SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT

CLASSIFICATION OF THE PROCESSES

A number of treatment processes are available depending upon method of
disposal, degree of treatment, waste water influent quality (domestic or industrial),
availability of the land etc and requirement of recycling treated waste water. Waste
Water Treatment Methodology commonly adopted for treatment of domestic waste
may be any of the following:

1 Biological Processes
In these processes a mixture of wastewater and microorganisms (biomass) is
agitated and aerated. Certain microbes, mainly bacteria of specific kind, have the
capability to oxidize the dissolved organic matter in the waste water. Microbial growth
is accelerated and controlled in the process. Thus, reduction or removal of organic
matter in waste is brought about by microorganisms by oxidation. After oxidation, the
sludge is separated from wastewater. These, microbial induced processes are further
classified as Aerobic and Anaerobic.
a) Aerobic Processes- In presence of oxygen
b) Anaerobic Processes- In absence of oxygen
.1.1 Aerobic Processes- The following conventional methodologies are
examples of Aerobic Processesa)
Activated sludge process (ASP)
b) Trickling filters
c) Facultative aerated lagoons
d) Extended aeration process
e) Wet Lands
f) Oxidation ponds
g) Oxidation ditches
In modern nomenclature the aerobic processes are divided into Aerobic
Suspended and Attached Growth Processes and the Soil Biotechnology.
.1.1.1 Aerobic Suspended Growth Processes (SGP) The conventional
activated sludge process (ASP) is the best known suspended growth aerobic system
and is the process most commonly used in large, centralized WWTPs though it can
also be used in small plants. Some of the process varients of ASP area)
Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR)
b) Extended Aeration
c) Membrane Bioreactors (MBR)
.1.1.2 Aerobic Attached Growth Processes (AGP) Under the AGP, two
proven and fairly known treatment processes are available as following:
a) Moving Bed Biological Reactor (MBBR) The Moving Bed Biological
Reactor may be known by different names as under, however the process remaining
same with free floating media of different shapes, sizes and materials (generally
plastic).
(i) Fluidised Bed Reactor (FBR)
(ii) Moving Bed Bio Reactor (MBBR)
(iii) Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR)
b) Fixed Bed Biological Reactor (FBBR) Similarly, the Fixed Bed
Biological Reactor may also be known by different names as under, but the technology
remains same as that of MBBR except that the media is fixed horizontally/ radially or
sloping (normally at 60º) in packed beds of different depths and of different sizes and
materials (generally plastics).
(i) Submerged Aerobic Fixed Film (SAFF)
(ii) Fixed Bed Reactor (FBR)
(iii) Fixed Media Reactor (FMR)
(iv) Fixed Media Biological Reactor(FMBR)
(v) Fixed Bed Biological Reactor(FBBR)
(vi) Bio Tower
(vii) Rotating Biological Contractors (RBC) (Also called Biodisks).
.1.1.3 Soil Biotechnology or Constructed Wetlands.
1.2 Anaerobic Units These can be generally grouped into the following:-
a) Anaerobic ponds/ stabilization ponds
b) Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor followed by lagoons
etc (Suitable for large capacity plants say 20 mld or above).
2 Chemical unit processes
a) Chemical neutralization: to control or adjust pH.
b) Chemical coagulation: to remove colloidal particles by chemical
destabilization and flocculation.
c) Chemical precipitation: to enhance the removal of suspended solids,
Phosphorous, heavy metals, and BOD in the specific system conditions.
d) Chemical oxidation: to remove grease, ammonia, BOD, COD, and odour
control.
e) Chemical disinfection: to kill pathogens in influent and treatment
effluents.
3 Design of Process Flow Sheets

.3.1 The process design involves selection of an appropriate combination of various

unit operations and unit processes to achieve a desired degree of contaminant
removal. The selection of unit operations and processes primarily depends on the
characteristics of raw wastewater and the required levels of contaminants permitted in
the processed effluents.
.3.2 The main contaminants in domestic wastewater to be removed are
biodegradable organicsThe contaminants are usually measured in terms of BOD 5,
suspended solids and pathogens. It is generally the objective of domestic wastewater
treatment plant to produce treated effluents having BOD 5, of 30 mg/l or less and
suspended solids of 50 mg/1 or less for disposal into inland water bodies.
3.3 The conventional process flow sheet of wastewater treatment plant comprises
the unit operations of screening, grit removal and primary sedimentation followed by
unit process of aerobic biological treatment. The sludges removed by primary and
secondary sedimentation are digested anaerobically followed by drying on sludge
drying beds.
3.4 For new central sewage schemes, the sewage load should be worked out and
STP based on any of technologies referred above or a combination of two or more
technologies can be adopted. These modern systems are based on technologies
which requires lower hydraulic retention time; obviate recycling of sludge and
provisioning of sludge digester for a viable population load.
3.5 For the quantity of treated waste water that can not be reused, or where re-use
of treated water is NOT required, treatment should only be planned up to the
secondary level. Disinfection, wherever required, can be considered depending upon
location of discharge of treated water.
3.6 Higher detention time should be catered for in the design of STP where ambient
temperature is lower than 20°C or alternate design criteria may be adopted.
8.3.7 With the better understanding of microbiology and biochemistry of anaerobic
treatment, It is now feasible to treat domestic wastewater also directly through
anaerobic treatment such as Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) Reactor,
Fluidised-Bed Submerged Media Anaerobic Reactor (FB·SMAR) and Anaerobic Filter
(AF) or Static-Bed SMAR(SB·SMAR) and Anaerobic Rotating Biological Contactor
(ARBC). It is generally reported that BOD removal efficiencies may range from 60-
80%. Consequently post treatment will generally be required to achieve .the prescribed
effluent standards.
4 Selection of Treatment System
Selection of treatment system is not an easy decision to make. It is a tough job
that requires substantial field experience as well as sound technical knowledge of the
various unit operations. It shall depend on availability and topography of land at the
treatment site, availability of mechanical equipment and skilled personnel and various
factors as stated below.
a) Less to No Need for Skilled Supervision
b) Auto Vigilance of MLSS, DO and F/M Ratios
c) Low Power Requirement
d) Low Footprint (Plan) Area
e) High Oxygen Transfer Efficiencies
f) Least Need For Sludge Recycling
g) Less to No Need for Drives or Moving Parts Within Units
h) Less Sludge Production
i) Stainless Steel Construction to Ensure Longevity and Corrosion Safety
j) No Odour Problem
k) Least No. Of Operational Units And Hence Least Staff And O & M
Headaches
l) No Need for Tertiary Units
m) Least Operation Cost
n) Flexibility And Adaptability to High Loads
o) Nitrification (N) And Denitrification (DN) for ensuring Stable, Disposable
Sludge with No Odor and Storable Longitivity.
p) Nutrient and Phosphorus Removal to Safe Guard against Algal Growth
Downstream After Disposal in Receiving Water Bodies etc.
5 Some useful tips
a) Reduction of inorganic materials in wastewater is much easier and
cheaper than removal of organic contents.
b) Removal of suspended solids requires lesser time and efforts than that of
colloidal and dissolved solids.
6 Comparison and Assessment of Various Treatment Processes
 COMPARISION OF VARIOUS TREATMENT PROCESS

Upflow Activated
Moving Bed Sequencing Anaerobic Sludge Rotating
Bioreactor Batch Sludge Process Biological
Parameter
(MBBR - Reactor Blanket (ASP) - Contactors
FAB) (SBR) Reactor Extended (RBCs)
(UASB) aeration
This is strictly
anaerobic
process. BOD This is an
BOD reduction reduction attached
takes place takes place by BOD reduction growth process,
aerobically. converting takes much
Type of BOD reduction organic matter similar to
Suspended place
Process takes place to methane trickling filters.
growth aerobically.
aerobically. Fixed / carbon di- The biomass is
process. Suspended
film process oxide and attached
Improvised growth
Activated other gases, process. to rotating
Sludge Process through media.
bacterial
systhesis.

Organic matter is The organic Pre-treated The organic The media is in

brought in matter is sewage is matter is a form
contact brought in passed through brought in of circular /
with bacteria contact with a blanket contact with octagonal
attached to bacteria in (bed) of sludge bacteria in discs, mounted
plastic suspension. in an suspension. on a
media, which is in Oxygen upwards Oxygen central shaft.
suspension. supplementatio direction. Upon supplementation The discs
Excess n is normally contact with the is are submerged
sludge is done organic normally done in a
sloughed by surface matter, the by 'VAT' (upto
off automatically, aerators or bacteria surface aerators about 45%).
and separated in diffused air anaerobically or The discs
the clarifier. No aeration. The convert the diffused air slowly rotate,
sludge recycle is biomass is organics to aeration. thereby
required. separated in methane and The biomass is submerging in
same tank. The other gases. separated in the sewage for
operation of the The gas subsequent half the
process is in bubbles get clarifier. time and then in
two released from Settled biomass the air
main phases & the sludge bed is for remaining
two and rise recycled to time. The
intermediate upwards. Gas - aeration "air time"
phases. The Solid and tank to maintain induces
sewage is fed to Liquid Mixed oxygen,
the separation is Liquor allowing
1st compartment achieved in a suspended bacterial
& mixed with separator Solids of the biomass to
activated placed at the desired synthesize the
sludge. After top of the level (usually organic
partial reactor. between matter, when
absorption of Additional 2,500 to 4,000 the discs
 organic matter settling mg/l). are submerged.
the devices may be Sloughing takes
sewage is taken provided similar
into 2nd outside the to that in
compartment & reactor. trickling filter
continuously system.
aerated for
further
absorption of
organic matter.
Finally the
sewage
is taken into 3rd
compartment for
sedimentation.
The operation is
cyclic in nature.
Excess sludge
has to be
wasted form the
last
compartment. In
the next cycle
the operation is
same except
the
direction is
reversed.
Process No sludge Need to Upflow velocity Need to The disc speed
variable volume maintain certain plays a maintain must be
index / recycle level of very crucial role certain level of precisely
need be checked. MLSS, sludge in MLSS, controlled,
System is self volume index performance.. sludge volume else process
sustaining. like Also index efficiency
Excess biomass activated sludge variation in inlet like SBR drops
automatically process. MLSS BOD / system. MLSS drastically
gets levels upto 5000 COD affects levels upto 5000
wasted off. MLSS mg/l are performance. mg/l
levels upto possible. Sludge bed are possible.
12,000 Higher levels height and Higher
mg/l are easily hinder settling sludge levels hinder
achieved. and concentration settling
results in poor are and results in
performance. very important poor
variables. performance.

Sensitivity of Sensitivity is low, Moderately UASB is also Moderately Highly sensitive

process owing to very sensitive. very sensitive to to load
high sensitive to low flow variations,
bacterial temperatures, fluctuations, hydraulic
population. No and organic loading loading and
sensitivity to performance rates power
temperature. drastically etc. failures.
reduces with
lower
temperatures.
Flow
fluctuations can
disturb
 the sludge
blanket,
thereby
affecting
performance.

Area Very small area Area required is Area required is Very large area Very large area
requirements required as higher than larger required for is
compared to MBBR but less than ASP and aeration required since
SBR, then ASP. other tank as well as the
ASP, UASB, processes. for loading rates on
RBC secondary the disc
clarifiers. are limited by
the
surface area
available.

Power Power Power required Power Large power is Low power than
requirement requirement is more than requirement is required ASP,
is lower than MBBR or equal lower than most for aeration, higher than
MBR. to activated of the return UASB.
sludge processes. sludge pumping
process However etc.
UASB alone
cannot
produce desired
outlet
quality.
Additional
ASP /
ponds must be
provided,
thereby
increasing the
power
requirement.

Moving parts No moving part in Moving parts in No moving Depending on Main moving
biological biological parts within the part is the
process process. UASB. aeration system, central shaft
Decanter However there and drive,
mechanism is downstream can be moving which come
mechanically ASP has parts under
activated and typical such as surface continuous
hence maintenance aerators, brush stress
needs Requirements. rotors
continuous etc, which need
maintenance. Maintenance.
Without
decanter, SBR
does not
function at all.
Very high level
of
instrumentation
is required.
Operation & No scum The entire plant Gas hoods Relatively Prone to lot of
Maintenance formation operation is need to be simpler maintenance of
 in the process & cyclic cleaned every maintenance of shaft /
less moving parts in nature & 06 months mechanical drive parts. In
in controlled by or so, to equipment few
the system. PLC remove scum such as cases, media
Hence only. The that aerators, discs
very low process accumulates at blowers, pumps have been seen
maintenance. requires very the etc. to be
Therefore the high level of top surface. Because of buckled under
manpower cost is instrumentation This is a shock biomass
low. All the & major loadings, weight, needing
components of sequencing operation, filamentous complete
the operation. The needing growth takes replacement.
system are entire to take the place and
indigenous & are instrumentation UASB out of makes the
readily available. & control service. sludge
Media for FAB equipment are Maintenance of particles to float
never needs usually other related in
replacement of imported. equipments secondary
cleaning. Media The entire plant in the clarifier.
life performance downstream Once formed, it
of more than 25 depends on ASP is is
years can be functioning of all also required. difficult to
guaranteed. the remove such
instruments & growth, making
sequence of operation more
operation. operator
Needs spares of dependent.
all the
imported
instruments in
stock for
repairing /
replacing so
that the
plant is in
operation within
a short
period.
Availability of
spares needs
to be checked.
The decanter
mechanism is
motorized and
hence high
degree of
maintenance
is required.
Spares must be
imported, Indian
spares are not
suitable.

Excess The excess Excess sludge Excess sludge Excess sludge Not much
sludge sludge must be must be must be control
control wasting is from removed removed with removed with required, since
secondary with manual manual manual sludge is
clarifier, intervention. intervention. intervention. not recycled
which is like any Any Any higher Any higher back to
 other ASP higher withdrawal will withdrawal will aeration
system withdrawal will result in result in system.
and hence result in UASB operating ASP operating Sloughing is
simple. SBR operating at lower at lower automatic
No sludge at lower efficiency. efficiency. hence manual
recycle efficiency. intervention is
hence extent of Hence control of not
wastage does not process required.
affect becomes
performance. very sensitive
and instrument
dependent.

Power shut Prolonged power At power shut The At power shut Power failure
downs shutdowns does down, all the downstream down, all causes
not affect sludge ASP the sludge serious process
performance settles down process is settles down problems since
since and becomes severely and becomes top half
after power cut- septic affected during septic of the disc
off, within short power within short remains in
media floats at span of time. shut-downs. span of air, and
the Hence UASB itself time. Hence becomes dry.
top, keeping the quick restart is has little effect. quick The submerged
micro-organisms, not possible. restart is not portion
alive possible. remains in
sewage and
becomes
septic, hence
quick restart is
not
possible.

Sludge Sludge is fully Sludge is active Sludge is active Sludge is mostly Sludge is
properties digested hence hence and must digested and mostly
can anaerobic be further does not digested and
be dewatered (or aerobic) digested need further does not
directly without digester is a aerobically. treatment, need further
any must, for Because of similar to MBBR treatment,
further treatment complete presence of system. similar to MBBR
destruction of SRB, sludge Dewatering is system.
biomass. can smell very relatively easier. Dewatering is
This increases bad (rotten relatively
plant cost and egg smell). easier.
operator
attention.

Amount of Sludge age is Sludge age is Excess sludge Excess sludge Excess sludge
excess very low hence production production is production is
sludge high, and hence sludge of UASB itself is low, since low, since
sludge production production is low, Mean Cell Mean Cell
is about 0.1 – about 0.3 – 0.6 lower than most Residence Residence
0.15 kg / of the Time is high. Time is high.
kg / kg of BOD kg BOD processes.
destroyed, hence destroyed. However
very small Which means downstream
amount that the amount ASP sludge
of excess sludge of excess production is
is sludge high.
 generated. generated is
about 200 to
400%
higher than
MBBR. This
calls for
large sludge
handling
system.

Expandability High. Higher Very low. Higher Very low. Low. Usually Low. Multiple
loads loads can not Overloading is extended modules
can be accepted be not possible. aeration need to be
with extra media accepted. Parallel units systems are installed.
filling. Modular However, must be added not suitable for Expansion
construction is Modular to expand expansion. within
possible. construction is capacity. Separate existing system
possible. parallel tanks is not
and possible.
clarifiers must
be built,
which can be
very
expensive.

Usage of No further Treated effluent Treated effluent Treated effluent Treated effluent
treated treatment "as-such" can "as-such" "assuch" "assuch"
effluent required be can not be used can not be used can not be used
for gardening & used for low for even for even low end for even low
horticulture. end purposes low end purposes such end
such as purposes such as purposes such
construction, as construction, as
floor washing construction, floor construction,
etc. floor washing etc. floor
For gardening washing etc. Tertiary washing etc.
or higher end Secondary treatment must Tertiary
uses, treatment in be treatment must
chlorination and form of ASP., provided even be
filtration are a followed by for low provided even
must. tertiary end uses. for low
treatment must end uses.
be
provided even
for low end
uses.

Treated About 2 - 3 ppm About 10 - 15 About 10 - 15 About 15 - 20 About 15 - 20

sewage chlorine required ppm chlorine ppm ppm ppm
disinfection to required to chlorine chlorine chlorine
: reduce "E-Coli" to reduce "E-Coli" required to required to required to
Chlorine less than 1000 to less reduce "E-Coli" reduce "E-Coli" reduce "E-Coli"
demand MPN / 100 ml. than 1000 to less to less to less
MPN / 100 ml. than 1000 MPN than 1000 than 1000 MPN
/ 100 ml, MPN / 100 / 100
provided there ml. ml.
is an ASP
process
succeeding
 UASB system.

"SIZE-WISE" Suitable for any Suitable for any Suitable for any Suitable for any Suitable only for
suitability of size, no size, no size, no size, small
the process limitation. limitation. limitation. no limitation. sizes. Larger
Larger sizes Larger sizes Larger sizes
demand much demand much sizes demand demand much
higher higher much higher
space. space. higher space. space, and also
much
higher
maintenance.

Comparison of SAFF, FAB & SBR

Sr Parameter for Submerged Fluidised Sequencing

No Comparison Aerobic Aerobic Batch
Fixed Film Bed (FAB) Reactor (SBR)
(SAFF)

1 Space (Sqm/ Avg. DWF 600 - 800 500 - 700 500 - 600
MLD) (say)
2 Capital Cost (Rs./ MLD) 65 50 70
3 Material of Construction open units o open units pen stainless steel
units container

4 Cost of O & M/Annum 10-11 7.5 - 8.5 7.65 - 8.65

(Rs.Lakh/ MLD)
a) Chemical 1.50 2.5 0.45
b) Manpower 1.50 1.50 0.70
c) Power 7-/8 3.50-4.50 6.50-7.50
5 Quality of Sludge short life and short life and sludge can be
needs to needs to stored for several
be disposed off be disposed off months in
early early underground
storage
tank

6 Power (units / day) 11000 12000 8000

7 Additions

Secondary Settling Tube Settler Clari Settler nil

PAC (chemical) nil yes nil

8 Fitness of Effluent for 1 to 2 dilution 1 to 2 dilution totally fit without

Irrigation water for water only dilution
tolerant and semi for semi tolerant
 tolerant crops type of
crops

9 Acceptibility by Industries nil nil yes

for Reuse