Sewage Treatment Plant

WASTE-WATER MANGEMENT

Anuj R Dhavan
Environmental Engineering
January 8
CONTENTS

 Introduction

 About Plant

 ASP Process

 Process Flow Diagram

 Explanation of Units

 Limits Achievable

 Engineering Challenges

 References

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  Introduction
Raw influent (sewage) includes household waste liquid from toilets, baths, showers,
kitchens, sinks, and so forth that is disposed of via sewers. In many areas, sewage
also includes liquid waste from industry and commerce.

Sewage treatment is the process of removing contaminants from municipal

wastewater, containing mainly household sewage plus some industrial wastewater.

Sewage is generated by residential, institutional, commercial and industrial

establishments. It includes household waste liquid from toilets, baths, showers, kitchens,
and sinks draining into sewers. In many areas, sewage also includes liquid waste from
industry and commerce.

Sewage treatment may also be referred to as wastewater treatment. However, the

latter is a broader term which can also refer to industrial wastewater. For most cities,
the sewer system will also carry a proportion of industrial effluent to the sewage
treatment plant which has usually received pre-treatment at the factories themselves
to reduce the pollutant load. If the sewer system is a combined sewer then it will also
carry urban runoff (stormwater) to the sewage treatment plant. Sewage water can
travel towards treatment plants via piping and in a flow aided by gravity and pumps.

 Plant Information

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The very first sewerage system for Pune city was designed in 1928. The collected sewage
was given preliminary treatment such as screening and grit removal at Bhairoba Nala and
it was used for irrigation purpose by pumping to 17 1/2 Nalli canal area. This system was
designed for 31.8 MLD to cater to the ultimate design capacity for population of 0.26
million in the year 1951. In the year 1981, a complete collection and disposal system was
planned to consider the adjoining areas where population was expected to increase.

The PMC plant is located near Mhatre Bridge and its capacity is 50 MLD. The
process used in this plant is modified activated sludge process followed by aerobic
digestion. Aeration with the help of diffusers & settling with the help of inclined tube
settlers are the salient features of this plant. The sewage from Erandwana, Kothrud,
Warje, Karvenagar, Paud Road, Karve Road etc. area is treated in this plant. Total area
served is about 26.15 sq. kms. The cost of the project was Rs. 11.12 crores and the plants
are functioning since Dec 2004.

 ASP Process
In activated sludge process wastewater containing organic matter is aerated in an
aeration basin in which micro-organisms metabolize the suspended and soluble
organic matter. Part of organic matter is synthesized into new cells and part is
oxidized to CO2 and water to derive energy. In activated sludge systems the new cells
formed in the reaction are removed from the liquid stream in the form of a flocculent
sludge in settling tanks. A part of this settled biomass, described as activated sludge is
returned to the aeration tank and the remaining forms waste or excess sludge.
The general arrangement of an activated sludge process for removing carbonaceous
pollution includes the following items: An aeration tank where air (or oxygen) is
injected in the mixed liquor. This is followed by a settling tank (usually referred to as
"final clarifier" or "secondary settling tank") to allow the biological flocs (the sludge
blanket) to settle, thus separating the biological sludge from the clear treated water.

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The process takes advantage of aerobic micro-organisms that can digest organic matter in
sewage, and clump together (by flocculation) as they do so. It thereby produces a liquid
that is relatively free from suspended solids and organic material, and flocculated
particles that will readily settle out and can be removed.[3]
The general arrangement of an activated sludge process for removing carbonaceous
pollution includes the following items:

1. wastewater aeration in the presence of a microbial suspension,

2. solid-liquid separation following aeration,
3. discharge of clarified effluent,
4. wasting of excess biomass, and
5. return of remaining biomass to the aeration tank.

Treatment of nitrogenous matter or phosphate involves additional steps where the

processes are managed to generate an anoxic zone so that phosphates can be solubilised
in the reducing environment and oxides of nitrogen can be reduced to ammonium ion.

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 Process Flow Diagram

 Explanation of Units

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Step 1: Screening and Pumping
The incoming wastewater passes through screening equipment where objects such as
rags, wood fragments, plastics, and grease are removed. The material removed is washed
and pressed and disposed of in a landfill. The screened wastewater is then pumped to the
next step: grit removal.

Step 2: Grit Removal

In this step, heavy but fine material such as sand and gravel is removed from the
wastewater. This material is also disposed of in a landfill.

Step 3: Primary Settling

The material, which will settle, but at a slower rate than step two, is taken out using large
circular tanks called clarifiers. The settled material, called primary sludge, is pumped off
the bottom and the wastewater exits the tank from the top. Floating debris such as grease
is skimmed off the top and sent with the settled material to digesters. In this step,
chemicals are also added to remove phosphorus.

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Step 4: Aeration / Activated Sludge
In this step, the wastewater receives most of its treatment. Through biological
degradation, the pollutants are consumed by microorganisms and transformed into cell
tissue, water, and nitrogen. The biological activity occurring in this step is very similar to
what occurs at the bottom of lakes and rivers, but in these areas the degradation takes
years to accomplish.

Step 5: Secondary Settling

Large circular tanks called secondary clarifiers allow the treated wastewater to separate
from the biology from the aeration tanks at this step, yielding an effluent, which is now
over 90% treated. The biology (activated sludge) is continuously pumped from the
bottom of the clarifiers and returned to the aeration tanks in step four.

Step 6: Filtration
The clarified effluent is polished in this step by filtering through 10 micron polyester
media. The material captured on the surface of the disc filters is periodically backwashed
and returned to the head of the plant for treatment.

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Step 7: Disinfection
To assure the treated wastewater is virtually free of bacteria, ultraviolet disinfection is
used after the filtration step. The ultraviolet treatment process kills remaining bacteria to
levels within our discharge permit.

Step 8: Oxygen Uptake

The treated water, now in a very stabilized high quality state, is aerated if necessary to
bring the dissolved oxygen up to permit level. After this step, the treated water passes
through the effluent outfall where it joins the Oconomowoc River. The water discharged
to the river must meet stringent requirements set by the DNR. Pollutant removal is
maintained at 98% or greater.

Sludge Treatment
The primary sludge pumped from the bottom of the primary clarifiers in step three, along
with the continuous flow of waste activated sludge from the aeration / activated sludge
process in step four, must be treated to reduce volume and produce a usable end
product.

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  Limits Achievable

 Engineering Challenges
YOUR TREATED EFFLUENT IS NOT MEETING TOTAL NITROGEN (TN)
TARGETS

 In order to determine where your problem is, the first step should be to analyse for
Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate and thus this will give you an understanding of
what area you need to focus your efforts on in order to make your plant
compliant.

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SLUDGE PRODUCTION

 Sludge is the residue generated during physical, chemical and biological

treatment. A major environmental challenge for wastewater treatment is the
disposal of excess sludge produced during the process.

 Safe and long term solutions for the destination of sludge produced by wastewater
treatment plants are a vital element of a sustainable functioning facility. The
recycling of sludge, containing useful organic matter and nutrients in agriculture
is considered as the best solution. Some more modern treatment technologies
are even able to reduce the burden of sludge by lowering its production.

DOWNSTREAM EQUIPMENT IS FAILING DUE TO A BUILD OF LARGE

SOLIDS, HAIRS AND FIBRES

 Screening is the first step in any wastewater treatment process. Screens remove
the large non-biodegradable and floating solids that frequently enter wastewater
works, such as rags, paper, plastic, tin, containers and wood.

 Efficient removal of these materials 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
wastewater treatment process.

ENERGY CONSUMPTION

 Energy consumption is one of the largest expenses in operating a wastewater

treatment plant. Wastewater treatment is estimated to consume 2 - 3% of a
developed nation’s electrical power, or approximately 60 tWh (terawatt hours) per
year. In municipal wastewater treatment, the largest proportion of energy is used
in biological treatment, generally in the range of 50 - 60% of plant usage.

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 References

 https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/uok-2216-wastewater-
treatment-plant-model-water-quality

 https://dnr.wi.gov/regulations/opcert/documents/wwsgactsludgeadv.pdf
 https://pmc.gov.in/en/sewage-treatment-plants

 https://www.oxymem.com/blog/4-major-operational-challenges-facing-
wastewater-treatment-plants

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