CE6304: Theory of Sewage Treatment

Introduction to the Course

Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Department of Civil Engineering, BUET
tanvir96@gmail.com
Definition of Environmental Engg
“Environmental Engineering is manifest by sound engineering thought and
practice in the solution of problems of environmental sanitation, notably in
the provision of safe, palatable, and ample public water supplies; the
proper disposal of or recycle of wastewater and solid wastes; the
adequate drainage of urban and rural areas for proper sanitation; and the
control of water, soil and atmospheric pollution, and the social and
environmental impact of these solutions. Furthermore it is concerned with
engineering problems in the field of public health, such as control of
arthropod-borne diseases, the elimination of industrial health hazards, and
the provision of adequate sanitation in urban, rural and recreational areas,
and the effect of technological advances in the environment…..”

Environmental Engineering Division, ASCE.

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Wastewater collection, Treatment and Disposal

commons.wikimedia.org
Introduction to Environmental Engineering Dr. Tanvir Ahmed
Centralized and Decentralized Systems

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

 Centralized and
Decentralized
Systems

People are finding centralized

systems more expensive to
build and maintain, especially
in low density suburban and
small town areas.

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Outline of the Course

CE 6304 Theory of Sewage Treatment

3 Credits
Composition, properties and analysis of sewage. Biology and bio-
chemistry of sewage treatment. Principles of physical, chemical
and biological treatment processes. Tertiary treatment of effluents.
Sludge digestion. Sludge dewatering and disposal.

Introduction to Environmental Engineering Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

 CE6304: Theory of Sewage Treatment

Composition and Properties

of Sewage

Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Department of Civil Engineering, BUET
tanvir96@gmail.com
Composition of Sewage

• Proteins and carbohydrates form an excellent diet for bacteria

• Organic content has carbonaceous and nitrogenous matter
• Human faeces and urine (to a lesser extent) contain many millions
of intestinal bacteria

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Physical Characteristics of Sewage
• Fresh sewage is grey and turbid having earthy and
inoffensive odour. Within 3-4 hours it becomes septic and
start emitting offensive odour (usually H2S) and becomes
dark in color.

• Contains large floating solids, partially disintegrated colloidal

substance as well as dissolved substance.

• Normal temperature higher than that of water supply.

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Significance of Solids in WW

To assess the reuse potential of

wastewater, to determine the
most suitable operation and
processes for WW treatment

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Other Physical Characteristics

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Chemical characteristics of sewage
• Contains both organic and inorganic chemicals.
• Organic substance is highly studied because of its importance
in both design and operation of STPs.
• Organic matter is broadly classified into carbonaceous and
nitrogenous

• Carbonaceous:
o carbohydrates such as sugars (sucrose, Fructose, these
are soluble), cellulose and starch these are insoluble).
o Fat, grease and oils
o Soaps and synthetic detergents

• Nitrogenous:
o Proteins, urea, amines and amino acids (N is an important
constituent)
o Unstable, decompose rapidly
Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed
Inorganic chemical characteristics

o Alkalinity of sewage provides buffering action against lowering

of pH for acids produced by bacteria in anaerobic systems
o pH tends to drop in ageing sewage, rises upon treatment

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Organic Chemical and Biological

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Organic compounds in Wastewater
• A combination of C, H, O and N
• Typically consists of proteins (40-60%), carbohydrates (25 –
50%), oils and fats (8 – 12%).
• Urea is the major constituent in Urine (in fresh wastewater).
Urea usually decomposes rapidly, seldom found other than
fresh wastewater.
• Also contains small quantities of a very large number of
different synthetic organic molecules, having simple to complex
structure.

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

BOD kinetics

• The amount of oxygen theoretically required to oxidize a carbonaceous or

nitrogenous waste calculated according to the stoichiometry of the reactions

• Ammonia is totally biodegradable and thus the nitrogenous ThOD and

NBOD are equal. But CBOD may be significantly less than carbonaceous
ThOD if the compound is poorly degradable.
Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed
Functional Analysis of the BOD test

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Functional Analysis of the BOD test

• Is the ultimate BOD as high as the COD? Why or why not?

• What is TOC? Why is it becoming more popular to monitor
effluents?
Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed
BOD, COD and TOC interrelationship
• If BOD/COD is 0.5 or greater for untreated wastewater, it can
be considered treatable by biological means
• The ratios depend on the degree of treatment
• If BOD/COD is below 0.3, either the waste has some toxic
substances or acclimated microorganisms may be required
for its stabilization

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Strength of Sewage
• The strength of Sewage is measured by its BOD and COD

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Biological Characteristics of Sewage
• Principal groups of microorganisms found in surface and
wastewater are Animals (Rotifers, crustaceans), Plants
(Mosses, ferns) and protists (Bacteria, fungi, protozoa,
algae)

• Depending on carbon and energy source, microorganisms

are divided into autotrophic (photosynthetic and
chemosynthetic) and heterotrophic
o Photosynthetic: energy source light, carbon source CO2
o Chemosynthetic: energy source inorganic redox reaction,
carbon source CO2
o Heterotrophic: energy source organic redox reaction,
carbon source organic-C

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Bacteria
• Single-cell protists, multiply by binary fission generally,
under specific environmental conditions (pH, temp, light,
air, water, food)
• Use extracellular enzymes to remove soluble, colloidal
and solid organic matter (food for bacteria)
• Most bacteria cannot tolerate pH above 9.5 or below 4
• Reaction rate doubles with every 10 deg C rise in temp.
• Heterotrophic bacteria are the most important group for
WW treatment

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Bacteria Metabolism
• Catabolism for energy, anabolism for synthesis

• Autolysis reaction does not proceed to completion since

approx. 20-25% cell mass is resistant to biodegradation

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Bacteria Metabolism

• Autolysis reaction does not proceed to completion since

approx. 20-25% cell mass is resistant to biodegradation

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Fungi
• Multicellular, nonphotosynthetic, heterotrophic protists
• Most fungi are strict aerobes
• Able to grow under low moisture conditions
• Can tolerate relatively low pH (pH 2 – 9)
• Can survive nitrogen-limiting condition
• Relatively large and filamentous shape
• Tend to settle poorly and undesirable in biological
treatment process

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Algae
• Uni- or Multicellular, photosynthetic, autotrophic protists
• Undesirable in water supply for bad taste, odour and
short filter run, aesthetically objectionable
• Valuable for waste stabilization ponds
• pH can be raised due to photosynthesis activities

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Other micro-organisms

Protozoa
• Mostly aerobic heterotrophs, larger than bacteria,
consume bacteria as an energy source
• Act as polishers in WW treatment by consuming
bacteria and particulate organic matter

Rotifers
• Aerobic heterotrophs, multicellular animal
• Consume dispersed and flocculated bacteria, protozoa
and small particles of organic matter

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Pathogens in untreated domestic WW

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Pathogens in untreated domestic WW

• What is an indicator organism? Why is it used? What are the

characteristics of indicator organisms?
Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed
 Contaminants
of Concern in
Wastewater

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Wastewater Discharge Standards (ECR 2023)

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Some Wastewater Treatment Methods

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Wastewater Treatment Levels

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Activated Sludge Process

• Developed around 1912-14

• Most widely used
• Suspended growth system

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Extended Aeration System

• A modification of the activated sludge process (no primary

settling tank and no digester) with suspended biological growth
• Relatively easy to operate
• Longer aeration time
• Power consumption is higher

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Trickling Filter and Rotating bio-discs

Attached growth systems: Trickling

filters and Rotating bio-discs

Trickling filter (for large installations)

• Power consumption relatively lower than activated sludge process
Rotating bio discs (for small installations)
• biological growth takes place on slowly rotating discs immersed in the
wastewater

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Aerated lagoons, Waste Stabilization Ponds

Aerated lagoons: Oxygen is

supplied through mechanical or
pneumatic aeration.

Waste Stabilization Ponds: a shallow pond in which the wastewater is

held for several days depending on the temperature and other climatic
conditions under which the algae can flourish

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Aquatic Plant Systems, Constructed wetlands

• hyacinth ponds, duckweed ponds, constructed wetlands

• They can be efficient if well designed and maintained
Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed
Comparison

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Comparison (ctd)

Ultimately, the choice of a treatment system depends on various

factors, including
• Affordability
• Acceptability
• Manageability

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

 Reference Materials for this lecture

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

 Problems: TS, TSS, TDS, TVS
Determine the TS, TSS, TDS and TVS of the following 4 samples.
Sample size is 100 ml.

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

 Problems: BOD
• Compute the Carbonaceous ThOD and nitrogenous ThOD of a
waste represented by the formula C9N2H6O2, C6N2H4O and
C12N4H6O2. Assumed that N is converted to Ammonia in the first
step. Determine the 5-day BOD of the sample if 300 mg of each
compound is dissolved in 1L of water.

• An industrial wastewater is known to contain only stearic acid

(C18H36O2), glycine (C2H5O2N) and glucose (C6H12O6).
Laboratory analysis shows that Org-N = 11 mg/L, org-C = 130
mg/L, and COD = 425 mg/L. Determine the concentration of
each of the constituents in mg/L. COD does not include the
nitrogenous oxygen demand.

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

Multiple Tube Fermentation
• Principle of dilution to
extinction
• Coliforms are reported as
most probable number (MPN)
per 100 ml
• Use Poisson Equation,
Thomas equation or MPN
Table

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed

 Problems: Determination of MPN
Six weekly samples have been analyzed for bacterial content using
standard confirmed test. Determine the coliform density for all the
samples using Poisson equation. Check your answers using
Thomas equation and standard MPN tables.

Theory of Sewage Treatment Dr. Tanvir Ahmed