Advanced Training

Module for
Pollution Control
Officers
Topic 5: Overview of Wastewater
Treatment, Flow Measurements,
Collection and Disposal Systems; Basic
Wastewater Treatment Practices:
Physical, Biological, and Chemical
Overview of Wastewater
Treatment
Importance of wastewater treatment
― Wastewater collected from municipalities and communities
must ultimately be returned to receiving waters or to the land or
reused
Fisheries ― May cause algal blooms, fish kills, and harmful
hhhhhhhhh changes to the aquatic ecosystem
Recreation ― Polluted and untreated water may cause
hhhhhhh abundant water borne diseases
Health ― Microorganisms present in wastewater may
Concerns cause acute sickness, severe digestive problems,
or death.
Water Corporation. (n.d.). Typical wastewater treatment plant flow diagram [PDF]. Retrieved 25 April 2019 from https://www.watercorporation.com.au/-/media/files/education/lessons-and-teaching-
resources/lesson-plans/activity-sheets-and-fact-sheets/typical-wastewater-treatment-plant-flow-diagram.pdf
― Removal of wastewater
constituents that may cause
maintenance or operational
problems with the treatment
operations, processes, and
ancillary systems.
― Removal of a portion of the
suspended solids and organic
matter from the wastewater
― Removal of a portion
of the suspended
solids and organic
matter from the
wastewater
 Tertiary ― Removal of residual suspended solids;
― Disinfection; and
― Nutrient removal

Advanced ― Removal of dissolved and suspended materials

remaining after biological treatment
Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. (2003). Wastewater engineering: Treatment and reuse (4th Ed.). McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
 Collection and
Disposal Systems
Typical Industrial Collection System

― Wastewater are usually

collected from different
points throughout the
industrial facility.
Examples:
› Drains › Sumps
› Manholes › Lift Stations
› Trenches › Wiers
› Junction
Boxes
Wastewater
Disposal System
› Recycled
― Reusing treated
wastewater for
beneficial purposes
Wastewater
Disposal System
› Recycled
― Most commonly
used for nonpotable
(not for drinking)
purposes
Wastewater
Disposal System
› Recycled
― Used in cooling
processes for
industrial plants
Wastewater
Disposal System
› Recycled
― “Gray Water”
― reusable wastewater
from residential,
commercial and
industrial bathrooms
Wastewater
Disposal System
› Discharged to water
bodies
― Refer to DENR
Administrative Order
No. 2016-08
Brown & Caldwell. (n.d.). A graphic illustrating an integrated approach to water management [Graphics]. Retrieved 6 May 2019 from https://www.foresternetwork.com/water-efficiency/water-conservation/article/13034929/recharging-our-water-resources
 Basic Wastewater
Treatment Practices
Wastewater Treatment Methods
1. Physical Treatment
2. Biological Treatment
3. Chemical Treatment
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

1. Physical Treatment
― To remove coarse materials from the flow stream that could:
✓ Damage subsequent process equipment;
✓ Reduce overall treatment process reliability and effectiveness; or
✓ Contaminate waterways
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Screening
― A device with openings,
generally of uniform size
― May consist of parallel bars,
rods, or wires, grating, wire
mesh, or perforated plate.
― Openings may be of any shape
but generally are circular or
rectangular slots
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Screening

Types:
› Coarse Screens
(6 to 150 mm)
› Fine Screens
(<6 mm)
› Micro Screens
(<0.5 µm)
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Size Reduction
― Solids are cut up into smaller,
more uniform size

Examples:
› Comminutors
› Macerators
› Grinders
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Flow Equalization
― Method used to
overcome the operational
problems caused by
flowrate variations
― To improve the
performance of the
downstream process
― To reduce the size and
cost of downstream
treatment facilities
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Gravity Separation
― Removal of suspended and
colloidal materials
› Sedimentation
― Separation of particles
heavier than water
› Settling
― Separation of particles in
suspension
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Grit Removal
― Installation of screening
facilities ahead of the grit
chambers makes the
operation and maintenance
of the grit removal facilities
easier
― May be accomplished in:
› Grit Chambers
› Centrifugal Separation
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Flotation
― To separate solid or liquid
particles from a liquid
phase
― Particles that have a
higher density than the
liquid is made to rise
― To remove suspended
matter
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Sample Problem
The hydraulic retention time required for the clarifier to treat the
wastewater is 2 hours. A circular clarifier with a diameter of 16 m and a
depth of 3 m has a flowrate of 6,500 CMD. Did the clarifier meet the
required hydraulic retention time?

6,500 m3/day

3m

16 m
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Sample Problem 𝜋
𝑉 = ∗ D2 ∗ H
4
𝜋
𝑉 = ∗ 162 ∗ 3
4
𝑽 = 𝟔𝟎𝟑. 𝟏𝟖𝟓𝟖
V
𝐻𝑅𝑇 =
F
603.1858
𝐻𝑅𝑇 = ∗ 24 hrs/day 𝑯𝑹𝑻 = 𝟐. 𝟐𝟖 𝒉𝒓𝒔
6500
It successfully complied with the
required HRT.
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Sample Problem
Assuming that the flowrate is increased to 10,000 CMD. Will the
clarifier still meet the required retention time? What is the new HRT of
the clarifier?

10,000 m3/day

3m

16 m
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Sample Problem

V
𝐻𝑅𝑇 =
F
603.1858
𝐻𝑅𝑇 = ∗ 24 hrs/day 𝑯𝑹𝑻 = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟓 𝒉𝒓𝒔
10000
It did not meet the required HRT.
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Sample Problem
A water treatment plant has a flow rate of 0.2 m3/s. The settling basin
at the plant has an effective settling volume that is 12 m long and 3 m
tall. Will particles that have a settling velocity of 0.004 m/s be
completely removed?

3m

12 m
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Sample Problem 𝐹
𝑉𝑜 =
𝐴
𝑚3
0.2 𝑠
𝑉𝑜 =
൫12)(3)𝑚2
𝒎
𝑽𝒐 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟓𝟓𝟔
𝒔

The particles will not be completely removed.

 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Sample Problem
If the height of the basin must be retained, how long would the basin
need to be in order to completely remove the particles that have a
settling velocity of 0.004 m/sec?

3m

?
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Sample Problem 𝐹
𝐴=
𝑉𝑝
𝑚3
0.2 𝑠
𝐴= 𝑚
0.004
𝑠
𝐴 = 50 𝑚2
50
𝐿= 𝑳 = 𝟏𝟔. 𝟔𝟕 𝒎
3
The new length of the basin must be 16.67 m
in order to completely remove the particles.
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

2. Biological Treatment
✓ To transform dissolved and particulate biodegradable
constituents into acceptable end products;
✓ Capture and incorporate suspended and nonsettleable colloidal
solids into a biological floc or biofilm;
✓ Transform or remove nutrients, such as nitrogen and
phosphorus; and
✓ Remove specific trace organic constituents and compounds
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Aerobic Process
Suspended Growth ― Activated sludge process(es)
― Aerated lagoons
― Aerobic digestion

Attached growth ― Trickling filters

― Rotating biological contactors
― Packed-bed reactors
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Aerobic Process
Hybrid (combined) ― Trickling filter/activated sludge
suspended and attached
growth processes
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Anoxic Process
Suspended growth ― Suspended-growth detrification

Attached growth ― Attached-growth dentrification

 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Anaerobic Process
Suspended growth ― Anaerobic contact processes
― Anaerobic digestion

Attached growth ― Anaerobic packed and fluidized bed

Sludge blanket ― Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket

Hybrid ― Upflow sludge blanket/attached

growth
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Combined aerobic, anoxic, and anaerobic processes

Suspended growth ― Single- or multistage processes,
kkkkk various propriety process

Hybrid ― Single- or multistage process with

packing for attached growth
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Lagoon processes
Aerobic lagoons ― Aerobic lagoons

Maturation (tertiary) ― Maturation (tertiary) lagoons

lagoons jjjjjjjjjjj

Facultative lagoons ― Facultative lagoons

Anaerobic lagoons ― Araerobic lagoons

 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Activated Sludge Process

― Removal of soluble
organics, colloidal,
particulates, and
inorganics
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Trickling Filter
― Microbes remove the organics
from the wastewaters flowing
over the fixed medium
― Oxygen from the air permits
aerobic reactions to occur at the
surface of the microbial layer, but
anaerobic metabolism occurs at
the bottom of the microbial layer
where oxygen does not penetrate
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Stabilization Pond
― Consist of open basins
which can be used to
treat fecal sludge
― To remove and inactivate
pathogens
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Aerated Lagoon
― Dispersed microbial
reactors which
permitted conversion
of the organic
components in the
wastewaters to
microbial solids
without stabilization
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Sample Problem
The treated wastewater of a domestic establishment with a volume of
300 m3 has a BOD of 25 mg/L. Meanwhile a nearby sugar mill has a
BOD of 75 mg/L in their treated wastewater amounting to a volume of
900 m3.

If the effluent from both establishments are mixed before discharging

to the adjacent river, will its BOD concentration comply with the
General Effluent Standards for Class C water bodies?
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Sample Problem
Domestic Sugar Mill
300,000 L 900,000 L
25 mg/L 75 mg/L

Effluent mixture
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Sample Problem

300,000 25 + (900000)(75)
𝐵𝑂𝐷 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 =
300,000 + 900000

𝐵𝑂𝐷 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 62.5

BOD Concentration for Class C Water Bodies: 50 mg/L. Therefore, it will

not comply with the GES for Class C water bodies.
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Sample Problem
Besides BOD, what other parameters should be observed?
Sewerage ― BOD, Fecal Coliform,
Ammonia, Nitrate,
Phosphate, Oil and Grease,
Surfactants

Sugar Milling ― Temperature, pH, BOD,

Total Suspended Solids,
Nitrate
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

3. Chemical Treatment
― One of the inherent
disadvantages associated
with most chemical unit
processes, as compared
with the physical unit
operations, is that they are
additive processes
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

3. Chemical Treatment
Advanced oxidation ― Removal of refractory organic
process compounds

Chemical Coagulation ― Chemical destabilization of

particles bring about their
aggregation during perikinetic and
orthokinetic flocculation
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

3. Chemical Treatment
Chemical Disinfection ― Disinfection with chlorine, chlorine
www compounds, bromine, and ozone
― Control of slime growth in sewers
― Control of odors

Chemical Neutralization ― Control of pH

 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

3. Chemical Treatment
Chemical Oxidation ― Removal of BOD, grease, etc.
― Removal of ammonia (NH4+)
― Destruction of microorganisms
― Control of odor in sewers, pump
stations, and treatment plants
― Removal of resistant organic
compounds
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

3. Chemical Treatment
Chemical Precipitation ― Enhancement removal of total
suspended solids and BOD in
primary sedimentation facilities
― Removal of phosphorus
― Removal of heavy metals
― Physical-chemical treatment
― Corrosion control in sewers due to
H2S
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Chemical Coagulation
― Process of destabilizing colloidal particles so that particle growth
can occur as a result of particle collisions
― Size of colloidal particles in wastewater is typically in the range from
0.01 to 1.0 µm
― Enhance the ability of a treatment process to remove particles
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Chemical Precipitation
― As a means of improving the performance of primary settling
facilities;
― As a basic step in the independent physical-chemical treatment of
wastewater;
― For the removal of phosphorus; and
― For the removal of heavy metals (such as Arsenic, Barium, Cadmium,
Copper, Mercury, Nickel, Selenium, and Zinc)
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Chemical Oxidation
― Involves the use of oxidizing agents to bring about change in the
chemical composition of a compound or a group of compounds
 Physical Biological Chemical
Treatment Treatment Treatment

Chemical Neutralization, Scale Control and

Stabilization
― pH adjustment is required for all treated wastewaters before they
can be dispersed to the environment
― Scaling control is required for nanofiltration and reverse osmosis
treatment to control the formation of scale, which can severely
impact performance
― Chemical stabilization is often required for highly treated
wastewaters to control their aggressiveness with respect to
corrosion
References:
• The importance of wastewater treatment for your facility: Is it necessary? (n.d.). Retrieved 25 April 2019 at
https://www.samcotech.com/important-wastewater-treatment-necessary/
• Water Corporation. (n.d.). Typical wastewater treatment plant flow diagram [PDF]. Retrieved 25 April 2019 from
https://www.watercorporation.com.au/-/media/files/education/lessons-and-teaching-resources/lesson-plans/activity-sheets-and-fact-
sheets/typical-wastewater-treatment-plant-flow-diagram.pdf
• Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. (2003). Wastewater engineering: Treatment and reuse (4th Ed.). McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
• Wastewater collection [Graphics]. (n.d.). Retrieved 6 May 2019 from https://www.topsimages.com/images/wastewater-collection-84.html
• Inflow and filtration [Graphics]. (n.d.). Retrieved 6 May 2019 from https://www.lasa.org/what-we-do/wastewater-collection-and-
conveyance/inflow-and-infiltration
• Water reuse and recycling: community and environmental benefits. (n.d.). Retrieved April 29, 2019 at
https://www3.epa.gov/region9/water/recycling/
• Typical wastewater treatment process [Graphics]. (n.d.). Retrieved 6 May 2019 from
https://www.globalspec.com/learnmore/specialized_industrial_services/utility_services/water_sewer_utility_services
• Brown & Caldwell. (n.d.). A graphic illustrating an integrated approach to water management [Graphics]. Retrieved 6 May 2019 from
https://www.foresternetwork.com/water-efficiency/water-conservation/article/13034929/recharging-our-water-resources
• Bar Screens Wastewater Treatment Plant [Graphics]. (n.d.). Retrieved 6 May 2019 from https://kitchendecor.club/files/bar-screens-
wastewater-treatment-plant.html
• Grinders [Photograph]. (n.d.) Retrieved 6 May 2019 from https://www.turoteknikk.no/grinders-22338s.html
• New Doha International Airport (NDIA) Sewage Treatment Plant [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved 6 May 2019 from
http://www.emcogroup.com/uploads/project_gallery/equalization_tank.jpg
References:
• Concrete oil water separator design [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrived 6 May 2019 from
https://i0.wp.com/cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/541513/hubfs/WesTech_2017/Image/API.jpg?t=1517326708052
• Wastewater treatment plants [Graphics]. (n.d.). Retrieved 6 May 2019 from http://production-ems.s3-ap-southeast-
2.amazonaws.com/assets/216596/web_image_article/PistaVforcegraphic.jpg
• Induced air flotation separates suspended solids oil [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved 6 May 2019 from http://sewage-treat.com/products/2-5-3-
cavitation-air-flotation-system_04.jpg
• Activated sludge process [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved 6 May 2019 from http://idm-group.co/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/activated-sludge-
process-activated-sludge-aeration-tank-epa-activated-sludge-process-control-manual.jpg
• Trickling filter [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved 6 May 2019 from https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/trickling-filter-spraying-wastewater-
treatment-sewage-pla-plant-60687106.jpg
• Verbyla, M., Von Sperling, M., Maiga, Y. (2017). Waste stabilization ponds. https://doi.org/10.14321/waterpathogens.65
• Aerated lagoons [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved 6 May 2019 from https://image.slidesharecdn.com/aeratedlagoons-
170425193334/95/aerated-lagoons-1-638.jpg
• Water importance infiltration cycle [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved 6 May 2019 from https://i3.wp.com/www.watertechonline.com/wp-
content/uploads/2016/09/Seasonal-Changes.jpg
Thank you for
listening!