Unit-6.

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Waste Water Disposal

# Necessity and objectives of wastewater disposal:

Sewage conveyed through sewers needs to be disposed before it becomes stale and begins
to cause nuisance. Sewage may be disposed off either without prior treatment or partially
treatment or after full treatment. The process of safely throwing away the sewage so that
there is less risk to the public health is called sewage disposal.

Purpose of sewage disposal:

Following are the main objectives or purpose of sewage disposal:

❖ To maintain sanitary conditions in the area and reduce pollution.

❖ To dispose sewage properly to protect the public and community health from
bad smell of foul gases, mosquito/fly nuisance, bacteria etc. That reduces the
risk of spreading of diseases in the community and protects public health and
environment.
❖ To reduce the chance of pollution on receiving water or land by providing
necessary treatment facilities before disposal of sewage.
❖ To reduce possible contamination of water supplies and bathing areas.
❖ To protect the life of the fish and other aquatic life by allowing treated
sewage into water bodies.
❖ To utilize sewage in irrigation and use as fertilizer for growing crops.

# Methods of sewage disposal:

The disposal of sewage without treatment or after treatment may be carried out by the
following two methods:

1. Sewage disposal by dilution

2. Sewage treatment by Land treatment

# Wastewater disposal by dilution process and essential condition of dilution:

Dilution is the process of sewage by discharging wastewater into recovering water

bodies like streams, river, lake, sea, etc. This method of disposal is only possible where
the natural water body having required discharge is available nearby city or town.
While discharging sewage into water body, it should be ascertained that water is not
polluted to such extent that it becomes unfit for any other use like bathing, drinking,
irrigation, recreational activities, etc. Dilution method is adopted on assumption that

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 there is sufficient dissolved oxygen to fulfill biochemical oxygen of wastewater and
oxidize the organic matter present in wastewater. The water body is self purified during
course of time after disposal of wastewater. This phenomenon is known as self
purification.

Following are the essential conditions for dilution:

➢ The city should be located near large body of water like river, sea or lake.
➢ The sewage reaching the disposal site should be fresh and non-septic.
➢ Amount of solids able to settling and floating matter should be low.
➢ There should be high dissolved oxygen in receiving water body.
➢ The volume of water body should be large and thorough mixing is possible.
➢ The current of water body should be high to prevent the deposition near outfall.
➢ The sewage should not cause harm to aquatic life.
➢ Sewage should not have toxic chemicals from industries.
➢ The receiving water body should not be used as source of water supply for at
least some reasonable distance on downstream from point of sewage disposal.

# Self purification of river/stream:

The automatic purification of natural water bodies after disposal of wastewater is known
as self purification. Initially, when the wastewater or effluent os discharged onto a natural
stream or river, it gets polluted. However, during course of time the water body itself gets
purified, this process is known as self purification of river. Self purification or river is a
complex process in which physical, chemical and biological operations and process works
simultaneously. When wastewater discharged into stream or river, bacteria break down
the organic matter into ammonia, nitrates, sulphates, carbon dioxide etc. During this
process, the dissolved oxygen content of river is diminishing and the deficiency of dissolved
oxygen is fulfilled by re-aeration process. Following are the factors which affecting self
purification of rivers/streams:

1. Dilution
2. Velocity (Current)
3. Action of sunlight
4. Temperature
5. Sedimentation
6. Oxidation
7. Reduction

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Dilution:

When sewage is discharged into the stream, it gets rapidly dispersed and diluted which
results in diminishing the concentration of organic matter and reduces the potential
nuisance of sewage.

Current:

Current of water bodies cause sewage thoroughly mixed as well as aeration take place and
supply oxygen to maintain aerobic condition where as insufficiency current result
deposition of sewage matter. On the other hand slow current cause sedimentation and
growth of algae increases resulting production of oxygen.

Sunlight:

Ultra violet rays from sunlight kills pathogenic bacteria. Again, sunlight helps for algal
growth. Algae produce oxygen in presence of sunlight by photosynthesis and utilize the
nutrients in sewage. Oxygen produced by algae will help to maintain aerobic conditions
that enhance self-purification process of stream or river.

Temperature:

At low temperature, the rate of decomposition i.e biological and chemical activity is slower
and microbial activity is higher at higher temperature but depletion of DO increase with
temperature cause anaerobic reaction. Hence temperature is a major factor to assist the
self purification of river.

Sedimentation:

If the water bodies have low current, sedimentation of heavier suspended particles of
wastewater takes place in the bottom of stream or river. Organic portion of settled material
follow anaerobic decomposition at bottom that also helps to increase self purification
capacity of water body.

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Oxidation:

Aerobic bacteria perform oxidation of organic matter utilizing dissolved oxygen present in
water bodies. Rate of oxidation is faster at higher temperature and low at lower
temperature. The rate of oxidation also depends on the chemical composition of organic
matter. Due to oxidation of organic matter dissolved oxygen present in the water body is
reduced. This is again fulfilled by aeration of water body by wind and oxygen produced by
algae.

Reduction:

Organic matters settled on the bottom of stream or river is reduced to liquild and gases due
to hydrolysis either chemically or biologically. Anaerobic bacteria are responsible for
splitting the complex organic matters to liquid and gases thus make a way for their
stabilization by oxidation. Hence, reduction assists the self purification of stream or river.

# Oxygen Sag Curve:

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As sewage is discharged into river or stream, depletion of DO starts in order to meet BOD of
the sewage. This is termed as deoxygenation and closely follows the progress of BOD of
polluted water. The variation of the rate of deoxygenation with respect to time is shown in
curve 2 of deoxygenation curve in figure. The rate of deoxigenation depends on amount of
organic matter remaining to be oxidizing at any time ‘t’, time available for decomposition
and temperature of diluting water.

Due to deoxygenation, the DO of the water decreases and also oxygen is absorbed from
atmosphere when DO falls below its saturation level. Oxygen is also contributed by green
plants (i.e. algae) by photosynthesis process. This absorption of oxygen by stream or river
is termed as reoxygenation or reaeration. The variation of rate of reoxygenation with
respect to time is shown in curve 3 and reoxygenation curve. The rate of deoxygenation
depends upon depth, velocity, temperature of receiving water and DO saturation level.

Reoxygenation and deoxygenation occur simultaneously in any polluted stream or river

exposed to atmosphere. The ordinate below deoxygenation curve indicate the DO content
remaining in the stream water after satisfy of BOD. The ordinate below reoxygenation
curve indicate the oxygen absorbed by the stream or river. The algebraic sum of these two
curves gives a curve 1 called oxygen sag curve. This represents the DO deficit at different
time.

The oxygen sag curve shows increase in DO deficit at the beginning and when oxygenation
and deoxygenation are equal, the maximum deficit is obtained and after this point oxygen
deficit decreases till it become zero.

# Wastewater disposal by land treatment:

This is the process of applying sewage effluent (treated or partially treated) on the land
where it percolates into ground and a part of it evaporates. During percolation, suspended
particles are caught in the soil voids are oxidized aerobically, if proper aeration is done.

Suitability for land treatment:

❖ If there is no water body nearby the community for dilution.

❖ Where high rainfall does not occur in the area, sewage may be uses for irrigation.
❖ Water available in the river is not sufficient for dilution.
❖ When ground water table is much deep so that no chance of ground water
contamination.
❖ When soil is porous and permeable.
❖ When plenty land is available in cheap.
❖ Where there is good market and return for vegetable.
❖ When the river is usually dry.

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Advantages:

❖ It is a natural method in which we do not add any chemicals.

❖ Possible in absence of natural water bodies nearby city.
❖ Natural water bodies can be prevented from pollution.
❖ If land is nearer and cheaper, land treatment is economical.
❖ No skill manpower and heavy equipment is required.
❖ Sewage can be used as fertilizer.

Disadvantage:

❖ Large area of land required hence can’t be used where land is cost is high.
❖ Cannot use in the area with high rainfall.
❖ Cannot use in the area with less porous (Clayey soil).
❖ Possibility of ground water pollution if ground water level us shallow.
❖ Chances of spreading diseases.
❖ Proper supervision is necessary otherwise sewage sickness problem may arise
resulting overflow of sewage.

# Sewage Sickness:

After continuous application of sewage in land, the pores of the soil get clogged. Due to
clogging of pores aeration and then oxidation is prevented. The land is unable to take any
further load of sewage. The phenomenon of soil being clogged and loses its capacity of
receiving the sewage load is called sewage sickness.

Prevention of sewage sickness:

1. Pretreatment of Sewage:
❖ By providing primary treatment facilities like screening and sedimentation to
the sewage, before its application to land to remove the suspended solids can
reduce possibilities of sewage sickness. Removal of suspended material will
reduce chances of clogging.

2. Under drainage of soil:

Provision of sufficient under drainage system to collect the excessive sewage
quantity can prevent chances of sewage sickness.

3. Rotation of crops:
By planting different crops on the same land by rotation system of crops will reduce
chances of sewage sickness. The soil will be aerated and will utilize the different
fertilizing elements of sewage.

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 4. Provision of extra land and rotation of land:
By giving rest on the land i.e. intermittent application of sewage on land will reduce
chances of sewage sickness. Some portion of land should be kept reserved in order
to use the same in resting period. Enough area will be required for this purpose. The
land should be ploughed thoroughly during the non supply period so that soil gets
aerated.

5. Proper choice of land:

The land selected should be sandy, loamy or alluvial soil having enough pores. The
soil should be frequently ploughed and sewage should be applied on rotation and
not in excess amount.

# Method of Land Treatment:

Sewage mainly contains water which can be used for irrigation purposes after
treatment. The fertilizing value of sewage is mote because it contains nitrogen,
potash and phosphate. Land treatment is done by the one of the following methods:

1. Rapid Infiltration: (Infiltration Percolation)

• Great basin or pond is prepared where sewage is applied and allowed to
percolate down as shown in figure.
• If the soil is very porous then sewage is allowed to percolate down.
• Rate of infiltration is high (6 to 25 mm/min).
• Two or more basins are used for alternative use which gives rest in order
to maintain adequate infiltration capacity.

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 2. Overland Flow:
• Controlled amount of sewage is applied on ground having slope of 2 to
8% where it flows down from vegetative area and appears as runoff
which is collected than disposed off.
• Used when porosity of land is very low.

3. Sewage Farming: (Irrigation)

a) Sprinkler Irrigation: (Spray Irrigation)
• In this method, effluent sewage is spread over the land through
nozzle of pipe under pressure.
• If sufficient head available and waste water have no any solid
matters then only it can be sprayed under pressure through
pipes fitted at tips of pipes.

b) Sub Surface irrigation:

• In this method sewage is applied directly to root zone of the
plants through perforated pipe or pipe with open joints.
• Pipe network laid about 30cm below the ground level as
shown in figure. The sewage rises up due to capillary action
and utilized by plant.

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 c) Surface Irrigation:
• Sewage is directly applied in soil. It is widely adopted and is
following types:
1. Basin Method:
• Basin are constructed around the plant and are filled with
sewage. This is suitable for orchards and fruits gardens.

2. Flooding Methods:
• In this method, land is divided into rectangular plots and
sewage is flooded over these plots at depth of 30 to 60 cm as
shown in figure.

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 3. Ridge and furrow method:
Ridge and furrow are formed in this method.
• Furrows are the ditches of depth 30 to 50 cm and width of 120
to 150 cm.
• Ridges have length 15 to 30 m and width 120 to 250 cm.

# Comparison of Natural Disposal Methods:

Following table clearly illustrates differences and compare between two natural sewage
disposal methods:

S.N. Dilution Land Treatment

1. Large volume of natural water are Large area of land is required.
required.
2. Less costly if city/town lies close In urban areas, land cost is high therefore
vicinity of natural waters. costly method.
3. Income cannot be generated. Income can be generated by sewage
farming.
4. Complete treatment or pretreatment is Raw or primary treated sewage can be
required to meet the effluent quality applied for sewage farming.
standards.
5. Pumping is not required because Pumping may be required.
water bodies flow through less
contours of area.
6. Downstream water user can be Can increase the yield of crops but may
affected. cause serious health hazard if practiced
without caution.
7. Recreational use of natural water will Ground water may get polluted.
be finished.

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