Improving nitrogen reduction in waste stabilisation ponds

2005 ◽  
Vol 51 (12) ◽  
pp. 133-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.E. Archer ◽  
B.M. O'Brien
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
Sand Filters ◽  
Effluent Quality ◽  
Waste Stabilisation Ponds ◽  
Trickling Filters ◽  
Bank Protection ◽  
In Series

This paper reviews the performance of two waste stablisation ponds (WSP) systems in the South Island of New Zealand that have been upgraded to multiple ponds-in-series to improve effluent quality. Results of monitoring are provided which show that it is possible to achieve relatively low ammonia (approximately 1 g/m3) and total nitrogen (approximately 10 g/m3) effluent concentrations through the use of nitrification filter beds (rock trickling filters) and sand filters. Evidence suggests that the nitrification and denitrification processes in the extra biofilm surface area provided by the rock filters or rock bank protection is primarily responsible for the improved effluent quality. The paper also compares the WSP results with effluent quality predicted by published formulae. It is concluded that these formulae do not reliably predict the performance of WSP systems and the development of universally applicable design guidelines would be useful.

Waste stabilisation ponds upgrading at Blenheim and Seddon, New Zealand - case studies

2003 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-23
Author(s):  
H.E. Archer ◽  
S.A. Donaldson
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Lower Cost ◽  
Small Communities ◽  
Large Cities ◽  
Effluent Quality ◽  
Waste Stabilisation Ponds ◽  
Bank Protection ◽  
In Series ◽  
Final Effluent

Waste stabilisation ponds (WSP) have been a popular form of wastewater treatment in New Zealand both for large cities and small communities. Most WSP were constructed from 1960 to 1985 and were single ponds or a primary and secondary pond in series of similar size. Since 1995, improvements comprising primary and maturation ponds, with four to six cells in series have been constructed or retrofitted to original two cell ponds. The Seddon and Blenheim ponds include in-bank rock filters between maturation cells as a lower cost way of providing this feature for reduction of solids. Operating results show reduced variability in final effluent quality for BOD and SS. In addition, very good reductions of faecal coliform and enterococci have been achieved along with good reductions of ammonia and total nitrogen for most of the year except the middle of winter. Extensive use of rock as rip-rap bank protection and in the rock filters, appears to have provided sufficient extra surface area for a nitrifying biofilm to develop.

Dairy farm wastewater treatment by an advanced pond system

2003 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.J. Craggs ◽  
C.C. Tanner ◽  
J.P.S. Sukias ◽  
R.J. Davies-Colley
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Effluent Quality ◽  
Waste Stabilisation Ponds ◽  
Faecal Bacteria ◽  
Period Performance ◽  
Farm Wastewater

Waste stabilisation ponds (WSPs) have been used for the treatment of dairy farm wastewater in New Zealand since the 1970s. The conventional two pond WSP systems provide efficient removal of wastewater BOD5 and total suspended solids, but effluent concentrations of other pollutants including nutrients and faecal bacteria are now considered unsuitable for discharge to waterways. Advanced Pond Systems (APS) provide a potential solution. A pilot dairy farm APS consisting of an Anaerobic pond (the first pond of the conventional WSP system) followed by three ponds: a High Rate Pond (HRP), an Algae Settling Pond (ASP) and a Maturation Pond (which all replace the conventional WSP system facultative pond) was evaluated over a two year period. Performance was compared to that of the existing conventional dairy farm WSP system. APS system effluent quality was considerably higher than that of the conventional WSP system with respective median effluent concentrations of BOD5: 34 and 108 g m-3, TSS: 64 and 220 g m-3, NH4-N: 8 and 29 g m-3, DRP: 13 and 17 g m-3, and E. coli: 146 and 16195 MPN/100 ml. APS systems show great promise for upgrading conventional dairy farm WSPs in New Zealand.

Waste stabilisation pond developments in New Zealand

2003 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.E. Archer ◽  
D.D. Mara
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Statistical Probability ◽  
Small Communities ◽  
Large Cities ◽  
Waste Stabilisation Ponds ◽  
Pond System ◽  
In Series ◽  
Odour Emissions

Waste stabilisation ponds have been a popular form of wastewater treatment in New Zealand both for large cities and small communities. Over 100 systems have been constructed ranging in size from over 500 ha to less than 0.1 ha. The largest pond system in New Zealand was at Manukau, Auckland and consisted of four ponds with a total of 530 ha. However, ongoing odour and midge releases and an algae parasite problem plus a requirement to reduce ammonia and total nitrogen in summer, led to the decision to decommission the ponds and allow the area to revert to tidal mudflats. The second largest pond system is at Christchurch and totals 226 ha. In contrast to Manukau, the Christchurch ponds have not caused significant odours and final effluent quality has been good. Christchurch has two parallel trains each with three ponds in series. It is proposed to retain and develop the ponds into a seven cells in series arrangement to reduce short-circuiting. Odour emissions from the Manukau and Christchurch ponds have been measured by the use of olfactometry. Dispersion of odours has been modelled and the extent of “odour travel” determined on a statistical probability basis using actual meteorological data. It can be demonstrated that residential areas can co-exist with ponds, which are not overloaded, with separation distances of 200 metres.

Pond evaluation and upgrading in Mexico

2000 ◽  
Vol 42 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 43-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Escalante ◽  
G. Moeller ◽  
A. Rivas
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
The State ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Effluent Quality ◽  
Waste Stabilisation Ponds ◽  
Pond System ◽  
In Series ◽  
Southern Central

Half of the wastewater facilities constructed in Mexico for wastewater treatment and projected to be constructed in the next ten years, are waste stabilisation pond systems. The existing facilities have several problems in their operation. A national programme was developed by federal and local authorities responsible for sanitation and treatment for the monitoring and evaluation of the existing pond systems. The aim of the programme was the monitoring and evaluation of pond performance and effluent quality of a number of waste stabilisation ponds systems in different regions in Mexico and to upgrade and expand them if necessary. The programme was developed during 1998 and the specific sites selected were distributed within the country in the southern, central and northern part of Mexico. The evaluation of the specific ponds led to the production of a series of case studies on the various pond systems selected, that were discussed and jointly developed with local technicians in charge of the operation of the facilities. The case studies developed were: Gómez Portugal pond system located in the state of Aguascalientes, constituted by a baffled facultative pond; Guadalupe Victoria pond system located inthe State of Durango and constituted by a primary facultative, a secondary facultative and a third facultative pond; La Reforma pond system in Sinaloa, with two facultative ponds in series; González Ortega pond system in the State of Baja California Norte, with four anaerobic and four facultative ponds, and Chapilla pond system, located in the state of Chiapas. Plant effluents are intended for several purposes: irrigation and for discharge into receiving bodies. Effluent quality complies only with BOD limits, but not with microbiological limits established in national standards. For each pond, an upgrading plan is presented to comply with microbiological standards for discharge or for its use in irrigation.

Danish Experience with Emergent Hydrophyte Treatment Systems (EHTS) and Prospects in the Light of Future Requirements on Outlet Water Quality

1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 65-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.-H. Schierup ◽  
H. Brix
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Total Phosphorus ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Reed Beds ◽  
Effluent Quality ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Run Off ◽  
Stage System

Since 1983 approximately 150 full-scale emergent hydrophyte based wastewater treatment plants (reed beds) have been constructed in Denmark to serve small wastewater producers. The development of purification performance for 21 plants representing different soil types, vegetation, and hydraulic loading rates has been recorded. Cleaning efficiencies were typically in the range of 60-80% reduction for BOD, 25-50% reduction for total nitrogen, and 20-40% reduction for total phosphorus. The mean effluent BOD, total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations of the reed beds were 19 ± 10, 22 ± 9 and 6.7 ± 3.2 mg/l (mean ± SD), respectively. Thus, the general Danish effluent standards of 8 mg/l for N and 1.5 mg/l for P for sewage plants greater than 5,000 PE cannot be met by the present realised design of EHTS. The main problem observed in most systems is a poor development of horizontal hydraulic conductivity in the soil which results in surface run-off. Since the political demands for effluent quality will be more strict in the future, it is important to improve the performance of small decentral sewage treatment plants. On the basis of experiences from different types of macrophyte based and conventional low-technology wastewater treatment systems, a multi-stage system is suggested, consisting of sedimentation and sand filtration facilities followed by basins planted with emergent and submergent species of macrophytes and algal ponds.

Upgrading effluent quality for lagoon-based systems

1995 ◽  
Vol 31 (12) ◽  
pp. 379-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henryk Melcer ◽  
Brian Evans ◽  
Stephen G. Nutt ◽  
Anthony Ho
Keyword(s):  
Urban Communities ◽  
Ammonia Concentration ◽  
Sand Filters ◽  
Plant Operation ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Effluent Quality ◽  
Waste Sludge ◽  
Best Available Technology ◽  
Available Technology ◽  
Aeration Plant

To establish Best Available Technology Economically Achievable (BATEA) in non-urban communities which presently use conventional lagoon technology, an investigation was undertaken to evaluate alternatives which can be used to improve lagoon effluent and establish costs. Evaluated were the “Sutton” and the intermittent sand filtration or “New Hamburg” processes. The Sutton concept consists of a nitrifying extended-aeration plant followed by polishing lagoons, with waste sludge discharged into the lagoons. The New Hamburg concept consists of aerated or facultative lagoons, with the lagoon effluent sprayed intermittently over sand filters. The Sutton plants produce an improved effluent quality relative to conventional facultative lagoons in terms of BOD5 and TSS concentrations. Increases in ammonia concentration across the polishing pond occur after 5-7 years of plant operation, suggesting a need to implement a regular program of sludge removal from the lagoon. The New Hamburg process results in a significant improvement in effluent quality in terms of BOD5, TSS, TP, TKN, NH3-N and H2S concentrations. Approximate capital costs for upgrading the existing conventional lagoons in Ontario to Sutton and New Hamburg process facilities are estimated at US $221 million and US $93 million, respectively.

Biological removal of algae in an integrated pond system

1995 ◽  
Vol 31 (12) ◽  
pp. 21-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. J. Meiring ◽  
R. A. Oellermann
Keyword(s):  
Adsorptive Capacity ◽  
Trickling Filter ◽  
Laboratory Findings ◽  
Oxidation Pond ◽  
Trickling Filters ◽  
Biological Removal ◽  
In Series ◽  
The Media ◽  
Oxidation Ponds ◽  
Dark Green

A system of oxidation ponds in series with a biological trickling filter is described. It was known that this arrangement was incapable of reducing effectively the levels of algae present in the pond liquid even though nitrification was effected because of autotrophic conditions prevailing in the trickling filters. This very low trophic level explained the lack of adsorptive capacity present. By shortcircuiting less than 10 percent of the effluent from a fully loaded primary facultative oxidation pond to the trickling filter, the autotrophuc nature or the film in the trickling filter was sufficiently shifted towards a heterotrophic state that had sufficient adsorptive capacity to retain the majority of the algae. It is concluded that the algae, although being absorbed, stay alive on the film and do not contribute significantly to the carbonaceous load on the trickling filter. Further more the algae, although secluded from all sunlight, actually partake in the purification process, producing an effluent which, unlike a normal humus tank effluent, is surprisingly sparkling clear. This significant observation appears to be in line with laboratory findings by others who, when they artificially immobilised certain species of algae and passed water over them, concluded that the algae retained the potential to remove certain compounds from the water. Conglomerates of biologically flocculated dark-green algae are scoured off the film (or sloughed off as part of the film) and, having been photosynthetically inactive for some days, tend not to float, but settle very rapidly. A very significantly aspect of this development is the great potential it has for practical application in developing countries. The algae sloughed off the media are easily thickened and available for ultimate recovery from the water phase without the addition of chemicals.

Treatment of Dairy Wastewater in a Novel Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor

1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 703-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Rusten ◽  
H. Ødegaard ◽  
A. Lundar
Keyword(s):  
Surface Area ◽  
Pilot Plant ◽  
Industrial Effluents ◽  
Biofilm Reactor ◽  
Dairy Wastewater ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor ◽  
Moving Bed ◽  
Biofilm Reactors ◽  
In Series

A novel moving bed biofilm reactor has been developed, where the biofilm grows on small, free floating plastic elements with a large surface area and a density slightly less than 1.0 g/cm3. The specific biofilm surface area can be regulated as required, up to a maximum of approximately 400 m2/m3. The ability to remove organic matter from concentrated industrial effluents was tested in an aerobic pilot-plant with two moving bed biofilm reactors in series and a specific biofilm surface area of 276 m2/m3. Treating dairy wastewater, the pilot-plant showed 85% and 60% COD removal at volumetric organic loading rates of 500 g COD/m3h and 900 g COD/m3h respectively. Based on the test results, the moving bed biofilm reactors should be very suitable for treatment of food industry effluents.

Changes in waste stabilisation pond performance resulting from the retrofit of activated sludge treatment upstream: part I – water quality issues

2005 ◽  
Vol 51 (12) ◽  
pp. 11-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.J. Cromar ◽  
D.G. Sweeney ◽  
M.J. O'Brien ◽  
H.J. Fallowfield
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Algal Biomass ◽  
Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
South Australia ◽  
N:P Ratio ◽  
Waste Stabilisation Ponds ◽  
Trickling Filters

This paper describes changes in effluent quality occurring before and after an upgrade to the Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant in South Australia. Trickling filters (TF) were replaced with an activated sludge (AS) plant, prior to tertiary treatment using waste stabilisation ponds (WSPs). The water quality in the WSPs following the upgrade was significantly improved. Reductions in total and soluble BOD, COD, TKN, suspended solids and organic nitrogen were recorded and the predominant form of inorganic nitrogen changed from NH4-N to NO2/NO3-N. The reduction in ammonium and potentially toxic free ammonia removed a control upon the growth of zooplankton, which may have contributed to decreases in algal biomass in the final ponds and consequently lower dissolved oxygen. Additionally, changes in inorganic nitrogen speciation contributed to a slightly elevated pH which reduced numbers of faecal coliforms in WSPs. The AS pretreated influent recorded significantly lower inorganic molar N:P ratio (10–4:1) compared to those fed with TF effluent (17–13:1). Algae within the WSPs may now be nitrogen limited, a condition which may favour the growth of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria. The decrease in algal biomass and in dissolved oxygen levels may enhance sedimentary denitrification, further driving the system towards nitrogen limitation.

A Study into the Removal of Iron from Ferruginous Ground Water Using Limestone Bed Filtration

1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 23-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. Smith ◽  
A. Gaber ◽  
I. Hattab ◽  
H. A. Halim
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Plant ◽  
Iron Concentration ◽  
Initial Operation ◽  
Sand Filters ◽  
Sand Filter ◽  
Cheap Method ◽  
In Series ◽  
Liquid Depth ◽  
Filter Unit ◽  
Initial Results

A pilot plant consisting of limestone bed filtration and sand filtration has been built 15 km south of Cairo to serve about 400 people. The pilot plant consists of 3 limestone filter units operated in series and two sand filters. The limestone filters are 1.3 m × 1.3 m and have a media depth of 1.15 m, a liquid depth of 0.5 m plus 0.35 m free board. The pilot plant started operation in April 1991 and the initial operation of the pilot plant has shown that a packed limestone filter unit is a simple and cheap method of removing iron from ferruginous groundwater. The initial results have shown that when an inlet water of about 5 mg/l of iron is treated by one limestone filter and one sand filter at a flow rate of 0.9 m3/h, the treated water had an average iron concentration of 0.2 mg/l.

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