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Importance of wastewater treatment in developing nations

12/27/2014

 
We often hear about the need for providing clean drinking water to low income areas of the world. One aspect of providing clean water is the need to provide for wastewater treatment. In areas where animal and human wastes are dumped untreated into rivers and streams, the impact manifests itself as increased disease, damage to the aquatic ecosystem, and loss of valuable fresh-water.

In rural areas with little or no indoor plumbing, wastewater treatment can be as simple as the use of a pit latrine where wastes fall to a pit with lime or wood ash added periodically. The pit acts like a septic tank to break down the waste. Once the pit becomes full, the latrine can be moved and the pit planted with a tree to provide valuable future timber.

In more densely populated areas, waste treatment can be done using low cost earthen ponds. These ponds 3 - 5 feet in depth allow for biological decomposition of the waste and reducing in fecal coliforms. Even with a relatively short retention time of 3 - 5 days, this type of pond/lagoon system can substantially improve water quality down stream and eventually in the wells tapping into groundwater.

While the above simple solutions can be done with minimal investment or technical know-how, many residents in these areas need to be educated in the long term value of waste treatment. As we head into the 2015, I am going to put some effort providing information for use rural and developing area waste treatment that can be accomplished without electricity, extensive capital investment, or extensive technical knowledge.

Best wishes for the New Year!

Challenge of Seasonal Wastewater Flows & Loadings

12/17/2014

 
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Facilities with seasonal flows such as wineries, vegetable processing, or vacation resorts often have period of low flows at light loadings followed by a rapid increase in both waste volume and concentration. This situation is rarely discussed in textbooks, but is surprisingly common. The challenge is combining equilization, buffering capacity, bioaugmentation, and polymer addition to meet treatment requirements. By fully considering the options before the season flow starts, operators can manage the event with fewer problems.

Here is how I evaluate the various options:
  1. Equilization - a common strategy available then when there is lagoon space or in rare cases, tank space. You can use equilization to slowly ramp up the flows and allow the biomass to grow in response to the higher loadings. Often aeration/mixing of the EQ basin is required to prevent odors.
  2. Existing buffering capacity - activated sludge systems have an adsorption capability where the MLSS acts like a sponge to hold excess organics. This increases sludge volumes going to the digester or dewatering, but it gives a buffer to increases in influent loadings. To best utilize this strategy, operators will increase MLSS/MLVSS before the seasonal loading. Limits to MLSS building are governed by system solids capacity (clarifier, aeration, etc) and the presence of influent organics to maintain a higher, active MLSS.
  3. Bioaugmentation - when a system requires a rapid increase in active biomass, the quickest way to bring about the change is to add "exogenous cultures" or "bugs". The preserved cultures are highly concentrated and usually consist of k-rate strategists (fast growing microbes). This helps to prevent effluent permit issues by rapidly increasing the viable portion of the MLSS.
  4. Polymer or other chemical addition - polymers to control biological solids and remove influent organics in primary treatment offers a very powerful control tool. Key issues to consider are correct polymer chemistry for the waste stream, dosing points for maximum effectiveness, and the impact on downstream solids handling.


Bioaugmentation & Aquaculture

12/9/2014

 
Commercial aquaculture relies on the high density stocking of fish and then feeding a high protein food to maximize growth. By having such high stocking density of usually once type of animal and feeding at high rates, the water is often fouled by the excess fish waste.

The waste creates issues with ammonia/nitrite, cyanobacteria blooms, and buildup of anaerobic sludge layer on the pond bottom. Additionally, the high stress caused by pollution often allows for growth of opportunistic pathogenic microbes.

The earliest solution was to flush the ponds with new water, however downstream pollution and costs associated with water changes led farmers to see if the principals of biological water treatment could be used to improve animal health and lower costs.

Aquaculture products work in three distinct ways (some organisms function in more than one manner).
  1. Bioremediaton  - added cultures degrade organics, remove ammonia/nitrite, and help reduce sludge buildup on the pond bottom. By reducing pollution, the cultures also reduce animal stress.
  2. Biocontrol - the cultures work via competitive exclusion to reduce the density of opportunistic pathogens. Frequently, bioremediation cultures also have biocontrol capabilities. For example, Bacillus subtilis exhibits antagonistic properties to Vibrio sp and several problem cyanobacteria species.
  3. Probiotic - while fish consume all the added microbes (they live in the water), some microbes are able to reproduce in the digestive tract which helps improve feed conversion rate. In addition, probiotics often help stimulate an improved immune response to challenge by pathogens.


    Author

    Erik Rumbaugh has been involved in biological waste treatment for over 20 years. He has worked with industrial and municipal wastewater  facilities to ensure optimal performance of their treatment systems. He is a founder of Aster Bio (www.asterbio.com) specializing in biological waste treatment.

    View my profile on LinkedIn

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