Milestone A Final Review

Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences
Swinburne University of Technology

HES4146 Water and Environmental Engineering
Project Milestone A
Group 8
Dayang Zulena (4210581)
Muaid Abduklkareem Alnazir Ahmed (4207114)
Peerun Mohammud Irfaan (4225929)
Sharifah Nur Azureen (4224698)
Tang Sieu Wei (4239547)
Uhudhu Ahmed (4225953)
HES4146 Water and Environmental Engineering, Semester 2, 2010

GROUP DECLARATION
Declaration
We declare that this report contains no material which has been submitted for assessment in
any other subject at Swinburne University of Technology. To the best of our knowledge and
belief, this report contains no material that has been previously published by any other person,
except where due acknowledgement has been made.
Student
Family Name
Other Names
Contribution
4225929
Peerun
Irfaan
16.67%
4207114
Ahmed
Muaid
16.67%
4224698
Nur Azureen
Sharifa
16.67%
4239547
Sieu Wei
Tang
16.67%
4225953
Ahmed
Uhudhu
16.67%
4210581
Dayang
Zulina
16.67%
Signature
ID
Project Milestone A
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1
2. AERATED LAGOONS....................................................................................................... 2
2.1. Advantages ..................................................................................................................... 3
2.2. Disadvantages ................................................................................................................. 4
3. ANAEROBIC FILTER ....................................................................................................... 5
3.1. Advantages ..................................................................................................................... 6
3.2. Disadvantages ................................................................................................................. 7
4. BIOLOGICAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT............................................................ 8
4.1. Preliminary Treatment .................................................................................................... 8
4.2. Primary Treatment .......................................................................................................... 8
4.3. Secondary Treatment ...................................................................................................... 8
4.4. Tertiary Treatment .......................................................................................................... 8
4.5. Sludge Treatment............................................................................................................ 9
4.6. Advantages ................................................................................................................... 10
4.7. Disadvantages ............................................................................................................... 10
4.8. Environmental Impacts ................................................................................................. 10
4.9. Prevention ..................................................................................................................... 11
5. CONSTRUCTED WETLAND ......................................................................................... 12
5.1. Design ........................................................................................................................... 12
5.2. Construction ................................................................................................................. 13
5.3. Advantages ................................................................................................................... 14
5.4. Disadvantages and Limitations..................................................................................... 14
6. GRAVEL CONTACT AERATED SYSTEM ................................................................. 15
6.1. Design ........................................................................................................................... 15
6.2. Advantages ................................................................................................................... 16
6.3. Disadvantages ............................................................................................................... 17
7. OXIDATION DITCH ....................................................................................................... 18
7.1. OD System Components .............................................................................................. 18
7.2. How does the OD work? .............................................................................................. 19
7.3. Construction ................................................................................................................. 19
7.4. Cost ............................................................................................................................... 20
Project Milestone A
ii

Construction ..................................................................................................................... 20
Operation and Maintenance ............................................................................................. 20
7.5. Advantages ................................................................................................................... 20
7.6. Disadvantage ................................................................................................................ 21
7.7. Environmental Impacts ................................................................................................. 21
Solutions ........................................................................................................................... 21
7.8. OD in Malaysia............................................................................................................. 21
8. SELECTION OF ALTERNATIVE ................................................................................. 22
9. CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................. 24
9.1. Selection and Justification ............................................................................................ 24
10.
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................ 25
Project Milestone A
iii
HES4146 Water and Environnemental Engineering, Semester 2, 2011
1. INTRODUCTION
Sibu is a town located near the Rajang River. It has a population of about 200 000 people. The
town is found on the bank of the river and the terrain is known to be very flat. Several septic
tanks are used to treat the black water since Sibu does not have a centralized sewage treatment
facility. The grey water is being sent directly to the streams. Due to high raise in population
and the flat terrain, a serious case of pollution has risen for the drains especially in dry
seasons (Sewerage Services Department Sarawak 2011).
Figure 1.1. Map of Sibu Town (Sewerage Services Department Sarawak 2011)
The aim of this project is to find a suitable solution for the wastewater in Sibu town by
selecting a suitable wastewater management. Milestone A consists of several proposition
about wastewater treatment system such as: Anaerobic Filters, Constructed Wetland,
Biological Wastewater Treatment, Gravel Contact Aerated System, Aerated Lagoon and
Oxidation Ditch.
The most suitable system is being chosen using a matrix system where the specific
components are taken into consideration such as the construction phase, operation,
maintenance, design and environmental impacts.
Project Milestone A
2. AERATED LAGOONS
Aerated lagoons are suspended-growth process treatment units which provide artificial
aeration involves biological oxidation of wastewater for a predetermined period of time. They
can deliver a discharge limit of 30mg/L, both total suspended solids (TSS) and Carbonaceous
Biological Oxygen Demand 5 (cBOD5) (Lagoon Systems in Maine, 2003).
Figure 2.1. Aerated Lagoons in Malaysia (Indah Water Konsortium, 2011)
Oxygen is supplied through mechanical or diffused aeration rather than by algal

photosynthesis. Lagoons systems consists maximum of three lagoons in sequence; initial cell
which is a complex mix unit, partial mix and settling cell, with total detention time depends
on the water temperature (Environmental Protect Agency 2002).
Table 2-1. Typical figures for Aerated Lagoons (Indah Water Konsortium 2011)
(mg/L)
Raw Sewage
Effluent
DOE Standard B
Biological Oxygen Demand
200-400
20-80
50
Suspended Solids
200-350
40-100
100
The first lagoon is the most intense aeration, consists of surface aerators where they float on
the surface and stir the input continuously with paddle mixer. They operate to maintain
oxygen content in the sewage and prevent solids from settling. It requires high amount of
energy for an equal sized mixing the municipal waste. It is similar to the activated sludge
treatment process but excludes recycling of organic materials. Therefore, the process requires
a longer hydraulic detention time compared to activated sludge treatment (Environmental
Protect Agency 2002; Indah Water Konsortium 2011).
Project Milestone A
Next is the second lagoon where degraded organic matter and sediments are settled to form
sludge which takes an average of one day retention time. Lastly, the effluent passes to the
final lagoon which function is to discharge to a receiving waterway that has little or no
aeration to allow settling. As for today, there are approximately 40 aerated lagoons sewage
treatment plants in Malaysia (Environmental Protect Agency 2002; Indah Water Konsortium
2011).
Figure 2.2. Aerated Lagoons diagram (Indah Water Konsortium 2011)
2.1. Advantages
Lagoon systems are simple wastewater treatment plants. It can be cost-effective to

design and construct in areas where land is inexpensive. Therefore, it is rarely found in
densely urban areas (Lagoon Systems in Maine 2003).
Aerated lagoon systems use less energy compared to other wastewater treatment
systems (National Small Flows Clearinghouse 1997).
Furthermore, sludge disposal may be necessary but the quantity will be relatively
small compared to other secondary treatment processes (Environmental Protect
Agency 2002; Lagoon Systems in Maine 2003).
The operation and maintenance of lagoon systems are simple; mowing grass and weed
growth control around the lagoon. Long grass and weed growths will block wind
around the lagoon and cause breeding areas for insects, trap trash, grease and scums to
prevent odours. Besides that, they also cause damage to banks and dikes around the
lagoons and increase BOD levels. Furthermore, weed growth on the surface of the
water prevent sunlight and wind from penetrating the wastewater (Lagoon Systems in
Maine 2003).
Project Milestone A
Lagoon systems are suitable for irrigation due to its high-nutrient and low pathogen
content (Lagoon Systems in Maine 2003).
2.2. Disadvantages
Odour can become unpleasant during spring when algae blooms in cold climates as air
changes the environment and microbes which process the wastewater as it reduces the
rates of biological activity. As a result, chemical reactions between various types of
microbes changes or reduces the odours produced by the lagoons (Lagoon Systems in
Maine 2003).
The site should be distanced from the homes they serve, possibly incurring extra cost
on pumps (Lagoon Systems in Maine 2003).
Cold climate increase sludge accumulation rates due to low temperature which inhibits
anaerobic reactions (Lagoon Systems in Maine 2003).
Requires energy high input (Dawson Wastewater 2011; Environmental Protect

Agency 2002).
Lagoon systems require large hectares of stable, permafrost-free and level ground land
where lagoon structures can be built depends on the soil conditions where the water
table and composition of soil should be considered. Otherwise, the surface of the
lagoons should be lined materials such as rubber or concrete to prevent environmental
impact such as groundwater pollution. Therefore, this method may cause the increase
of construction costs (Lagoon Systems in Maine 2003).
Project Milestone A
3. ANAEROBIC FILTER
An anaerobic filter is a fixed-bed biological reactor. Organic matter can be dissolved by the
filter and non-settleable solids are filtered and anaerobically digested by bacteria of the
biofilm attached to the filter materials. When wastewater flows through the filter, particles are
trapped and organic matter is degraded by the biomass. Anaerobic filters are commonly used
as secondary treatment of waste water in household blackwater or greywater treatment
systems. It also can improve the solid removal compared to septic tanks or anaerobic baffled
reactors.
Filter material normally used includes gravel, crushed rocks, cinder or specially formed
plastic pieces. Typical filter material sizes range from 12 to 55mm in diameter. Filters with
two to three filter layers and a minimum depth of 0.8 to 1.2m are recommended. The material
will provide 90 to 300m2 of the surface area per 1m3 of reactor volume. There is increased
between the organic matter and the active biomass that effectively degrades it to providing the
large surface area for the bacterial mass.
The anaerobic filter can be functioned as up-flow or down-flow systems. The up-flow systems
are recommended because there is less risk that washed out active bacteria. On the other hand,
flushing of the filter for the purpose of cleaning is easier with the down-flow system. A
combination of the down-flow and up-flow chambers is also possible. The water level should
cover the filter media by at least 30cm to guarantee an even flow system. Filter material size
may decrease from bottom to top with the up-flow systems. As the wastewater flows through
the filter usually from the bottom to the top (up-flow), it comes into contact with the biomass
on the filter and is subjected to anaerobic filter.
Anaerobic filter are used for wastewater with a low percentages of suspended solids and
narrow COD/BOD ratio (Chemical Oxygen Demand/Biological Oxygen Demand). It is
suitable for all industrial wastewater and domestic wastewater which has a low content of
suspended solids. The anaerobic filter can be built above or below ground depending on land
availability and the hydraulic gradient of the sewer. However, most often they are below the
ground surface to save space, to reduce health risks and to provide insulation and protection
against cold climates.
Project Milestone A
Figure 3.1 Three chamber anaerobic filter units following a septic tank. Source: SASSE (1998)
Figure 3.2 Three setting chambers followed by five anaerobic filter units. Source: SANIMAS (2005)
3.1. Advantages
Resistant to organic and hydraulic shock loadings.
Low reduction of nutrients, thus outflow adapter for reuse in agriculture.
Low sludge yield.
No electrical energy required.
Can be built and repaired with locally available materials.
Long life services.
Moderate capital costs, moderate operating costs depending on emptying; can be

lowered depending on number of users.
High reduction of BOD and solids.
Low-energy process and making it more environmentally friendly.
Lower running costs as a result of the low energy inputs.
Project Milestone A
3.2. Disadvantages
Not good at removing non-organic pollution within wastewater, such as nutrients or

disease-causing micro-organisms (pathogens).
Requires constant source of water.
Effluent requires secondary treatment and appropriate discharge.
Low reduction of pathogens and nutrients
Requires expert design and construction.
Long to start up time.
Only suitable for low-density housing in areas with low water table and not prone to
flooding.
Project Milestone A
4. BIOLOGICAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Biological Wastewater Treatment is known as the process to treat wastewater using biological
products such as micro-organisms, to achieve the required water standard. It consist mainly 3
stages namely Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Treatment (SA Water 2004).
4.1. Preliminary Treatment

This stage consists of removing large solids like rags, plastics, sticks by the use of a screen.
This is to prevent any problems caused to the machinery or processes of the treatment system.
4.2. Primary Treatment

The primary treatment consists of the removal of suspended solids and organic matter by the
use of a primary settling tank. The wastewater consisting of the solid particles is flowed
through the settling tank at a specific rate where the solid waste are being collected at the
centre of the tank and pumped for advance treatment.
4.3. Secondary Treatment

Micro-organisms are being used to break down the organic solids also known as the activated
sludge process. The settled wastewater flows to an aeration tank oxidation occurs by the
means of blowing air into the wastewater. The oxidation makes the micro-organisms to
achieve a high growth and reproduce.
The composition of the wastewater and the micro-organisms are then further passed through a
clarifier, also known as secondary sedimentation tank, where the biomass is being settled at
the bottom of the tank and is saturated as sludge. Part of the sludge is reused in the aeration
tank to maintain the biomass. This process is called the activated sludge. The rest is pumped
out to anaerobic digesters for advanced treatment (SA Water 2004).
The cleared water is then sent to tertiary treatment.
4.4. Tertiary Treatment

This stage is to disinfect so as to reduce pathogens that are the micro-organisms which is
hazardous to human health. A certain dose of chlorine is usually used for the disinfection.
Further treatment is needed so that the wastewater can be reused for purposes like irrigation.
Project Milestone A
4.5. Sludge Treatment

The sludge collected from the tank can be furthermore processed by heating it at 35 degrees
Celsius in an enclosed digester. During this process, methane gas is being produced which can
be used to produce electricity. It is a good means of reducing the use of non-renewable
energy.
The water from the sludge is being dried by natural evaporation and the dry bio-solid obtained
is used as fertilizer (SA Water 2004).
Figure 4.1 Biological Wastewater Treatment Process (SA Water 2004)
Project Milestone A
4.6. Advantages
Environment friendly reduces the use of non-renewable energy
Affordable suitable for a small scale project
Gas and fertilizer are obtained as residue it can produce its own electricity by using
the gas produced and the fertilizers can be sold and reduce the operational cost.
Low cost to construct and operate simple technology used, no expensive machinery
required.
Good water quality obtained the water can be reused for several purposes such as
irrigation.
Less-skilled operators can be recruited employment is being created for the people
nearby.
Chemical-free non-toxic process.
4.7. Disadvantages
Slow process since the wastewater has to be flowed at a specific rate, the production
is relatively slow.
Cultural acceptability the community people do not accept the recycled wastewater
heartily.
Unpleasant odour resulting complaints if it is located nearby a residential area.
Constant maintenance required the plant has to be maintained constantly so as to

achieve a good water quality.
Requires a large piece of land the treatment plant consisting of the screening,
primary settling tank, secondary settling tank, biological filters and sludge tank, hence
a big area is required for this system.
4.8. Environmental Impacts

There will be a temporary impact while considering the construction phase of the treatment
plant such as drilling, blasting rocks, excavation works and natural habitats might be
destroyed depending on the site location. Solid waste during the construction should be
treated or reused so as not to pollute the surroundings. But all these are considered as short
term impacts.
Project Milestone A
10
Since this project is to be built in an urban area, the odour from the wastewater might be a
problem and also if there is any residential area nearby, several complaints would be
imminent.
But since it does not use much energy to operate and also it can produce its own electricity by
means of the residual gas, methane, it is considered as eco-friendly and hence reduces the use
of non-renewable energy. There is no use of toxic materials during the production.
4.9. Prevention
The workers can be trained so as to reduce the wastage on site while operating or
maintaining the treatment plant.
During construction, the trucks entering and going out of the construction site shall be
covered and the dust areas shall be spilled with water so as to reduce the dust.
Workers will be provided with appropriate safety mask and equipment.
The construction and operation time should not be during the night so as not to disturb
people from any source of noise.
Project Milestone A
11
5. CONSTRUCTED WETLAND
Constructed wetlands are designed based on natural wetland ecosystems. Compared to natural
wetlands, constructed wetlands allow for controlled performance and higher reliability. They
use the physical, chemical and biological processes to remove contaminants and rely
primarily on natural components to maintain the major treatment operations, compared to
other alternatives which use energy intensive mechanical equipment while using natural
process such as gravity and biodegradation only to some extent. This results in constructed
wetlands requiring lower operations and maintenance requirements and comparatively lower
energy usage (Vesilind 2004)
5.1. Design
A constructed wetland is typically an artificial wetland, marsh or swamp built to treat
contaminated wastewater. There are two main categories of wetlands which are surface flow
and subsurface flow. There are four key components in all constructed wetlands, Soil and
drainage materials (such as pipes and gravel), Water, Plants (both above and below the water)
and Micro-organisms.
Figure 5.1 Surface flow and subsurface flow constructed wetlands (Vesilind 2004)
Surface flow wetlands are more common in wastewater treatment and consist of a low
permeability material such as clay or synthetic liner to prevent groundwater contamination.
Project Milestone A
12
Influent passes at elevated height into the system which consists of plant, microorganisms and
water (Vesilind, 2004). The plants has several functions including
Support for microorganisms
Shade which reduces algae growth
Insulate the water from heat loss
Filter solids, debris and pathogens
Provide dissolved oxygen
The plants will dominate the systems due to the high nutrient level. Commonly used plants
include cattails, reeds, rushes, bulrushes, arrowhead and sedges. Subsurface flow wetlands are
differentiated by the wastewater being kept below the surface of the medium consisting of
materials ranging from coarse gravel to sand type materials. This reduces mosquito and odour
problems.
As water flows through the system, the velocity is reduced and the suspended solids are
trapped by vegetation and settles. Nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, are deposited
into wetlands from storm water runoff, from areas where fertilizers or manure have been
applied and from leaking septic fields (Davis, 1998). These excess nutrients are often
absorbed by wetland soils and taken up by plants and microorganisms. Other pollutants are
transformed to less soluble forms or rendered inactive while the microorganisms also remove
the pollutants from the water.
A typical design criterion includes a detention time of 7 days and a hydraulic loading 200 m3
/ha-d. Water depths in surface flow wetlands have been 100 to 450mm while bed depths for
subsurface flow wetlands have been 0.45 to 1m. The system can achieve effluent of 5 to 10
mg/L BOD and total nitrogen and 5 to 15 mg/L total suspended solids (TSS).
5.2. Construction
Wetlands are usually constructed on uplands and outside floodplains in order to avoid the
impact on natural wetlands and other aquatic resources. The construction consists of
excavating, backfilling, grading, and diking. Water control structures are installed at the
design levels to establish hydraulic flow patterns. Wetland vegetation is then planted or
allowed to establish naturally.
Project Milestone A
13
5.3. Advantages
Wetlands are biologically diverse and productive. When artificially replicated it can be
a sustainable alternative for the treatment of wastewater. They are an environmentallysensitive approach that is viewed with favour by the general public (Vesilind 2004).
Constructed wetlands require low construction and maintenance cost as use of

mechanical instruments are limited and the system depends mostly on natural
processes.
Operation and maintenance require only periodic, rather than continuous, on-site
labour.
The approach of using wetlands is technically feasible in most areas where space is
available.
The scale of the wetland can be adjusted to the required needs and as such, the usage
is flexible.
Wetlands can tolerate fluctuations in flow.
Wetlands are aesthetically pleasing compared to other alternatives to water treatment.

It can reduce or in some cases eliminate odour associated with wastewater.
They can be built to fit harmoniously into the landscape
5.4. Disadvantages and Limitations
They generally require larger land areas than do conventional wastewater treatment
systems. Wetland treatment may be economical relative to other options only where
land is available and affordable.
Performance may be less consistent than in conventional treatment. Wetland treatment

efficiencies may vary seasonally in response to changing environmental conditions,
including rainfall and drought. Wetland treatment cannot be relied upon if effluent
quality must meet stringent discharge standards at all times.
The biological components are sensitive to toxic chemicals, such as ammonia and
pesticides (Vesilind 2004).
Flushes of pollutants or surges in water flow may temporarily reduce treatment

effectiveness.
They require a minimum amount of water to survive. They can tolerate temporary
drawdown but cannot withstand complete drying.
Project Milestone A
14
6. GRAVEL CONTACT AERATED SYSTEM

In Japan, their Ministry of Land, Infrastructures, Transport and Tourism using gravel contact
aeration system to clean water in the rivers, process in which the pollutants are broken down
and removed by the microorganisms growing on the surface of the gravel. Besides that, the
waters have been cleaned through removal of Nitrogen and Phosphorus by aquatic plants such
as reeds and others plants.
The gravel contact aeration system is a simple structurally process and it is can be designed
for different size of population with a vary site conditions. This system is a low maintenance
cost because it gives out a little sludge. This system is agreed for rural areas and it is
decentralized treatment system.
6.1. Design
A gravel contact oxidation treatment system is a kind of packed-bed reactor with the packed
medium of gravels as biofilm carriers. It might be classified as one type of natural and
ecological treatment techniques for the improvement of river water quality. When the system
is applied to treat the polluted river water, two installation ways are always seen (Crite et
al. 2000; Reed 2000; Kivaisi 2001; Zhen 2002; Tsai 2007). First one is installing the
treatment system beside the river, and the other one is installing it inside the river. For the
first way, the river water should be pumped or directed by gravity to the gravel contact
oxidation treatment system located beside the river. However, for the second way, the river
water normally flows by gravity through the gravel-packed-bed reactor. No matter which way
is selected, biofilm will grow on the surface of gravels and utilize the organic pollutants in the
river water. Some researchers reported that the biofilm growing on the gravels will be thicker
for an open channel with lower flow velocity (Lau, 1990; Lau and Liu, 1993). The whole
treatment system included a compound section of inlet channel, two bar screens, one grit
chamber, three influent distribution channels, three effluent collection channels, and three
gravel-packed contact oxidation tanks with the backwash air pipes and sludge collection
channel installed at their bottoms. The sludge must be removed once or twice a year and it is
then recycled as a fertilizers.
Project Milestone A
15
Figure 6.1 The flow of the gravel contact aeration process and gravel contact aeration process.
The design flow rate of this system was 10,000 CMD (m3/day), and it flew through the whole
system by gravity. During clear days, the polluted river water will flow through inlet channel,
pass through two bar screens, then enter the grit chamber. At the end of grit chamber, three
distribution weirs and three distribution channels are used to evenly distribute river water into
three gravel-packed contact oxidation tanks. The treated water of each contact oxidation tank
will flow through a collection channel and then back to the downstream of the river. During
wet days, if the river flow rate is higher than the design flow rate, the superfluous flow will
directly pass through the treatment system to the downstream of the river. The sludge
assembly about 15 to 25 percentages if compared to activated sludge process or oxidation
ditch process. This is very much lower than activated sludge process and low maintenance
cost is required.
6.2. Advantages
Rural areas, which are less densely populated than urban areas, require a decentralized
sewage treatment system to cover a relatively highly populated area rather than a large-scale
centralized sewage treatment system as seen in urban areas. In view of the economic situation
of rural areas, systems that have low construction, maintenance, and operation costs are
required.
The environmental impact of this system is low because it is produce less sludge than
activated sludge process and it require a small land.
Low construction, low maintenance, low operation cost
Project Milestone A
16
The improvement of hygienic conditions in rural areas and the reduction of effects on
watersheds.
No odours-topped with soil.
Less sludge produces than activated sludge process.
No power consumed in the whole treatment process.
It is buried underground.
Figure 6.2 The construction status of the low cost facility.
6.3. Disadvantages
There is less information available on domestic wastewater discharge conditions in

rural areas than on those in urban areas.
Unable to cater for increase in wastewater volume.
Decentralized sewage treatment- each residential area required one or two system.
Project Milestone A
17
7. OXIDATION DITCH
According to United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA (2010) Oxidation ditch
(OD) is a modified form of activated sludge system which utilizes long solids retention time
(SRTs) in order to remove biodegradable organics. The treatment or detention process via OD
takes long time and is capable of removing 75%-95% of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
based on Indah Water Consortium Corporate (n.d).
Figure 7.1 Oxidation ditch overview (The Water Treatments 2011)
7.1. OD System Components

OD system comprises of a single or multiple channel that has a ring or elliptical basin.
Besides that, the channel is equipped with aqua rotor to circulate and aerates the waste water
in the channel therefore OD can be considered as a mechanical system. Also, the OD system
needs a clarifier to remove the suspended solids (Japanese Advanced Environment Equipment
2002).
Project Milestone A
18
7.2. How does the OD work?
Figure 7.2 Typical oxidation ditch (United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA 2010 cited in Parsons
Engineering Science Inc. 2000)
General design of the OD process includes two separate aeration basin, the first is anoxic and
the second is aerobic (United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA 2010). The waste
water is diverted to the ditch after the primary treatment to mix with the return activated
sludge from a secondary clarifier. The mixture enters the anoxic zone. Then a rotor works to
mix the liquor to increase the amount of the Oxygen and foster the microbial growth to start
the biological process to treat the raw water from the organic waste. The waste water in the
ditch has to maintain a depth of 0.9-1.5 m to prevent any anaerobic condition at the bottom of
the basin (The Water Treatments 2011). When the treatment is completed in the ditch, the
water is taken to a secondary clarifier to clean it from the suspended solids before proceeding
to the disinfection stage to make the effluent ready to dispose.
7.3. Construction
Normally the channel is constructed from a reinforced concrete. Other materials such as
gunite, asphalt, clay or even butyl rubber can also be used (United States Environmental
Protection Agency EPA 2010).
Project Milestone A
19
7.4. Cost
Construction
A large area is needed to build the OD treatment system. Therefore this system is not
advisable for the urban areas where the land is expensive.
Operation and Maintenance
The system requires little maintenance, minimal operator attention, low energy, no chemicals
are used in the system, and limited staff needed to operate the system, all together, contributes
to the saving costs of the OD system compared to other secondary system used.
7.5. Advantages
Japanese Advanced Environment Equipment (2002) and United States Environmental
Protection Agency EPA (2010) highlighted both advantages and disadvantages of the OD
system.
The main advantage of the method is the ability to achieve performance objective with low
operational and maintenance requirements and costs. More specified advantages include:
OD system is a measure of reliability and performance owning to a constant water

level and continues discharge that lowers the weir overflow rate and prevents the
periodic effluent surge which is common to other secondary processes.
The system is energy efficient as little energy required which results in saving costs.
The sludge resulted is little compared to other biological methods due to extended
biological activity during the activated sludge treatment.
The ease of operating OD process which helps on minimizing the number of staff
required to operate the process.
The system minimizes the impact of a shock load or hydraulic surge due to long
hydraulic retention time (HTT) and complete mixing using the rotor.
Project Milestone A
20
7.6. Disadvantage
OD needs a large land area compared to other biological systems. The basin area
depends on the capacity size, design effluent limitations, land and construction costs
and others.
The suspended solids concentration is quite high compared to other sludge

modification activated processes.
7.7. Environmental Impacts

As mentioned earlier the system requires a large piece of land, therefore, clearing the land,
cutting the trees, noise and displacement of animals during the construction period are
considered as negative impacts. While the long term impacts can include the sludge that is
resulted from the treatment if it is being disposed direct without further treatment that will
definitely harms the surrounding. Moreover, the unpleasant odours cannot be avoided in the
treatment plant.
Solutions
The surrounding of the treatment area has to be planted to replace the trees that were cut
during the construction. Also, the sludge has to be taken to further treatment to be used as
source energy and fertilizers in agriculture.
7.8. OD in Malaysia
Currently there are approximately 30 OD systems in Malaysia. The system is graded to be A
standard in waste water treatment according to Indah Water Consortium Corporate (n.d).
Table 7-1 Typical figures for ODs (Indah Water Consortium Corporate n.d)
(mg/L)
Raw Sewage Effluent DOE Standard A
Biological Oxygen Demand 200-400
10-30
20
Suspended Solids
15-40
50
Project Milestone A
200-350
21
8. SELECTION OF ALTERNATIVE
The factors that were considered in the selection of the alternatives (American Water Works
Association, 1999) included:
(1) Source water quality,
(2) Regulatory compliance and contaminant removal requirements,
(3) Process reliability and flexibility,
(4) Initial construction and annual operating and maintenance costs,
(5) Environmental impacts,
(6) Utility preferences and capabilities,
(7) Available site space, and
(8) Residuals handling requirements and site constraints.
Factors such as source water quality and regulatory compliance and contaminant removal
requirements and available site space were site dependent and thus common to all the
alternatives.
The above mentioned factors were evaluated and scored on a matrix to
determine the best alternatives. Weightage was based on the importance of that particular
factor in the selection of alternative.
Project Milestone A
22
Table 8-1 Matrix
Regular/Periodical
Cost
Water Quality
Utility Requirements
Space Required
Residual Handling
1) Aerated Lagoons
III
III
133
2) Anaerobic Filter
III
III
II
II
107
3) Biological Wastewater
Treatment
III
II
II
III
II
108
4) Constructed Wetland
II
II
III
102
5) Gravel Contact
II
II
II
112
6) Oxidation Ditch
II
III
III
129
SIMPLE
Regular
Centralized
3 points
MODERATE
Periodical
Decentralized
2 points
Centralized
Expansion Capacity
Weightage
Possibility
Process Reliability
Alternative
Contamination
Level of Flexibility
Sustainability
Impacts
Overall Score
Design
Environmental
Cost
Maintenance
Difficulty
Operation
Cost
Construction
Legends
I
Low
II
Medium 2 Medium B
III High
1 Large
3 Small
Project Milestone A
A Minor
Moderate
Major
COMPLEX
1 point
23
Weightage Scale from

1 (low importance) to
5 (high importance)
9. CONCLUSION
In conclusion the report highlights six different alternatives for the wastewater treatment plant
project for Sibu town. The six options are aerated lagoons, anaerobic filter, biological
wastewater treatment, constructed wetland, gravel contact aerated system and oxidation ditch.
Each one of the alternative was discussed and then graded based on six criteria the team
decided to use in the matrix. The chosen option is the one which has the highest overall score
namely the aerated Lagoons with 133 points.
9.1. Selection and Justification

The aerated lagoons are the best systems which can be used for the waste water treatment for
Sibu town as the system successfully fulfil the requirements of the client about the cost,
sustainability and environmental impacts.
The aerated lagoons have a disadvantage in terms of reliability. However, aerated lagoons are
being extensively used here in Malaysia as there are forty of them which indicate how the
system can be relied upon. Therefore, aerated lagoons are the most suitable solution for Sibu
town waste water treatment plant over the other treatment options.
Project Milestone A
24
10.REFERENCES
American Water Works Association 1999, Water Quality and Treatmenet: A Handbook of Community Water
Supplies, 5th Edition edn., McGraw-Hill, New York.
Davis, L 1998, A Handbook of Constructed Wetlands, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, US
Environmental Protection Agency-Region III, Pennsylvania
Dawson
Wastewater.
(2011).
Aerated
Lagoon.
Viewed
on
18
September
2011,
<http://www.dawsonwastewater.ca/documents/aeratedlagoon/AeratedLagoonHandout.pdf>
D. F. Juang, et.(1 June 2008), Treatment of polluted river water by a gravel contact oxidation system constructed
under
riverbed
Viewed
on
18
September
2011,
<http://www.sid.ir/en/VEWSSID/J_pdf/92220080303.pdf>
EPA 2011, 'Constructed Wetlands', Constructed Treatment Wetlands, United States Environmental Protection
Agency, viewed 19 September 2011.
Environmental Protect Agency. (2002). Wastewater Technology Fact Sheet. Viewed: 17 September 2011,
<http://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/upload/2002_10_15_mtb_apartlag.pdf.>
HakanModin, (2008), Decentralized Domestic Wastewater Treatment in Rural Areas in ChinaEfforts of the
Japan-China
Water
Environment
Partnership
Project,
Viewed
on
17
September
2011,
<http://www.wepadb.net/pdf/0810forum/paper08.pdf >
Introduction to Environemnetal Engineering 2004, Second Edition, P.Aarne Vesilind, Susan M. Morgan,
Thomson Books/Cole
Indah
Water
Consortium
Corporate
(n.d),
Sewerage
Facts,
viewed
20
September
2011,
<http://www.iwk.com.my/sewerage-fact-02-01c.htm>
Indah Water Konsortium. (2011). Sewage Treatment Plant: Package Plant. Viewed: 17 September 2011 ,
<http://www.iwk.com.my/sewerage-fact-02-01a.htm.>
Lagoon Systems in Maine. (2003). Aerated Lagoons Wastewater Treatment, Viewed on 17th September 2011,
<http://www.lagoonsonline.com/. >
Malaysia
Travel
site,
2007,
Sibu
City
Map,
viewed
on
18
September
2011,.
<http://travel.110mb.com/Maps/Sarawak/sibu.html>
METCALF & EDDY, Fourth Edition, Wastewater Engineering Treatment and Reuse
Motoyuki Mizuochi, (2008), Small-Scale Domestic Wastewater Treatment Technology in Japan, and the
Possibility of Technological Transfer, Viewed on 18th September 2011, <http://www.wepadb.net/pdf/0712forum/paper18.pdf>
National Small Flows Clearinghouse. (1997). Lagoon System Can Provide Low-Cost Wastewater Treatment,
Viewed
on
17th
September
2011<
http://www.nesc.wvu.edu/pdf/WW/publications/pipline/PL_SP97.pdf. >
SA
Water,
2004,
Wastewater
Treatment
Process,
viewed
on
19
September
2011.
<http://www.sawater.com.au/SAWater/Education/OurWastewaterSystems/Wastewater%20Treatment%
20Process.htm>
Sewerage
Services
Project,
Project Milestone A
Department
Sarawak,
viewed
14th
Septembre
on
2011,
18
Ninth
Malaysia
Plan
September
25
2011<http://www.ssd.sarawak.gov.my/modules/web/page.php?id=76&menu_id=0
&sub_id=157>
SSWM (sustainable sanitation and water management), Anaerobic Filter, Viewed on 19 September 2011,
<http://www.sswm.info/category/implementation-tools/wastewater-treatment/hardware/site-storageand-treatments/anaerobic-fi>
The
Water
Treatments
2011,
Oxidation
ditch,
viewed
on
20
September
2011,
<http://www.thewatertreatments.com/waste-water-treatment-filtration-purify-seprationsewage/oxidation-ditch-sewage-treatment.>
United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA 2000, Wastewater technology fact sheet, viewed 20
September
2011,
<http://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/upload/2002_06_28_mtb_oxidation_ditch.pdf>
UK Anaerobic Filter, Viewed on 18 September 2011,<http://www.akvo.org/wiki/index.php/Anaerobic_Filter>,.
WELL Anaerobic treatment of municipal wastewater: How appropriate is it for low-income countries, Water,
Engineering
and
Development
Centre,
viewed
19
September
2011,
<http://www.lboro.ac.uk/well/resources/fact-sheets/fact-sheets-htm/Anaerobic%20treatment.htm>.
Project Milestone A
26

Milestone A Final Review

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Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences

Swinburne University of Technology

HES4146 Water and Environmental Engineering, Semester 2, 2010

HES4146 Water and Environmental Engineering, Semester 2, 2010

HES4146 Water and Environmental Engineering, Semester 2, 2010

HES4146 Water and Environnemental Engineering, Semester 2, 2011

HES4146 Water and Environnemental Engineering, Semester 2, 2011

Figure 2.1. Aerated Lagoons in Malaysia (Indah Water Konsortium, 2011)

Oxygen is supplied through mechanical or diffused aeration rather than by algal

Biological Oxygen Demand

HES4146 Water and Environnemental Engineering, Semester 2, 2011

Figure 2.2. Aerated Lagoons diagram (Indah Water Konsortium 2011)

Lagoon systems are simple wastewater treatment plants. It can be cost-effective to

HES4146 Water and Environnemental Engineering, Semester 2, 2011

Requires energy high input (Dawson Wastewater 2011; Environmental Protect

HES4146 Water and Environnemental Engineering, Semester 2, 2011

HES4146 Water and Environnemental Engineering, Semester 2, 2011

Resistant to organic and hydraulic shock loadings.

Low reduction of nutrients, thus outflow adapter for reuse in agriculture.

Low sludge yield.

No electrical energy required.

Can be built and repaired with locally available materials.

Long life services.

Moderate capital costs, moderate operating costs depending on emptying; can be

High reduction of BOD and solids.

Low-energy process and making it more environmentally friendly.

Lower running costs as a result of the low energy inputs.

HES4146 Water and Environnemental Engineering, Semester 2, 2011

Not good at removing non-organic pollution within wastewater, such as nutrients or

Requires constant source of water.

Effluent requires secondary treatment and appropriate discharge.

Low reduction of pathogens and nutrients

Requires expert design and construction.

Long to start up time.

HES4146 Water and Environnemental Engineering, Semester 2, 2011

4. BIOLOGICAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT

4.1. Preliminary Treatment

4.2. Primary Treatment

4.3. Secondary Treatment

4.4. Tertiary Treatment

HES4146 Water and Environnemental Engineering, Semester 2, 2011

4.5. Sludge Treatment

Figure 4.1 Biological Wastewater Treatment Process (SA Water 2004)

HES4146 Water and Environnemental Engineering, Semester 2, 2011

Environment friendly reduces the use of non-renewable energy

Affordable suitable for a small scale project

Chemical-free non-toxic process.

Unpleasant odour resulting complaints if it is located nearby a residential area.

Constant maintenance required the plant has to be maintained constantly so as to

4.8. Environmental Impacts

HES4146 Water and Environnemental Engineering, Semester 2, 2011

HES4146 Water and Environnemental Engineering, Semester 2, 2011

HES4146 Water and Environnemental Engineering, Semester 2, 2011

Support for microorganisms

Shade which reduces algae growth

Insulate the water from heat loss

Filter solids, debris and pathogens

Provide dissolved oxygen

HES4146 Water and Environnemental Engineering, Semester 2, 2011

Constructed wetlands require low construction and maintenance cost as use of

Wetlands can tolerate fluctuations in flow.

Wetlands are aesthetically pleasing compared to other alternatives to water treatment.

They can be built to fit harmoniously into the landscape