CHAPTER FIVE
SEWAGE EFFLUENT DISPOSAL
TECHNIQUES
SEWAGE EFFLUENT DISPOSAL
TECHNIQUES
Introduction
After conveying the wastewater through sewers, the
next step is its disposal, either after treatment or
even before treatment.
Treated or untreated sewage dumped into streams
can upset the ecological stability of the stream.
However, through natural processes and bacterial
activity, streams can purify themselves.
High concentration of organic substances encourage
the growth of decomposers such as bacteria and
fungi.
The normal food chain is then established with
higher trophic levels.
The excess wastes upset the system by depleting the
dissolved oxygen required by bacteria for aerobic
decomposition of organics.
Cont…
The normal amount of dissolved oxygen in streams
is above 9mg/l at 20°c water temperature.
As the level of DO decreases to 5mg/l, sensitive
organisms will disappear.
As oxygen depletion progresses most of the
organism species tend to be absent from the food
chain.
Ultimately, bacteria of facultative and anaerobic
types exist.
Due to reaeration, streams do not reach a 0mg/l
DO level and thus seldom go anaerobic.
The degree of pollution and the character of the
stream determine the amount of time the self-
purification progress will take.
Cont…
There are two general methods of disposing of the
sewage effluents:
1. Disposal in water (dilution)
2. Disposal on land
1. Dilution
is the process whereby the treated sewage or the
effluent from the sewage treatment plant is discharged
into water body.
The discharged sewage, in due course of time, is
purified by what is known as self purification process
of natural waters.
The degree and amount of treatment given to raw
sewage before disposing it off into the river depend
upon:
◦ the quality of raw sewage
◦ the self purification capacity of the river stream and the
intended use of its water
Conditions Favoring Disposal by
Dilution
1. When sewage is comparatively fresh (4 to 5 hr
old), and free from floating and settleable solids
2. When the diluting water has high DO content.
3. Where diluting waters are not used for the
purpose of navigation or water supply for at
least some reasonable distance on the
downstream from the point of sewage disposal.
4. Where the flow currents of the diluting waters
are favorable, causing no deposition, nuisance
or destruction of aquatic life.
5. When the outfall sewer of the city or the
treatment plant is situated near some natural
waters having large volumes.
Self purification of natural streams
When sewage is discharged into a natural body of
water, the receiving water gets polluted due to waste
products, present in sewage effluents.
But the conditions do not remain so for ever, because
the natural forces of purification, go on acting upon
the pollution elements, and bring back the water into
its original condition.
This automatic purification of polluted water, in due
course, is called the self-purification phenomenon.
If the self-purification is not achieved successfully
either due to too much of pollution discharged into it
or due to other causes, the river water itself will get
polluted.
Cont…
Thevarious natural forces of purification which
help in effecting self-purification process are
summarized below:
Physical forces are:
◦ Dilution and dispersion
◦ Sedimentation
◦ Sunlight (acts through bio-chemical reactions)
Chemical forces aided by biological forces
(called bio chemical forces) are:
◦ Oxidation (Bio)
◦ Reduction
Dilution and Dispersion
When the putrescible organic matter is discharged into
a large volume of water contained in the river-stream
gets rapidly dispersed and diluted.
The concentration of organic matter will diminish , and
thus reduces the potential nuisance of sewage.
When sewage of concentration Cs flows at a rate Qs in to
a river stream with concentration CR flowing at a rate
QR, the concentration C of the resulting mixture is given
by:
The concentrations in the sewage and river represents:
− oxygen content, - BOD, - Suspended sediments - Temp
− other characteristic contents of sewage
Cont…
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Sedimentation
The settleable solids will settle down into the bed of the river,
near the outfall of sewage, thus, helping in the self
purification process.
Sun-light
The sun light has a bleaching and stabilizing effect of
bacteria.
It also helps certain micro-organisms to derive energy from
it by a process known as photosynthesis.
The evolution of oxygen in river water due to sunlight will
help in achieving self-purification through oxidation.
Oxidation
The oxidation of the organic matter present in sewage
effluents will start as soon as the sewage outfalls into the
river water containing dissolved oxygen.
The deficiency of oxygen so created, will be filled up by the
atmospheric oxygen.
The process of oxidation will continue till the organic matter
has been completely oxidized.
Cont…
Reduction
Reduction occurs due to hydrolysis of organic matter
settled at the bottom either chemically or biologically.
Anaerobic bacteria will help in splitting the complex
organic constituents of sewage into liquids and gases,
and thus paving the way for their ultimate stabilization
by oxidation.
The various factors on which these natural forces of
purification depend are:
i. Temperature (on biological activity and DO)
ii. Turbulence (re-aeration)
iii. Hydrograph such as the velocity and surface expanse of
the river-stream
iv. Available dissolved oxygen, and the amount and type of
organic matter present
v. Rate of re-aeration,
Zones of Pollution in a River/Stream
A polluted stream undergoing self-
purification can be divided into the following
four zones:
1. Zone of degradation
2. Zone of active decomposition
3. Zone of recovery; and
4. Zone of cleaner water
Cont…
Zone of degradation or Zone of pollution
This zone is found for a certain length just below
the point where sewage is discharged into the
river-stream.
This zone is characterized by:
◦ Water becoming dark and turbid with formation of
sludge deposits at the bottom.
◦ DO is reduced to about 40% of the saturation value
(eg: Saturation value at 30°c = 7.6 mg/l).
◦ Re-oxygenation (i.e. re-aeration) occurs but is slower
than de-oxygenation.
◦ Algae die out
◦ Bacteria count is high and increasing
◦ Lower species diversity
◦ Increase in number of individuals per species
◦ High BOD
Cont…
Zone of active decomposition
This zone is marked by heavy pollution.
It is characterized by:
◦ Water becoming greyish and darker than the previous
zone.
◦ DO concentration falls down to zero and anaerobic
conditions may set in with the evolution of gases like CH 4,
CO2, H2S, etc.
◦ the re-aeration sets in and DO again rises to the original
level (about 40%).
◦ BOD is high but decreasing
◦ In this zone, bacteria flora will increase.
◦ Protozoa and fungi will first disappear and then reappear.
◦ Fish life will be absent.
◦ Algae will also mostly be absent.
Cont…
Zone of recovery
The river stream tries to recover from its
degraded condition to its former appearance.
The water becomes clearer, and so the algae
reappear while fungi decrease.
BOD falls down and DO content rises above 40%
of the saturation value;
Lower organic content
Less turbid and lighter in color
Number of bacteria decreases
Protozoa, and large plants like Sponges, etc.
reappear.
The organic material will be mineralized to form
nitrates, sulphates, phosphates, carbonates, etc.
Cont…
Zone of cleaner water
The river attains its original conditions with DO
rising up to the saturation value.
Water becomes attractive in appearance
Game fish (which requires at least 4 to 5mg/l of
DO) and usual aquatic life prevails.
Some pathogenic organisms may still survive and
remain present, which confirms the fact that:
◦ "when once river water has been polluted, it will
not be safe to drink it, unless it is properly
treated."
Indices of Self-Purification
The stage of self-purification process can be
determined by the:
◦ physical,
◦ chemical and
◦ biological analysis of the water
Color and turbidity are the physical indices
DO, BOD and suspended solids are the chemical
indices which can mark the stages of purification.
The biological growth present in water can also
indicate the stage of purification process.
Cont…
The Oxygen Deficit of a Polluted River-
Stream
The oxygen deficit D at any time in a polluted river is
the difference between the actual DO content of water
at that time and the saturation DO content.
The normal saturation DO value for fresh water varies
between 14.6mg/l to 7.6mg/l for temperature varying
between 0°c to 30°c at the water temperature; i.e.
In order to maintain clean conditions in a river-
stream, the oxygen deficit must be nil, and this can be
found out by knowing the rates of de-oxygenation and
re-oxygenation.
Cont…
Figure: Typical DO sag curve
De-oxygenation Curve
In a polluted stream, the DO content goes on
reducing due to decomposition of volatile organic
matter.
The rate of de-oxygenation depends upon the
amount of the organic matter remaining to be
oxidized at the given time (Lt) as well as on the
temperature of reaction (T).
Hence, at a given temperature, the curve showing
depletion of DO with time, i.e. de-oxygenation
curve (similar to the first stage BOD curve ).
It can also be expressed mathematically as:
Re-oxygenation Curve
In order to counter-balance the consumption of DO
due to de-oxygenation, atmosphere supplies oxygen to
the water and the process is called re-oxygenation.
The rate at which the oxygen is supplied by the
atmosphere to the polluted water depends upon:
◦ the depth of the receiving water (rate is more in a shallow
depth)
◦ the condition of the body of water (rate is more in a running
stream than in a quiescent pond)
◦ the saturation deficit or the oxygen deficit (i.e. the deficit of
DO below the saturation value);
◦ the temperature of water
Depending upon these factors, the rate of re-
oxygenation can also be expressed mathematically and
plotted in the form of a curve called re-oxygenation
curve (Refer curve II of the figure below).
Cont…
Figure: Oxygen sag curve
Oxygen Deficit Curve
In a running polluted stream exposed to the
atmosphere, the de-oxygenation as well as the re-
oxygenation go hand in hand.
If de-oxygenation is more rapid than the re
oxygenation, an oxygen deficit will result.
The amount of resultant oxygen deficit can be
obtained by algebraically adding the de-
oxygenation and re-oxygenation curves.
The resultant curve so obtained is called the
oxygen sag curve or the oxygen deficit curve.
From this curve, the oxygen deficit and oxygen
balance (i.e. 100 - D) percent in a stream after a
certain lapse of time, can be found out.
Cont…
When the de-oxygenation rate exceeds the re-oxygenation rate,
the oxygen sag curve shows increasing deficit of oxygen;
When both the rates become equal, the critical point is reached,
When the rate of de-oxygenation falls below that of re-
oxygenation, the oxygen deficit goes on decreasing till
becoming zero.
The entire analysis of super-imposing the rates of de-
oxygenation and re-oxygenation have been carried out
mathematically, as suggested by Streeter-Phelps equation; i.e.,
Where, Dt = the DO deficit in mg/l after t days.
L = Ultimate first stage BOD of the mix at the point of waste
discharge
Do = Initial oxygen deficit of the mix at the mixing point in mg/l.
Cont…
KD = De-oxygenation coefficient for the
wastewater,
= BOD rate constant determined in the
laboratory,
- varies with temperature as:
The typical values of KD(20) vary between 0.1 to
0.2, generally taken as 0.1.
KR = Re-oxygenation coefficient for the stream.
KR varies with temperature as per the equation:
Cont…
Where, KR(T) is the KR value at T°c and KR(20) is
the KR value at 20°c.
Typical values of KR(20) are given in the table.
Value of KR(20) per
[Link]. Type of water body
day
l Small ponds and back waters 0.05 - 0.10
Sluggish streams, large lakes
2 0.10 - 0.15
and impounding reservoirs
3 Large stream of low velocity 0.15 - 0.20
4 Large streams of normal velocity 0.20 - 0.30
5 Swift streams 0.30 - 0.50
6 Rapids and waterfalls Over 0.5
Cont…
The critical time (tc) after which the minimum
dissolved oxygen occurs can be found by
differentiating
and equating it to zero; which on solving gives
The critical or maximum oxygen deficit is given
by:
Cont…
Theconstant is sometimes represented
by f, called self-purification constant, the
values of which are given in the table below.
[Link] Type of water body Value of ‘f’
l Small ponds and back waters 0.5 - 1.0
Sluggish streams, large lakes
2 1.0 - 1.5
and impounding reservoirs
3 Large stream of low velocity 1.5 - 2.0
Large streams of normal
4 2.0 - 3.0
velocity
5 Swift streams 3.0 - 5.0
6 Rapids and waterfalls Over 5.0
Cont…
Using as f, the tc equation becomes:
and Dc equation becomes:
Taking log, we get
Cont…
Substituting the value of tc
Cont…
L - the BOD of the mixture of sewage and
stream,
f (KD and KR) corresponds to the
temperature of the mixture of sewage and
stream at the outfall.
The above equations are of practical value:
◦ in predicting the oxygen content at any point
along a stream,
◦ in estimating the degree of wastewater
treatment required,
◦ or in estimating the amount of dilution
necessary in order to maintain a certain DO in
the stream.
Examples
1. The sewage of a town is to be discharged into a river
stream. The quantity of sewage produced per day is
8 million liters, and its BOD is 250mg It. If the
discharge in the river is 200l/s and its BOD is 6mg/l,
find out the BOD of the diluted water.
Given solution
Qs=8*10^6L/day
BODs=250mg .
QR=200L/s .
BODr(CR)=6mg/l by
eng(saib)
2. What should be the river discharge if it is desired to
reduce the BOD of diluted water to 20mg/l.
Examples
3. A city discharges 1500 litres per second of
sewage into a stream whose minimum rate of
flow is 6000 litres per second. The temperature
of sewage as well as water is 20°c. The 5 day
BOD at 20°c for sewage is 200mg/l and that of
river water is 1mg/l. The DO content of sewage
is zero, and that of the stream is 90% of the
saturation DO If the minimum DO to be
maintained in the stream is 4.5 mg/l, find out
the degree of sewage treatment, required.
Assume the de-oxygenation coefficient as 0.1
and re-oxygenation coefficient as 0.3.
Saturation DO value at 20°c = 9.17mg/l
Solution
Examples
4. A city discharges 100 cumecs of sewage into
a river, which is fully saturated with oxygen
and flowing at the rate of 1500 cumecs
during its lean days with a velocity of
0.1m/sec. The 5-days BOD of sewage at the
given temperature is 280mg/l. Find when and
where the critical DO deficit will occur in the
downstream portion of the river, and what is
its amount? Assume coefficient of purification
of the stream (f) as 4.0 and coefficient of de-
oxygenation (KD as 0.1). Let the
saturation DO at the given temp = 9.2mg/l.
Solution
Examples
5. A waste water effluent of 560 l/s with a BOD =
50mg/l, DO = 3.0 mg/l and temperature of 23°c
enters a river where the flow is 28m3/sec, and
BOD = 4.0 mg/l, DO = 8.2mg/l, and temperature
of 17°c. K1 of the waste is 0.10 per day at 20°c.
The velocity of water in the river downstream is
0.18m/s and depth of 1.2m.
Determine the following after mixing of waste
water with the river water:
Combined discharge
BOD
DO
Temperature
Solution
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