SKAA 2922

(Wastewater Engineering)
SITE VISIT REPORT

Prepared by:
Awangku Muizz bin Ag.Mumin
Matrix no.:
A15KA0077
Prepared for:
Puan Normala Binti Hashim
Group:
SKAW-Section 01

1
CONTENT

List of content 2

Introduction 3

Details of the treatment system 4-6

Operational problems & Mitigative measures used 7

Reflection 8

2
INTRODUCTION INFORMATION ON THE
TREATMENT PLANT

Sewage treatment is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater,

primarily from household sewage. It includes physical, chemical, and biological processes to
remove these contaminants and produce environmentally safe treated wastewater (or treated
effluent). A by-product of sewage treatment is usually a semi-solid waste or slurry, called
sewage sludge that has to undergo further treatment before being suitable for disposal or land
application. Wastewater or also known as sewage originates from residential, commercial and
industrial area. Engineers have major role in this field including estimating the quantity of the
water used daily, ensuring the water is safe for consumers, designing sewers and many more.
On 10th November 2016, we have visited a sewage treatment plant (STP) Indah Water
Mutiara Mas, Johor Bharu, Johor. Indah Water Konsortium Sdn. Bhd. have a total of 385
sewage treatment plant all over Malaysia. According to Encik Mohd Zakuan (executive),
Taman Mas have Population Equivalent (PE) about 9000 for residential and commercial.
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From him also, the area of the site 360 m . For now, they are operating automatically.
They are in the process of turning it into manual as it can operate 24 hours a day.

3
DETAILS OF THE TREATMENT SYSTEM

Sewage treatment consist of 4 main components;

Preliminary treatment
Primary treatment
Secondary treatment
Treatment & Disposal of sludge

Preliminary Treatment consist of Primary Screen, Secondary Screen, grit removal, and oil &
grease removal.
Preliminary treatment:
The Primary Screen also known as Coarse Screen can be operated manually and
automatically. It is used to separate hard and large sewage. It has a clear opening bars about
25 mm. The slope of 0 to 45 to the vertical. Its flow velocity is between 0.2 to 1.0 m/s. Its
required regular check and disposal to prevent clog.
The Secondary Screen also known as Fine Screen. The difference
between these two screen is Secondary Screen is used for removing
small sewage as it has clear opening between bars of 12 mm
maximum smaller than Primary screen. The slope is between 30 to
45 to the vertical. It can only be installed with the manufacturers
specifications and it requires prior approval from the relevant
authorities.

Screening

Skimming tank is where Grease and oil are removed. It is

removed before entering the next stage because it can hinders
the biological process efficiency. It is removed by sitting and
flotation process where oxygen is supplied using blower to
break down the grease molecules.

Skimming
Tank
Grit removal has the function of
removing grits including small particles
such as sand, broken glasses, metals and
more. It is removes due to its abrasive
action and impellers of pumps.

4
Anoxic tank:
Anoxic Tank also known as Anaerobic Tank is where denitrification and
luxury uptake of phosphorus take place by mixing a food source with
microorganisms. It also reduces ammonia. Biochemical reactions take place
in the presence of combined oxygen (in the nitrate form - NO3), or in
anaerobic conditions (no oxygen). Reactions are adjusted by directing the
biological reactor return sludge to either the anaerobic or anoxic cells of the
anaerobic/anoxic tanks. After this processing, the effluent flows to the Anoxic Tank
biological reactors.
Aeration tank:
Aeration tank where air (or oxygen) is injected in the mixed
liquor. Settling tank allow the biological flocs (the sludge
blanket) to settle, thus separating the biological sludge from
the clear treated water. It is an integral part of most
biological wastewater treatment systems. Organic matter
decompose in aerobic condition.

Organic matter + O2 H2O + CO2 + new cells

Aeration Tank Unlike chemical treatment

which uses chemicals to react and stabilise contaminants in the
wastewater stream, biological treatment uses microorganisms that occur naturally in
wastewater to degrade wastewater contaminants. There are many types of aerator. In this
plant, they use surface aerator.
Primary treatment:
The function of clarifier is to remove solids before discharging it
into receiving waters. In this tretment plant,there are only one
clarifier that is final clarifier. Sludge either return to the aeration
tank or treated before disposal. It can be either rectangular or
circular shaped.This treatment plant use circular shaped
3 2
clarifier.The surface overflow rate maximum is 30 m / m
. day at average flow. The hydraulic retention time (HRT)
minimum is 2 hours at peak flow.

Clarifier

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Chlorination tank:
Water chlorination is the processof adding chlorine(CL2) or
hypochlorite to water.This method is used to kill certain bacteria
and other microbes in tap water as Chlorine is highly toxic.

Chlorination tank

The final effluent is discharged. Its flow rate is around 1056

m3 per day as shown in the flow meter. The final effluent
BOD is maintained at the maximum of 20 mg/L and ammonia
concentration of maximum 10 mg/L. According to Mr. Zakuan,
this final effluent is drain to Sungai Melana and Sungai Skudai.
Nevertheless, the water can be use for daily usage but not for
drink because of high ammonia.
Final Effluent

6
OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS &
MITIGATIVE MEASURES USED

There are several problems that this treatment plant have to face. One of the problem
is in the coarse screen. The particles that go through that screen is too large that can cause
clogging in that screen. Therefore, the workers have to remove it either manually or
mechanically.
According to supervisor Mr. Amir Syafiq, They do sampling twice a week to ensure
the quality of the effluent is safe. They usually do sampling on ammonia, oxygen in Anoxic
Tank and BOD. When the pump or equipment did not work, they will fix it immediately to
ensure the plant is keep working. They also ensure that the hydraulic retention time (HRT) is
between 2 to 3 hours. Maintenance is done twice a week.

7
REFLECTION

At the end of this site visit, I experiencing real working spaces, get to know all the
equipment and the use of the system directly not just from textbook. Working in the field is
much more different from what we know and more tensional because of the environment and
condition to manage the treatment plant.
Nevertheless, this site visit make me gain more knowledge about wastewater
treatment plant and also the safety of STP which is important either for workers and visitors.
Thus, I gain general knowledge about wastewater treatment system in Malaysia.
Moreover, I have learnt the use and differences between all the tanks also with their
function. I also have learnt the methods, process and how the workers manage the treatment
plant. Besides, I gain more experience and knowledge by asking question to the executive,
supervisor and also my lecturer that guiding us while in the site visit.
Finally, this site visit get me to be ready as the Engineer in future by giving me more
understanding in this work scope. Overall, I thankful to what I got due to this site visit and
thanks to my lecturer for guiding us in this visit.