3.

3 - Sedimentation
A water treatment plant has a flow rate of 0.6 m3/sec. The settling basin at the plant is 20 m
long, 3 m tall and 6 m wide.
i. Will the particles that have a settling velocity of 0.004 m/s be completely removed?
ii. If not, what percent of the particles will be removed?
iii. What is the length of the basin needed to remove 100% of the particles.
Solution
(i) Vsc = Q/As = 0.6 / (20 x 6) = 0.005 m/s
 Since Vsc > Vs → particles will not be completely removed.

(ii) Percent removed = (Vs / Vsc) x 100 = 0.004/0.005 x 100% = 80%

(iii) To remove 100% of the particles, 𝑉𝑉𝑠𝑠 < 𝑉𝑉𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠

 Vsc = Q/As = 0.004
 ∴ As = 150 m2
 150 = L x 6
 ∴ L = 25 m
Design a rectangular sedimentation tank to treat 2.4 million liters of raw water per day.
The detention period may be assumed to be 3 hours.
A suspension of discrete particles is to be settled in an ideal sedimentation tank
having a surface area of 10m2 and a flow of 3 MGD. If the specific gravity of the
particles is 2.6 and the water temperature is 35oC, determine the diameter hundred
percent of particle which will be settled in tank.
𝑔𝑔
At T = 35oC: 𝜇𝜇 = 0.723 × 10−3 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃. 𝑠𝑠; ρ = 994𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘/𝑚𝑚3 𝑉𝑉𝑠𝑠 = 𝜌𝜌𝑝𝑝 − 𝜌𝜌𝑤𝑤 𝑑𝑑2
18𝜇𝜇
Solution
6 3.78 𝑙𝑙 1 𝑚𝑚3 1 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 1 ℎ𝑟𝑟
Q = 3 MGD =3 × 10 × × × × = 0.131 m3/s
1 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 1000𝑙𝑙 24 ℎ𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 3600 𝑠𝑠
𝑄𝑄
𝑉𝑉𝑆𝑆 = =0.0131 m/s
𝐴𝐴𝑠𝑠

𝑔𝑔
𝑉𝑉𝑠𝑠 = 𝜌𝜌𝑝𝑝 − 𝜌𝜌𝑤𝑤 𝑑𝑑 2
18𝜇𝜇
9.81 2
0.0131 = 2600 − 994 𝑑𝑑
18(0.723 × 10−3 )
d = 1.040 x 10-4 m
By referring to Table 5.11, propose the dimension of a RECTANGULAR sedimentation tank and check its
Surface Overflow Rate.

Requirements:
1. Peak flow :- 5 MLD
2. Length : Width :- Minimum allowable
3. Water depth :- Minimum allowable
4. Width : Depth :- Maximum allowable
By referring to Table 5.11, propose the dimension of a CIRCULAR sedimentation tank and check its
Surface Overflow Rate.

Requirements:
1. Peak flow : 5 MLD
2. Side water depth : Minimum allowable
Check the weir loading rate for the proposed rectangular sedimentation tank.