Wastewater Treatment Facility

PRELIMINARY
TREATMENT
SECONDARY
TREATMENT

PRIMARY
TREATMENT
DISPOSAL
OR TERTIARY
TREATMENT

Figure 2.20 Wastewater Treatment Process

(Source: PCO Seminar, 2011)

The objective of wastewater treatment is to produce an effluent that can be discharged

without causing serious environmental impacts. Processes and operations used in
wastewater treatment are similar to those used in water treatment, except for biological
methods. The principal use of biological treatment is for the removal of easily
biodegradable organic compounds, although biological processes are also used or removal
of nitrogen and phosphorus in some situation. The principle of wastewater treatment
methods includes preliminary, primary, secondary, tertiary treatment and sludge
processing (see Table 2.5). (Noor, 2020)

Table 2.5 Water and Wastewater Treatment

Treatment Purpose Processes

Category
Preliminary Removal of coarse solids and Coarse screening,
Treatment Process other large materials often Grit removal
found in raw wastewater. Comminution (large
objects)
Primary Removal of settleable organic
Treatment and inorganic solids Sedimentation
(sedimentation), and the Skimming
removal of materials (oil and
grease) that will float (scum) by
skimming.
Secondary Removal of biodegradable Trickling filters
Treatment Process dissolved and colloidal organic Bio-filters
matter using aerobic biological Oxidation ditches
 treatment processes; the Rotating biological
aeration tank uses air bubbles to contactors (RBC)
provide the mixing and the
oxygen, both of which are
needed for the microorganisms
to multiply.
Tertiary Tertiary and/or advanced Phosphorus Removal
Treatment Process wastewater treatment is Nitrogen Removal
employed when specific Suspended Solid
wastewater constituents which Dissolve Solid
cannot be removed by Removal
secondary treatment must be Organic & Metal
removed; this includes Removal
disinfection method
(chlorination) to kill harmful
microorganisms.
(Source: Noor, 2020)

Grease Interceptors

Figure 2.21 Grease Interceptors to intercept FOGs (fats, oils, grease) and solids before
they enter the sanitary system. Usually employed in restaurants and foodservice kitchens.

While there are many types of conventional sewage treatment systems, four of the most
common systems are: Activated sludge, Sequencing batch reactor, Trickling filter, and
Rotating biological contactor.
Activated sludge

By definition, activated sludge refers to

“the active population of micro-organisms
that are used to treat wastewater.” This
process involves the mixing of the active
microorganisms which decomposes the
wastewater pollutants in a reactor tank.

Through a series of controls, pumps, and

tanks, the sewage undergoes various
processes in separate basins or tanks; these
processes include: primary settling,
aerobic biological treatment, secondary
settling, disinfection, and discharge(PSA,
2008) (see Figure 2.23).

Figure 2.22 Activated Sludge Plant, Philippines

Figure 2.23 Activated Sludge Process

(Source: image retrieved from https://genesiswatertech.com/blog-post/7-disadvantages-of-using-an-
activated-sludge-process-for-your-municipality-or-company/)
Sequencing Batch Reactor
The sequencing batch reactor (SBR) is a “fill and draw” variation on the activated sludge
process. Instead of using separate tanks for each process, the entire treatment process
occurs in one tank.
The SBR processes are:
 Fill – the tank is filled with wastewater;
 React – the wastewater is aerated and mixed with biomass that has been acclimated
to the wastewater environment in previous cycles;
 Settle – the aeration is turned off and the reacted wastewater is allowed to settle;
and
 Decant – the treated and clarified supernatant (water in the upper portions of the
tank) is pumped out to be disinfected and then discharged.

Figure 2.24 Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) System

(Source: PCO Seminar, 2011. Wastewater Treatment)

SBR has the following advantages:

 Suited for compact treatment for dilute organic wastewaters
 Reducing treatment plant construction costs by minimizing tanks.
 Taking up less space than activated sludge plants.
 Handling various kinds of wastewater and waste strengths.
 Adaptable for automated control with PLC system, though this may sometimes
considered as a disadvantage due to complex controls and systems
Trickling Filters

Trickling filters are simple devices that can operate without electricity. The force of the
water is usually all that is necessary to move the distribution arm. A fixed spray device can
also distribute the pre-treated wastewater.
Traditionally, trickling filter media has been limited to crushed rock between 2 and 5 cm
in diameter. As the wastewater passes through the media, bacteria living on the media
consume the organic material in the wastewater as food. Recent innovations on new
synthetic media maximizes the surface area where bacteria can attach themselves. This can
dramatically improve treatment efficiency while reducing the size of the media filter.
Although they still require primary settling basins, clarifying and disinfection units, they
use less energy than activated sludge plants.

Figure 2.25 Conventional Trickling Filters

(Source: image retrieved from https://sswm.info/water-nutrient-cycle/wastewater-treatment and
https://www.slideshare.net/SubodhMahanur/microbiology-of-trickling-filters)

Rotating Biological Contactor

Similar to trickling filter but the media is on a disc

that slowly rotates through the wastewater. As the
disc rotates through the settled sewage, the bacteria
living on the media consume the organic material
in the wastewater. As the disc rotates through the
air, oxygen transfer occurs with minimum energy
input.

Figure 2.26 Rotational Biological Contactor

(Source: PCO Seminar, 2011. Wastewater Treatment)
Anaerobic Baffled Reactor (ABR)

 Commonly featured in septic tanks systems

 Described as a series of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors (UASBS)
because it is divided into several compartments
 Wastewater inflow directed to pass through activated sludge in each compartment
- pollutants are decomposed through intensified contact with different beneficial
bacteria
 Integrated settling tank prevents coarse solids to enter the baffled section
 Low space requirement through underground construction
 Anaerobic process is efficient in the removal of organic material and suspended
solids from low strength wastewater but still need post-treatment for the removal
of residual COD and TSS

Figure 2.27 Conventional Septic Tank Chamber

Figure 2.28 Anaerobic Baffled Reactor – Super Septic Tank System

(Source: Figure 2.27&2.28 retrieved from PCO Seminar, 2011. Wastewater Treatment)
Wastewater Lagoons or Waste Stabilization Ponds

 In a wastewater lagoon system, countless trillions of organisms work together to

cycle nutrients, breakdown wastes and stabilize wastewater. These make lagoons
more chemically complex than activated sludge system.
 Typically a lagoon system has three zones: aerobic, anaerobic and facultative zone
(see Figure 2.26).
 A lagoon system is usually consists of different types of ponds that functions also
differently. This includes aerated lagoons, anaerobic lagoons, facultative ponds,
maturation ponds, and percolation ponds.
 Many industrial systems use an anaerobic lagoon first followed by series of aerated
and then facultative lagoons.
 Relatively inexpensive to construct and operate but needs larger area and prone to
groundwater and surface water pollution when improperly designed or installed.

Aerated lagoons – commonly employed with mechanical aerators or diffusers to

maintain DO level of the water.

Anaerobic lagoons - are commonly 2-5m deep and receive a high organic BOD
loading since its primary function is to remove BOD. They contain no dissolved
oxygen and algae. (Mara and Pearson, 1998) The suspended solids settle by gravity
to the bottom of pond where they are degraded anaerobically.

Facultative ponds - the term facultative is used because both aerobic and anaerobic
conditions are found in the pond (Mara and Pearson, 1998). Aerobic conditions are
maintained in the upper layers while anaerobic conditions exist towards the bottom
of the pond. Two types:
a. Primary facultative ponds that receive raw wastewater, and
b. Secondary facultative ponds that receive particle-free wastewater (usually
from anaerobic ponds, septic tanks, primary facultative ponds, and shallow
sewerage systems).
Maturation ponds – primary function is to remove excreted pathogens. It is also
used when stronger wastewaters with high concentrations of nutrients (nitrogen,
phosphorus) are to be treated prior to surface discharge.
Percolation ponds – a shallow artificial pond used to manage storm water runoff,
prevent flooding and downstream erosion, and improve water quality in an adjacent
river, stream, lake or bay. It is also known as infiltration basin.
Figure 2.29 Wastewater Lagoons
(Source: image retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I0dD0hUdqk)

Figure 2.30 Aerated Lagoons

(Source: image retrieved from https://www.aqua-aerobic.com/aeration-mixing/surface-

aerators/aqua-jet/)
Constructed Wetlands

Natural wetlands

 Wetlands are natural receptacles. Occurring in low lying areas, wetlands receive
runoff water and overflow from rivers and streams.
 Wetlands are transitional areas between water and land.
Constructed wetlands

 Planned systems designed and constructed to employ wetland vegetation to assist

in treating wastewater in a more controlled environment than occurs in natural
wetlands.
 Plants and microorganisms are the active agents in the process and are easy to
maintain.
 It has two types: free water surface system and subsurface flow system.

Figure 2.31 Constructed Wetlands

(Source: PCO Seminar, 2011. Wastewater Treatment)

Disinfection

Disinfection is required to kill the pathogens that might remain in the treated wastewater.
Chlorine disinfection is the most popular method, although ozone and ultra violet (UV)
light are becoming popular. If chlorine is the disinfectant of choice, it must be in contact
with the wastewater for a minimum of 15 minutes before the water is discharged into the
environment. UV lights and/or ozone generators may be incorporated into treatment
systems using specialized equipment. (PSA, 2008)

Figure 2.32 Chlorine Contact Basin, Muntinlupa

(Source: PSA, 2008)

Sludge Handling

Wastewater secondary treatment process produces sludge. Sludge is a residual, semi-solid

by product that can be digested or dried on-site. Dried sludge may be composted and used
as a soil amendment if it does not contain unsafe levels of heavy metals, or it can be placed
in a landfill.

Figure 2.33 Sludge drying beds

(Source: image retrieved from
https://www.calvin.edu%2f%7edvrb%2fgallery_files%2fshueib%2fimages%2fP8160018_JPG.jpg)