
How Does a Wastewater Treatment Plant Work?
- Pre-treatment Phase. The pre-treatment phase that occurs at a wastewater treatment plant is designed to get rid of...
- Primary Treatment Phase. Once the pre-treatment phase concludes, the primary treatment phase can begin. The...
- Secondary Treatment Phase. This is a very important phase of the wastewater treatment...
What are the disadvantages of a waste water treatment plant?
The basic function of wastewater treatment is to speed up the natural processes by which water is purified. There are two basic stages in the treat-ment of wastes, primary and secondary, which are outlined here. In the primary stage, solids are allowed to settle and removed from wastewater. The secondary stage uses biological processes to
What work do they do at a sewage treatment plant?
Sep 04, 2020 · The large stabilization ponds or lagoons are mainly used in warmer areas to treat wastewater through bacteria, algae, and sunlight interaction. Algae relies on energy from the sun, inorganic compounds, and carbon (IV) oxide released into the water by bacteria to grow. Through photosynthesis, algae release the oxygen required by aerobic bacteria.
What is the purpose of a waste water treatment plant?
Wastewater treatment plants "remove solids and pollutants, break down organic matter and restore the oxygen content of treated water" so the clean water can safely be sent back to the environment by sending the untreated wastewater through "four sets of operations: preliminary, primary, secondary and sludge treatments.3"
How to save money at your wastewater treatment plant?
Oct 08, 2018 · The wastewater enters an aeration tank, where it is mixed with sludge. Air is then pumped into the aeration tank to facilitate the growth of bacteria and other small organisms within the sludge. The bacteria and other microorganisms break down the organic matter in the water into harmless byproducts.
What are the 3 stages of wastewater treatment?
There are three main stages of the wastewater treatment process, aptly known as primary, secondary and tertiary water treatment.Dec 6, 2018
What are the 5 steps of wastewater treatment?
Treatment StepsStep 1: Screening and Pumping. ... Step 2: Grit Removal. ... Step 3: Primary Settling. ... Step 4: Aeration / Activated Sludge. ... Step 5: Secondary Settling. ... Step 8: Oxygen Uptake. ... Sludge Treatment.
How a treatment plant works?
A waste water treatment plant cleans sewage and water so that they can be returned to the environment. These plants remove solids and pollutants, break down organic matter and restore the oxygen content of treated water.Apr 24, 2017
How does water treatment system work?
Chemicals with a positive charge are added to the water. The positive charge of these chemicals neutralizes the negative charge of dirt and other dissolved particles in the water. When this occurs, the particles bind with the chemicals and form larger particles, called floc.
What happens to the solids in wastewater treatment plant?
At the POTW, the sewage passes through a series of treatment steps that use physical, biological, and chemical processes to remove nutrients and solids, break down organic materials, and destroy pathogens (disease-causing organisms) in the water.Sep 15, 2010
What are the steps of a water treatment plant?
They typically consist of several steps in the treatment process. These include: (1) Collection ; (2) Screening and Straining ; (3) Chemical Addition ; (4) Coagulation and Flocculation ; (5) Sedimentation and Clarification ; (6) Filtration ; (7) Disinfection ; (8) Storage ; (9) and finally Distribution.
What are the 4 steps of water treatment?
4 Steps of Community Water TreatmentCoagulation and Flocculation. ... Sedimentation. ... Filtration. ... Disinfection. ... Learn More. ... Recommended Readings.
How do you make a wastewater treatment plant?
Design Parameters: The overall design of the wastewater treatment plant consists of 4 stages: i) Primary treatment which consists of screening, grit removal and sedimentation ii) Secondary treatment consists of a bioreactor iii) Tertiary treatment consists of nitrogen removal, adsorption and pH control.Oct 31, 2018
1. Pre-treatment Phase
The pre-treatment phase that occurs at a wastewater treatment plant is designed to get rid of the larger and easier to remove items from the water. These items can include everything from tree branches and cans to plastic bottles and rags.
2. Primary Treatment Phase
Once the pre-treatment phase concludes, the primary treatment phase can begin. The wastewater will be collected in sedimentation tanks and large basins at this point, which is done to allow contaminants to sink to the bottom of the water.
3. Secondary Treatment Phase
This is a very important phase of the wastewater treatment process that involves the agitation and aeration of the water within secondary basins. It’s at this point in the process that microorganisms are added to the water in order to break down any organic matter into sludge that can be more readily discarded.
4. Sludge Treatment Phase
The final phase of the wastewater treatment process is referred to as the sludge treatment phase. During the secondary treatment phase, the solids and organic matter that remain in the water are converted into sludge that can be treated and recycled.
What are the stages of wastewater treatment?
Wastewater treatment plants oversee three main stages: primary, secondary, and tertiary. However, some pollutants require advanced treatment, such as the quaternary, which involves fine filtration or oxidation processes to lower emergent pollutants dissemination.
How do ponds treat wastewater?
Algae relies on energy from the sun, inorganic compounds, and carbon (IV) oxid e released into the water by bacteria to grow. Through photosynthesis, algae release the oxygen required by aerobic bacteria. Sometimes, experts introduce mechanical aerators to provide more oxygen.
What is biofiltration in aquaculture?
Biofiltration is a standard method in greywater recycling, wastewater treatment, and aquaculture, as it helps raise the water quality while lowering water replacement. Biological filters eliminate contaminants through biodegrading natural components, filtering suspended solids, and absorbing micro-pollutants. Biofiltration processes are typically aerobic, so the microorganisms need oxygen for metabolism.
What is the purpose of tertiary treatment?
Its primary purpose is to increase the water quality to meet industrial and domestic standards or the specific safe discharge requirements while also removing nitrates and phosphates. For municipal wastewater treatment, this stage also involves eliminating pathogens, making the water safe to drink. The tertiary treatment process is usually performed using substances such as sand and activated carbon.
How long does aeration last?
Aeration is a timely process that can last for 30 hours and is equally instrumental, as it involves combining wastewater with a microorgan ism solution. Aeration gives the bacteria oxygen to stabilize and treats the wastewater by biodegrading the organic substance containing carbon to create carbon (IV) oxide and water. Without sufficient oxygen, breakdown has to occur under slow and odorous septic conditions, resulting in an incomplete transformation of pollutants.=
What is wastewater treatment?
admin-seo. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), wastewater treatment is one of the most common forms of pollution control in the U.S. Lakeside Equipment Corporation is proud to supply equipment and systems that are used across the country at wastewater treatment plants, which are facilities that clean wastewater ...
How does wastewater enter the primary stage of treatment?
Sewage enters the primary stage of treatment as soon as it arrives at a wastewater treatment facility. First, it is sent through a screen that is designed to remove large pieces of debris that could damage Lakeside equipment used elsewhere in the facility. Some facilities have multiple screens in place to remove objects and materials ...
How does wastewater get into an aeration tank?
The wastewater enters an aeration tank, where it is mixed with sludge. Air is then pumped into the aeration tank to facilitate the growth of bacteria and other small organisms within the sludge. The bacteria and other microorganisms break down the organic matter in the water into harmless byproducts.
What happens when wastewater is pumped into a sedimentation tank?
The wastewater slowly flows through a sedimentation tank, and as it flows, the solids that remain in the water start to drift towards the bottom of the tank. This is the final step in the primary stage of the wastewater treatment process. At this point, the majority of the solids have been removed from the water.
What is the secondary stage of wastewater treatment?
The secondary stage of the treatment process is designed to remove up to 85% of organic matter that remains in the wastewater. There are a number of different ways to achieve this goal, but many facilities use either the trickling filter or activated sludge process.
What is grit in sewage?
After passing through the screen, the sewage water moves into the grit chamber. Grit can include sand, gravel, eggshells, or any other type of solid material that makes it through the screening process.
Can bacteria keep up with sewage?
But, the bacteria and other organisms could not keep up with the increase in population and production of sewage. Wastewater is now sent to wastewater treatment plants—many of which use the same purification process found in nature to clean water. Most wastewater treatment plants prepare wastewater for reuse in two separate stages: ...
What is the process of removing nutrient from wastewater?
In the actual clarifier, bacteria and fungi have the task of metabolising organic components in the wastewater into its individual parts. This process is called Biological nutrient removal. Oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor areas provide optimal conditions for breaking down all carbon and phosphate compounds and urea from the urine.
How is wastewater drained?
Waste water is drained through pipe systems and thus enters the public sewerage system . Here we differentiate between two types of drainage. In the combined sewer system, domestic and commercial wastewater is fed into a sewer together with rainwater that accumulates on sealed surfaces (e.g. streets and roofs).
How does a separate sewer system work?
The separate sewer system divides the media. Dirty water is fed into one sewer, surface water into another. Because of the low dirt load, the collected surface water is usually discharged into neighbouring waters (lakes or rivers). The wastewater and the combined sewer both end up at the treatment plant. Of course, in the case of combined sewer ...
What is the process of cleaning a toilet called?
Rakes filter everything that is not permeable as solid matter in the wastewater. This can be toilet paper, wet wipes, but also a toothbrush or other things that do not belong in a toilet. This process is called pretreatment.
Where does wastewater end up in a combined sewer system?
The wastewater and the combined sewer both end up at the treatment plant. Of course, in the case of combined sewer systems, the sewage treatment plant has more work to do, as all the surface water has to be cleaned as well.
What happens to clarified water?
In the end, the clarified water is returned to the natural water cycle, usually lakes or streams. Very modern sewage treatment plants have additional treatment stages for further phosphorus elimination or the killing of pathogens.
What is the function of a primary clarifier?
The primary clarifier then has the function of filtering further components from the waste water. Suspended solids, which are lighter than water, such as plastic parts but also oils and fats, float up and are removed at the surface. Due to the very low speed in the basin, further heavier particles sink to the bottom.
What is a trickling filter?
A trickling filter is made up of 3 to 6 feet deep bed of stones, synthetic media or meshing pieces of wavy plastic. Bacteria gather and multiply on the trickling filter beds. As the effluent is passed through the trickling filter beds, these bacteria consume most of the organic matter in the sewer.
What is the primary stage of wastewater treatment?
The primary stage mainly involves removal of large floating objects in the waste water. As sewer or water from other sources such as rivers enters into a treatment plant, it passes through a screen.
Why is water important to humans?
Water is a basic resource for daily operations for human beings. It is also a home to millions of aquatic creatures. Water pollution can lead to diseases and death to animals, human beings and aquatic life.

Pre-Treatment Phase
- http://www.instagram.com/p/CBuVtZ1DbHv/ The pre-treatment phase that occurs at a wastewater treatment plant is designed to get rid of the larger and easier to remove items from the water. These items can include everything from tree branches and cans to plastic bottles and rags. Some of the operations that can occur during this phase include collec...
Primary Treatment Phase
- http://www.instagram.com/p/B-WWIQHlkY8/ Once the pre-treatment phase concludes, the primary treatment phase can begin. The wastewater will be collected in sedimentation tanks and large basins at this point, which is done to allow contaminants to sink to the bottom of the water. Once the smaller particles in the water have settled, scrapers are used to collect the solids and send t…
Secondary Treatment Phase
- http://www.instagram.com/p/B_ZLcJVhNJD/ This is a very important phase of the wastewater treatment process that involves the agitation and aeration of the water within secondary basins. It’s at this point in the process that microorganisms are added to the water in order to break down any organic matterinto sludge that can be more readily discarded. Certain plants will grow a sub…
Sludge Treatment Phase
- http://www.instagram.com/p/B5CI6DapAH8/ The final phase of the wastewater treatment process is referred to as the sludge treatment phase. During the secondary treatment phase, the solids and organic matter that remain in the water are converted into sludge that can be treated and recycled. The sludge treatment phase involves the treatment of the remaining water as well as a…