Design Execution and Modification of Wastewater treatment plants
What is wastewater treatment?
It's cleaning used water and sewage so it can be returned safely to our environment.
How do treatment plants protect our water?
Wastewater treatment plants:
Remove solids, everything from rags and plastics to sand and smaller particles found in wastewater;
- Reduce organic matter and pollutants--naturally occurring helpful bacteria and other microorganisms consume organic matter in wastewater and are then separated from the water; and,
- Restore oxygen--the treatment process ensures that the water put back into our rivers or lakes has enough oxygen to support life.
Where does wastewater come from?
- Homes--human and household wastes from toilets, sinks, baths, dishwashers, garbage grinders, clothes washers and drains.
- Industry, Schools, and Business--chemical and other wastes from factories, food-service operations, school activities, hospitals, shopping centers, etc.
- Storm Water Infiltration and Inflow from Runoff and Groundwater--water that enters the sanitary sewer system during a storm, as well as groundwater that enters through cracks in sewers. The City of Columbia has one set of sewers for wastewater from homes and businesses (sanitary sewers) and a separate system for storm water runoff.
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Wastewater treatment basically takes place in three stages:
1. Preliminary & Primary treatment, which removes 40-60% of the solids.
2. Secondary treatment, which removes about 90% of the pollutants and completes the process for the liquid portion of the separated wastewater.
3. Sludge (biosolids) treatment and disposal.