Management of Wastewater Treatment Plants in Sudan

By: Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Adam Khadam

Faculty of Engineering, University of Khartoum
Email-adamkhadam1947@gmail.com

Abstract

This paper presents the status of wastewater treatment plants in Sudan which have been
subjected to major upgrading & replacement in various stages since 1960. Basically there are
two centralized wastewater treatment plants in Khartoum State ( in Khartoum city & in
Khartoum North ) . In other States of Sudan there are few decentralized wastewater treatment
plants . The coverage of sewerage systems in Sudan is very low. Accordingly , the reuse practices
of the treated wastewater vary with the relevant situation of the operating plants.

In Khartoum State the two wastewater treatment plants are of capacities at present of 40000
m3/d & 17000 m3/d in Khartoum city & Khartoum North respectively . Previously, the plant in
Khartoum city was a conventional attached growth process ( trickling filters ) which had been
replaced by waste stabilization ponds with the treated effluent was being reused for restricted
irrigation as a green belt in Khartoum South ( Eucolyptus Species ) . At present the green belt in
Khartoum South is not in existence & the land was converted to residential areas . Treated
effluent of the plant is at present partly directed to surface water creating potential
environmental hazards.

In Khartoum North , the plant has been upgraded to a conventional activated sludge process
( Sequential Batch Reactor ) & the treated effluent of 17000 m3/d is now reused for restricted
irrigation in a sub-urban district in Khartoum North at a distance of about 20 Km ( Hattab
district) . For the small decentralized wastewater plants in Khartoum State & other States of the
country , the treated effluents are utilized locally for landscaping purposes.

A sewerage master plan is recently launched in Khartoum State in order to put a strategy to
improve the situation of this important infrastructure sector .

Key words : Centralized & decentralized plants, restricted irrigation , sewerage master plan

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1. Introduction

The majority of population in Sudan are adopting simple sanitation system. About 90%
of the population are using dry on-site system, both in rural and urban communities. Wet
on-site sanitation systems (septic tanks and aqua-privy) are being utilized in a limited
extend because of the lack of proper disposal of the partially treated wastewater in septic
tanks.

The coverage of proper treatment of wastewater in Sudan is very low (less than 10%).
Serious environmental hazards are occurring at Khartoum and other states due to
improper collection, treatment and disposal of both domestic and industrial wastes. The
largest town in Khartoum State (Omdurman town) with 40% of the population of the
state has no sewerage system. At present significant environmental problems are
developing in the town due to the lack of sewerage system. Perched polluted waters on
some districts of Omdurman are causing health hazards and damage to infrastructures
such as roads, houses … etc.

This paper presents the status of the wastewater treatment plants in Sudan which have
been subjected to major upgrading and replacement in various stages since the
implementation of the sewerage system in Sudan (Khartoum State) in 1960. Two
centralized wastewater treatment plants are currently in operation in Khartoum town and
in Khartoum North. There are few small decentralized plants in Khartoum State and in
some other states of the country.

2. Materials and Methods

2,1 On-Site wet Sanitation System

The partially treated wastewater in septic tanks which is disposed off into shallow
groundwater aquifers in Sudan causes serious negative environmental impacts. Recently
some studies showed an indication of contamination of groundwater from wet on-site
sanitation systems (septic tanks with disposal of effluents into shallow and deep
aquifers). It is a very serious phenomenon and should be closely observed and prompt
action should be taken to protect groundwater from chemical contamination.

Conventional gravity sewerage system, although it is expensive, is best option to consider

for treatment of domestic and industrial wastewater.

2.2 Conventional Gravity Sewer in Khartoum State

The existing conventional gravity sewers in Khartoum state have been adopted in
Khartoum town since 1960 and in Khartoum North since 1970. The existing two systems
have been subjected to major upgrading and replacement in various stages in the recent
decades.

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 In Khartoum town the initial sewer network implemented in 1960 was covering an
average area of about 1175 hectares. Since the topography in the project area is almost
flat and has mild opposite gradients to the flow direction, there are about 15 lifting
stations being constructed in the sewer network to serve 15 drainage zones (Fig 2.1).

The extension of Khartoum sewage network as described by the British consulting group
Watson Hawksley is shown in (Fig. 2.2). The network consisted mainly of 42,832
kilometers of sewers diameters ranging from 150mm to 600mm. It was meant to serve an
area of 1175 hectares, however, many new areas have been connected ever since its
establishment and consequent modifications and rehabilitation works have been
accomplished in order to relief repeated overloading incidents. The lifting stations are
continuously in need of repair and upgrading.

Q E D C B G

⑫ ⑤ ④ ③ ② L.S ⑦

M A

K
⑩ F
P ① L.S

⑥
A Zone A

H S T ① L.S/P.S

Soba STP
P.S
21
J
⑭ P.S
Gravity Mains
⑨ ⑮ ⑳ Rising
L.S. Lifting Mains
Station

Fig. (2.1) Sewer Network (Khartoum) P.S. Pumping Station

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2.3 Wastewater Treatment Plants (WTP)

In Khartoum state there are two centralized wastewater treatment plant and few
decentralized wastewater treatment plants in Khartoum state and in other states of the
country. Brief description of the two systems (centralized and decentralized W.T.P.) is
outlined below.

2.3.1 Centralized (W.T.P.)

(a) Soba Wastewater Stabilization Ponds

Initially the wastewater collected by the sewer network implemented in Khartoum town
in 1960 was treated by an attached growth process (trickling filters) in “Al Goaz”
wastewater treatment plant. Due to the rapid expansion of the town the treatment plant of
Al Goaz was phased out and waste stabilization ponds were constructed in 1980 at
distance 15 km south Khartoum.

The ponds were designed to treat 20,000 m 3/d of sewage. The ponds system (Fig. 2.3)
composed of two parallel trains, each train has the following unit:

1. Pretreatment unit (screens and measuring device for flow flume).

2. Two anaerobic ponds
3. One facultative pond
4. One maturation pond

The ponds are now overloaded and the flow received by the ponds is more than 30,000
m3/d mostly domestic waste with minimum amount of industrial wastewater. The
anaerobic ponds need maintenance because of the accumulation of sludge in the
anaerobic ponds.

In 2004 an activated sludge system (Biolac-Wox Technology) was constructed in Soba

with two modules each module treats 20,000 m 3/d. The plant was operated in 2009 for
about 45 days. During the operation many problems happened and the plant was out of
operation since that time.

A new treatment plant of capacity 60,000 m3/d is proposed (activated sludge process) to
replace the ponds system that has no buffer zone with respect to the closely residential
plots surrounding the treatment plant.

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Fig 2.3 Pond System Khartoum South (Soba)

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(b) Haj Yousif Sewage Treatment Plant

General:

The treatment plant at Haj Yousif aimed to revamp the OLD Haj Yousif (Wad-Daffiaa)
sewerage works built in 1968 to treat 17,000 m3/d of industrial and municipal wastes.

The treatment plant was completed in 2015 and composed of the following units:

1- Tanker/Truck emptying station.

2- Head work: screening, Screening compaction, grit removal and classifying.
3- Chemical treatment: Coagulation and flocculation dosing stations.
4- Odor control system. Bio filter, carbon.
5- Primary clarification: Precipitation in settling tank .
6- Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBR) system consists of SBR feeding pump station,
SBR reactors, Aerators, and water tanker.
7- Disinfection system: Chlorination.
8- Sludge handling: Sludge pumping, holding tank, dewatering, sludge cake storage.
9- Site services: Service water supply, site drain, site lighting.
10- Electrical control: Local controls, main control.
11- Power supply: Main feeder, emergency power supply.
12- Administration: Administration building, control room and laboratory.
13- Pumping station: high lift pumps to pump treated effluent to a distance of about 20km
where treated wastewater is fed into open lagoons before reused for restricted
irrigation ( trees).

The treatment units are shown in Figure (2.4) and the reused irrigation system is shown in
Figure (2.5).

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Fig 2.4 Hattab reuse irrigation scheme

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Fig 2.5 Wad Dafeah WWT & pipeline to Hattab

2.3.2 Decentralized Wastewater T.P. in Sudan

It is a fact that complete sewerage system for a large town in many developing countries
may never be possible for both technical and economical reasons. Typical situations in
which decentralized wastewater systems should be selected or considered include the
following:

 Where the operation and management of the existing on-site systems must be
improved.
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 Where individual on-site systems are failing.
 Where the community or facility is remote from existing conventional wastewater
system.
 Where the existing wastewater treatment plant capacity is limited and financing is not
available for expansion.
 Where for environmental reasons, the quality/quantity of effluent discharged to the
environment must be limited.
 Where the expansion of the existing wastewater collection and treatment facilities
involve unnecessary disruption of the community.

 Where specific wastewater constituents can be treated more appropriately at point of

generation (wastewater from a factory).

(a) Applications of Decentralized Wastewater Systems (DWS)

To protect the environment, discharge requirements for treated wastewater are becoming
strict for both large and small discharges. Typical situations where small wastewater
collection and treatment options can be applied are: Individual residences, clusters of
home, public facilities, commercial establishment, industrial compound, small
communities as small portions of large communities.

(b) Elements and Technologies of DWS

The elements of DWS are similar to that of conventional sewerage systems and they
include the following:

Conventional gravity sewer network, small bore sewer system, wastewater pretreatment
units (screen, grit chamber, … etc), wastewater treatment processes (suspended or
attached growth processes … etc), effluent reuse and disposal).

(c) Typical Examples of DWS in Khartoum State

1- Geili refinery WWTP using sequencing batch reactor (SBR) of capacity, 1000
m3/d.

2- Students hostels in Omdurman using activates sludge process with tertiary

treatment as rapid sand filter or and as membrane bioreactor (MBR).

3- Military hospital in Omdurman.

4- Physiochemical wastewater treatment plant for treating tannery wastewater in

Khartoum.

5- “Sounot” wastewater Treatment Plant for treating domestic waste (1000 m3/d) and
treated effluent is reused for landscaping.

6- Small package systems adopted in some police campuses in Khartoum state.

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7- In Sennar state small package wastewater treatment plant of capacity 500 m3/d
was constructed for treating domestic effluents from students hostels and effluent
is reused for irrigation of trees.

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3. Discussion of Results

3.1 The low coverage of proper sewerage system in Sudan (less than 10%) has a serious
bad impact on the hygiene of most of the population both in the urban and rural
communities. Sanitation systems can be considered inadequate and poor.

A recent study in Khartoum state indicated that about 50% of the diseases are due to
poor sanitation systems. Table (1) shows the diseases due to poor and inadequate
sanitation system in Khartoum state.

Table (1): Diseases Occurrence in Khartoum State (2007)

Disease Percentage of occurrence

(%)
Diarrhea 15.2
Malaria* 38.8
Dysentery 13.8
Inflammations 4.8
Guardia 2.4
Others** 15.0

Note: * Malaria is mainly due to ponding of sullage water when adopting dry
sanitation system.

** Other diseases when sanitation systems are not a direct cause.

3.2 The small portion of Khartoum state covered by sewerage system is not performing
efficiently. Both the collection networks and treatment plants are overloaded and the
quality of the treated effluents are not conforming with local standards or with WHO
standards and guidelines.

The waste stabilization ponds in Khartoum town at Soba are surrounded closely with
residents and there is no buffer zone between the ponds system and the residential
plots. Bad odours and insects breeding impast health problems to the neighbouring
residents. The treated effluents from the ponds are not properly disposed

The Khartoum North T.P. at Wad Dafeiaa which was recently upgraded and
replaced, the treated effluent is pumped to Hattab area for irrigation purposes.

This plant has to be managed properly to ensure the effluent quality always
conforming with the specifications for restricted irrigation purposes.

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4. Conclusions and Recommendations:

4.1 Conclusions

1- The low coverage of proper sewerage systems in Sudan has health and other
negative impacts on the majority of the population in Sudan. The occurrence of
the high incidence of diseases is due to poor and inadequate sanitation systems.

2- The waste stabilization ponds in Khartoum at Soba are surrounded closely by

housing plots and no buffer zone is maintained as specified by WHO standards.
The treated effluents from the ponds are not properly managed. The effluents are
not used for irrigation of green belts as planned previously. The effluents are just
left to gravitate by gradients towards the White Nile River creating risk and
hazard to the environment.

3- The upgraded wastewater treatment plant at Haj Yousif receives industrial

wastewater mixed with small amount of domestic waste (total of 17,000 m 3/d).
In order to operate the plant successfully pretreatment is required for the effluent
generated from the respective factories. Necessary spare parts are required for
the different units in the sequencing batch reactor (SBR) process adopted in the
plant. The treated effluents are being conveyed to Hattab district for irrigation of
trees.

4.2 Recommendations

1- The master plan for sewerage system in Khartoum State launched recently
should be completed with merging action plans to be adopted to resolve the
critical situation of sanitation system in Khartoum state.

2- Decentralized wastewater treatment plants are encouraged because of the high

initial costs required for large centralized wastewater treatment plants.

3- Training of technical staff is recommended in order to operate the plants

efficiently. Sustainability of the plants should be a target to be achieved by the
managing authority.

References

1. Khartoum State Sanitary Corporation (KSSC) 1981, Khartoum & Omdurman

Sewerage & Sewerage Treatment Projects , Volume (VI) , Watson Hawksley ,
Khartoum.

2. Ministry of Physical Planning & Public Utilities 2009 , Khartoum Master Plan ,
Meffit , Khartoum .

3. Mena-water design documents 2014 Wad Dafeah Wastewater Treatment Plant .

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