Variety and comparison of wastewater treatment systems (I, II)
Bathtubs, sinks, water-closets, washing machines, and dish washing machines outlet rivers of used water – wastewater.
We must treat the used water. Domestic wastewater becomes a problem which must be solved in a best possible way. Let’s not judge the ones who say “After me the flood”. Even it is the wastewater flood. There are still people believing the best way to get rid of wastewater is to let it flow into a concreted bottomless neighboring pit.
However this is a crime to your neighbors and nature.
Use the facilities in a civilized manner.
What shall we do with wastewater?
1. . wastewater can be accumulated in underground reservoirs. Reservoirs feature various capacities, they should be selected according to the volume of wastewater; however if you are outleting wastewater into such reservoir, you must periodically hire someone to take away the accumulated wastewater to the utilization plant. The frequency of such services depends on the volume of wastewater.
2. you can install a wastewater treatment plant. However the offer of wastewater treatment plants is very varied, therefore you must think well, before buying one.
Wastewater treatment plants
Technologies are constantly developing, however generally wastewater treatment plants can be classified into aerating and anaerobic (also called septic systems). Such wastewater treatment plants are often applied for treatment of domestic wastewater.
- Anaerobic wastewater treatment plants (septic systems) can be imagined as the system of “several wells” – wastewater flows from one reservoir to another and is gradually filtered. These systems do not require power or any maintenance, however the treated water does not comply with environmental requirements.
Usually such systems require additional cleaning – filtering with specially installed soil or plants, or other treatment facilities (e.g. filtration well).
Although this plant is based on very simple, even natural method – penetration via soil, using its filtration potential, however it usually disappoints the ones who select this kind of wastewater treatment plants. The mounting of simple system also requires skills and knowledge, whereas the self-made equipment usually pollutes the soil and ground water.
Another significant disadvantage of such plants is greater area, required for installation of septic systems. Sanitary safety zones must also be increased.
Despite such wastewater treatment plant operates unattended, its efficiency can not be increased in case of increased volume of wastewater. Supervision of protection of soil from pollutants is also complicated. Constant fermentation, zymosis processes increase the likelihood of unpleasant odor.
The lifetime of such wastewater treatment plant is relatively short – approximately five years, after this period you should install a new wastewater treatment plant and manage the old one.
These are the reasons, why the installation of such wastewater treatment plants is more complicated in both legal and environmental aspects. Therefore more and more owners of individual houses choose biological wastewater treatment plants. - • Aerated and biological sewage treatment plants enable to clean the wastewater outlet into the pipes. The water resulting from treated wastewater can be used repeatedly – it complies with all environmental requirements. Such water can be released into the soil, open water bodies, or it can be accumulated and used repeatedly, e.g. for watering of lawns or carwash. However such high quality of treated water can only be obtained by wastewater treatment plants, certified by notified laboratories, approving the requirements for wastewater treatment plants
The title of these system highlights air supply is required for these plants, ensuring the existence of bacteria participating in the wastewater treatment processes; for this purpose, electricity is required. Power consumption depends on the capacity of air blast. Occasional removal of accumulated sludge must also be calculated into operational costs.
Operation of biological wastewater treatment plants
Wastewater is outlet via pipes to the biological treatment plants and is treated in a several stages; active fragmentation processes ensure the treated water is clean again.
Wastewater is outlet via pipes to the biological treatment plants and is treated in a several stages; active dissociation processes ensure the treated water is clean again.
1. wastewater is outlet via pipes to the latticed opening (designed to stop mechanical and plastic impurities) and reaches the reservoir of biological treatment plant. Wastewater is enriched with organic contaminants, remains of food, grease, as well as various chemical impurities – washing powder, various cleaners, soap, etc. Water is cleaned in several important stages.
2. in anaerobic (airless) fermentation zone, deterioration of organic matter, e.g. remains of food, is processed;
3. The generated matter mixes with active sludge (where the plantation of bacteria is flourished) and reaches denitrification zone, where bacteria turn the nitrates into nitrogen gas which is released into air (similar reaction happens with phosphorus). Kitchen and toilet wastewater are also enriched with nitrates.
4. The following is aeration zone, where wastewater is saturated with air using an air blast. In this zone, chemical dissociation – nitrification is performed.
5. Subsequently liquid outflows via funnel-shaped opening into the bottom of sump, passing the layer of compressed sludge and out-flowing from the plant.
The treated water can be accumulated and re-used for watering of lawns, flowers, carwash, or it can be outlet into reclamation trench, etc.
We must ensure the water outlet into the environment is properly cleaned and complies with all environmental requirements. This can only be guaranteed with certified biological plants certified with CE conformity marking of European Union.
Variety and comparison of wastewater treatment systems Part II
A decision to install biological wastewater treatment plant often raises various questions. If you can not find an answer among the below listed, please press here – and the specialists of „August ir Ko“ will provide you with the required information.
The offered wastewater treatment plants look the same. However they differ in treatment technologies, cleaning parameters, as well as in size, shape of plants, mounting methods and operational costs. Therefore be careful when choosing the wastewater treatment plant, assess the abovementioned differences and certificates of potential suppliers.
Actually, according to the Order by the Minister of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania (No. D1-487), since the July 1st, 2010 all installed wastewater treatment plants must be certified with CE marking. This marking approves the plant complies with normative requirements of the European Union on health, operational safety and environmental safety, summarized as the “directive on products”.
Selecting the right size treatment plant is also extremely important. The size of the plant is calculated according to the number of residents in the house. The more water we use, the more wastewater needs to be treated. If you select the correct size wastewater treatment plant, it will be used by everyone who needs local sewerage. Smaller wastewater treatment plants are suitable for families living in individual houses, whereas larger plants are suitable for hotels, campsites, restaurants, etc.
You build a house, expecting it to serve you a lifetime, therefore you should select the wastewater treatment plant with appropriate responsibility. If you have difficulties in calculating the need for wastewater treatment yourselves, ask for the assistance of skilled specialists. Do not forget to evaluate potential increase of members in your family, the visits of guests, etc. Do not make a mistake, selecting a smaller wastewater treatment plant just because it is cheaper. In some time, all discomfort and expenses may outweigh the “saved” costs.
Consider the wastewater treatment plant as soon, as you purchase the land site. Designing the house of your dreams, do not forget to determine the location for wastewater treatment systems. You must plan the appropriate location, respecting the requirements for statutory sanitary zones.
The treatment plant can be installed during the construction stage of the house, however major external construction of the house (walls, roofing) must be finished, ensuring no heavy-weight machinery, such as trucks, lifting cranes, delivering various constructing materials and facilitating the construction proceedings, is required to enter into the site. Such heavy-weighted machinery can damage the laid pipeworks or the mounted plant.
Compact treatment plants are small in size and do not spoil the view, however operate in a perfect manner
The efficiency of the plant is closely related with correct mounting, therefore this task should be trusted to skilled specialists, or it should be performed closely observing their instructions. If you have any doubts in your capability, do not hesitate to contacts appropriate specialists.
Specialists will mount the plant in one day. Starting with the very first day, the treated wastewater complies with all environmental requirements.
It is most convenient to select the wastewater treatment plant from a company that produces, mounts the plants and ensures their warranty and post-warranty maintenance. Such companies often provide the plant designing and consultation services, therefore all required topics can be arranged in site, thus saving both time and money.
Biological wastewater treatment plants feature one major advantage – the launching of such plants is extremely simple. The mounted wastewater treatment plants can be launched for operation on the same day, after delivery and pouring of active sludge and all adjustment proceedings. No further special procedures are required, the only important thing to do is to ensure wastewater starts flowing into the treatment system.
Another important advantage of such wastewater treatment plants is capability of plant to stay free of wastewater for a prolonged period, even one month. It is very convenient during vocations or when installing wastewater treatment plants with discontinuous flow of wastewater, e.g. in rural tourism homesteads.
The use of biological wastewater treatment plants is convenient and nearly maintenance-free. Special technologies of these systems ensure proper management of even great volumes accessing into the system, e.g. full bathtub of soapy water. With these wastewater treatment plants, you can also use convenient domestic chemicals, as they do not worsen the efficiency of the system operation.
Efficiency of system operation is also not affected by toilet paper or kitchen wastewater, accessing into the system, as biological plant manages this kind of matter.
This equipment is also resistant to winter colds, as the sewerage is supplied with warm air flow; various biological processes also ensure cold resistance in the system.
Biological wastewater treatment systems feature extreme durability. They are usually guaranteed over 10 year long problem-free operation. However by purchasing equipment of such high importance, we hope for its lifetime operation.
Operation of wastewater treatment plant is closely related with correct selection of its size according to the volume of generated wastewater, therefore this parameter must be calculated extremely responsibly.
Biological wastewater treatment plants tested in notified laboratories are the only ones to obtain the CЄ („Conformité Européene“) marking. This marking ensures the quality and safety, as well as friendliness to the environment of wastewater treatment plants.
According to the Order by the Minister of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania (No. D1-487), since the 1st of July, 2010 all installed wastewater treatment plants must be certified with CE marking.