Chapter 5 Sewage Treatment Plant

CHAPTER 5: SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
To protect water resources and the greater environment, all waste from buildings
and industrial processes must be treated to meet certain standards of quality. Domestic
sewage from dwellings and DWV systems in buildings are permitted to be discharged
into the public sewers system, which provides the necessary treatment prior to tits
discharge into nature.
Water Treatment and Disposal
Basic Purposes of sewage treatment
1. To destroy pathogenic micro organisms. Pathogens are disease-causing

bacteria.
2. To remove most suspended and dissolved biodegradable organic materials.
Raw or untreated sewage is mostly pure water since it comprises about 99.9% water
and only about 0.1% impurities. However, sewage contains biodegradable organic
material, which is very likely to contain pathogenic micro organisms.
The amount of pathogens in the waste water is expected to be proportional to the

concentration of fecal coliform bacterium cal E. coli (Escherichia coli). The E. coli
concentration in raw sanitary sewage is about 1 billion/ liter, but it is not a pathogen. In
fact, our bowels will not function properly without it, but as an indicator organism, the
presence of E. coli indicates that water is contaminated with fecal wastes and
pathogens maybe present. DENR standard is 10,000 MPN/ 100ml.
• For water to be safe for drinking the E. coli count shall not be more than 1 E. coli
per 100ml (about 0.4 cup) of water.
• For water to be considered safe for swimming the E. coli shall be more than 200
E. coli per 100ml of water.
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD). The measure of the strength of the sewage in
relation to the total amount of organic material it contains. Untreated domestic sanitary
sewage has an average BOD of about 200mg/ liter. DENR standard is 50 mg/ liter.
Total Suspended Solids (TSS). The measure of the strength of the sewage in relation
to the total amount of suspended solids. Untreated domestic sanitary sewage has an
average TSS of 240 mg/ liter.
Another group of impurities that is of major significance in waste water is the

compounds of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) from plant nutrients. Raw sanitary
sewage contains an average of 35mg/ liter of nitrogen and 10 mg/liter of phosphorous.
THE SEWAGE TREATMENT PROCESS

The sewage treatment process may be divided into four major steps:
1. Preliminary treatment. 35% of BOD and 60% of TSS are removed.

2. Primary Treatment, which is subdivided into:
• Sedimentation and retention: raw sewage is retained for the preliminary
separation of indigestible solids and the start of aerobic action.
• Aeration: introduction of air through natural convection or mechanical
blowers to accelerate the decomposition of organic matters.
• Skimming: Removal of scum that floats on top of the partially treated
sewage.
• Sludge Removal: disposal of heavy sludge at the bottom of treated
sewage.
In the primary treatment, 85% of BOD and 85% TSS are removed.
3. Secondary Treatment, namely, the removal of colloidal and dissolved organic
material.
4. Tertiary Treatment, that is, the removal of dissolved nitrogen and phosphorous
and disinfection of effluent by the addition of chemicals, such as chlorine (10
mg/liter).
Sewage Treatment Plants

The design of sewage treatment plants for large buildings, building complexes and
municipalities follows precisely the same processes described above. However, modern
treatment plants do require considerable mechanized equipment and controls in order
to be efficient and reliable. Sanitary Engineers or Plumbing Engineers who specialized
in the subject do the design of these treatment plants.
Following are the definitions of some commonly used terms related to the subject of
sewage treatment methods and disposal processes:
1. Digestion- That portion of the sewage treatment process in which biochemical

decomposition of organic matter takes place, resulting in the formation of simple
organic and mineral substances. Also known as aerobic (bacterial) digestion.
2. Influent- Untreated sewage flowing into a treatment system.
3. Effluent- Treated or partially treated sewage flowing out of a treatment system.
4. Sedimentation- Formation of layers of heavy particles in the influent
5. Aerobic (bacterial) digestion- Digestion of the waste through the natural bacteria
digestive action in a tank or chamber.
6. Active Sludge- The sewage sediment, rich in destructive bacteria, which can be
used to break down fresh sewage more quickly.
7. Filtration- a means of filtering out any solid matter from the effluent.
8. Disinfection- A process to disinfect the effluent with chemicals.
9. Percolation- the flow or trickling of a liquid downward through a filtering medium.
A summary of waste water treatment.

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CHAPTER 5: SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT

Water Treatment and Disposal

Basic Purposes of sewage treatment

1. To destroy pathogenic micro organisms. Pathogens are disease-causing

The amount of pathogens in the waste water is expected to be proportional to the

Another group of impurities that is of major significance in waste water is the

THE SEWAGE TREATMENT PROCESS

1. Preliminary treatment. 35% of BOD and 60% of TSS are removed.

Sewage Treatment Plants

1. Digestion- That portion of the sewage treatment process in which biochemical

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