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IMN 05 Lowcost WWTP

This document discusses low-cost wastewater treatment systems, including septic tanks, constructed wetlands, and oxidation ponds. It describes the components and functioning of septic systems, factors that influence system design like soil permeability, and regulatory requirements to protect groundwater. Alternative systems using aerobic treatment are also introduced. Constructed wetlands are defined as decentralized low-energy systems that rely on plants and microbes to treat wastewater. Design considerations for wetlands include hydrology, treatment processes, and plant selection. Potential issues like mosquito breeding are also addressed.

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50 views48 pages

IMN 05 Lowcost WWTP

This document discusses low-cost wastewater treatment systems, including septic tanks, constructed wetlands, and oxidation ponds. It describes the components and functioning of septic systems, factors that influence system design like soil permeability, and regulatory requirements to protect groundwater. Alternative systems using aerobic treatment are also introduced. Constructed wetlands are defined as decentralized low-energy systems that rely on plants and microbes to treat wastewater. Design considerations for wetlands include hydrology, treatment processes, and plant selection. Potential issues like mosquito breeding are also addressed.

Uploaded by

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Low cost treatment systems for

wastewater
Indumathi M Nambi

Options Available
Septic Tanks
Waste Stabilisation Ponds

Oxidation ponds
Aerated lagoons
Anaerobic ponds
Facultative ponds
Facultative lagoons

Constructed Wetlands
Vertical Flow
Horizontal Flow

Septic tank
Manhole

Definition of Septic System


A subsurface sewage disposal system which uses
a combination of a septic tank and a effluent
dispersal mechanism.
A two-chamber septic tank is used to accumulate
solid matter. The solid matter is decomposed by
anaerobic bacteria. Clear effluent then passes to
the dispersal mechanism, which may be
leachlines or seepage pits.
Septic tanks need to be pumped at least once
every four years to remove solids.

Soil Permeability
Soil percolation tests
Soil must be able to accept water over
time in order for a septic system to work
properly.
Clay soils have poor percolation rates,
and may not support a septic system.

Types of dispersal mechanisms


Leachlines trenches 3 5 deep with 1-2
rock under and around 4 perforated pipe.
Vertical Seepage Pits 4 diameter rockfilled pits. The bottom of the pit is kept at
least 10 above groundwater. Vertical pits
are only allowed in areas with poor quality
groundwater (basically along the coastline
where salt water intrusion has occurred) .
Horizontal Seepage Pits A series of 5
diameter rings that are 6 tall. Soil must be
very permeable (perc rate < 30 min per
inch).

Groundwater Protection
requirements
5 separation required from leachlines to groundwater.
10 separation required from Horizontal or Vertical
Seepage Pits to groundwater.
100 setback required from any portion of a septic
system to a water well.
100 setback required from a septic system to a yeararound stream
50 setback required from a septic system to a
seasonal stream.

Surface discharge requirements


All sewage effluent is to remain underground. If a
septic system fails, the septic tank should be
pumped as necessary to keep sewage
underground until repairs can be made.
A repair to a failing system usually consists of a
200-300 leachline addition to the existing
leachfield.
County Code requires a failing system to be
repaired within 30 days.

Prefabricated Septic Tank

Tank tied to leachfield

Example of a leachline

What can go into a septic tank?


Domestic waste may go into a septic tank
Industrial waste, solvents, pesticides or
fertilizers should not go into a septic tank.
The introduction of toxic materials into a
septic tank will kill the biomat layer in the
tank. The biomat layer then breaks up and
goes into the leachline trenches, clogging
the system up. This leads to premature
failure.

Septic Tank Sizing

The minimum hydraulic detention time


shall be two days (48 hours)
In no case shall the septic tank effective
liquid capacity be less than 1000 gallons

Example:
School without cafeteria or gym showers which
has 150 students.
Table 1

= Schools = 10 Gal/person/day

# Students

X 150 persons

Total flow

1,500 gal/day

Two days retention =

X 2 days
3,000 gallon septic tank

Example #2:

Calculate a Restaurant with 20 seats.


Table 1:
Restaurant (per seat)=
Total flow =
Two days retention =

50 gal/per/day
X 20 seats
1000 gal/per/day
X 2 days

Size tank =

2,000 gallon tank

Minimum requirements for


Grease Traps

Two (2) days (48 hr.) retention

MINIMUM CAPACITY 1,000 gal.

(Same as regular septic tanks)

Sizing the Grease Trap

Size of grease trap for 800 gal/day flow of kitchen


waste from a restaurant:
- 800 gpd x 2 days = 1,600 gal. grease trap required.

Size of grease trap for 75 gal/day flow of kitchen


waste:
- 75 gpd x 2 days = 150 gal. therefore GT must be
sized at 1,000 gal. to meet minimum.

Alternative Systems
An alternative septic system consists of an aerobic
septic tank and a dispersal mechanism. (conventional
systems use anaerobic septic tanks).
Oxygen is added to the aerobic tank by various
methods. The down-side to aerobic systems is that
they have moving parts and require electricity. This
opens the door to break-downs and/ or human error.
The positive aspect is that effluent quality is
exponentially better.

Alternative Systems (continued)


Since effluent quality is better, it may be possible to
reduce the size of the dispersal field. Sizing of
alternative systems is in its inceptive stage, and is still
being worked out..
4 separation to groundwater will be required.

Single Oxidation Pond

Function Of Facultative Pond

Photograph of Oxidation Pond

Ponds in series

Design
Completely mixed Reactor with no solids recycle

Sn/So = (1+ k T/n)-n


Sn = Final BOD
So = Initial BOD
K= Reaction rate coefficent
T = Hydraulic retention time
N = No of ponds
Aerated lagoon:
Oxygen supplied = 2 kg of Oxygen per kg of
BOD removed

Constructed Wetlands
What: Decentralized, low-energy, low-cost
systems to improve water quality
How: Rely on natural wetland function plants and microorganisms uptake & break
down wastewater nutrients, an- & aerobic
Why: Provide multiple benefits - habitat,
water quality, recreation, education,
aesthetic/amenity value, water security &
reuse, CO2 reductions

Constructed wetlands

Constructed wetland

A commercial water-purifying pond,


planted with Iris pseudacorus

Constructed wetland new & after 2 yrs

How Aquatic Plants Remediate


Reduction-Oxidation in oxygenated
Rhizosphere (toxic trace metals)
Accumulation of excess nutrients (N,P)
into plant tissue
S, Fe, Cu, Se

Nutrient Uptake by Wetlands from


different climatic regions

Types of constructed wetlands


SubSurface Flow Systems ~0.6m
Common in Europe

Surface Flow Systems ~0.4m


More common in US/North America
Marsh-like

Vertical Flow Systems


New design used to overcome oxygen depletion problem and
boost nitrification

Combined treatment ponds - commercial


systems

Surface-Flow Treatment Wetlands


Natural Flow Treatment Wetlands
Attempts to recreate a natural wetland
Water source is controlled.
More useful on large scale
Effective when excess nutrients
Trace metals remain in soil after harvest (root
to stem ratio)

Vertical-Flow Treatment Wetlands


Plants & Soil
Separate from Natural Environment
Can remove Soil and Plants during harvest time
(iron lines)

Contaminated Water
Lots of Control
Expensive Compared to Surface Flow

Vertical Flow Wetlands

Wetland Design & Hydrology


- Basic understanding of environmental factors,
and their interactions is important for the
design and construction of a wetland.
- contaminants
- Soil treatment processes
- Water treatment processes
- Plant treatment processes

- The wetland needs to be designed


according to
- filteration
- adsorption
- sedimentation
- chemical process,
- biological processes etc

- In addition design principles need to address


- hydraulic load rate
- residence time
- plant density
- inlet concentration C0

- E.g. One can roughly calculate the area needed for


a domestic sewage using the ff equation
(Vymazal et.al, 1998)
A = Qd(lnCo lnCt) / KBOD

where A = area
Qd= ave flow (m3/day)
Co & Ct = influent & effluent BOD (mg/L)
KBOD = 0.10

Wetlands for River Clean up

Biomass
What happens to the plants after they absorb
these pollutants?
Controlled burns
Decomposition
Harvested then burnt

Habitat Creation
Though built to treat wastewater,
constructed wetlands provide habitat for:
Birds
Mammals
Reptiles and Amphibians
Crustaceans
Fish

Potential Risks Involved


Mosquitoes
Risk of West Nile virus, malaria, and other mosquitotransmitted diseases
Constructed wetlands are by nature prime mosquito
habitat
Two types
Stagnant water mosquitoes
Floodwater mosquitoes
Constructed wetlands more conducive to stagnant water mosquitoes

Mosquito Control
Methods:
Steep concrete slopes
Deep bottoms
Introduction of larvivorous fish
Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)
Very easily adaptable
Can cause other environmental problems by out competing other
fish species

Non mosquito-conducive plants


Mosquito-specific bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis and
Bacillus sphaericus)

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