MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS ON SECONDARY TREATMENT

Problem 01: A conventional activated sludge plant of 7.3m wide, 30m long and 4m deep
undertakes a sewage flow of 3440 m3/day containing 450 kg BOD. Compute the volumetric loading
and aeration period. The operating MLSS is 2200 mg/L and the settled volume in the SVI test is
230ml. Calculate the SVI, F/M ratio, the amount of return sludge.
Solution:
Volume of aeration tank = 7.3  30  4 = 876m3
Volumetric loading = Mass of BOD/ Volume of aeration tank =450/876 =0.514 kg/m3-day
Again, Q  t = 876
 t = 876/Q =876/3440 =0.2546day =6.11hrs

F/M ratio = gm BOD applied per day/ gm MLSS in the aeration tank

×
= = 0.23
× ×

× ×
𝑆𝑉𝐼 = = = 105 > 50 Sludge is bulky.

× ×
Amount of return sludge, = = = 1027.53𝑚 /𝑑𝑎𝑦

Sludge Volume Index (SVI)

SVI is used to describe the settling characteristics of sludge in the aeration tank in Activated Sludge
Process. It is a process control parameter to determine the recycle rate of sludge. It was introduced by
Mohlman in 1934, and has become the standard measure of the physical characteristics of activated sludge
processes. It is defined as 'the volume (in mL) occupied by 1 gram of activated sludge after settling the
aerated liquid for 30 minutes'.

SVI is calculated in the following manner: (1) allow a mixed liquor sample from the aeration basin to settle
for 30 minutes; (2) determine the suspended solids concentration for a sample of the same mixed liquor; (3)
calculate SVI by dividing the measured (or observed) wet volume (mL/L) of the settled sludge by the dry
weight concentration of MLSS in grams/L.

The common range for an SVI at a conventional activated sludge plant should be between 50 and 150.
Problem 02: Design an oxidation pond for treating sewage from a hot climatic residential colony
with 5000 persons, contributing sewage @ 120 liter per capita per day. The 5-day BOD of sewage
is 300 mg/l.

Solution:
The quantity of sewage to be treated per day
= 5000x120=6, 00,000 litres
= 600 cu,m
The BOD content per day = 0.6 ML  300 mg/l = 180 kg
Assume organic loading as 300 kg/ hectare/ day
The surface area required = 180 kg/d / 300 kg/ha.d
= 6000 m2
Assume the length of the tank, as twice of its width (B)
2B2= 6000
B = 54.7 = 55m
L= 6000/ 55
=110 m
Using effective depth as 1.2 m
The provided capacity= 110  55  1.2 = 7260m3
Capacity = sewage flow per day  detention time in days
Detention time in days = capacity in cu.m/ sewage flow per day in cu.m /day
=7260/600
=12 days
Hence oxidation pond with length =100 m; width= 55m; and overall depth =
[1.2+1] =2.2m and the detention period of 12 days. [ 1m is free board]

Problem 03: Design a waste stabilization pond system to treat 1000m 3 /day waste which has a
BOD5 of 500mg/l, Fecal coliform of 4×107 /100ml.The deign temperature is200c. The design
standards to be obtained.
Final effluent BOD5 = 20mg/l
Final fecal coliform content =100/100ml
4 maturation ponds in series.
Solution:
Anaerobic pond
Total BOD = 500 mg/l = 500 × 1000gm/day = 500kg/day
Assume BOD loading = 0.24 kg/m3-day [range 0.2-0.24]
 Volume of the pond = 500/0.24 =2084m 3
Area of the pond = Volume/ depth
 =2084/3 [taking ,d=3m, range of depth 2-6m]
=695m3
Retention time, t=V/Q= 2084/1000=2.084days ≈ 2 days
 Pond, A=695m2
T=2 days
d= 3m
Facultative pond
Li =BOD = 500×0.7 =350mg/l [Since 30% BOD remained in an anaerobic pond]
BOD effluent from the facultative pond, Le =60mg/l
( ) ( )
𝐴= = )
[Depth=1.5m]
× . × . ×( .

=10740.74  10741m2

Retention time, 𝑡 = −1 = −1 = 16 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝐾 =𝐾 × 1.07

.

= 0.3 × 1.07 20-20

= 0.3
[d =1.5-2 m]
 Facultative pond, A= 10741m2
tr= 16 days
d = 1.5m
Maturation Pond
Taking depth of maturation pond =1.5m
×
∴𝐴= −1 = − 1 = 2810𝑚 [d = 1-1.5m]
. × .

𝐿 𝑛 60 4
𝑡 = −1 = −1 = 4.21𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 ≈ 4 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠
𝐿 𝑘 20 0.3

 Maturation pond, A =2810m2

d= 1.5m
tr = 4 days
Fecal coliform consideration
FC removal in the anaerobic pond
×
𝑁 = = = 6.5 × 10 ∕ 100𝑚𝑙 kb = kb(20)×1.19T-20
. ×
20-20
= 2.6 (1.19)
= 2.6

FC removal in the facultative pond

𝑁 6.5 × 10
𝑁 = = = 1.5 × 10 ∕ 100𝑚𝑙
1 + 𝑘 + 𝑟 1 + 2.6 × 16

FC removal for the maturation pond

𝑄 𝑁 1000 × 4 1.5 × 10
𝐴= −1 = − 1 = 5358𝑚2
𝑘 𝑑 𝑁 2.6 × 1.5 100

Area for each pond = 5358/4 =1339.5m2

𝑁 𝑛 1.5 × 10 4
𝑇 = −1 = −1 = 8 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠
𝑁 𝑘 100 2.6

Time for single pond =8/4 = 2 days

MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS ON LOW COST SANITATION

Problem 01: Design a low cost simple pit latrine for a family of six persons. The soil in the area is
fairly permeable and stable. The ground water table is 5m below ground level. Determine the size of
the pit required for a period of five years. The family uses water for anal cleansing.
Solution: Assume the pit would be above the ground water table and therefore can be considered as
a dry pit. Hence the value of C, with water being used for anal cleansing, can be taken as
0.06m3/person/year. As the soil is very permeable, the liquid part will percolate into the soil fairly
quickly.
From the relation V= 1.33×C×P×N
The required volume of pit =1.33  0.06  6  5 =2.4m3
To limit the size of the squatting plate for practical reasons, the size of a circular pit should be in
the range of 1.0-1.5m in diameter. For the present case, a 1.25m diameter circular pit is
considered
 Cross sectional area of the pit = πD2/4 = π  1.252/4 = 1.23m2
Depth of pit = volume of the pit/ cross-sectional area of the pit = 2.4/1.23 =1.95m
Excavate a pit of depth=2.0 m
A rectangular pit can also be considered
Assume a section of 1.25m  1.25m for the present case
Area of the cross-section = 1.25×1.25 =1.56m2
Therefore, the required depth = volume required/ cross-sectional area =2.4/1.56 =1.54m
Choose a depth of 1.7 m

Problem 02: Design a septic tank to serve a household of 10 persons who produce 90 lpcd (litres
per capita per day) of wastewater. The tank is to be desludged every three years.
Solution:
Sedimentation
Minimum mean hydraulic retention time,
𝑡 = 1.5 − 0.3 log(𝑝𝑞)
= 1.5 − 0.3 log(10 × 90) = 0.61𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠

The volume required for sedimentation is given by,

𝑉 = 10 (𝑝𝑞)𝑡 = 10 (10 × 90)0.61 = 0.55𝑚

Sludge digestion
Assuming a design temperature of 250C
𝑡 = 30(1.035) = 30(1.035) = 42.3𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠

Volume required for sludge digestion

𝑉 = 0.5 × 10 × 𝑃𝑡 = 0.5 × 10 × 10 × 42.3 = 0.21𝑚

Sludge storage
Assuming sludge accumulation rate, C = 0.06 m3 per person per year
𝑉 = 𝐶𝑃𝑁 = 0.06 × 10 × 3 =1.8m3

Overall effective tank volume

𝑉 = 𝑉 + 𝑉 + 1.4𝑉 = 0.55 + 0.21 + (1.4 × 1.8) = 3.28𝑚

Tank effective depth

Assume a cross-sectional area, A = 3.0 m2
𝑉 1.8
The maximum depth of sludge, 𝑑 = 𝐴= 3.0 = 0.60𝑚

The maximum submersed scum depth, 𝑑 = 0.4𝑉 ⁄𝐴 = 0.4 × 1.8⁄3.0 = 0.60𝑚

Scum clear depth = 0.075m (minimum)
Sludge clear depth = (0.82-0.26  3.0)
= 0.04m ˂ 0.3m \ 0.3m is adopted.
The total clear space depth = (0.075+ 0.3) = 0.375m

Depth required for sedimentation = Vh/A =0.55/3.0 = 0.183m ˂ 0.375m

 The total clear space depth is the controlling factor in the design. The total effective depth is therefore, the
sum of the sludge depth (0.60m), the clear space depth (0.375m), and the maximum submersed scum depth
(0.24m)
i.e., the total effective depth = 0.60 + 0.375 + 0.24 = 1.215m

The suitable overall internal dimensions of the septic tank can be chosen as follows:

1.0m × 3.0m × 1.5m

Use a two-compartment septic tank with the first compartment volume of 3.0m3 and the second compartment
volume of 1.5 m3

Problem 03: If the soil is sandy loam with a long-term infiltration rate of about 30 liters / m 2 day,
design a soakage pit for the disposal of effluent from the septic tank of the previous example.
Solution:
Effluent flow from septic tank = 90 × 10 = 900 liters/ day
Long term infiltration rate = 30liters / m2 day

The infiltration are required = Q/I =900/30=30m 2

Assuming a 1.25m diameter, the effective depth of the soak pit will be =30/π×1.25 =7.6m.
However, if the groundwater table is high, two soak pits each of 1.25m diameter and 4.0m deep
may be provided. Alternatively, if sufficient land area is available, drain-field trenches can be
designed for the disposal of septic tank effluent.