensive than other
anaerobic processes
High organic removal eficiency
Disadvantages
Long start-up period
Requires sufficient amount of
granular seed sludge for faster
start-up
Significant wash out of sludge
during initial phase of process
Lower gas yield than other
anaerobic processes
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Major Anoxic and Combined
Biological Processes

Type of Type of Common Name Use

Process Growth
Anoxic Suspended Suspended Growth Denitrification
Growth Denitrification
Attached Fixed-film Denitrification
Growth Denitrification
Combined Suspended Single- or multi-stage Carbonaceous BOD removal,
Aerobic, Growth processes, various nitrification, denitrification,
Anoxic, proprietary processes phosphorus removal
and
anaerobic Attached Single- or multi-stage Carbonaceous BOD removal,
Processes Growth processes nitrification, denitrification,
phosphorus removal

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Pond Treatment Processes

Common Name Comments Use

Aerobic Treatment with aerobic bacteria; Carbonaceous BOD
Stabilization oxygen is supplied by algal removal
Ponds photosynthesis and natural surface re-
aeration; depth of 0.15 to 1.5 m
Maturation Use aerobic treatment; applied Secondary effluent
(tertiary) Ponds loadings are low to preserve aerobic polishing and seasonal
conditions nitrification
Facultative Treatment with aerobic, anaerobic Carbonaceous BOD
Ponds and facultative bacteria; the pond has removal
3 zones: a surface aerobic zone, a
bottom anaerobic zone, and an
intermediate zone partly aerobic-
anaerobic

Anaerobic Ponds Treatment with anaerobic bacteria; Carbonaceous BOD

depths of up to 9.1 m to conserve removal (waste
anaerobic conditions stabilization)
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Suspended Growth Separate Stage Nitrification

Single State Nitrification

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Attached Growth

Attached Growth Nitrification following Act. Sludge

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Biological Denitrification
A modification of aerobic pathways (no oxygen)
Same bacteria that consume carbon material aerobically

Denitrifying bacteria obtain energy from the conversion of NO3- to N2 gas, but
require a carbon source

NO3- + CH3OH + H2CO3 C5H7O2N + N2 + H2O + HCO3-

Need low (no) oxygen (< 1 mg/L)

Need carbon source (BOD in Wastewater)
Neutral pH (pH 7)
Conc of nitrate

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Phosphorus Removal
Chemical Precipitation
Calcium (lime) addition at high pH (>10)
Reacts with alkalinity
Alum (Aluminum Sulfate) precipitation
Iron precipitation

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Sewage Treatment

Tertiary Treatment (Physicochemical Process)

Precipitation
Filtration
Chlorination expensive process,
Treated water is discharged to waterways sharply reduces
inorganic nutrients
Used for irrigation
(PO4, NO3)
Recycled into drinking water

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