Dr Bharath G

Assistant professor

Department of Environmental Studies

University of Delhi
 Wastewater treatment/STP plant

• Grit

• Suspended particles

• Dissolved solids

• Pathogens
 Steps
• Preliminary treatment
• Grit(Plastics, Coffee beans, sand, etc..)
• Gravity based flow generally
• Pumping
• Primary treatment
• Sedimentation
• Suspended particles
• Secondary treatment
• Biological-Suspended growth
• Activated sludge process
• Aerated lagoons
• Stabilization pond
• Dissolved organics
• Secondary sedimentation
• Tertiary treatment
• Nutrients removal
• Disinfection
• Sludge management
 Tertiary treatment
• Filtration

• Coagulation

• GAC

• Nutrient removal
• Ammonia stripping
• Phosphorus precipitation

• Modified biological methods

 Pre-treatment

• Lift station

• Bar rack- floating particles removal

• Grit removal—Sand

• Grit occupy space--Volume decreases

 Preliminary treatment
• Pumping station

• Flow measurement

• Suspended particles
 Pumping station

Dry well pump

Wet well pump

 Types of pumps
• Non-clog centrifugal pump

• Archimedes screw
 Design considerations: no. of pumping stations
• The general practice 3 pumps for small capacity pumping stations

• 5 pumps for large pumping stations

• Capacity of first pump always based on DWF

• Second pump always double the capacity of first one

• Third one triple the capacity of first one

• Install later based on population and plant

 Flow measurement
• Based on flow decide how many aeration pumps required
• HRT calculation
• Location at bar screen/grit chamber after
• At pumping stations
• Q=V. A = V/Time
• Magnetic flow meters/electromagnetic flow meters are used to measure the
flow rate of conductive fluids based on Faraday’s Law of Electromagnetic
Induction.

• E=B⋅v⋅d
• E = Induced voltage (proportional to flow rate)
• B = Magnetic field strength
• v = Fluid velocity
• d = Distance between electrodes

As a conductive fluid passes through a magnetic field generated by the sensor,

it induces a voltage. The voltage is directly proportional to the fluid velocity,
which allows the meter to determine the flow rate.
Parshall flume method

Ultra sonication
• The flow rate (Q) in a Parshall flume is calculated using the empirical equation:
• Q=CHan
• Q = Flow rate (in cubic meters per second, m³/s)
• C & n = Calibration constants (dependent on the flume size)
• Hₐ = Measured water depth (m)

• Example:
• Let's assume we have a 6-inch Parshall flume used in a wastewater treatment plant
to measure influent flow.
• From standard tables for a 6-inch Parshall flume:
• C=0.145
• n=1.55
• If the measured water depth (Ha​) at the flume is 0.3 meters (30 cm), the flow rate is
calculated as:
• Q=0.145×(0.3)1.55
• Q=0.145×0.129=0.0187m3/s
Bar racks and screens

Q=O.3 m/S
 Grit removal
• Sand, dust, bones, seeds, egg shells, etc.

• To protect equipment
• To prevent clogging of pipes
• To reduce loss of volume
• Aeration basins clogging

• Gravity based
• Time sufficient
• Velocity should be constant
 Types of Grit Chambers

Horizontal Flow Grit Chamber

• Design: A rectangular tank where wastewater flows horizontally at a
controlled velocity (~0.3 m/s).
• Operation: Grit settles at the bottom while organic matter remains suspended.
• Cleaning: Manual or mechanical grit removal.
• Advantages: Simple and cost-effective for large plants.
• Disadvantages: Requires large space, inefficient for finer grit.
Aerated Grit Chamber
• Design: A rectangular or circular tank with an air diffuser creating a spiral
flow.
• Operation: Air bubbles keep lighter organic matter in suspension while heavier
grit settles.
• Cleaning: Grit is periodically removed.
• Advantages:
• Improves separation efficiency.
• Prevents septic conditions by adding oxygen.
• Disadvantages: Requires energy for aeration and regular maintenance.
• Vortex (Cyclone) Grit Chamber
• Design: A circular tank with a controlled vortex motion.
• Operation: Water flows tangentially, creating a whirlpool effect, allowing grit
to settle at the center.
• Cleaning: Mechanically removed from the center sump.
• Advantages:
• Compact and highly efficient.
• Suitable for small plants with limited space.
• Disadvantages: Higher operational costs than horizontal grit chambers.
Mechanically Cleaned (Detritus) Grit Chamber
• Design: A rectangular tank similar to a horizontal grit chamber but with
mechanical scrapers.
• Operation: Maintains controlled velocity and automatically removes settled
grit.
• Advantages:
• Reduces manual maintenance.
• More effective than simple horizontal flow chambers.
• Disadvantages: High initial cost and requires electricity.
 Comparisons

Space
Type Efficiency Maintenance Cost Best Used For
Requirement
Large
Horizontal
Moderate Large Medium Low treatment
Flow
plants
Wastewater
Aerated High Medium High Medium with high
organic content
Space-
Vortex Very High Small Low High constrained
urban plants
Automated
Mechanically
High Medium Low High treatment
Cleaned
plants
• Vortex grit removal chamber
Aerated grit removal • Grit removed by spiral pattern
• Air
• Heavier particles settles
• Lighter particles suspended
• Consistent removal efficiency
• Pre-aeration, flocculation

• Aerated grit removal-spiral---

HRT:3-5 minutes,
• Length to width ratio:5:1, Depth to
width ratio:2:1,
• Air flow rate: 0.3 m3/min, typical
depth:2-3 m
 Sedimentation
• Why
• Inert, organic removal

• Sedimentation is the process of allowing particles in suspension in water to

settle out of the suspension under the effect of gravity. The particles that settle
out from the suspension become sediment, and in water treatment is known as
sludge.

• Its purpose is usually to reduce the concentration of solids in suspension so

that the subsequent filtration can function most effectively.
 Types of sedimentation tanks
• 1. Based on methods of operation

• Fill and draw type tank

• Continuous flow type tank

 Fill and Draw Type Sedimentation Tank
• In fill and draw type sedimentation tank, water from inlet is stored for some
time. The time may be 24 hours. In that time, the suspended particles are
settled at the bottom of the tank. After 24 hours, the water is discharged
through outlet. Then settled particle are removed. This removal action requires
6-12 hours. So, one complete action of sedimentation requires 30-40 hours in
case of fill and draw type sedimentation tank.
 Continuous Flow Type Sedimentation Tank
• In this case, water is not allowed to rest. Flow always takes place but with a
very small velocity. During this flow, suspended particles are settle at the
bottom of the tank. The flow may be either in horizontal direction or vertical
direction.
• 2. Based on shape

• Circular tank

• Rectangular tank

• Hopper bottom tank

 Circular Tank
• Circular sedimentation tanks are
preferred for continuous vertical flow
type sedimentation tanks. In this case
influent is sent through central pipe of
the tank and radial flow takes place.
Mechanical sludge scrappers are
provided to collect the sludge and
collected sludge is carried through
sludge pipe provided at the bottom. But
circular tanks are uneconomical as
compared to rectangular tanks but they
have high clarification efficiency.
 Rectangular Tank
• Rectangular sedimentation tanks are mostly preferred sedimentation tanks and
are used widely. The flow takes place in horizontal direction that is length wise
in rectangular tanks. Sometimes baffle walls are provided for rectangular tank
to prevent short circuiting. Maintenance costs are low in case of rectangular
sedimentation tanks. They are also suitable for large capacity plants.
 Hopper Bottom Tank
• In case of hopper bottom tank, a deflector box is located at the top which
deflects the influent coming from central pipe to downwards. Sludge is
collected at the bottom and it is disposed through sludge pump.
• 3. Based on location

• Primary tank

• Secondary tank
• Primary Sedimentation Tank
• Primary sedimentation tank is a normal sedimentation tank in which water is
stored at rest for some time and sludge collected at bottom and oily matter
collected at top are removed. After primary sedimentation process the
wastewater is discharged into aerobic filter where activated sludge process
take place.

• Secondary Sedimentation Tank

• After activated sludge process the wastewater enters secondary sedimentation
tank in which suspended particles contains microbes are removed and are
reflected towards aerobic filter to maintain high microbe concentration in
aerobic filter.
 Flocculation
• Flocculation is a water treatment process where solids form larger clusters, or
flocs, to be removed from water. This process can happen spontaneously, or
with the help of chemical agents. It is a common method of stormwater
treatment, wastewater treatment, and in the purification of drinking water.

• It involves adding chemicals to the wastewater in sequence and allowing tiny

solid particles to collect together in a larger mass called a floc. As a treatment
of wastewater, flocculation is carried out in stages.
• STAGE 1
• Suspended solid particles in wastewater are negatively charged. In the first
stage of flocculation, a coagulant like aluminium sulphate is added to the
wastewater. The positively charged coagulant molecules neutralize the
negatively charged solid particles suspended in the water. Neutralising these
particles paves the way for them to flocculate together into a larger mass.

• STAGE 2
• The wastewater must be agitated with mixers. High energy mixing is required
initially to ensure that the coagulant spreads throughout the water. When
flocculation is in progress the mixing energy is reduced to prevent the mass of
particles from separating again.
• STAGE 3
• Once floc is beginning to form, a polymer chemical is added to the wastewater.
Polymers bridge the flocculant from micro to macro flocculant, meaning that
the mass of particles collecting together gets bigger. This chemical also binds
the collected mass together so that it does not easily disintegrate even when the
water is slightly agitated.

• STAGE 4
• After flocculation is complete, the large solid masses can be removed from the
wastewater stream. This is done either through settling where the floc drops to
the bottom for removal or through the use of filters which capture the floc in
the filter material. Care must be taken when cleaning the filters to ensure that
the phosphorus rich floc is contained and treated.
Key Design Parameters

• Flow Rate (Q) → Volume of wastewater per unit time (m³/day or m³/hr).

• Detention Time (t) → Time wastewater spends in the tank (hours).

• Surface Overflow Rate (SOR) → Flow rate per unit surface area (m³/m²/day).

• Removal Efficiency (RE) → Percentage of solids removed.

Flow Rate (Q)
• The flow rate (Q) is the total volume of wastewater entering the sedimentation
tank per unit of time. It is usually expressed in:

• Cubic meters per day (m³/day) – for daily treatment capacity.

• Cubic meters per hour (m³/hr) – for hourly flow management.

Detention Time (t)
• Detention time is the average time that wastewater remains in the
sedimentation tank before flowing out. A longer detention time allows more
solids to settle.

• Typical Range:
• Primary Sedimentation Tank: 1.5 – 2.5 hours
• Secondary Sedimentation Tank: 2 – 4 hours

Example: If a tank has a volume of 2,000 m³ and a flow rate of 1,000 m³/hr, then:
t=2 hours
Surface Overflow Rate (SOR)

• The Surface Overflow Rate (SOR) represents the sedimentation tank's flow rate per unit
area. It determines whether suspended solids have enough time to settle.
• Typical Range:
• Primary sedimentation tanks: 25 – 50 m³/m²/day
• Secondary sedimentation tanks: 15 – 30 m³/m²/day

For a 20,000 m³/day flow rate and a

sedimentation tank with a surface area of 500
m²:

=40 m³/m²/day
• Removal Efficiency

• Removal Efficiency represents the percentage of suspended solids

removed by the sedimentation tank.
• Typical Values:
• Primary Sedimentation Tanks: 50% – 75%
• Secondary Sedimentation Tanks: 80% – 95%

Influent wastewater has 300 mg/L suspended solids, and the effluent contains 90 mg/L:
RE?
Parameter Definition Formula Typical Range

Volume of wastewater per

Flow Rate (Q) Q=Volume/Time –
unit time

Time wastewater spends

Detention Time (t) t=V/Q 1.5 – 2.5 hrs
in the tank

Surface Overflow Rate

Flow per unit surface area SOR=Q/A 25 – 50 m³/m²/day
(SOR)

Removal Efficiency % of suspended solids

Re=Si−Sf×100/Si 50% – 75%
(Reff) removed
References
• Water and Wastewater Engineering: Design Principles and Practice by
Mackenzie L. Davis. Publisher: McGraw Hill

• Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Reuse by Metcalf & Eddy. Publisher:

McGraw Hill Education

• Water Treatment: Principles and Design by Crittenden et al., Publisher: Wiley

• Unit Operations and Processes in Environmental Engineering by Reynolds and

Richards. Publisher: CL Engineering

• CPHEEO Manual