SANTOS, MARK O.

APRIL 4, 2022
ME 453 – ME 42S1 ENGR. J-MARC DIMALIBOT
ACT NO.1

REFLECTION ABOUT WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

DURING THE FIRST VIDEO, WE HAVE TAUGHT ABOUT THE PROCESS OF TREATING WASTEWATER
AND WHERE IT ENDS UP BEING TREATED. THEY PROVIDED A SHORT CLIP WHERE THE
WASTEWATER TRAVELS THROUGH A LARGE PIPE BEFORE IT ARRIVES AT TO THE PLANT. IT
SHOWED THAT THEY REMOVE IMPURITIES FROM THE WASTEWATER BEFORE THEY DISCHARGE
IT BACK INTO THE ENVIRONMENT. IF THIS WASTEWATER IS NOT TREATED, THEN NATURE AND
HUMAN HEALTH CAN BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED. FOR THE FIRST STEP OF WASTEWATER
TREATMENT, IT PASSES THROUGH A BAR SCREEN TO REMOVE UNTREATABLE MATERIALS LIKE
PLASTIC, TRASH, RAGS AND OTHER LARGE SOLIDS. I NOTICED THAT SCREENING RAKES ARE
DAMAGED BY CORROSION. AFTER THE SCREENING PROCESS, WASTEWATER WILL TRAVEL TO
THE PUMPING STATION TO PROCEED TO GRIT REMOVAL AND BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT. NEXT IN
THE PROCESS, WASTEWATER MOVES INTO THE PRIMARY CLARIFIERS, WHERE BACTERIA AND
OTHER SOLIDS ARE SETTLED OUT. THE SUSPENDED SOLIDS WILL EVENTUALLY DECAY AND
PROVIDE OXYGEN FOR PLANTS AND ANIMALS LIVING IN THE WATER. AT THIS STAGE, THEY WILL
POUR CHLORINE INTO THE WATER OR EXPOSE IT TO ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT FOR DISINFECTION OF
BACTERIA. FINALLY, IN THE LAST STAGE OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT, SLUDGE DEWATERING
IS USED FOR MINIMIZING THE WASTE BY VOLUME FOR THE PREPARATION OF RELEASING IT BACK
INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.