Assignment No # 03

Submitted to:

Dr. Lec Samreen

Submitted by:

Asad Qayyum

(F21606031)
 Sewage Water Treatment and it’s applications

INTRODUCTION:

Sewage water treatment is a critical process for protecting public health and the environment.
It involves removing harmful contaminants from wastewater generated from households,
industries, and institutions, making it suitable for safe disposal or reuse.
Sewage is generated by residential and industrial establishments. It includes household waste
liquid from toilets, baths, showers, kitchens, sinks, and so forth that is disposed of via sewers.
In many areas, sewage also includes liquid waste from industry and commerce. The
separation and draining of household waste into greywater and blackwater is becoming more
common in the developed world. Greywater is water generated from domestic activities such
as laundry, dishwashing, and bathing, and can be reused more readily. Blackwater comes
from toilets and contains human waste.

EXPLAINATION:
Sewage is treated in three phases:
 primary (solid removal)
 secondary (bacterial decomposition)
 Tertiary (extra filtration).

Figure 1 Diagram of Sewage Treatment Process: Sewage passes through primary,

secondary, and tertiary treatment.

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Primary Treatment:
In primary treatment, sewage is stored in a basin where solids (sludge) can settle to the
bottom and oil and lighter substances can rise to the top. These layers are then removed and
then the remaining liquid can be sent to secondary treatment. Sewage sludge is treated in a
separate process called sludge digestion.

Secondary Treatment:

In secondary treatment we removes dissolved and suspended biological matter, often using
microorganisms in a controlled environment. Most secondary treatment systems use aerobic
bacteria, which consume the organic components of the sewage (sugar, fat, and so on). Some
systems use fixed film systems, where the bacteria grow on filters, and the water passes
through them. Suspended growth systems use “activated” sludge, where decomposing
bacteria are mixed directly into the sewage. Because oxygen is critical to bacterial growth,
the sewage is often mixed with air to facilitate decomposition.

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Tertiary Treatment:

Tertiary treatment (sometimes called “effluent polishing”) is used to further clean water when
it is being discharged into a sensitive ecosystem.

Other methods are:

Several methods can be used to further disinfect and purify sewage beyond primary and
secondary treatment.
Sand filtration: In this method water is passed through a sand filter, can be used to remove
particulate matter.Wastewater may still have high levels of nutrients such as nitrogen and
phosphorus. These can disrupt the nutrient balance of aquatic ecosystems and cause algae
blooms and excessive weed growth. Phosphorus can be removed biologically in a process
called enhanced biological phosphorus removal. In this process, specific bacteria, called
polyphosphate accumulate organisms that store phosphate in their tissue. When the biomass
accumulated in these bacteria is separated from the treated water, these biosolids have a high
fertilizer value. Nitrogen can also be removed using nitrifying bacteria.

Lagooning: This is another method for removing nutrients and waste from sewage. Water is
stored in a lagoon and native plants, bacteria, algae, and small zooplankton filter nutrients
and small particles from the water.

Treatment by activated carbon: Treatment by activated carbon is mostly due to

adsorption or absorption. When a chemical species is adhered to the surface of a solid, it is
an absorption. When partial chemical bonds are formed between adsorbed species or when
the absorbate got into the channels of the solids, we call it absorption. However, these two
terms are often used to mean the same, because to distinguish one from type from the other is
very difficult

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Filtration: Filtration is the process of removing solids from a fluid by passing it through a
porous medium. Coarse, medium, and fine porous media have been used depending on the
requirement. The filter media are artificial membranes, nets, sand filter, and high
technological filter systems. The choice of filters depends on the required filtering speed and
the cleanness requirement. The flow required for filtration can be achieved using gravity or
pressure. In pressure filtration, one side of the filter medium is at higher pressure than that of
the other so that the filter plane has a pressure drop. Some portion of this filter type must be
enclosed in a container.

Sludge Digestion:Sewage sludge scraped off the bottom of the settling tank during primary
treatment is treated separately from wastewater. Sludge can be disposed of in several ways.
First, it can be digested using bacteria; bacterial digestion can sometimes produce methane
biogas, which can be used to generate electricity. Sludge can also be incinerated, or
condensed, heated to disinfect it, and reused as fertilizer.

Reverse osmosis water filter system: When a compartment containing a dilute solution is
connected to another compartment containing a concentrated solution by a semipermeable
membrane, water molecules move from the dilute solution to concentrated solution. This
phenomenon is called osmosis. By applying pressure in the higher concentration solution,
water molecules migrate from a high concentration solution to a low concentration solution
through a semipermeable membrane. This method is called reverse osmosis water filter
system. In this technique, the membrane must be able to tolerate the high pressure, and
prevent solute molecules to pass through. This technology certainly works, and it has been
used to convert salt (ocean or sea) water into fresh water. With this technique, the water with
higher concentration is discharged. Thus, this technology is costly in regions where the water
cost is high.

Figure 2: Comparison of normal osmosis and reverse osmosis.

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Applications of Sewage Water Treatment:

Sewage water treatment plays a vital role in protecting public health and the
environment by removing harmful contaminants from wastewater generated from
households, industries, and institutions. The treated water can then be safely
disposed of or reused for various purposes. Here's a look at some of the key
applications of sewage water treatment:

Irrigation:

Treated sewage water can be a valuable source of water for irrigation, especially in
areas facing water scarcity. It can be used to irrigate non-edible crops like cotton,
fodder, and industrial crops, reducing pressure on freshwater resources. This
application is particularly beneficial in arid and semi-arid regions where freshwater
availability is limited.

Industrial Processes:

Treated sewage water can be used for various non-potable industrial processes, such as
cooling towers, equipment washing, and dust suppression. This can help industries reduce
their freshwater consumption and operating costs. Additionally, using treated wastewater for
these purposes can help conserve freshwater for more critical needs like drinking water and
sanitation.

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Urban Landscaping:

Treated sewage water can be used to water parks, green spaces, golf courses, and roadside
greenery. This helps to reduce the demand for freshwater for these purposes and contributes
to maintaining healthy and vibrant urban environments. Using treated wastewater for
landscaping can also help to replenish groundwater resources, as the water infiltrates the
ground instead of being discharged directly into

Groundwater Recharge:

After advanced treatment, wastewater can be reintroduced into aquifers, replenishing

groundwater resources. This can be a valuable source of water for future use, especially in
areas facing overexploitation of groundwater resources. However, careful consideration of
potential environmental impacts and proper treatment processes are crucial to ensure the
safety and sustainability of this application.

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 Benefits of Sewage Water Reuse:
 Water conservation: Reduces reliance on freshwater sources, especially in water-scarce
regions.
 Cost savings: Treated wastewater can be a cheaper alternative to freshwater for certain
applications.
 Environmental protection: Reduces pollution from untreated wastewater discharge into water
bodies.
 Nutrient recycling: Treated wastewater can be a source of nutrients for agriculture, reducing
fertilizer dependence.

The optimal treatment method for sewage water reuse depends on several factors:

 Desired effluent quality: Reuse applications have stricter standards than discharge.
 Available land and budget: Different methods require varying space and cost considerations.
 Local regulations: Specific treatment levels may be mandated by local authorities.
 Environmental conditions: Climate and soil characteristics can influence treatment choices.

In Pakistan, the sewage treatment landscape is complex and faces numerous challenges.
While there are several methods used, it's important to understand the overall situation:

Limited Treatment:

 Only 8% of urban wastewater receives treatment in municipal plants. Most sewage goes
untreated into drains, water bodies, or fields.
 Large cities like Islamabad and Karachi have some treatment facilities, but they only handle a
small portion of the wastewater.
 Treatment levels vary:
o Some cities offer primary treatment (physical removal of large solids).
o A few, like Islamabad, have biological treatment using activated sludge processes.
o Tertiary treatment (further purification) is rare.
Common Methods:

 Activated sludge process: This biological method uses microorganisms to break down
organic matter in wastewater. It's the most common in larger cities.
 Trickling filters: These use fixed media for microbial growth and organic matter
breakdown. They're present in Karachi but offer limited treatment.
 Lagoons: Open ponds where natural processes like sunlight and sedimentation help purify
wastewater. They're less efficient and require large areas.
 Septic tanks: Individual households in unsewered areas often use these for basic
treatment. However, effluent still requires proper disposal to avoid contamination.

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 Challenges and Initiatives:

 Lack of infrastructure and investment hinder widespread treatment.

 Rapid urbanization increases wastewater generation, straining existing systems.
 Water scarcity makes treated wastewater reuse valuable, but infrastructure for safe reuse is
limited.

Looking forward:

 Government initiatives aim to expand treatment capacity and promote reuse.

 Explore cost-effective technologies like constructed wetlands or membrane bioreactors
suitable for local conditions.
 Public awareness about sanitation and water conservation is crucia
Conclusion:

Sewage treatment is carried out significantly in primary treatment to remove suspended solid
particles and oil layers. Secondary and tertiary treatment is useful for further biological
purification and removal of harmful salts. The design of sewage treatment depends on the
amount of wastewater collected, size of primary tanks.

Sewage treatment plant