Anaerobic Waste Stabilization Ponds A Low-Cost Con
Anaerobic Waste Stabilization Ponds A Low-Cost Con
Anaerobic Waste Stabilization Ponds A Low-Cost Con
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Introduction
The increasing scarcity of water in the world along with rapid population increase in urban
areas gives reason for concern and the need for appropriate water management practices.
According to the World Bank, “The greatest challenge in the water and sanitation sector
over the next two decades will be the implementation of low cost sewage treatment that will
at the same time permit selective reuse of treated effluents for agricultural and industrial
purposes” (Looker, 1998).
Wastewater is composed of over 99% water. In a developing urban society, the wastewater
generation is usually approximately 30-70 m3per people per year. In a city of one million
people, the wastewater generated would be sufficient to irrigate approximately 1500-3500
hectare (SIDA, 2000). Innovative and appropriate technologies can contribute to urban
wastewater treatment and reuse.
More emphasis is being placed on the need to separate domestic and industrial waste and
to treat them individually to make recovery and reuse more sustainable. The system must
be able to isolate industrial toxins, pathogens, carbon, and nutrients (Rose, 1999).
2. Methodology
Anaerobic Ponds Design: Anaerobic ponds can be satisfactorily designed, and without risk
of odor nuisance, on the basis of volumetric BOD loading (lv, g/m3d), which is given by:
lv = Li Q / Va
where Li = influent BOD, mg/l (= g/m3 )
Q = flow, m3/d
Va = anaerobic pond volume, m3
Anaerobic ponds are deep treatment ponds that exclude oxygen and encourage the growth
of bacteria, which break down the effluent (Annexure1). It is in the anaerobic pond that the
effluent begins breaking down in the absence of oxygen "anaerobically". The anaerobic
pond acts like an uncovered septic tank. Anaerobic bacteria break down the organic matter
in the effluent, releasing methane and carbon dioxide. Sludge is deposited on the bottom
and a crust forms on the surface as shown in Fig. 2 in Annexure 1.
Anaerobic ponds are commonly 2-5 m deep and receive such a high organic loading
(usually > 100 g BOD/m3 d equivalent to > 3000 kg/ha/d for a depth of 3 m). They contain
an organic loading that is very high relative to the amount of oxygen entering the pond,
which maintains anaerobic conditions to the pond surface. Anaerobic ponds don't contain
algae, although occasionally a thin film of mainly Chlamydomonas can be seen at the
surface. They work extremely well in warm climate (can attain 60-85% BOD removal) and
have relatively short retention time (for BOD of up to 300 mg/l, one day is sufficient at
temperature > 20oC).
In anaerobic ponds, methane production increases sevenfold for every 5oC rise in
temperature. (Marais, 1970)
Table 1
BOD removals in Anaerobic Ponds loaded
at 250 g BOD5/m3 d (Mara, 1976)
Retention Time (days) BOD5 removal %
1 50
2.5 60
5 70
Anaerobic ponds are normally designed on the basis of a temperature, pH and saline
dependent PH maintenance through anaerobic pond. A study on anaerobic pond treatment
of tapioca starch waste conducted by Uddin (1970) revealed that a volumetric BOD loading
rate of around 750 g/m3·d resulted in a pond pH of 6.0. Fig. 3, which is based on Uddin's
results shows that when the BOD loading rate was increased above this value, the
volumetric BOD removal rate was reduced. Most likely, pond overloading impaired
methanogenesis. Experiments conducted by Sergrist (1997) showed a 50% growth
inhibition at a NH3-N/l concentration of 25-30 mg/l. Strong ammonia inhibition in anaerobic
ponds can occur at concentrations >80 mg NH3-N/l and may reduce significantly COD
elimination to as low as 10% in primary anaerobic ponds (Data is still scarce in this matter).
Arridge et al. (1995) working on an experimental WSP complex in Northeast Brazil found a
one log unit removal in the AP for each of the following indicators: faecal coliforms, faecal
streptococci and Clostridium perfringens. Salmonellae were reduced from 130 to 70
MPN/100 ml and Vibrio cholerae 01 was reduced from 40 to 10 MPN/l respectively.
Anaerobic ponds appear to be essential for high levels of V. cholerae removal.
3.3 Duckweed Based Wastewater Treatment System and Assessment of Nutritive Value
and Economic Return
With the objective to evolve a low cost treatment technology, the project has been
undertaken to study the efficacy of treatment of wastewater by duckweed, to assess the
economic return from pisciculture (fed on duckweed) as well as evaluating the nutritive
value of duckweed.
The duckweed based stabilization pond functions as anaerobic pond except at the top
layer where aerobic condition prevails. The top aerobic zone effectively controls the odour
problems of the pond. The capability of up taking nutrients and other substrate from
wastewater has attributed this plant to be biological purifier. There is remarkable reduction
of BOD, COD, Total Suspended Solid, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Heavy metals from
wastewater in duckweed based stabilization pond. Wastewater treatment by duckweed
based stabilization pond provides the treatment at a low cost. This type of treatment
system can therefore help in meeting the challenges posed in developing countries for
environmental protection, due to resource recovery advantages over the conventional
lagoon system.
Conclusion
The common characteristic of all of the described types is that they encourage “zero-
discharge” technology. This cyclical, rather than linear approach includes the reuse of the
treated effluent for agricultural reuse. The reuse of the wastewater decreases the money
spent on fertilizers and it is considered safe, since it has been treated for pathogens.
Annex 1
Annex 2
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