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Wastewater Engineering and Sanitation

Kandahar University

Engineering Faculty

Water and Environmental Engineering Department

Chapter # 7 Characteristics and Analysis of Sewage

2 Contents

 Introduction

 Composition of sewage

 Characteristics of sewage

 Cycles of decomposition

 Analysis of sewage

 Examples
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Introduction

Sewage is made up of large amount of water (99.9 %) and solid matter in

suspension and dissolved state which amounts to about 0.1 percent the solid in

the sewage are both organic and inorganic substances.

A. The organic substance include soap vegetable debris fruit skins paper and rags

B. The inorganic substances include ash cinder sand clay grit and dissolved minerals
4 1. Source of Wastewater
Domestic: Food, soap and detergents, bathroom ( urine), and paper.

Commercial: Bathroom and food from restaurants and other “stores.”

Industrial: Depend on the type of industry.

Runoff from streets: Sand and petroleum and tire residues.

 2. Composition of Sewage
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The composition of sewage refers to the actual amounts of various

constituents of sewage.

The composition of sewage largely depends on the source from which it is

obtained.
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8 3. Characteristics of Sewage
The Characteristics of the sewage are classified as:

1. Physical Characteristics
2. Chemical Characteristics
3. Biological Characteristics
 Physical, Chemical and Biological Characteristics of
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Sewage and their source
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Characteristics of Sewage cont….

1. Physical characteristics: the physical characteristics of sewage are:

• specific gravity
• Color
• Odor
• Temperature and
• Total solid content turbidity
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Characteristics of Sewage cont….

1. Specific gravity: relative weight of matter in contrast to the weight of the

water in the volume

2. Color: fresh domestic sewage has an earth or light brown color however with
the passage of time sewage undergoes decomposition due to which its color
become medium gray and then become dark gray or black.

3. Odor: fresh domestic sewage is either odorless but after many hour take
offensive odor
 Characteristics of Sewage cont….
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4. Temperature: the temperature affects sewage in the following way:

1. Temperature affects the biological activity of bacteria present in sewage.
2. Temperature effects the solubility of oxygen and other gases in sewage.
3. Temperature affects viscosity of sewage which decreases with increase in
temperature
4. Extremely low temperature affects adversely the efficiency of sedimentation
5. Total solids content- turbidity: total solids present in sewage may be in three
different forms.
A. Suspended solids
B. Colloidal solids and
C. Dissolved solids
 Characteristics of Sewage cont….
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A. Suspended solids: are those which are held in suspension in liquid and
these may be further subdivided as:
a. Settle able solids and
b. Non settle able solids

B. Colloidal solids: are finely divided solid held in suspension, which can
not be remove by settling or filtering, but they are generally removed by
biological oxidation or coagulation, followed by sedimentation.

C. Dissolved Solid: are those which remain dissolved in sewage just as salt in
water.
14 Characteristics of Sewage cont….

2. Chemical characteristic: The significant chemical characteristic are

 PH value

 Chloride content

 Nitrogen content

 Phosphorus content

 Fats oils and grease content

 Sulphates ,sulphids

 Gases (dissolved oxygen, hydrogen, sulphide, methane)

 Toxic compounds

 Pesticide and agricultural chemicals

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Characteristics of Sewage cont….

PH value: The PH value of sewage indicates whether it is acidic or alkaline.

• The fresh domestic sewage is alkaline in nature having PH value 7.3 and 7.5 which

is good for bacterial action.

• However as time passes the PH value of sewage tends to fall due to production of

acids. If PH<7 it is acid or PH>7 it is alkali

 Characteristics of Sewage cont….
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Chloride content: Chloride found if domestic sewage are derived from kitchen
wastes, human feeces urinary discharges etc. Large amounts of chlorides may
also be contributed from industrial sewage.

Phosphorous content: phosphorus is contributed to domestic sewage from food

residues containing phosphorus. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for
biological processes.
 Characteristics of Sewage cont….
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Gases: The gases that are commonly found in untreated sewage. Nitrogen
oxygen and carbon dioxide are found in all water (including sewage). Ammonia
methane and hydrogen sulphide are derived from the decomposition of the
organic matter present in sewage.

Fat, oil, grease content: Fats and oils are contributed to domestic sewage from
kitchen wastes. Grease and other oils such as road oils are contributed from
shops garages workshops and industry. Grease interfere with the biological life
in the water body.
 Characteristics of Sewage cont….
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Biological Characteristics: The Biological Characteristics depend on the

group of organism found in sewage.

1. Protista

2. Viruses

3. Plants

4. Animals
19 Characteristics of Sewage cont….
1. Protista : includes most important group bacteria, fungi, protozoa and
algae.
• Bacteria: ate single cell micro organisms which play an extensive and fundamental
role of decomposition of organic matter present in sewage.

• Fungi: are single celled plants capable of growing in low temperature and low PH
environments.

• Algae: are single celled plant. These organisms that are self nourishing.
20 4. Cycles of decomposition

The organic matter in sewage consists of urea from urine, proteins, carbohydrates, fats
and oils and soaps, are normally composed of a combination of carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen, together with nitrogen in some cases.
The organic matter which can be decomposed by a bacteria under biological action is
called organic matter.
Biological decomposition can be of the following two type:
I. Aerobic decomposition
II. Anaerobic decomposition
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Cycles of decomposition Continue

The complex organic compounds of biodegradable nature are broken up by

biochemical reaction into simple compounds which are consumed as food by plant and
animal life and organic matter is formed again. This cycle thus goes on.

1. Nitrogen cycle

2. Carbon cycle

3. Sulphur cycle

4. Calcium cycle

5. Phosphorus cycle
22 5. Analysis of sewage

The analysis of sewage is carried out with the flowing objects.

 To determine various substances present in the sewage

 To determine the physical ,chemical ,and biological characteristic of sewage

 To obtain such information and result which are necessary for the operation and

maintenance of the sewage treatment works

23 Estimation of organic content of the
wastewater
 The organic matter present in the water body can be analyzed in laboratory by
determining Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand
(COD), and by determination of Total Organic Carbon (TOC).

 Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): The BOD can be defined as the oxygen
required for biochemical oxidation of organic matter present in the water under
aerobic conditions.
 Estimation of organic content of the wastewater
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continue

The BOD test is performed for the following:

• To determine quantity of oxygen required for biochemical stabilization of organic
matter.
• To determine suitability of biological treatment method, depending on COD/BOD
ratio, and sizing the treatment units.
• To monitor efficiency of the process.
• To determine compliance with wastewater discharge permits.
• Organic Matter + O2 Co2 + H2O + New cells + Stable product
 Types of analysis of sewage
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physical analysis:
Determination of Total solid: Total solid =

Determination of total volatile solids: Total volatile solid =

Determination of fixed solids: Fixed solids = total solids volatile solids

Determination of suspended solids:

Total suspended solids = total solids total dissolved solids
 Types of analysis of sewage cont….
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Chemical analysis

For chemical analysis the following tests must be includes:

1. Test for determining oxygen consumed, dissolved oxygen, oxygen demand,
and relative stability.
2. Test for determining chloride content.
3. Test for determining nitrogen content.
4. Test for determining hydrogen ion concentration or PH value.
5. Test for determining fats, oils, and grease content.
6. Tests for determining pesticides and agricultural chemicals.
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Example 8.1

The domestic sewage of a town was tested for total solids and following results were obtained?

Weight of sample of sewage = 1000 mg

Weight of solids after evaporation of liquid = 0.905mg

Weight of dry residue after ignition = 0.462

Determine in ( mg/l)

1. total solids

2. fixed solid

3. volatile solids
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Solution:

1. Total solids ==905 mg/l

2. Fixed solids ==462 mg/l

3. Volatile solids=(905 mg/l

29 Example 8.2

The test of sewage of a town for total solids indicated the following particulars:

Weight of dry crucible = 40 gr

Volume of sample taken =100 ml

Weight of crucible with residue obtained after evaporation = 40.068

Weight of crucible with dry residue obtained after ignition = 40.033

Determine: 1)total solids. 2)volatile solids. 3)fixed solids.

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Solution:

• Volume of sample =100 ml

• Weight of dry crucible w1= 40gr = 40 000mg

• Weight of crucible with residue obtained after evaporation

w2 =40.068 gr =40 068 mg

• Weight of crucible with dry residue obtained after ignition

w3 =40.033 gr =40 033 mg

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Solution continue

• Total solids = = = 680 mg/l

• Volatile solids = = = 350 mg/l

• Fixed solids = total solids

Fixed solids =680=330 mg/l

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