Module 1: Introduction to

Wastewater Treatment
 Dissolved Oxygen for Aquatic Life

DO depends on temperature and flow

• Cold water can retain MORE dissolved oxygen
• Warm water can retain LESS
• Turbulent flow adds more oxygen
• For aquatic life, DO should be at least 5 mg/L

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 Effects of Organic Waste Discharge

• Oxygen utilization by aerobic bacteria

• Odor production by anaerobic bacteria

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Oxygen Utilization by Aerobic Microbes

Organic waste discharged Aquatic organisms

to receiving stream. requiring oxygen to
survive die off or migrate.

Aerobic microorganisms In the absence of oxygen,

use up oxygen to anaerobic microorganisms
metabolize organic waste. dominate.

Biological activity creates Anaerobic activity causes

oxygen deficit in stream. putrification and odors

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Wastewater Collection and Conveyance System

Collection System Components

Pumping
Station
Manhole

Gravity
Force Sewer
Main
Gravity
Sewer

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 Wastewater Treatment Processes
Preliminary Primary Secondary
Treatment Treatment Treatment
• Screening • Sedimentation and Flotation • Biological Treatment
• Grit removal • Sedimentation
• Pre-Aeration
• Flow Metering and Sampling

Tertiary (Advanced) Solids

Disinfection
Treatment Treatment
• Chemical Phosphorous • Digestion
Removal • Disposal
• Biological Nutrient Removal
• Multimedia Filtration
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 Wastewater Treatment Processes

Preliminary Primary Secondary

Treatment Treatment Treatment
• Screening
• Grit removal
• Pre-Aeration
• Flow Metering and Sampling

Tertiary (Advanced) Solids

Disinfection
Treatment Treatment

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 Flow Metering

Flow metering is important as discharge quality limits are based

on flow ratio to stream flow.
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Preliminary and Primary Treatment

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 Wastewater Treatment Processes

Preliminary Primary Secondary

Treatment Treatment Treatment
• Sedimentation and Flotation

Tertiary (Advanced) Solids

Disinfection
Treatment Treatment

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 Primary Clarifier

Primary Clarifier

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 Wastewater Treatment Processes

Preliminary Primary Secondary

Treatment Treatment Treatment
• Biological Treatment
• Sedimentation

Tertiary (Advanced) Solids

Disinfection
Treatment Treatment

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Fixed Film Biological Treatment Process

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Suspended Growth Process Schematic

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 Wastewater Treatment Processes

Preliminary Primary Secondary

Treatment Treatment Treatment

Tertiary (Advanced) Solids

Disinfection
Treatment Treatment
• Chemical Phosphorous
Removal
• Biological Nutrient Removal
• Multimedia Filtration
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Biological Phosphorus Removal Schematic

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Chemical Precipitation Schematic

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Denitrification Process Schematic

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 Wastewater Treatment Processes

Preliminary Primary Secondary

Treatment Treatment Treatment

Tertiary (Advanced) Solids

Disinfection
Treatment Treatment

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 Disinfection

• Necessary to reduce disease causing

pathogens
• Majority of plants use some form of
chlorination
• Ultra-violet light disinfection becoming more
popular due to security and safety issues with
chlorine

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 Solids Treatment

Primary Secondary
Treatment Treatment

Solids
Treatment
• Digestion
• Disposal

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 Disposal

• Stream discharge
• Land disposal

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