Waste Water Treatment

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Fit for purpose

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determining the treatment used for water depending upon its final use. (irrigation, drinking water, etc.)

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receiving water

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a stream, river, lake, ocean or other surface or groundwaters into which treated or reclaimed wastewater is discharged

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nutrient

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any substance that is assimilated (taken in) by organisms and promotes growth. I.E. nitrogen and phosphorus are nutrients that promote the growth of algae

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biosolids

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a primarily organic solid product produced by wastewater treatment processes that can be beneficially recycled

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effluent

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raw (untreated), partially treated, or completely treated water, flowing from a reservoir basin, treatment process, or treatment plant

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collection system

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a network of pipes, manholes, cleanouts, traps, siphons, lift stations, and other structures used to collect all wastewater and wastewater-carried wastes of an area and transport them to a treatment plant. The collection system includes land, wastewater lines and appurtenances (inlets, curbs, gutters, catch basins, etc.), pumping stations, and general property. Also called sewerage system.

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domestic contribution

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wastes originating in a residential facility or dwelling. In this us, it means the type and quantity of wastes are different from commercial and industrial or agricultural wastes.

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organic waste

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waste material that may come from animal or plant sources. Natural organic wastes generally can be consumed by bacteria and other small organisms. Manufactured or synthetic organic wastes from metal finishings, chemical manufacturing, and petroleum industries may not normally be consumed by bacteria and the organisms.

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inorganic wastes

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waste material (sand, salt, iron, calcium, and other mineral materials) that is only slightly affected by the action of organisms. Inorganic wastes are chemical substances of mineral origin; whereas organic wastes are chemical substances usually

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grit

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the heavy material present in wastewater, such as sand, coffee grounds, eggshells, gravel, and cinders.

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suspended solilds

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solids that either float on the surface or are suspended in water or wastewater. When referred to as a waterborne constituent, total suspended solids (TSS) is the quantity of material removed from water or wastewater in a standard

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sludge

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(1) the settleable solids separated from liquids during processing.(2) the deposits of foreign materials on the bottoms of streams or other bodies of water or on the bottoms and edges of wastewater collection lines and appurtenances. Also called biosolids; however, biosolids typically refers to treated waste.

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milligrams per liter (mg/L)

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A measure of the concentration by weight of a substance per unit volume. In reporting the results of water and wastewater analysis, mg/L is preferred to the unit parts per million (ppm) , to which it is approximately equivalent.

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aerobic bacteria

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bacteria that will live and reproduce only in an environment containing oxygen that is available for their respiration, namely atmospheric oxygen or oxygen dissolved in water. Oxygen combined chemically, such as in water molecules (H2O) cannot be used for respiration by aerobic bacteria.

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stabilization

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conversion to a form that resists change. Organic material is stabilized by bacteria that convert the material to gases and other relatively inert substances. Stabilized organic material generally will not give off obnoxious odors.

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anaerobic bacteria

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bacteria that live and reproduce in an environment containing no free or dissolved oxygen. Anaerobic bacteria obtain their oxygen supply by breaking down chemical compounds that contain oxygen, such has sulfate (SO4 2-).

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disinfection

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the process designed to kill or inactivate most microorganisms in watey or wastewater, including essentially all pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria. There are several ways to disinfect, with chlorination being the most frequently used in water and wastewater treatment plants.

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pH

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an expression of the intensity of the basic or acidic conditions of a liquid. Mathematically, this is equivalent to the negative of the base 10 logarithm. The pH may range from 0 to 14, where 0 is most acidic and 14 most basic, and 7 neutral.1pH= Log ---- or -Log({H+}){H+}EG: If {H+} = 10-6.5 ,then pH = 6.5

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algae

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microscopic plants containing chlorophyll that live floating or suspended in water. They also may be attached to structures, rocks, or other submerged surfaces. Excess algal growths can impart tastes and odors to potable water. Algae produce oxygen during sunlight hours and use oxygen during the night hours. Their biological activities appreciably affect the pH, alkalinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen of the water.

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settleometer

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a one- or two - liter graduated cylinder that measures the settling rate of settleable solids.

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NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit)

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A regulatory document that limits discharges into US waterways, and provides monitoring and reporting requirements and other provisions to ensure that discharges do not hurt water quality or people's health. Part of the Clean Water Act prohibits discharge of potential pollutants from points sources of pollution and stormwater runoff into a water of the United States without an NPDES permit.

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POTW (publicly owned treatment work)

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Devices and systems used to store, treat, recycle, or reclaim municipal wastewater or industrial liquid wastes that are owned by a state, municipality, special sewer district, or other publicly owned and financed entity. Sewers, pipes, and other conveyances are considered part of treatment works only if they carry wastewater to a POTW facility. Also municipalities with jurisdiction over the indirect discharges to and from POTWs

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combined sewer

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A sewer designed to carry both sanitary wastewaters and stormwater or surface water runoff.

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sanitary sewer

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a pipe or conduit (sewer) intended to carry wastewater or waterborne wastes from homes, businesses, and industries to the treatment works. Some systems combine the collection of wastewater and stormwater.

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influent

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Water that is raw (untreated) or partially treated, flowing into a reservoir, basin, treatment process, or treatment plant.

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stormwater collection system

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a system of gutters, catch basins, yard drains, culverts, and pipes for the purpose of conducting stormwaters from an area, but intended to exclude domestic and industrial wastes. Some areas require stormwater to be treated before discharge into receiving waters. Also called storm sewers.

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wastewater collection system

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the pipe system for collecting and carrying water and water-carried wastes from domestic and industrial sources to a wastewater treatment plant.

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preliminary treatment

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The removal of metal, rocks, rags, sand, eggshells, and similar materials that may hinder the operation of a treatment plant. Preliminary treatment is accomplished by using equipment such as bar racks or bar screens, shredders and grit removal systems.

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primary treatment

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A wastewater treatment process that takes place in a rectangular or circular tank and allows those substances in wastewater that readily settle or float to be separated from the wastewater being treated. A septic tank is also considered primary treatment

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secondary treatment

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A wastewater treatment process used to convert dissolved or suspended materials into a form more readily separated from the water being treated. Usually the process follows primary treatment using sedimentation. The process commonly is a type of biological treatment followed by secondary clarifiers that allow the solids to settle out from the water being treated.

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screen

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a device used to retain or remove suspended or floating objects in wastewater. The screen has openings that are generally uniform in size. It retains or removes objects larger than the openings. A screen may consist of bars, rods, wires, gratings, wire mesh, or perforated plates.

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shredding

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also called comminution. A mechanical treatment process that cuts large pieces of wastes into smaller pieces so they will not plug pipes or damage equipment.

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comminution

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see shredding; a mechanical treatment process that cuts large pieces of wastes into smaller pieces so they will not plug pipes or damage equipment.

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headworks

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the facility where wastewater enters a wastewater treatment plant. The headworks may consist of bar racks or bar screens, shredders or grinders, a wet well, and pumps.

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weir (WEER)

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a wall or plate placed in an open channel and used to measure the flow of water or to control flow (from settling tanks and clarifiers) to ensure a uniform flow rate and avoid short-circuiting.

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clarifier

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a sedimentation basin. A tank or basin in which water or wastewater is held for a period of time during which the heavier solids settle to the bottom and the lighter materials float to the surface.

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sedimentation basin

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a clarifier. A tank or basin in which water or wastewater is held for a period of time during which the heavier solids settle to the bottom and the lighter materials float to the surface.

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media

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the material in a trickling filter or rotating biological contactor on which slime accumulates and organisms grow. Also the material through which water or wastewater flows in a gravity or pressure filter.

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short-circuiting

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A condition that occurs in tanks or basins when some of the flowing water entering a tank or basin flows along a nearly direct pathway from the inlet to the outlet. This is usually undesirable because it may result in shorter contact, reaction, or settling times in comparison with the theoretical (calculated) or presumed detention times.

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DAF (dissolved air flotation)

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a process in which air is dissolved into wastewater under high pressure and is then released into the bottom of the treatment tank to allow the air to come out of solution in very fine bubbles and float the solids to the surface.

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permeate

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the liquid (demineralized water) produced from the reverse osmosis process that contains a low concentration of dissolved solids.

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dalton

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a unit of mass designated as one-sixteenth the mass of oxygen-16, the lightest and most abundant isotope of oxygen. The dalton is equivalent to one mass unit.

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reverse osmosis (RO)

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the application of pressure to a concentrated solution, which causes the passage of a liquid from the concentrated solution to a weaker solution across a semipermeable membrane. The membrane allows the passage of the water (solvent) but not the dissolved solids (solutes). In the reverse osmosis process, two liquids are produced: (1) the reject (containing high concentrations of dissolved solids), and (2) the permeate (containing low concentrations). The clean water (permeate) is not always considered to be demineralized.

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potable water

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water that does not contain objectionable pollution, contamination, minerals, or infective agents and is considered satisfactory for drinking.

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total dissolved solids (TDS)

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all of the dissolved solids in a water. TDS is measured on a sample of water that has passed through a very fine mesh filter to remove suspended solids. The water passing through the filter is evaporated and the residue represents the total dissolved solids.

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photosynthesis

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a process by which organisms, with the aid of chlorophyll, convert carbon dioxide and inorganic substances into oxygen and additional plant material, using sunlight for energy. All green plants grow by this process.

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mercaptans

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compounds containing sulfur that have an extremely offensive skunklike odor; also sometimes described as smelling like garlic or onion.

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indole

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an organic compound (C8H7N) containing nitrogen that has an ammonia odor.

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skatole

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an organic compound (C9H9N) that contains nitrogen and has a fecal odor.

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SCADA system (supervisory control and data acquisition system)

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a computer-monitored alarm, response, control, and data acquisition system used to monitor and adjust treatment processes and facilities.

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CMMS (computer maintenance management system)

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a computerized system to assist with the effective and efficient management of maintenance activities through application of computerized elements, including work orders; routine standard jobs; bills of materials; applications parts; and collection, storage, and analysis of data.

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OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

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with the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Congress created the Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to assure safe and healthful working conditions for workers by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance.

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BOD (biochemical oxygen demand)

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A measure of the amount of dissolved oxygen consumed (exertion) by aerobic organism while stabilizing decomposable organic matter under aerobic conditions. The BOD value is commonly expressed as BOD5 and refers to the milligrams of oxygen consumed per liter of water during a 5-day incubation period at 68 degrees F (20 C). In decomposition, organic matter serves as food for the organisms and energy results from its oxidation. BOD measurements are used as a measure of the organic strength of wastes in water.

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COD (chemical oxygen demand)

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a measure of the oxygen-consuming capacity of organic matter present in wastewater. COD is expressed as the amount of oxygen consumed from a chemical oxidants in mg/L during a specific test.

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dewatering

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(1) Removing or separating a portion of the water present in a sludge or other solids. To dry sludge so it can be handled and disposed of.(2) To remove and drain the water from a tank or trench. A structure may be dewatered so that it can be inspected or repaired.

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direct potable reuse

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process used to treat water returned to the drinking water treatment plant without being stored first. This water receives the most treatment, also known as advanced treatment.

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indirect potable reuse

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process used to treat water stored in surface or groundwater storage before being delivered to a drinking water treatment plant.

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facultative lagoons

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the most common type of lagoon in current use. The upper portion (supernatant) is aerobic, while the bottom layer is anaerobic. Algae supply most of the oxygen tot he supernatant.

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facultative lagoons

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the most common type of lagoon in current use. The upper portion (supernatant) is aerobic, while the bottom layer is anaerobic. Algae supply most of the oxygen tot he supernatant.

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infiltration

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the seepage of groundwater into a wastewater collection system, including service connections. Seepage frequently occurs though defect or cracked pipes, pipe joints, and connections, interceptor access risers and covers, or manhole walls.

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inflow

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water discharged into a wastewater collection system from sources other than regular connections, such as yard drains, foundations, and manhole covers

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pathogens (pathogenic organisms)

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organism, such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, or internal parasites, that can cause diseases, such as giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, typhoid fever, cholera, or infectious hepatitis in a host/person.

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total organic carbon (TOC)

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a measure of the amount of carbon in water.

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toxic

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a substance that is poisonous to a living organism.

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toxicity

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the relative degree of being poisonous or toxic. A condition that may exist in wastes and will inhibit or destroy the growth or function of certain organisms.

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wastewater (sewage)

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a community's used water and water-carried solids (including used water from industrial processes) that flow to a water resource recovery facility. Stormwater, surface water, and groundwater infiltration also may be included in wastewater that enters a facility.