SECONDARY

TREATMENT
COAGULATION OF SEWAGE
PURPOSE

• The purpose of coagulation is to make particles of bigger size

by adding certain chemicals known as coagulants
• The coagulants react with the impurities in sewage and convert
them in to settleable solid.

PROCESS
• The sedimentation of sewage can be assisted by adding certain
chemicals known as the coagulants.
COAGULATION IS
• The addition and rapid mixing of coagulants
• The destabilization of colloidal and fine particles
• The initial aggregation of destabilized particles
Flocculation is
• The gentle agitation to aggregate destabilized particles to form
rapid-settling floc
 PRINCIPLE OF COAGULATION

1. Floc formation
When coagulants are dissolved and thoroughly mixed with it
they produce thick gelatinous precipitate called floc
2. Electric charge
The ions of floc are found to possess positive electric charge
They will attract negatively charged colloidal particles
Usual coagulants

Usual coagulants (chemical used )

Adopted for coagulation are
1. Alum (aluminium sulphate)
2. Chlorinated copper as
3. Ferric Sulphate and lime
4. Ferric chloride
5. Magnesium carbonate
Handling and storing of coagulants

• Should be placed in dry place

• The storage containers of concrete, steel or wooden materials.
• Lead, rubber, stainless steel and acid resistant bronzes material
may be used for handling the coagulants.
DOSAGE OF COAGULANTS

1. Kind of coagulants
2. Amount of suspended impurities
3. Strength of sewage
4. Ph value, temp
5. Mixing and flocculation
6. Variation in flow of sewage
7. Degree to treatment
• FEEDING DEVICES
• Fed in dry or liquid from
• choice of feeding depends on the type of coagulants
• MIXING AND FLOCCULATION
• After mixing of coagulants in the sewage next operation is
flocculation
• Flocculators are slow stirring mechanism which form floc
• Mostly consist of paddles which are revolving at very slow
speed
Sedimentation

1. The flocculated sewage are settled out in a subsequent

sedimentation tank
2. It is similar to secondary settling tank
3. Usually detention period of 2 hrs
CLARIFIERS
1. The design of clarifiers similar to the plain sedimentation
tank.
2. Floc formed is allowed to settle and is separated from the
sewage done by keeping the sewage in sedimentation
tanks known as coagulation basins.
3. Some clarifiers fitted with a moving arms known as
raking arm and also fitted with continuous sludge
removing arrangement.
4. Combined unit comprising of feeding, mixing flocculators
and clarifiers devices
SECONDARY SEDIMENTATION TANK
 ADVANTAGES
• Chemical sedimentation more effective than plain
sedimentation.
• Coagulation of sewage results into reduction in BOD, color
turbidity of sewage.
• The coagulated settling tank will require less space than plain
settling tanks.
• Process is simple and can be suitably adjusted with changing
condition.
DISADVANTAGES
• Not much useful with biological treatment of sewage.
• Chemicals react with sewage during treatment kill some
microorganisms useful for digestion of sludge.
• The cost of chemical adds to cost of sedimentation therefore
more expensive.
• Produces large volume of sludge which requires efficient
disposal.
• Requires skilled supervision.
USES
• Chemical precipitation useful as
• When the population of the town is increasing rapidly and
existing treatment units are inadequate
• To reduce load on secondary treatment units.
• To control odour of the hydrogen sulphide from the sewage
• When the concentration of suspended solids increases in dry
season due to reduction in the natural water coarses
 SECONDARY
TREATMENT
FILTRATION OF SEWAGE
FILTRATION

1. CONTACT BEDS
2. INTERMITTENT SAND FILTERS
3. TRICKLING FILTERS

19
CONTACT BEDS

• A contact bed consists of filtering medium.

• When the sewage is passed over the medium, a thin film
is produced around the particles.
• The bacteria present in the film oxidise the organic matter.

20
INTERMITTENT SAND FILTER

• The filtering medium consists of sand.

• The action of the filter is due to:
• Mechanical straining and
• Bacterial action

22
TRICKLING FILTERS
TRICKLING FILTERS

• Trickling filters are also known as the percolating filters or

sprinkling filters.
• The sewage is allowed to sprinkle or trickle over the bed of
coarse, rough hard material.
• The filtered water is collected through the under drainage
system.
• The oxidization of organic matter is carried out under aerobic
condition
• A bacterial film known as a bioflim is formed around the
particles of filtering media
• The oxygen is supplied by the intermittent working of filters
by the provision of suitable ventilation facilities in the body of
the filter.
• The color of the film is blackish greenish and yellowish
• It consist of bacteria fungi, algae, lichen, protozoa etc.
 Recycle

Final
clarifier

Final
Influent effluent

Primary Waste
clarifier sludge
Trickling
filter
TYPES OF TRICKLING FILTERS

• Trickling filters are divided in following two

categories
1. Standard rate trickling filter
2. High rate trickling or high capacity trickling filters
STANDARD TRICKLING FILTER

• It may be constructed in circular or rectangular shape.

• Filter media is crushed stone or clinkers or specially
manufactured material.
• Filtering media is usually in cubical shape and of uniform size.
• Size of the filter media varies from 30 to 80 mm
• 10 to 15 cm thick RCC floor is provided with a slope towards
the central drain
• Sewage is collected through under drainage system.
• Distribution of either movable or fixed type provided.
• The purpose is to distribute evenly effluent over the entire
filtering media
• Automatic closing tanks are provided.
• The application of the sewage is stopped or discontinued for a
period of about 3 to 10 mins or more.
ADVANTAGES

• The working of trickling filters is simple and it does not

require skilled supervision.
• Maintenance cost of trickling filter is less.
• The trickling may reduce the B.O.D. And colloidal matter to
the extent of about 75% and 85% respectively.
• The trickling filters are flexible in operation so they can
therefore withstand the application of variety of sewage.
• The effluent obtained from the trickling filter is highly nitrified
and stabilized.
DISADVANTAGES

• The cost of construction of the trickling filters is high.

• This process of filtration may develop fly nuisance and bad
odour.
• This process requires primary treatment of sewage.
• Requires large land area.
ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS
BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT
DEFINITION
• Activated sludge process is an aerobic, biological sewage
treatment process. In this process, raw or settled sewage is
aerated in aeration tank for some hours .
• The aeration tank consist of activated sludge.
• Action of activated sludge
• The activated sludge is mixed with raw or partially treated
sewage
• The sewage is given usually primary treatment in the activated
sludge process.
• When the activated sludge is mixed properly with sewage
containing ample or sufficient oxygen, the microorganisms
present in the activated sludge multiply rapidly.
As a results following takes place
1. Organic solids present in sewage rapidly oxidized and
2. Suspended and colloidal matters coagulate and they form a
readily settle able precipitate.
• After such precipitate settle down, the effluent is clear and
sparkling
• The effluent contains very low amount of organic matter
• It is generally not given any further treatment except
chlorination in some cases
• A portion of settled sewage is sent for recirculation and
remaining part is sent to the sludge digestion tank
Advantages of activated sludge process

1. The cost of installation is low.

2. The effluent of good quality is obtained.
3. The process requires small area of land and hence the design
may be made compact.
4. There is very small loss of head through the treatment
plants.
5. Nuisance of fly and odour is reduced due to high degree of
treatment given
 Disadvantages of activated sludge process
• The cost of operation is high.
• If there is sudden increase in the volume or change in the
character of sewage, there are adverse effects on the working
of the process and consequently the effluent of bad quality is
obtained.
• The disposal of the large amount of wet sewage produced at
the end of process is difficult.
• Skilled supervision is required.
TERTIARY TREATMENT
CHLORINATION
DISPOSAL OF THE EXCESS SLUDGE