Direct influent filtration as a pretreatment step for more sustainable wastewater treatment systems

Within the scope of a research programme into wastewater treatment scenarios based on physical-chemical pretreatment, the application of direct influent filtration (DIF) as a first treatment step in a wastewater treatment system was investigated. The aim of the experimental research was to investigate the feasibility of DIF as a pretreatment step for advanced particle removal. With a large scale pilot-plant filter at WWTP Leiden-Noord, The Netherlands the removal characteristics for suspended and colloidal material were investigated as well as operational conditions of eight different filter configurations. From the experimental research it was concluded that filtration of raw wastewater is possible, notwithstanding the relatively short runtimes due to clogging. In general, the filters produced a filtrate with a constant quality with low concentrations of solids and low turbidity. Without addition of chemicals hardly any colloids and solubles were retained, but only suspended particulates were removed. After dosage of iron or polymer, it was possible to remove more suspended matter and a high proportion of colloidal material. Finally it was concluded that DIF could be applied as a compact treatment system to produce a high quality primary effluent with a constant composition, but for practical application further research has to be done.

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Bottlenecks in the Implementation of On-Site Wastewater Treatment Plants on a Large Scale in The Netherlands

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1990.0214 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 22 (3-4) ◽

pp. 291-298

Author(s):

Frits A. Fastenau ◽

Jaap H. J. M. van der Graaf ◽

Gerard Martijnse

Keyword(s):

Wastewater Treatment ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Large Scale ◽

Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽

Housing Stock ◽

Research Work ◽

Field Research ◽

Domestic Wastewater ◽

Research Programme ◽

Definition Of

More than 95 % of the total housing stock in the Netherlands is connected to central sewerage systems and in most cases the wastewater is treated biologically. As connection to central sewerage systems has reached its economic limits, interest in on-site treatment of the domestic wastewater of the remaining premises is increasing. A large scale research programme into on-site wastewater treatment up to population equivalents of 200 persons has therefore been initiated by the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning and Environment. Intensive field-research work did establish that the technological features of most on-site biological treatment systems were satisfactory. A large scale implementation of these systems is however obstructed in different extents by problems of an organisational, financial and/or juridical nature and management difficulties. At present research is carried out to identify these bottlenecks and to analyse possible solutions. Some preliminary results are given which involve the following ‘bottlenecks':-legislation: absence of co-ordination and absence of a definition of ‘surface water';-absence of subsidies;-ownership: divisions in task-setting of Municipalities and Waterboards; divisions involved with cost-sharing;-inspection; operational control and maintenance; organisation of management;-discharge permits;-pollution levy;-sludge disposal. Final decisions and practical elaboration of policies towards on-site treatment will have to be formulated in a broad discussion with all the authorities and interest groups involved.

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