Table of contents

PREFACE
1. HISTORY AND PRESENT STATUS OF THE SLUDGE HANDLING FACILITIES
1.1. History of the Sludge Handling facilities
1.1.1. Sludge Digesters
1.1.2. Sludge Drying Beds
1.2. Present Status
1.2.1. Sludge Digesters
1.2.2. Sludge Drying Beds
HISTORY AND PRESENT STATUS OF THE SLUDGE HANDLING
FACILITIES
1.1. History of the Sludge Handling facilities . Under the M-4 contract, AL AIN sewage
treatment works had eight ( 8) nos of aerobic sludge digesters, each of effective capacity
490 m3.In the original design (Contract M-4) the sludge digesters were designed to
treated an estimated 9400 kg/d . of sludge. Each tank is provided with aerators to
supply oxygen required for aerobic digestion. The waste activated sludge (WAS)
received by the pump station is pumped to the sludge digesters. The sludge received by
the digesters is aerated and later allowed to settle for four hours .On settling the
supernatant from the digester is decanted to one of the chambers of the works pumps
station and from there it is pumped to the inlet channel .The settled sludge is allowed to
flow into another chamber of the works pump station from there it is pumped to the
sludge drying beds.
Twenty ( 20 ) sludge drying beds of size 45x45x0.6 m ( ED) are provided for drying the
sludge .The drying beds have a concreted bottom and have no draining provisions.
Decanting provision is given for the drying beds. The decanted liquid flows to the works
pumping station and from there it is pumped to the inlet channel.
In its report ( dt----------- ) on status of the plant in around AL AIN, KEO had
highlighted that
1.1.1. Sludge Digesters: The total sludge digesters volume and the aeration capacity
provided for digestion of the excess sludge are seriously inadequate for the aerobic
digestion of the sludge .Hence the sludge pumped to the sludge drying beds is with
out proper stabilization /digestion. The amount of volatile solids reduction and
thereby the settleability of the sludge,, which is normally expected after aerobic
sludge digestion cannot be met. This limitation is a performance limiting factor
1.1.2. Sludge Drying Beds: The drying beds area provided for 54000 m3/d avg flow is
insufficient. More over the main problem with the drying beds is the absence of the
filtering and under drain arrangements which are essential for faster drying of the
sludge. Even decanting arrangement provided is not adequate for faster decanting.
These are serious performance limiting factors
1.2. Present Status: Under M-35 contract , the capacity of the sewage treatment plant has
been raised to 85000 m3/d .Suitable modifications are being made to various
units .However
1.2.1. Sludge Digesters :
 The digester in their original capacities ( to digest 9400 kg/d of sludge ) itself were
inadequate as pointed out in the report.
 The sludge digesters have not been upgraded to digest the additional quantity of
sludge (sludge quantity has increased from 9400 kg/d to about 30000 kg/d) .So it
is no way that the sludge digesters will perform aerobic digestion.
 Due to lack of sufficient digestion, the sludge will tend to always float. The
dewatering characteristics of undigested sludge are poor .Higher the inorganic
solids content , better the settling characteristics..
1.2.2. Sludge Drying beds: KEO had suggested certain recommendations to improve
the performance of the sludge drying beds, marginally, as they were built under M-
4 .Accordingly two Sludge drying beds were modified, by introducing filtering
media to enhance the filterability of the sludge. Performance : .