Reporter’s guide

Wastewater

Wastewater comes from ordinary living processes: bathing, toilet flushing, laundry,
dishwashing, etc.  It comes from residential and domestic sources. Once water is used, that
doesn’t mean it has to be disposed of completely. After all, there’s only so much water on the
earth. Instead, wastewater is treated to remove contaminants so it can be reused. Of course, to
be reused, it has to meet certain standards and criteria depending on the nature of reuse.
Hierarchy waste

The hierarchy ranks the different ways of dealing with waste in order of desirability. At the top
is waste reduction, which means not generating waste in the first place or minimizing the
amount of waste produced. Below that is waste reuse (for example, refilling a drinks bottle),
followed by recycling (processing of wastes into new raw materials). A fourth option is the
recovery of energy by burning or biological treatment. Disposal, ideally in a landfill site, is the
final option for any wastes that cannot be dealt with in any other way. A landfill site is an area
of land set aside for the final disposal of solid waste.

Why treat wastewater?

It's a matter of caring for our environment and for our own health. There are a lot of good
reasons why keeping our water clean is an important priority:
 fisheries: Clean water is critical to plants and animals that live in water. This is
important to the fishing industry, sport fishing enthusiasts, and future generations.
 wildlife habitats: Our rivers and ocean waters teem with life that depends on shoreline,
beaches and marshes. They are critical habitats for hundreds of species of fish and other
aquatic life. Migratory water birds use the areas for resting and feeding.
 recreation and quality of life: Water is a great playground  for us all. The scenic and
recreational values of our waters are reasons, many people choose to live where they
do. Visitors are drawn to water activities such as swimming, fishing, boating and
picnicking.
 health concerns: If it is not properly cleaned, water can carry disease. Since we live,
work and play so close to water, harmful bacteria have to be removed to make water
safe.
Diseases causing bacteria
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 Bacteria are very simple microscopic organisms. Some types of bacteria are essential to
human life, playing a part in the digestive system. Others have other benefits, such as
decomposing wastes. Pathogenic bacteria are responsible for many diseases, including
tuberculosis and pneumonia and several waterborne diseases such as typhoid and
cholera.
 Viruses are not living organisms themselves but are infectious agents able to invade
cells and cause them to manufacture more virus material. Polio, HIV/AIDS, influenza and
rotavirus are examples of diseases caused by viral infections.
 Protozoa are the simplest members of the animal kingdom. They are microscopic,
consist of a single cell and are found in water, soil and the sea. Some types are beneficial
to humans, breaking down pollutants in water, but others are parasitic, causing diseases
including malaria, amoebic dysentery and sleeping sickness.
 Parasitic worms live inside the bodies of their human host, usually in the intestines.
There are several different types of parasitic worm including tapeworms, flukes and
roundworms. Roundworms, also known as nematodes, include Ascaris, hookworm and
whipworm.
Major aim

 Remove as much solids in water until it is called fluent for it to be called fluent (needed
to be treat asap)
 Effects of wastewater pollutants
 Decaying organic matter and debris
 Excessive nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen can cause eutrophication, or over-
fertilization of receiving waters, which can be toxic to aquatic organisms
 Chlorine compounds and inorganic chloramines can be toxic to aquatic invertebrates,
algae and fish;
 Bacteria, viruses and disease-causing pathogens can pollute beaches and contaminate
shellfish populations, leading to restrictions on human recreation, drinking water
consumption and shellfish consumption;
 Metals, such as mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium and arsenic can have acute and
chronic toxic effects on species.
 Other substances such as some pharmaceutical and personal care products,

Waste water composed of two types

 Liquid state
 Solid state
Types of liquid state
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 Blackwater – is wastewater that contains or consists of urine and feces. It contains
pathogens (disease-causing agents).
 Greywater (sullage) is wastewater from human washing and bathing, kitchen sinks,
clothes washing, etc. It does not contain excreta.
 Stormwater (or surface run-off or rainwater run-off) is wastewater that flows on the
surface of the land to join streams. Note that this is considered as wastewater because
it contains many different contaminants.
Solid waste can be identified as:
Garbage such as food and drinks form different establishment, excess chemicals from different
manufacturers, waste from hospitals and from agricultural. In other words, it is the waste that
is commonly seen whenever we go.
Classification of solid waste

 Biodegradable
 Non-biodegradable

Biodegradable solid wastes are those that can be broken down (decomposed) into their
constituent elements by bacteria and other micro-organisms. If the decomposition process takes
place in the absence of air (anaerobically), methane gas can form. Methane is a powerful
greenhouse gas and can explode if enough of it accumulates and an ignition source (such as an
electrical spark) is present. The decomposition may also produce offensive and irritating smells.
Waste that decomposes in the presence of an adequate air supply (aerobically) under controlled
conditions can produce compost, which can be used to improve the quality of soils.

Non-biodegradable (also sometimes called inorganic) solid wastes are those that do not
decompose by microbial action. These wastes include plastic containers, scrap metal, food and
drink cans and plastic bags.

Materials in solid wastes can also be classified as combustible or non-combustible, depending

on whether they will burn or not.

Depending on the inherent dangers associated with its physical and chemical properties, solid
waste can be classified as either hazardous or non-hazardous. Hazardous wastes pose
substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment. For example, toxic, infectious
and corrosive (acidic or alkaline) substances are all likely to be classed as hazardous. Non-
hazardous wastes are those that do not possess hazardous characteristics, although they can still
be harmful to people or the environment.

Wastewater sources
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 Domestic sewage
 Non sewage
Domestic sewage
Domestic sewage means the water-carried human wastes from residences, buildings, industrial
establishments or other places.
 Residential
Examples include the wastewaters from washing your face in the morning, from washing
clothes, from taking a shower and from washing dishes. You may also have mentioned human
bodily waste, which is also classified as liquid waste. In urban areas, the liquid wastes from
residential areas are often referred to as domestic wastewaters. These wastewaters come from
our day-to-day living and include those from food preparation, washing, bathing and toilet
usage.
 Commercial
The wastewaters from commercial areas (comprising business establishments, shops, open
market places, restaurants and cafes) will mostly resemble those from households. This is
because only human-related activities are undertaken in such areas, as opposed to other
activities such as industrial production. Effluent from restaurants and cafes may contain high
levels of oil from cooking processes but this can be overcome by using a grease trap in their
outlet pipes. A grease trap consists of a small tank or chamber which slows the speed of
effluent flow. In the grease trap, fats, oils and grease float to the top of the wastewater and
form a layer of scum that is contained within the tank.
 Industrial areas
In industrial areas liquid wastes are generated by processing or manufacturing industries and
service industries, such as car repair shops. The type of industry determines the composition of
the waste. The wastewaters from facilities that make food products will not be harmful to
humans, but those from other industries may contain a variety of chemical compounds, some
of which may be hazardous (and therefore potentially harmful). The presence of hazardous
materials is one way in which industrial wastewaters are often different from domestic
wastewaters. Another difference is that the flow rate can vary dramatically in some industries,
for example, where production rates vary with the season, such as in the processing of certain
food crops.
Non-sewage
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Non-sewage covers all other types of wastewater. That includes rainwater and stormwater
from flooding, water from commercial activity like garages or launderettes and water from
industrial plants.
 Stormwater
Although not a form of liquid waste in the same way as wastes from residential, commercial
and industrial areas, stormwater is also a form of wastewater. Stormwater can be
contaminated with many different types of pollutant such as fecal matter, soil, rubber from
vehicle tire wear, litter, and oil from vehicles.

Characteristics of waste water

Wastewater can be characterized as:
 Physical
 Chemical
 Biological

Physical characteristics of liquid wastes

 Temperature
Wastewaters are generally warmer than the ambient temperature. This is because warm or hot
water may be included in the waste stream from domestic activities such as showering or from
industrial processing.
 Turbidity
Sewage is normally turbid representing dirty dish water or wastewater from baths having other
floating matter like fecal matter, pieces of paper, cigarette ends, match sticks, greases,
vegetable debris, fruit skins, soaps, etc….
 Odor
Wastewaters can have an odor, usually due to generation of gases as a result of biodegradation
in the wastewater. Biodegradation is the breaking down (decomposition) of organic substances
by bacteria and other micro-organisms. Organic matter is any substance that is derived from
living organisms, such as human and animal wastes, food waste, paper and agricultural wastes.

Chemical characteristics of liquid wastes

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 Organic matter
Wastewaters from many different sources contain organic matter, which is a frequent cause of
pollution in surface waters. If organic matter is released into a river or lake, bacteria and other
micro-organisms that are naturally present in fresh water will degrade the waste and, in the
process, they use dissolved oxygen from the water. If there is a lot of organic matter, then most
or all of the dissolved oxygen may be used up, thus depriving other life forms in the water of
this essential element. The oxygen taken up in degrading the organic matter is referred to as
its oxygen demand. This can be determined by a measure called the biochemical
oxygen demand (BOD). BOD tests are carried out in a laboratory and involve measuring the
amount of oxygen used, usually over a period of five days, as the organic matter in the
wastewater breaks down.
 Inorganic material
Wastewater also contains inorganic chemicals. This means any substance that has not come
from animals or plants, so it includes a wide range of different chemicals as well as inert solids
like sand and silt. Many inorganic chemicals are dissolved in the water and although some are
harmless, others are pollutants that can damage aquatic life such as fish and other organisms
that live in water. One example is ammonia (NH3) which is present in human and animal
excreta. Like organic matter, ammonia is broken down in the environment by natural processes.
If ammonia is released into a river it is converted by the action of bacteria to nitrate (NO 3),
which is less harmful. This natural conversion of ammonia to nitrate requires oxygen and is
limited if there are excessive quantities of ammonia. Other examples of inorganic chemicals in
wastewaters are chloride (from salt), phosphates (from chemical fertilizers and from human
and animal wastes), and metal compounds (from mining operations or metal-plating plants).
 Solids
These may be settleable solids or suspended solids. Settleable solids sink to the bottom (settle
out) when the speed of flow is reduced, for example, when the wastewater is stored in a tank.
Suspended solids are small particles that remain in suspension in the water; they do not
dissolve in the wastewater but are carried along in it
Biological characteristics of liquid wastes
Liquid wastes contain many different types of bacteria and other micro-organisms originating
from human wastes and other sources. Many of these bacteria are beneficial and are
responsible for the biodegradation of organic components of the wastes; others may be
pathogenic. The presence of bacteria in wastewater is normal and expected, but it becomes a
problem if the waste is not kept separate from people or if it contaminates clean water or food.
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The safe management and disposal of any waste containing human excreta is the most critical
aspect of sanitation and hygiene and is essential to prevent the spread of infectious disease.
Composition
Domestic sewage contains approximately 99.9% water. The remaining part includes organic and
inorganic, suspended and dissolved solids, together with microorganism. It is because of this
0.1% that water pollution takes place and the wastewater needs to be treated.
The composition of wastewater is a function that uses to which the waste was submitted. These
uses, and the form with which they were exercised, vary with climate, social and economic
situation and population habits.
 Biochemical Oxygen Demand
is a measure of the amount of oxygen that the organic matter in wastewater (food, body
wastes, other biodegradable material) “demands” or requires to breakdown into simple more
stable compounds. If too much BOD is released directly into the environment the wastewater
bacteria will compete with other organisms such as fish, shellfish and other aquatic life, and rob
them of the oxygen they need to sustain life.
 Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) is the amount of solids that are suspended in wastewater and are
of a specific size. When released directly into the surface water environment, suspended solids
can be responsible for a variety of problems including smothering habitat, carrying pathogenic
organisms, clogging fish gills, smothering fish eggs and more. When released from a septic tank
in high quantities, TSS can prematurely clog leach fields. TSS can be either organic (fine particle
of food or feces) or inorganic like silt and clay. A high TSS value in wastewater is usually
associated with a high BOD and indicates that it is to a great extent organic.
 Pathogens
Pathogens are organisms or viruses that are capable of causing disease. The amount of actual
pathogens in wastewater will depend on its origin. When we have a bacterial or viral infection
or if we are the host of a certain parasites, we will shed them in our feces and contribute them
to the wastewater. Since it is very difficult to test directly for the majority of pathogens, public
health officials use surrogate measures of public health risk called indicator organisms.
Indicator organisms such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) are always present in human waste and are
commonly used to suggest the possibility that other pathogenic organisms are present.
 Nutrients
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Nutrients are compounds that when released into the environment from wastewater can cause
and imbalance of growth of undesirable organism in the environment. Many “blooms” of
noxious algae in freshwater for instance are caused by the release of the nutrient phosphorus.
Some fish kills and habitat modification in marine environments are caused by excessive release
of nitrogen with wastewater being a primary source.
 Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC)
More recently, a broad class of compounds comprised of pharmaceutical products, personal
care products, fire retardants, hormones and others are receiving attention due to their ability
to impact aquatic organism at very low (parts per trillion) levels. Collectively these compounds
are called Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC). Perhaps the most documented effect of
these compounds is their impact on hormone disruption in fish and other invertebrates. In
some areas extremely skewed sex ratios have been observed and fish populations have become
feminized. Another concern has been cytotoxic drugs taken by individuals undergoing in cancer
therapies. Contaminants of Emerging Concern are alternately called Pharmaceuticals and
Personal Care Products (PPCPs) or simply micro-contaminants. Little is known regarding the
long term impact on human health caused by many of these contaminants.

Wastewater treatment
Wastewater treatment is the process of converting wastewater – water that is no longer
needed or is no longer suitable for use – into bilge water that can be discharged back into the
environment. It’s formed by a number of activities including bathing, washing, using the toilet,
and rainwater runoff. Wastewater is full of contaminants including bacteria, chemicals and
other toxins. Its treatment aims at reducing the contaminants to acceptable levels to make the
water safe for discharge back into the environment.
Wastewater treatment levels
 Preliminary treatment is the removal of coarse solids
 Primary treatment aims to remove settable solids and part of the organic matter
 Secondary treatment removal of organic matter and possibly nutrients by biological
mechanism
 Tertiary treatment removal of specific pollutants or complementary removal of
pollutants that were not sufficiently removed in the previous treatment
Step by step wastewater treatment
1. Wastewater Collection
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This is the first step in waste water treatment process. Collection systems are put in place by
municipal administration, home owners as well as business owners to ensure that all the
wastewater is collected and directed to a central point. This water is then directed to a
treatment plant using underground drainage systems or by exhauster tracks owned and
operated by business people. The transportation of wastewater should however be done under
hygienic conditions. The pipes or tracks should be leak proof and the people offering the
exhausting services should wear protective clothing.
2. Odor Control
Wastewater contains a lot of dirty substances that cause a foul smell over time. To ensure that
the surrounding areas are free of the foul smell, odor treatment processes are initiated at the
treatment plant. All odor sources are contained and treated using chemicals to neutralize the
foul smell producing elements. It is the first wastewater treatment plant process and it’s very
important.
The 4 chemical groupings that are used to control odors
Oxidizers
Oxidizing chemicals will oxidize the odor causing compounds into more stable and odor free
compounds. Examples: ozone hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, calcium, hypochlorite potassium,
permanganate.
Oxidation reduction Potential Increasers
Prevent the reduction of sulfates to hydrogen sulfide. Examples: oxygen, nitrate, hydrogen,
peroxide chlorine.
Bactericides
Kill the anaerobic bacteria that create odors while breaking down organic waste. With out these
bacteria the odors will not be produced. Examples: chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, potassium
permanganate, chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorite, oxygen.
pH Modifiers
raising the pH wastewater prevents the offgassing of hydrogen sulfide, kills slime that grows on
sewr piping surfaces. Examples: lime, sodium hydroxide.
3. Screening
This is the next step in wastewater treatment process. Screening involves the removal of large
objects for example nappies, cotton buds, plastics, diapers, rags, sanitary items, nappies, face
wipes, broken bottles or bottle tops that in one way or another may damage the equipment.
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Failure to observe this step, results in constant machine and equipment problems. Specially
designed equipment is used to get rid of grit that is usually washed down into the sewer lines
by rainwater. The solid wastes removed from the wastewater are then transported and
disposed of in landfills.
4. Primary Treatment
This process involves the separation of macrobiotic solid matter from the wastewater. Primary
treatment is done by pouring the wastewater into big tanks for the solid matter to settle at the
surface of the tanks. The sludge, the solid waste that settles at the surface of the tanks, is
removed by large scrappers and is pushed to the center of the cylindrical tanks and later
pumped out of the tanks for further treatment. The remaining water is then pumped for
secondary treatment.
5. Secondary Treatment
Also known as the activated sludge process, the secondary treatment stage involves adding
seed sludge to the wastewater to ensure that is broken down further. Air is first pumped into
huge aeration tanks which mix the wastewater with the seed sludge which is basically small
amount of sludge, which fuels the growth of bacteria that uses oxygen and the growth of other
small microorganisms that consume the remaining organic matter. This process leads to the
production of large particles that settle down at the bottom of the huge tanks. The wastewater
passes through the large tanks for a period of 3-6 hours.
6. Bio-solids handling

The solid matter that settle out after the primary and secondary treatment stages are directed
to digesters. The digesters are heated at room temperature. The solid wastes are then treated
for a month where they undergo anaerobic digestion. During this process, methane gases are
produced and there is a formation of nutrient rich bio-solids which are recycled and dewatered
into local firms. The methane gas formed is usually used as a source of energy at the treatment
plants. It can be used to produce electricity in engines or to simply drive plant equipment. This
gas can also be used in boilers to generate heat for digesters.
7. Tertiary treatment
This stage is similar to the one used by drinking water treatment plants which clean raw water
for drinking purposes. The tertiary treatment stage has the ability to remove up to 99 percent
of the impurities from the wastewater. This produces effluent water that is close to drinking
water quality. Unfortunately, this process tends to be a bit expensive as it requires special
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equipment, well trained and highly skilled equipment operators, chemicals and a steady energy
supply. All these are not readily available.
8. Disinfection
After the primary treatment stage and the secondary treatment process, there are still some
diseases causing organisms in the remaining treated wastewater. To eliminate them, the
wastewater must be disinfected for at least 20-25 minutes in tanks that contain a mixture of
chlorine and sodium hypochlorite. The disinfection process is an integral part of the treatment
process because it guards the health of the animals and the local people who use the water for
other purposes. The effluent (treated waste water) is later released into the environment
through the local water ways.
9. Sludge Treatment
The sludge that is produced and collected during the primary and secondary treatment
processes requires concentration and thickening to enable further processing. It is put into
thickening tanks that allow it to settle down and later separates from the water. This process
can take up to 24 hours. The remaining water is collected and sent back to the huge aeration
tanks for further treatment. The sludge is then treated and sent back into the environment and
can be used for agricultural use.

Wastewater systems
 septic tanks
 aerated wastewater treatment systems (AWTS)
 biological filter system
 composting toilets (dry and wet)
Septic tank
Septic tanks are one of the most common onsite systems used to treat wastewater, but they
provide only limited (primary) treatment through the settling of solids and the flotation of fats
and grease. Effluent from a septic tank is not suitable for irrigation and must only be applied to
land through a covered soil absorption system or a sand mound.

Common problems with septic tanks are:

 unanchored tanks rising out of the ground after rainfall

 stormwater accessing the tank because the tank is too low or run-off is not diverted
 high levels of sludge accumulating from lack of maintenance
 tank size too small for size of house (hydraulic load).
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 Effluent (treated wastewater) from septic tanks may be released onto your property
through:

 amended soil mounds

 sand mounds
 absorption trenches and beds, and
 evapotranspiration absorption beds.

Aerated wastewater treatment systems (awts)

AWTS treat wastewater to a secondary standard (a higher standard than septic tanks and
composting toilets), so that the effluent can be used for irrigation on your property. AWTS use
several pumps and are more complicated than septic tanks, and require more frequent
maintenance.

Wastewater is treated in several compartments. The first is similar to conventional septic tanks,
where solids settle to the bottom and scum floats to the top. The partially clarified wastewater
flows into a second compartment where it is mixed with air to assist bacteria to further break
down solids. A third compartment allows further settling of solids and a final chlorination
compartment allows disinfection.

Common problems with aerated wastewater treatment systems are:

 power disruptions can cause pump burn out and system failure
 stormwater accessing the tank because the tank is too low or run-off is not diverted
 intermittent or low wastewater loads resulting in lower level of treatment
 no service agreement with a qualified service provider for regular inspections.

Biological filter systems

use air to assist microorganisms, worms and beetles to break up organic material in wastewater
with very little or no odor. Typical systems use a single chamber and two pumps, one for wastewater
and one for air.

Common problems with biological filter systems are:

 unanchored tanks rising out of the ground after rainfall

 power disruptions can cause pump burn out and system failure
 stormwater accessing the tank because the tank is too low or run-off is not diverted
 no service agreement with a qualified service provider for regular inspections.
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Composting toilets

use microorganisms to decompose human waste mixed with wood shavings, lawn clippings and
other organic matter into humus. There are two types of composting toilets - dry and wet.

Dry composting toilets collect urine and faeces in a sealed chamber beneath the toilet pedestal,
where microorganisms decompose the mixture of human waste and extra organic matter. About
three-quarters of the material is converted to carbon dioxide and water vapour. Air drawn
through the compost pile removes these gases and assists the microorganisms to break down the
material.

Wet composting systems can be used in conjunction with flushing toilets. Worms and bacteria
work to break down the solids in a similar manner to biological filter systems. Compost is
removed from the base of the pile though a separate chute, and the wastewater that collects at the
base of the tank is either pumped or flows by gravity to a land application area. Wet composting
systems treat all the wastewater from the house and don't need separate greywater management.

Common problems with composting toilets are:

 odours from the compost pile caused by ineffective composting or not enough ventilation
 clogging in compost chamber caused by not regularly removing humus
 the wrong system in wrong location. Wet composting toilets are best located away from a
dwelling, while dry composting toilets are more suitable under houses.

Types of Wastewater Treatment Plants

 Effluent Treatment Plant

Used by some of the leading companies in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, effluent
treatment methods are effective in the removal of non-toxic and toxic chemicals to purify water.
ETPs also aid in the protection of the environment and is the home of wastewater
management and industrial effluents. When manufacturing mass-market drugs, it’s highly
unlikely that you won’t find both contaminants and effluents, which is why water treatments
are necessary. This treatment method removes both toxic and non-toxic materials, dirt, debris,
pollution, grit and polymers from the drugs. As ETPs are essential in the removal of any and all
pollution, this treatment system is also installed to reduce the overall chance of pollution.
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 Sewage Treatment Plant
The process of removing contaminants from household sewage water is referred to as
domestic wastewater treatment. To do this, the process utilizes physical, chemical and biological
methods to remove both physical and biological contaminants from the water. This aids in
producing a waste stream that can be reused in the environment. Doing a pre-treatment process
will help in removing additional materials found in the raw wastewater. The process of straining
the sewage water to remove objects from the system itself results in clean water that’s safe to
consume and use in both homes and businesses.

 Common and Combined Effluent Treatment Plants

Some smaller-scale industries are unable to accommodate treatment systems, which is where
both common and combined effluent treatment plants come in. A CETP is usually placed in the
areas that house small-scale industrial units. The main goal of a CETP is to lower the cost of the
treatments for smaller industries that are individually owned. Both common and combined
effluent treatment plants help in regards to wastewater management without having the need to
spend a large amount of money.

 Activated Sludge Plant

This plant type incorporates a similar method to that of a sewage treatment plant. An activated
sludge treatment plant needs to be maintained on a regular basis in order to prolong its lifespan.
Doing so will not only extend the plant’s life but it will also ensure that the water within is being
treated properly and safely. Examples of the methods used in ASP include conder ASP, bio pure,
diamond vortex, bison, crystal eco and biodigester.

Wastewater Disposal Options

Once wastewater has been treated, it is disposed of by reintroducing it to the environment.
Three methods for disposing of treated wastewater effluent are surface water discharge,
subsurface discharge, and land application for beneficial use.
 Discharge to Surface Waters
Federal, state, and local regulations prohibit the disposal of untreated wastewater into storm
drains or surface waters. In some cases, with a permit, a facility may discharge treated
wastewater into surface waters.
 Subsurface Discharge
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Subsurface discharge occurs on site where wastewater is treated by discharging septic tank
effluent underground where it leaches through a drain field.
 Land Application (Reuse)
In some situations, treated wastewater can be applied to land for irrigation. The small amount
of pollutants remaining in the wastewater after treatment is absorbed by the crop or are
assimilated into the soil structure.