KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY

Dhulikhel, Kavre
Field Report
Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ambient Air Quality
Measurement, and Sound Level Measurement

By

Nirmal Kumar Shahi

B.Tech in Environmental Engineering

To

Dr. Eng. Nawaraj Khatiwada, Asso. Prof.

Department of Environment Science and Engineering

Dec 6, 2012
 Table of Contents
Table of Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)
1 Introduction
1.1 Present Scenario of Kathmandu Valley
1.2 Objective
1.3 Study Area
1.3.1 Guheswori Wastewater Treatment Plant
1.3.2 Activated Sludge System in Guheswori WWTP
2 Operational Challenges
3 Conclusion and Recommendation
Ambient Air Quality Measurement (AAQM)
1 Introduction
2 Objective
3 Study Area
3.1 Pashupati Area
4 High Volume Air Sampler (HVS)
4.1 Principle
4.2 Features
4.3 Use
5 Conclusion and Recommendation
Sound Level Measurement
1 Introduction
2 Objective
3 Study Area
3.1 Pashupati Area
4 Sound Level Meter
5 Conclusion and recommendation
Kathmandu Fun Valley
References
List of Figures
Fig.1 Guheswori Wastewater Treatment Plant

Fig.2 Schematic diagram of Guheswori Wastewater Treatment Plant

Fig.3 Schematic diagram of High Volume Air Sampler.

Fig. 4 Monarch 322 Sound Level Meter and Software, that upload the reading to PC.

List of Tables
Table 1: Design and operational parameters of Guheswori WWTP (BASP, 2002; Shah, 2002; Darnal,

2002 and Khatiwada et al.)

 Acknowledgement
I would like to grateful to Dr. Eng. Nawa Raj Khatiwada. Asso. Prof., Department of Environment Science
and Engineering for providing such a wonderful opportunity and it’s our great fortune working under
him. I would like to thank staff of GWWTP and air pollution monitoring for their kind support and
cooperation during our field visit.
 Wastewater Treatment Plant

1 Introduction
Wastewater has historically been considered a nuisance to be discarded in the cheapest, latest
offensive manner possible. This means the use of one-site disposal system such as the pit privy and
direct discharge into lakes and streams. Over the last century it has been recognized that this approach
produces an undesirable impact on the environment. This leads to variety of treatment techniques that
characterizes the municipal treatment system. Today clean water is a scarce commodity; it should be
treated as such and conserved and reuse.

In Kathmandu, waste water is produced from households, hospitals, hotels, educational centers,
commercial complexes and industries such as carpet industries, garments industries, battery factory.
The idea of waste water treatment in Kathmandu started to come up some 25 years ago. Binnie &
Partners, U.S.A, after a survey of Kathmandu Valley, recommended the method of stabilization pond
system for the treatment of waste water in Kathmandu. On the basis of the recommendation, treatment
plants were built with a total design capacity of about 17 million liters per day. Unfortunately, all of
them stopped functioning after a couple of years (KCM).

Today the amount of wastewater generated in Kathmandu city has increased tremendously. A study in
this connection is urgently needed. The actual amount of waste water generated in Kathmandu has
been ascertained. Although treatment of waste water was expected during the establishment of
industries, hotels, hospitals and educational institutes, nobody seemed to have worried about it. Waste
water from a large number of hotels, various small and large industries, households etc. are more or less
directly discharged into nearby streams and rivers without any treatment. Information about the waste
water thus discharged is also not available.

1.1 Present Scenario of Kathmandu Valley

Waste water treatment had been a neglected issue in the past. Some twenty-five years ago, attempt to
treat an estimated amount of 16.5 MLD ( Dhobighat plant 15.4 MLD and Kodku plant 1.5 MLD) from the
two cities Kathmandu and Lalitpur was made (KMC). They became not operational decades ago due to
operational inefficiency, poor financial management, lack of trained personnel, lack of clear concept of
cost recovery through quality services and so on. Huge amount of money and efforts have been wasted.
Because of our sad experiences, the question of wastewater treatment has become a topic of idle
gossip, a subject of academic discussion and a programme of model experiments.

Today, waste water of all kinds is discharged directly into the two main rivers Bagmati and Bishnumati
and their tributaries. Bagmati River being the largest river in the capital city of Kathmandu valley
comprises of 57 rivers and rivulets as its tributaries. It is the only river covering a catchment area of
nearly 1000 km2 where more than 5 million people live (Khatiwada et al.). Nearly 60% of the households
are estimated to have direct connection with the sewer system. Septage from the sewer canals are also
directly discharged into the above rivers. Grey water and other fluid from an estimated number of
40,000 septic tanks also flow directly into the rivers. Water of the two rivers, once considered as pure
and sacred, is now highly contaminated and polluted.

Presently, whatever we have now are the Guheswori Waste Water Treatment Plant built basically under
a great pressure from religious community and one model waste water treatment plant of KMC itself.

1.2 Objective
 To get the knowledge regarding the wastewater treatment plant.
 To know about operational parameters of wastewater treatment plant.
 To know about operating features, process of wastewater treatment plant.

1.3 Study Area

1.3.1 Guheswori Wastewater Treatment Plant
Kathmandu valley currently has five municipal wastewater treatment plants, among which Ghuheswori
Wastewater Treatment Plant (GWWTP) is, the only wastewater treatment plant in operation. The
treatment system involve is the activated sludge system at Guheshwori (Green et al., 2003). Guheshwori
wastewater treatment plant is located at the bank of the Bagmati River on the northeastern part of
Kathmandu City. It is constructed at the initiative of the government to clean up the Bagmati River. The
treatment plant site covers an area of 5 hectares. A chain of interceptor drains along the river corridor
to check haphazard disposal of the raw sewage was installed (Khatiwada et al.).The plant treats the
untreated wastewater generated by the household, industries and other institutions of Gokarna,
Chabahil, Bouddha and Jorpati. It serves an estimated population of around 198,000. It has a design
capacity of 0.19 m3/s.

Fig.1 : Guheswori Wastewater Treatment Plant

1.3.2 Activated Sludge System in Guheswori WWTP

The activated sludge wastewater treatment process is identified by three major characteristics: a
biological reactor for the decomposition of degradable organic chemicals, a settling tank for the removal
of solids and biomass from the water, and a recycle stream from the settling tank to the reactor to
ensure sufficient levels of microorganisms. This facility provides pre-treatment of wastewater with a
mechanical bar rack and a grit chamber.
The Guheshwori WWTP lacks primary clarification tanks. The major components of the treatment plant
include the primary and secondary units. The bar rack eliminates large objects from the influent, and
inorganic particles like sand are removed in the grit chamber. The wastewater at Guheshwori WWTP is
biologically treated in two carrousel 15 type oxidation ditches, each with three aerators. From the
oxidation ditches, wastewater flows into two secondary clarifiers for the settling of solids. Up to 2,500
MLSS sludge is pumped from the clarifiers back to the oxidation ditches to be metabolized by
microorganisms, and any excess sludge is wasted to one of fourteen drying beds (Green et al., 2003).
Table 1 display displays design and operational parameters of Guheswori WWTP.

Fig .2 Schematic diagram Guheswori Wastewater Tratment Plant.

Table 1: Design and operational parameters of Guheswori WWTP ( BASP, 2002; Shah, 2002; Darnal,

2002 and Khatiwada et al.)

Guheswori WWTP Details
General
Service Area 5.37 km2
Service Population (1996) 58,000
Projected population (2021) 198,000
Wastewater Produced 80 L/cap/d
Energy Consumption 2.3 kW-hr/kg BOD
Annual Operation Costs $167,000 US
Design Flow 0.19 m3/s
Oxidation ditch
Carrousel type oxidation ditch (80x20m) 2 units
3
Capacity, m 10400
HRT, hr 15.2
Total Oxygen Demand, kg/hr 355
MLSS Concentration, mg/L 3500
F/M 0.34
Re-circulation Demand, % 67-100
Power Required to Drive Aerator, kWh 375
Secondary clarifier
Diameter of 27,m 2 units
Capacity 1650 m3
HRT 4.8 hr
Drying Beds (27m x 74m) 2 units
Drying Period 2-3 weeks
Sludge Production 40 m3/d
Grit and Sand 3 m3/d
Screenings 2-3 m3/d

2. Operational Challenges
The river systems in the valley serve as important resource in keeping the overall environment and the
micro-climate in good condition. The rivers are virtually now serving as open sewers, the water pollution
is causing tremendous environmental and health impacts to the inhabitants.
The treatment plant does not have a separate collection system for storm water and sewage, so, during
monsoon, the wastewater flow attains a maximum of 0.5 m 3/s, gets overflowed and hence is mixed
directly with the river (Khatiwada et al.). The design location of a grid chamber seems inappropriate as
the influent water has to flow from lower level to the higher level with the help of pump. The system
also lack primary sedimentation tank. Nitrogen and phosphorous removable is not possible because it
lack tertiary treatment unit. Routine maintenance of the units including the pumps and other
accessories was missing and some of the equipment’s were also observed in critical condition. The
frequent power cut has also added a big burden in the operation and maintenance of the plant.
3. Conclusion and Recommendation
Water of the bagmati River, once considered as pure and sacred, is now highly contaminated and
polluted. In such a situation, every household, every industry, every hospital, every hotel, every
educational institution, every commercial complex, should have paid attention and realized as a serious
problem. But, unfortunately, this is not so. We thus seriously lack public awareness regarding waste
water treatment. More public awareness activities will be fruitless if it is not accompanied by a
substantial investment from the local and central government and compulsory participation of all
sectors responsible for the generation of waste water. There are lots of challenges regarding operation
which needs to be addressed.
 Ambient Air Quality Measurement (AAQM)
1. Introduction
Air, mixture of gases comprising the Earth’s atmosphere. The mixture contains a group of gases of nearly
constant concentrations and a group with concentrations that are variable in both space and time. Dry
air contains roughly (by volume) 78.09%nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93% argon, 0.039% carbon dioxide,
and small amounts of other gases. Air also contains a variable amount of water vapor, on average
around 1%. While air content and atmospheric pressure vary at different layers, air suitable for the
survival of terrestrial plants and terrestrial animals is currently only known to be found in Earth's
troposphere and artificial atmospheres.
Air pollution is the presence of undesirable material in air, in quantities larger enough to produce
harmful effects. The undesirable materials may damage human health, vegetation, human property, or
the global environment as well as create aesthetic insult in the form of brown or hazy air or unpleasant
smells.

2. Objective
 To know about working principle of High Volume Air Sampler (HVAS).
 To know about the measurement procedure and criteria regarding ambient air quality.

3. Study Area
3.1 Pashupati Ares
It is a holy place of Hindus. It covers the area of Pashupatinath Temple, Devpatan, Jaya Bageshwori,
Gaurighat, Kutamhahal, Gaushala, Pinglasthan, and Sleshmantak Jungle area. There are 492 temples,
and about one thousand Shivalingas.

4. High Volume Air Sampler (HVS)

High volume air sampler is basic instrument used to monitor Ambient Air Quality. In HVS provision have
been made for simultaneously sampling of gaseous pollutant like SO2, NO2, H2S, Cl2, NH3, O3, CS2 &
marcapton ect.
The sampler uses a continuous duty blower to suck in an air stream. When fitted with a particle size
classifier, it separates particles greater than 10μm size from the air stream. The air stream is then passed
through a filter paper to collect particles lesser than 10μm size (PM10). Gravimetric measurements yield
values of suspended particulate matter (SPM), as the sum of the two fractions, and PM10, the material
retained on the filter paper.
The sampler can also be used to sample gaseous pollutants. A stream of unfiltered air is bubbled
through a reagent, which either reacts chemically with the gas of interest or into which the gas is
dissolved. Wet chemical techniques are then used to measure the concentration of the gas. The HVS
that was used in Pashupati area have following components:
 Particle Size Classifier
 Filter Assembly
 Air Blower and Flow Measurement
 Gaseous Sampling Attachment
 Chemical Characterization of PM10
 Fig.3 Schematic diagram of High Volume Air Sampler.

4.1 Principle
In this Sampler Air borne suspended dust is measured by passing air at a high flow rate of 1.1 to 1.7
m3/min. through a high efficiency filter paper which retains the dust particles. Amount of particulates
collected on filter paper is measuring change in weight of filter paper.

4.2 Features
 Unique flow measurement system using an orifice plate directly calibrated in m3/min. this is
incorporated in the filter holder casting which eliminates leakage while sampling and correct
flow reading are obtained on the manometer provided.
 Cabinet is anodized to withstand weathering effects, thus unit can be operated in corrosive
environment without any unwanted fears.
 Gable roof is detachable to provide more portability of systems with greater ease.
 Provisions are made in the cabinet so that carbon brush of the blower can be replaced without
dismantling the blower.
 EACH unit is equipped with standard accessories like voltage stabilizer, 24 hrs. Programmable
timer for automatic switch on & off of machine.

4.3 Use
HVS is used to determine the concentration of suspended particle by Gravimetric method by drawing
known volume of Air thorough a glass fiber filter of known weight & reweighing of filter after sampling.
The gaseous pollutant can be collected and further analysis will carry out to know concentration of
gaseous pollutant in air.

5. Conclusion and Recommendation

Air is one of the most essential component of environment. Without air, life is impossible in this world.
Today’s world, air is getting polluted day by day. Air pollution is considered as global issue and as main
factor for climate change globally. Thus there need to take immediate action regarding air pollution. Air
pollution cannot be avoided completely but can be reduced.
During our field visit to Pashupati Area, what we found was, one single HVS was used for all the
parameters. Due this there will be no continuous monitoring of different parameters. Thus it would be
better to use one HVS for one parameter measurement. And due to power cut they lack 24 hr air quality
monitoring.
 Sound Level Meter
1. Introduction
Noise is typically defines as “unwanted sound”, sound being the human sensation of pressure
fluctuations in the air. Sound levels are expressed in decibels (dB) on a logarithmic scale, where
0 dB is normally the “threshold of hearing” and 120 dB is normally the “threshold of pain”.
Depending upon the circumstances and characteristics of the sound in question, a change in
level of 3 dB is just perceptible, whereas increases of 10 dB is perceived as a subjective doubling
of loudness (as noise is measured on a logarithmic scale). The frequency of the sound is the rate
at which a sound wave oscillates, and is expressed in Hertz (Hz). The frequency of sound
produces its distinctive tone. The rumble of distinct thunder has a low frequency, while a whistle
has a high frequency. The normal range of hearing for a healthy young person extends from
approximately 20Hz up to 20,000 Hz. The sensitivity of the human ear to different frequencies in
the adult range is not uniform.

2. Objective
 To know about working principle of noise or sound level meter.
 To know about the measuring processes.
3. Study Area
3.1 Pashupati Area
It is a holy place of Hindus. It covers the area of Pashupatinath Temple, Devpatan, Jaya
Bageshwori, Gaurighat, Kutamhahal, Gaushala, Pinglasthan, and Sleshmantak Jungle area. There
are 492 temples, and about one thousand Shivalingas.

4. Sound Level Meter

A sound level meter or sound meter is an instrument which measures sound pressure level,
commonly used in noise pollution studies for the quantification of different kinds of noise,
especially from industries, environment and aircraft noise. However, the reading from a sound
level meter does not correlate well to human-perceived loudness, which is better measure by a
loudness meter.
The meter use during field visit is Monarch 322 sound level meter. And its features are as below:
 32,000 Record Datalogger
 IEC 651 Type 2
 4 Digit and Bargraph Display
 A and C Weighting
 RS-232 Interface
 Fig. 4 Monarch 322 Sound Level Meter and Software, that upload the reading to PC.

Monarch 322 sound level meter consists following components:

 SE- Windows Software
 RS- 232 communication cable
 Calibrating Device
 Wind speed and sound preventer

5. Conclusion and Recommendation

There was sound level meter for measuring the noise but they were not using that device for
specific source. They lack 24 hr noise monitoring and single meter is used for whole pashupati
area, due to which there is lack of data consistency and accuracy. Thus this short of problems
should be address immediately.
 Kathmandu Fun Valley
Location: Palanse, Bhaktapur

Area: 60-65 ropani

Cost: 16,00,00,000 NRs.

Employees: 55-60

No. of pools: 3

Daily water consumption: 45000000 L (45MLD)

Water source: boring of underground water, recycled water treatment

 References
Davis, M. L., and Cornwell, D. A.,(2010) Introduction to Environmental Engineering, (4th ed) Tata
McGraw Hill, New Delhi.

Green, H., Poh, S. C., and Richards, A., (2003) Wastewater Treatment in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Khatiwada, N. R., Bista, K. R., and Kharel, T., Operational Challenges of Guheshwori Wastewater
Treatment Plant.

Kenneth, M. H., Isabelle, M. I., and Pankow, J. F., (1992), High-Volume Air Sampler for Particle
and Gas Sampling, Environ. Sci. Technol. 26(5)

KMC (Kathmandu Metropolitan City ), Public-Private Partnership Water Supply and Wastewater
Treatment in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Nevers, N., Air pollution Control Engineering, (2nd ed) McGraw Hill, New York.

Safety and Environment: http://www.consultnet.ie/occupational%20noise.htm