Sedimentation

• Sedimentation, sometimes called clarification, is the

removal by gravity of settleable solids in water.
• The solids removed include sand, silt, grit, chemical
precipitates, pollutants, floc, and other settleable solids.
• Sedimentation occurs after coagulation/ flocculation
and before filtration in a conventional water treatment
plant.
• Sedimentation reduces the load on filters, increases
the filter runs, and improves filtration efficiency.

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• Sedimentation tanks, sedimentation basins, or
clarifiers can be rectangular, square, or circular.
• The most common types of basins are the
rectangular tank and the circular basin with
center feed.

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 Zones in a Sedimentation Basin
• Inlet zone. The inlet zone decreases the velocity of the incoming
water and distributes the flow evenly across the basin.
• Settling zone. The settling zone provides the calm (quiescent) area
necessary for the suspended material to settle.

• Outlet zone. The outlet zone provides a smooth transition from the
settling zone to the effluent flow area. It is important that currents
or eddies that could stir up any settled solids and carry them into the
effluent do not develop in this zone.
• Sludge zone. The sludge zone receives the settled solids and keeps
them separate from other particles in the settling zone.
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 Sludge disposal

• One of the most common ways to handle alum

sludge is to pump it designed lagoons.
• Sand drying beds The sludge is spread in 2- to 4-
ft (0.6-to 1.2-m) layers over 6 to 9 in. (150 to 230
mm) of sand overlying 12 in. (300 mm) of gravel

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Design parameters (for conventional basins):
• Detention time: 2 - 8 h, t = volume/volumetric flow rate
• Surface loading: 20 - 50 m3/m2.d
• Number of basins: minimum 2
• Depth = 2.5 - 4.0 m
• Length = 3 to 4 times the width (for rectangular basins)
• Flow-through velocity: not greater than 0.5 cm/s (for
rectangular basins)

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