Primary Wastewater Treatment Plant: Abir Hasan Shovon

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An Assignment on
Primary Wastewater Treatment Plant
Course Title: Water and Wastewater Treatment

Course Code: ESD417
Submitted by:
Abir Hasan Shovon
Student Id: 16ESD025
Group-4
4th Year, 1st Semester
Department of Environmental Science and Disaster Management
Submitted to:
Dr. Md. Rasheduzzaman
Lecturer, Department of Environmental Science and Disaster Management
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science & Technology University

Gopalganj Sadar, 8100
Date of Submission: 24 January, 2021.

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction………………………………………………………………………...3
2. The Primary Treatment Process…………………………………………………..3
3. Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………..5
4. Reference……………………………………………………………………………5
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Introduction: Primary treatment of domestic wastewater represents an extensive range of

physical and chemical activities which directly or indirectly affect functionality of the
treatment plant as a whole. The aforementioned effect might be rather significant in many
respects. The respective matter proves to be highly underestimated (by both operators and
designers) at many treatment plants. However, an incorrectly designed or operated primary
treatment might result in an unnecessary increase of operating costs and should have a
negative impact on the biological level or sludge treatment and disposal. The size and
capacity of wastewater treatment systems are determined by the estimated volume of sewage
generated from residences, businesses, and industries connected to sewer systems as well as
the anticipated inflows and infiltration (I&I). The selection of specific on-lot, clustered, or
centralized treatment plant configurations depends upon factors such as the number of
customers being served, the geographical scenario, site constraints, sewer connections,
average and peak flows, influent wastewater characteristics, regulatory effluent limits,
technological feasibility, energy consumption, and the operations and maintenance costs
involved (Fujioka et al., 2001).
The degree to which wastewater must be treated varies, depending on local environmental
conditions and governmental standards. Two pertinent types of standards are stream
standards and effluent standards. Water quality parameters that are regulated by stream
standards include dissolved oxygen, coliforms, turbidity, acidity, and toxic substances.
Effluent standards, on the other hand, pertain directly to the quality of the treated wastewater
discharged from a sewage treatment plant. The factors controlled under these standards
usually include biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), suspended solids, acidity, and coliforms.
Primary treatment removes about 60 percent of total suspended solids and about 35 percent of
BOD; dissolved impurities are not removed. It is usually used as a first step before secondary
treatment (Schroeder and Wuertz, 2003).
The Primary Treatment Process: Primary treatment removes material that will either float
or readily settle out by gravity. It includes the physical processes of screening, comminution,
grit removal, and sedimentation.
1. Screening:
Wastewater entering the treatment plant includes items like wood, rocks, and even dead
animals. Unless they are removed, they could cause problems later in the treatment process.
Most of these materials are sent to a landfill.
2. Pumping:
The wastewater system relies on the force of gravity to move sewage from your home to the
treatment plant. So wastewater-treatment plants are located on low ground, often near a river
into which treated water can be released. If the plant is built above the ground level, the
wastewater has to be pumped up to the aeration tanks (item 3). From here on, gravity takes
over to move the wastewater through the treatment process. (Shuval et al, 2003)
3. Aerating:
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One of the first steps that a water treatment facility can do is to just shake up the sewage and
expose it to air. This causes some of the dissolved gases (such as hydrogen sulfide, which
smells like rotten eggs) that taste and smell bad to be released from the water. Wastewater
enters a series of long, parallel concrete tanks. Each tank is divided into two sections. In the
first section, air is pumped through the water (Godfree A., 2003).
As organic matter decays, it uses up oxygen. Aeration replenishes the oxygen. Bubbling
oxygen through the water also keeps the organic material suspended while it forces 'grit'
(coffeegrounds, sand and other small, dense particles) to settle out. Grit is pumped out of the
tanks and taken to landfills.
4. Removing sludge:
Wastewater then enters the second section or sedimentation tanks. Here, the sludge (the
organic portion of the sewage) settles out of the wastewater and is pumped out of the tanks.
Some of the water is removed in a step called thickening and then the sludge is processed in
large tanks called digesters.
5. Removing scum:
As sludge is settling to the bottom of the sedimentation tanks, lighter materials are floating to
the surface. This 'scum' includes grease, oils, plastics, and soap. Slow-moving rakes skim the
scum off the surface of the wastewater. Scum is thickened and pumped to the digesters along
with the sludge.
Many cities also use filtration in sewage treatment. After the solids are removed, the liquid
sewage is filtered through a substance, usually sand, by the action of gravity. This method
gets rid of almost all bacteria, reduces turbidity and color, removes odors, reduces the amount
of iron, and removes most other solid particles that remained in the water. Water is
sometimes filtered through carbon particles, which removes organic particles. This method is
used in some homes, too (Claydong et. al, 2001).
6. Killing bacteria:
Finally, the wastewater flows into a 'chlorine contact' tank, where the chemical chlorine is
added to kill bacteria, which could pose a health risk, just as is done in swimming pools. The
chlorine is mostly eliminated as the bacteria are destroyed, but sometimes it must be
neutralized by adding other chemicals. This protects fish and other marine organisms, which
can be harmed by the smallest amounts of chlorine.
The treated water (called effluent) is then discharged to a local river or the ocean.
7. Wastewater Residuals:
Another part of treating wastewater is dealing with the solid-waste material. These solids are
kept for 20 to 30 days in large, heated and enclosed tanks called 'digesters.' Here, bacteria
break down (digest) the material, reducing its volume, odors, and getting rid of organisms
that can cause disease. The finished product is mainly sent to landfills, but sometimes can be
used as fertilizer (Bitton G., 2005).
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Fig: Primary and secondary treatment of sewage, using the activated sludge process.
Conclusion: Wastewater treatment process is seen as a very complex, expensive process.

While this is not fully undeniable, the process is very important and is worth the cost. WWTP
are very effective especially when they have designed with expertise. With very little
maintenance, the plant will serve for a lifetime.
Reference:
BITTON, G., 2005: Wastewater Microbiology. 3rd ed. Gainesville: Wiley-Interscience, 746
p., ISBN 978-0-471-65071-3.
CLAYDONG, P., DANTERAVANICH, S., SIRIWONG, C., UAKRITDATHIKARN, S.,
2001: Bacteriophages, coliform and faecal coliform bacteria in wastewater in southern
Thailand, Advances in Water and Wastewater Treatment Technology, pp. 119–127
FUJIOKA, R. S., BYAPPANAHALLI, M. N., 2001: Microbial ecology controls the
establishment of faecal bacteria in tropical soil environment, Advances in Water and
Wastewater Treatment Technology, pp. 273–283.
GODFREE, A., 2003: Health constraints on the agricultural recycling of wastewater sludges,
Handbook of Water and Wastewater Microbiology, pp. 281–298.
SHUVAL, H., FATTAL, B., 2003: Control of pathogenic microorganisms in wastewater
recycling and reuse in agriculture, Handbook of Water and Wastewater Microbiology, pp.
241–262, ISBN 0-12-470100-0.
SCHROEDER, E., WUERTZ, S., 2003: Bacteria. In: The Handbook of Water and
Wastewater Microbiology. D. Mara, N. Horan (Eds.), Academic Press. London, pp. 57–68

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Page 1 of 5

Primary Wastewater Treatment Plant

Course Title: Water and Wastewater Treatment

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science & Technology University

Date of Submission: 24 January, 2021.

Introduction: Primary treatment of domestic wastewater represents an extensive range of

Conclusion: Wastewater treatment process is seen as a very complex, expensive process.

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